Nathan Bell

Media Assistant at South Shields FC | Social Media Manager at South Shields FC Women

Spark/SportsByte

Spark is the University of Sunderland's news website and SportsByte is the university's sports website, covering all the major and minor sporting action in Tyne & Wear. Over my three years I have built up an extensive portfolio of written and video pieces which have been published on the site. For SportsByte I was tasked with covering Monkwearmouth Football Academy (led by ex-professional footballer Jamie Chandler) and Team Sunderland's Men's First football team.

Spark author profile: https://www.sparksunderland.co...

SportsByte author profile: https://sportsbyte.sunderland....

SportsByte •

The "really long journey” after life-changing ACL injuries in football

Sometimes you need to appreciate the “little moments” in life because all it takes is a snap to turn things upside down.

For football coach Alex Miller, her two ACL injuries have put her in an unforgiving situation where it isn’t known whether she will play for her side again.

The ex-South Shields Women skipper has stepped up in the meantime as head coach, as she looks up at a potential promotion into the FA Women’s National League with the Mariners.

She has recently undergone a procedure to
SportsByte •

Gateshead's run to the FA Trophy final (including Barnet and Oldham wins)

Gateshead will reach their first major cup final with the hopes of lifting the FA Trophy against FC Halifax Town on May 21 at Wembley Stadium.

It is the Heed’s first trip to the capital since promotion heartbreak in 2014, when Cambridge United prevented Gateshead from securing promotion to the Football League.

As the big day arrives for Gateshead fans, SportsByte revisited the moments which have led up to the upcoming cup final – including some big wins over Barnet in the semi-finals (on penal
SportsByte •

Alex Miller post-Alnwick: "I’m proud of all the lasses, just for making it through this difficult season"

South Shields Women player/coach Alex Miller has reflected on a tough end to the lasses’ season, as fourth place was confirmed following their 3-0 defeat against Alnwick Town Ladies on Sunday.

It was difficult for large spells which Miller was happy to expand upon.

She said: “The lasses started well and we were able to take control of the game – a much improved start from last weekend.

“Unfortunately, a very controversial penalty was awarded to Alnwick, which resulted in the first goal.

“Fro
SportsByte •

Hebburn Town 2-2 Long Eaton United - Report and Highlights

Hebburn Town’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Tuesday as they went out on penalties against Long Eaton United following a 2-2 draw which had everything.

Jamie Walker’s brace gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break, following strikes in the 14th and 45th minutes, before Hebburn pulled off an improbable second-half comeback.

Robbie Spence gave the Hornets a fighting chance with his 66th minute effort, while player/manager Daniel Moore in the dying moments of the regular 90 minutes in
SportsByte •

Alnwick Town Ladies vs South Shields Women - Match Preview

South Shields Women look to end their season on a high note when they travel up to Alnwick this Sunday to face Alnwick Town Ladies (2pm kick-off).

The lasses want to put things right following last Sunday’s surprising 4-1 defeat against Redcar Town, and give themselves every chance of finishing the season in third place.

Things are out of their hands as things stand, with upcoming opponents Alnwick a point ahead of Shields with two games left and a much higher goal difference.

Shields have al
SportsByte •

South Shields Women 1-4 Redcar Town Ladies - Alex Miller: "Sunday's performance was a real shock and disappointment"

South Shields Women player/coach Alex Miller has reflected on a disappointing display against Redcar Town at the weekend.

The girls were 4-0 down before half-time, before Lily Walker got one back early in the second half, but the damage was done far too soon to turn things around.

As a result, Shields’ final league position is out of their hands, with final opponents Alnwick Town Juniors one point ahead, but with two games remaining.

Miller said: “Sunday’s performance was a real shock and dis
SportsByte •

South Shields Women 1-4 Redcar Town Ladies - Match Report + Highlights

South Shields Women’s dreams of finishing second came tumbling on Sunday as they lost 4-1 to Redcar Town Ladies at 1st Cloud Arena.

The game was settled over 20 minutes during the first-half, which saw Mary Corbyn bag a hat-trick, while Jessica Round got herself on the scoresheet.

Shields got one back through Lily Walker early into the second half but the damage was done long before the break meaning an unlikely comeback never materialised.

Corbyn got her first goal of the match in the 12th m
SportsByte •

Hebburn Town 3-1 Cleethorpes Town - Match Highlights and Report

Hebburn Town secured a spot in the Northern Premier League East Division playoffs after defeating Cleethorpes Town 3-1 on Saturday.

Amar Purewal opened the scoring in just three minutes before the Hornets’ advantage was cancelled in the 12th minute by Cleethorpes’ Sam Topliss.

The teams went in even at the break, but Robbie Spence regained Hebburn’s lead in the 48th minute while an Olly Martin penalty in the 53rd minute guaranteed all three points.

Crucially, Daniel Moore’s side have finished
SportsByte •

South Shields Women player/coach Alex Miller: "It wasn't as good a performance as we'd have liked"

South Shields Women player/coach Alex Miller insisted there is more work to be done despite the girls putting in a five-star performance against Harrogate Town at 1st Cloud Arena.

Becki McMahon and Sophie Greener each scored a brace while Eve Gatens slotted in a penalty to give Shields every chance of finishing second in the NERWFL Premier Division.

