By Sam Elliott and Matt Badcock
South Shields
NOT content with one former Premier League star rolling back the years, South Shields' Jon Shaw has urged another one to get his boots back on.
Julio Arca won't be dislodged in the hearts of the club's fans any time soon, but there has been another north east favourite training with the club.
Backflip king Lomana LuaLua is considering playing for the Evo-Stik NPL North newcomers and the former Newcastle United favourite, 36, could join up next week.
A decision has yet to be made but Shaw says whatever happens the FA Vase winners are in good shape.
The centre-forward turned centre-back told The NLP: “He's been down to training and it's been great having him involved.
“I'm not sure what the situation is currently but what's for certain is that Julio loves every minute of it here, he doesn't regret his decision to play for the club one bit.
“If LuaLua wanted to come on board and the club were happy then fantastic. It's worked before and it can work again.
“I remember him in his prime at Newcastle and he was a brilliant player. Those backflips were intense as well – I'd love to see him doing that down at Mariners Park!”
Favourites for promotion last year, nothing much changes a year on.
“I think I'm right in saying we're the favourites to win the league this year too, or so I've heard, but we know how to deal with that type of pressure,” Shaw, 33, said.
“I understand why we're being tipped but at the same time we're well aware this is a big step up and we're not under the impression we're going to do really well again. Not that we're not aiming high!
“We carry last season's success with us, but at the same time it counts for very little now. There was no better feeling than winning at Wembley having already won the league. The club is ambitious but we've got a big job ahead of us.”
They have to do that without David Foley. Their top-scorer last season accepted a bigger offer from north east rivals Spennymoor.
He's be a loss, says Shaw, but Graham Fenton and Lee Picton have faith in the players signed.
“David going has caused a fair bit of debate up here,” said the former Gateshead and Luton forward. “It's disappointing he's chosen to leave. He was well liked here, and our top-scorer.
“But he's chosen to play in the National League North. I understand wanting to play against some big clubs and great places, that's football. You have to made decisions.
“Our squad is strong enough to cope and we'll be ready for the opening day of the season against Trafford.”
Atherton Colls
WHEN BRAD Cooke signed for Atherton Collieries in 2012, they were in the North West Counties League Division One playing in front of crowds of around 40.
On Saturday, after two promotions including last season's Premier division title triumph, Colls will kick-off in Step 4 at Colne.
So, what's been the secret for Michael Clegg's side? Skipper Cooke says their success is down to the togetherness of the group.
“When I first signed, we played Formby on the Saturday,” Cooke says. “I bet there were 40-odd people there, if that.
“So it's unbelievable what has happened over the years and it's been great to be a part of it.
“I grew up with the manager Cleggy. We went to the same school and we lived a couple of streets away. I'd actually agreed to sign for Nelson but as soon as Cleggy got the job I stayed at Colls.
“He just pulled in a few young local lads, and a few lads we knew who were decent, and it's gone from there.
“If you've got lads from the local area you go out on a Saturday night together, you enjoy training – you can socialise a lot better so you're building relationships.
“It's that togetherness that progressed us from there and we've never looked back.
“When you're playing with your mates and travelling down to Hanley on a Saturday, it's not like you're away from the house for eight hours. It's like you're going out with your mates for the day, playing football and having a few beers on the way home.
“Team spirit is massive. When you get to November, you turn up and it's snowing and horrible, you need to have that team spirit to pull you through. We've got that in abundance.”
And Cooke says Colls have made great strides off the pitch too.
“The club works well behind the scenes,” he said. “What we've been doing on the media side to raise the profile and things like the recent kit launch video are huge.
“It's all moving in the right direction. In the past the pitch was a quagmire. Now it's a pleasure to play on.
“So everyone is working really hard off the pitch. We've just got to make sure we keep producing on it.”
