Factfile: Paul Blackett

Paul Blackett swapped Spennymoor Town for South Shields to become the Mariners’ third signing of the summer.

We take a closer look at the 25-year-old striker, who is well-versed in life in National League North…

• Paul Blackett was born on February 15th, 1998 in Newcastle

• The forward spent time on the books of Newcastle United as a youngster as he attempted to make his way in the game

• He then joined the Monkseaton Football Academy, where he was coached by then-Shields joint managers Lee Picton and Graham Fenton

• During this period, he also played for Newcastle Benfield’s Under-18s before revealing his potential in senior football with a spell at Heaton Stannington

• Blackett got his break in professional football in 2019 when he was offered a trial by Gateshead and subsequently put pen to paper after impressing

• In his first season at the International Stadium, he was loaned out to Whitby Town of the Northern Premier League and scored 10 goals in 11 games to spark a huge improvement in form for his new side

• The loan was brought to a premature end in March 2020 when the outbreak of COVID-19 led to a curtailment of the campaign

• Blackett signed a new deal with Gateshead after his impressive stint with Whitby and featured for the Heed in that season’s National League North play-offs

• Gateshead loaned him to Blyth Spartans for the following season and he notched six times in 11 starts before that season, too, was brought to an early conclusion

• Bolstered by his goal-laden loan spells, Blackett returned to Gateshead ahead of the 2021-22 season.

• Despite being unavailable for much of the campaign due to injury, he scored 10 goals as the Heed were promoted as National League North champions, averaging a goal every 99 minutes

• That was the best minutes-to-goal ratio of any player to hit double figures in National League North that season

• In November 2022, Blackett moved to Spennymoor Town and he ended last season with 11 league goals to his name in National League North

• He will now aim to continue his goalscoring form in the division after signing for South Shields