And with just two games remaining this season, the girls must give everything to finish the campaign as strongly as they started it.

Miller recog
SportsByte •

Hebburn Town 1-1 Dunston UTS - Match Highlights and Report

Hebburn Town almost certainly confirmed a play-off spot on Easter Monday as local opponents Dunston UTS took the share of the points in a 1-1 draw.

Liam Murray’s early second-half equaliser levelled things after Dale Pearson gave the 10-men visitors the lead in the 36th minute, following a Jon Shaw’s red card just four minutes earlier.

While there was inclement weather before the match which may have disrupted the flow of what was otherwise a low-key derby, the match didn’t seem too affected b
SportsByte •

Alex Miller post-Wallsend BC: "We felt we had a point to prove!"

South Shields Women player/coach Alex Miller said her squad ‘had a point to prove’ on Sunday as the girls beat Wallsend BC 2-1 at home.

Sophie Greener opened the scoring to give the girls a 1-0 lead at the break, before Eve Gatens won the game with “another rocket of a free-kick” just before full time, giving Shields all three points.

The result keeps Shields in third in the NERWFL Premier Division as well as maintaining the girls’ run this season of never drawing a league match.

Miller belie
Spark •

Nexus confirm Metro suspension in Sunderland and surrounding areas...

Tyne and Wear Metro operator, Nexus, has confirmed that services in Sunderland the surrounding areas will be affected into next week as a result of damaged power lines.

Thursday, March 30 has seen heavy disruption along the green line between Pelaw and South Hylton, with a suspension in place for much of the day, which has caused great frustration among customers.

A press statement released at around 3.30pm acknowledged the disruption but insisted not a lot more can be done, especially as the
SportsByte •

Alex Miller post-Wakefield: "Some positives to take... but also some key areas of improvement to take"

Alex Miller reflected on a difficult game for South Shields Women against second-place Wakefield AFC Women on Sunday in the NERWFL Premier Division.

Eve Gatens’ superbly-driven free-kick in the 35th minute gave the lasses the lead, which they would hold for only 10 minutes when the second half started, before squandering the match and losing 4-1.

But the goal was representative, she said, of what the team can be capable of: “Eve is a top class player who is an asset to the team. The free kick
SportsByte •

Hebburn Town 0-2 Lincoln United - Match Highlights + Report

Hebburn Town were outclassed on Non-League Day as Lincoln United stole the show – and the three points – in a surprising 2-0 home defeat on Saturday.

Goals in quick succession by Matt Cotton and Jake Park in the 25th and 27th minutes respectively gave the visitors what they were after, and leaves Daniel Moore’s side scratching their heads as to what went wrong.

Hebburn came into the game on a good run of form, having lost just two since their last home defeat against Grimsby Borough in Februar
SportsByte •

Non-League captains speak out against "concerning" proposed contract changes

Non-league captains have responded to “concerning” changes to player contracts, stipulating a reduced wage in the event of a significant injury by the National League.

The plan is that from next season, players will receive a full wage for 12 weeks only if they have a major period on the sidelines for those in the premier division, while this drops to six weeks for players beneath it.

Gateshead’s Greg Olley, among the other National League captains, have followed the PFA in appealing against t
SportsByte •

Monkwearmouth's Head of Football Coaching on "fantastic week" for the Year 10s

Monkwearmouth Academy’s Head of Football Coaching has praised his Year 10 group after reflecting on what has been a “fantastic week.”

This comes in the wake of two “convincing victories” in the league and cup: a 4-1 win against Seaham and a 5-1 win against Southmoor.

Jesse Nelson and Alfie Franciosy grabbed single goals while Bernado Araujo scored a hat-trick in that aforementioned Southmoor game.

And Josh Akal believes it is down to the squad’s hard work. He said: “It has been a fantastic we
SportsByte •

Alex Miller: South Shields Women player/coach

The fight for second in the NERWFL Premier Division heats up on Sunday as South Shields Women take on Wakefield AFC Women at Downhill Hub (2pm kick-off).

The girls have had a three week rest leading up to this weekend’s match, with their last outing coming on March 5 in a 3-1 away victory against Redcar.

Their last league fixture, which was planned to be away to best-of-the-rest contenders Alnwick Town Juniors Women, was postponed because of the increasingly hazardous conditions at the time.
SportsByte •

Gateshead's Kenton Richardson thwarted by injury during England C vs Wales C's International Challenge Match

Gateshead’s Kenton Richardson was taken off with an injury just 20 minutes into England C’s international challenge match against Wales on Tuesday night.

The defender had been named in the final 16-man squad for the game which was hosted at Altrincham’s J. Davidson Stadium.

He had been struggling with a knock for much of the first segment of the game, and was taken off promptly in place of Halifax defender, Jesse Debrah.

This follows up a “minor injury” he sustained against Farsley Celtic in
SportsByte •

Eight matches to watch on Non-League Day 2023 in the North East

Non-League Day is coming up on Saturday, March 25 and SportsByte has found eight matches you could attend if you are in the north east.

The day itself is a celebration of all things non-league, whether that is the cheaper tickets, the close-knit crowd or the feeling you are part of something greater as fans of all types come together.

It gives supporters an opportunity to thank the volunteers that make a football club run, from the social media managers all the way to the turnstile operators.
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