FORMER PLAYERS
Cramlington Juniors Football Club has been the starting point for many current and ex professional football players. It has always been, and still is a club that the local professional teams including Newcastle United, Sunderland AFC, Middlesbrough FC and others look to, to provide the next generation of players.
Here are just a few that have been ex Cramlington Juniors FC players and have gone on to become professional.
ALAN SHEARER
Alan Shearer is one of the best known names in English football. He retired from the game as Newcastle United’s greatest goalscorer of all-time.
Alan was born in Gosforth on the 13th August 1970, and first showed a real interest in football at the age of six like most kids in the area, playing in the back street or playing on some rough ground.
It wasn’t just a dream for Alan, from the first time he could kick a football he wanted to be a professional footballer. With his heart set on becoming a professional footballer, he was soon demonstrating that he had enough talent to go a long way.
During his boys club years he played for Cramlington Juniors and was a prolific goalscorer. A local scout, Jack Hickson, spotted Alan playing for Cramlington and realised he was something special. It was Jacks’ recommendation that persuaded Southampton to sign Alan on apprenticeship terms at the age of 15 from Cramlington Juniors...… the rest is history!
STEVEN TAYLOR
Steven was born in Greenwich, London on the 23rd January 1986 but moved to Whitley Bay just before his 1st birthday.
Even at a young age Steven was already showing promising signs and joined local boys clubs but couldn’t get a game so he decided to try Cramlington Juniors. Cramlington recognised his potential and Steven was given the opportunity to play and took it with both hands.
As luck would have it, an early training session with Cramlington Juniors saw Newcastle United scouts in attendance. John Carver liked what he saw offered Taylor the chance to join the Newcastle United Development Centre. Steven’s talent and dedication saw him progress quickly eventually joined the Newcastle United Academy squad.
Steven had a successful time Newcastle United having become a true ‘local hero’ to the Newcastle United fans and a reminder to all local boys club players of what can be achieved!
KELL WATTS
Kell was born 3rd November 1999 and grew up in Seahouses, Northumberland.
He was playing for Cramlington Juniors when Newcastle United academy came knocking. Kell has was given his first professional contract in 2018 at Newcastle United. He made his first-team debut for Newcastle in the Premier League in July 2020.
GRAHAM FENTON
Graham was born in Whitley Bay on the 22nd May 1974 and was a prolific goalscorer for Cramlington Juniors before joining Aston Villa as a trainee in June 1990 and turning professional in February 1992.
JACK COLBACK
Born in Killingworth on 24th October 1989, Jack played for Cramlington from the age of 7 until signing for Sunderland AFC Academy as an U11.
He progressed through the Academy to sign a professional contract with Sunderland on 30th May 2008. First team opportunities proved to be elusive for young Jack until he was sent on loan to Ipswich Town during the 2009/10 season where he made 41 appearances, scoring 5 times before returning to Sunderland to make his Premiership debut for Sunderland at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Coming on as a 77min replacement for Steed Malbranque, Jack was booked in the 85th minute and then received a second yellow in injury time in Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat.
Not a debut you are likely to forget!