It’s Day Eight of the SSFC Advent Calendar – and you now have the chance to enter the competition to win a place on the SSFC Foundation Christmas holiday course.

Today’s feature is kicked off by captain Robert Briggs, who delivers his message for supporters in the tweet below.

Between now and Christmas Eve, you will be able to enter a range of competitions to win prizes courtesy of the club and several of its sponsors.

The latest item up for grabs is a place on the SSFC Foundation Christmas holiday course on December 21 and 22.

You have until 9am on Wednesday to submit all of your four answers together via email to info@southshieldsfc.co.uk.

The first question, asked by Dillon Morse, was: Which club did South Shields defeat 3-0 on the opening day of this season?

The second question, asked by Phil Turnbull, was: Which club does Phil Turnbull’s twin brother Stephen currently manage?

The third question, asked by Callum Ross, was: Which club did Shields beat 4-0 in the FA Vase final in 2017?

Today’s fourth and final question is: Which club did Robert Briggs score against in the final qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup this season?

Later on Tuesday, we will announce the winner of a 50% discount voucher of club sponsor Fugati.

We would like to thank Fugati for their continued support. You can visit their website by clicking here.

We are also currently highlighting our second charity of the month, Hospitality and Hope.

This is a fantastic South Shields-based charity which supports vulnerable and homeless people in our community through areas including a food bank and a supported housing project.

To find out more about Hospitality and Hope, click here. To donate financially, click here.

The charity is also this month publicising a reverse advent calendar, which highlights some of the items they are most in need of this festive season. You can read the items they require in the graphic below.

Over the month, donations will also be encouraged towards the club’s charitable Foundation, which works with hundreds of children each week and does such fantastic work within our community.

To support the Foundation with a donation, please click here.

Thank you for your continued support and keep an eye out for Day Nine – and the launch of another competition – tomorrow!

South Shields FC is proud to be supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign as part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Players will don rainbow laces in Tuesday’s Buildbase FA Trophy tie at Ashton United, which is taking place the day before Rainbow Laces Day 2020.

The club’s Twitter and Facebook accounts will also proudly share the message by adding a rainbow theme to the crest.

This year’s Rainbow Laces initiative aims to educate, bring communities together and encourage support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) inclusion in sport, working to ‘make sport everyone’s game’.

We are committed to ensuring that our club is at all times a safe and welcoming place for LGBT+ people, their friends and families, and somewhere that discrimination of any kind is not tolerated.

We firmly believe that football is for everyone and our support for this initiative, and LGBT+ people in football and beyond, is total.

South Shields captain Robert Briggs, who will wear a rainbow captain’s armband during the Ashton game, said: “Football is a sport with a remarkable power to bring people together, regardless of their race, religion, sexuality, gender or nationality.

“It can break down barriers and produce such joy, which is why it is so important that all members of our community feel safe and welcome to attend games and support their club.

“That is what is at the heart of the Rainbow Laces campaign and why we are so proud to support it.

“Football is everyone’s game and if all those within it work together, we can help to stamp out all forms of discrimination and ensure nobody feels it is not a safe environment for them.”

The Rainbow Laces campaign is led by the UK’s leading lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity, Stonewall, in partnership with TeamPride. This year, it is aiming to pass the mark of one million pairs of Rainbow Laces sent out and highlights that ‘we are strongest when we come together’.

The initiative seeks to inspire sports fans and participants, educate everyone about what it’s like to be LGBT+ in sport and encourage people to take action, by raising funds for LGBT+ equality or calling for change against the discrimination LGBT+ people face in sport.

The club urges supporters to step out and be an LGBT ally throughout this year’s Rainbow Laces campaign and beyond. You can also show your support on social media by using the hashtag #RainbowLaces.

For more information about Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces, click here.

Make sport everyone’s game. Please play your part.

Robert Briggs has been appointed as South Shields’ captain.

The midfielder takes the armband from Jon Shaw, who will continue as a key member of the playing squad but has passed on his captaincy responsibilities after taking the role of joint assistant manager. Blair Adams has been named vice-captain.

Briggs is the longest-serving player in the Mariners’ squad, having made 279 appearances across two spells at the club.

The 28-year-old’s current stint began in August 2015 and he has since been part of three promotion campaigns and six trophy wins.

As Shields prepare to kick-off a new era under the sole management of Graham Fenton, with Shaw and Brian Smith his assistants, Briggs has told of his pride after being entrusted with the armband.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been offered the chance to become captain of the club.

“It’s a great honour for me and there have been some incredible captains in the past, including Leepaul Scroggins, Barrie Smith, Julio Arca and Shawsy.

“I appreciate the faith shown in me by Graham, Jon and Bri, and my aim doesn’t change because I’m now captain.

“Everything is still the same in the sense of trying to be successful at the club and getting the club as far up the football pyramid as possible.

“It’s great to have Blair as vice-captain as well because he is a tremendous player and a big part of the dressing room.

“Again, for me and him the goals don’t change.

“Winning every game we play in is the target.”

Joint assistant manager Jon Shaw said: “After a conversation with Fents and Bri, we’ve decided that with my new added responsibilities as joint assistant manager it’s the right time to pass over the captain’s armband.

“The natural progression from vice-captain and the right man for the job is Briggsy.

“He already acts like a leader in the changing room, on the training pitch and on game day with his performances.

“I’ll be proud to follow him out of the tunnel and I’m sure the lads will be happy with him leading them, which he has done so well on many occasions already.”

Vice-captain Blair Adams said: “I’m proud to have been named vice-captain and it has made me even more excited for the season to be back up and running.

“The squad is ready to go and we are determined to make this a successful season.”