WHITLEY Bay legend Paul Chow has suddenly quit the club, and joined Jarrow Roofing.

Chow has become a talisman at Hillheads during his eight years at the club, and his goals have fired Whitley to three FA Vase triumphs. He set a record by scoring the fastest ever goal at the new Wembley, after 21 seconds against Wroxham in the 2010 final. Along with Lee Kerr, he scored in each of the three finals.

During his eight years at the club, the 34 year old scored 270 goals in 404 appearances, 37 short of the club record.

“Paul has been a fantastic servant to the club during his eight years with us and we wish him nothing but the best in his new venture with Jarrow,” said chairman Paul McIlduff.

“He has been a very big part in some of the greatest moments in the history of Whitley Bay Football Club and, on behalf of myself and the other directors, would like to publicly thank him for everything he has done to help raise the profile of Whitley Bay.

“Paul will be a huge miss, but I know it was always his ambition to return to Jarrow at some point, so when they made an approach, we were, although reluctant to lose him, happy to accede to his request and waived the usual seven-day notice to allow him to sign immediately.”

Chow decided to quit when he was left out of the starting line up for the home game against Newton Aycliffe last Saturday.

“A lot has changed at Whitley and most of my team-mates from our Vase run have moved on, so maybe it’s inevitable that I do too,” he said.

“But maybe it was not getting picked to start against Newton Aycliffe that helped me make up my mind, but at any club when a new manager comes in, players and formations change; I understand that and appreciate what a difficult task any new boss has.

“However, at my age, the need is there to be playing as much as possible, so the opportunity to return to Jarrow was too good a one to miss.”

Manager Paddy Atkinson said that he did his best to change Chow’s mind. “After a heart to heart and an hour of persuasion, I wasn’t able to change Paul’s mind about leaving. He wanted to leave when Leon Ryan was manager and I managed to change his mind once I came back in. I couldn’t change it a second time so he leaves with my blessing as he’s a well-respected person and a legend at Whitley Bay. I just wished he’d stayed until the end of the season.”

Bedlington’s new manager Gary Innes was delighted with his team after they won his first game in charge last week.

Innes was appointed almost a fortnight ago following the departure of Ian Skinner to Ashington, and his team gave him the perfect start when they won 2-1 at Billingham Synthonia.

“I thought the players did really well at Synners,” he said. “I only had my first training session a couple of days before, and on the night before the game I had six different teams in mind. Fortunately I chose the right one!

“Stephen Young scored two great goals for us, and we soaked up the pressure in the second half. Considering that Bedlington had conceded a few goals until last Saturday, I was very happy with the way we defended.”

Innes started his football career at Sheffield United, before joining Darlington in the summer of 1996.

“I played regularly when Jim Platt was manager, but when he left and David Hodgson arrived, I never really played. I had a loan spell at Waterford, and then when Jim went to Gateshead, and I was swopped with Kenny Lowe. I had a season and a half with Gateshead, then I played for a few clubs in the Northern League. When I was at Whickham with Tony Ainley, we won the Durham Challenge Cup.

“I had a spell as assistant manager at Tow Law with Ian Davison, then as first team coach at Newcastle Benfield.

“I was interviewed for the Bedlington job during the summer, and I was in the last two with Ian Skinner. I missed out, but the chairman, Ronan Liddane, said he would keep my number. The position came up, and sure enough the chairman phoned me.

“The club want to win something in the near future, but in the meantime they want to finish in the top half of the table this season.”

FA Vase

North Shields skipper Kevin Hughes says that they have a “brilliant opportunity” to progress in the Vase when they go to Erith and Belvedere in the quarter finals this afternoon.

Shields are the surprise packages of the competition, having been promoted from the Northern League second division last season, and they’re confident that they can win at Welling United’s ground in London today and reach the semi finals for the first time in their history.

“It’s a massive, massive game for us, but it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to progress to the semi finals,” he said.

“The squad that the manager, Graham Fenton, has put together has got excellent spirit. There are no big time charlies or cliques in the squad, and everybody turns up for training. Everyone encourages each other, and there’s a fantastic camaraderie.

“We have a brilliant manager, and he and his management team put on some great training sessions. A lot of our success this season is down to him. He’s used his past experience in the game to good effect, and he’s very knowledgeable.”

Shields set off yesterday for London – their first game in this season’s competition outside the north east -- and despite the long distance, everyone was looking forward to the trip.

“The journey and overnight stay will give us plenty of time to get our team spirit going. Everybody is looking forward to a nice weekend away, the journey down and the overnight stay in the hotel. We’ve got all sorts planned.

“We’ll make sure that we prepare properly, and get our camaraderie going.”

Striker Gareth Bainbridge has scored 15 goals in the Vase so far this season, and Hughes said; “Gareth has been absolutely brilliant over the last two seasons. He was top scorer last season, and he’s banging them in again this season. He’s a great character and a good lad to have around the dressing room. He’s a natural finisher. But there are other lads who can score goals, such as Denver Morris and Dean Holmes, and the lads in midfield.”

Shields are the last Northern League club left in the competition – the league has had at least two at this stage for several years – and Hughes said; “I really thought Dunston would win last Saturday, but it just goes to show that there are still some good teams left in the competition. To be honest, I don’t think we’ll get a better chance.

“We’re the joint favourites for the competition, but that gives great credit to the lads because it shows how well we’ve done this season. At the start of the season, we set ourselves the targets of finishing in the top half of the league and having a good Vase run, and we’ve achieved those already. We know that on our day, we can beat anybody.”

Shields are the 4/1 favourites to win the Vase, along with Shaw Lane Aquaforce. The other odds are: Tadcaster 9/2, Glossop 6/1, St Austell 10/1, Erith and Belvedere 12/1, Highworth United 20/1, Ascot United 25/1.

Erith and Belvedere play in the Southern Counties East League, and are second in the table behind the team that Shields beat in the last round, Phoenix Sports. They have lost just once in their twelve home league games this season.