Our schools Matchday Experience Programme is aimed primarily at children in Years 5 and 6. Many of the pupils we met in the 2018-19 season will be turning 16 in 2023, when we hope they will be our next generation of supporters.

It includes:

1. School Visit – Visit by a number of first-team players to the school for an assembly-type session where we can say a little bit about the club, give out tickets for an upcoming game and give the children an opportunity to ask some of the players questions.
2. Match Tickets –  We distribute FREE match tickets to every Year 5 and Year 6 child AND an accompanying adult. 
3. Matchday Play Park – On the day of the game the children are invited to take part in our matchday play park, which includes football, quick sticks hockey, tennis and rounders between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. 
4. Guard of Honour – School choose 10 children to form a guard of honour as the players come out onto the pitch at 3pm. 
5. The Match – an opportunity to enjoy a South Shields FC game.
6. Post Match Workshop (Subject to Confirmation)– We are delighted that The Word, National Centre for the Written Word in South Shields, has offered each school six places to participate in a post-match workshop where children will write and film a match report based on their experience.

In 2018-19 we visited 3,263 children in 23 different primary schools. The programme resulted in 1,903 children and parents enjoying a matchday experience.