Penny Black Football Club

26/05/2026

🔄 After a challenging season heavily impacted by injury and changing availability, Penny Black are refreshing their squad for the upcoming 2026/27 season.

🔎 Having narrowly missed out on promotion the previous season, during which Penny Black secured the Terry May Trophy, the club are on the lookout for new additions as they bid to hit those heights once again.

👀 Interested in joining a welcoming squad which combines youth and experience, all striving to bring the good times back to the club? Get in touch!

01/05/2026

🏆 2025 winners Penny Black aim to defend the Terry May Trophy as they face Premier Division Redcar CF this Sunday, 3 May.

🏟️ The final of the Terry May Trophy is taking place at Teesdale Park, home of Thornaby FC with a 10.30am kick-off.

🎟️ Tickets are priced at just £2, payable by cash at the gate, and entry includes a free matchday programme.

🙌🏼 Get yourselves down to show your support for the lads!

27/04/2026

19/03/2026

🎟️ Get involved for a great cause in what will undoubtedly be a superb day!

15/02/2026

⭐️

03/02/2026

1 February 2026

❌ Penny Black were comfortably beaten in their second meeting with North Ormesby WMC in as many weeks, losing 4-0.

📖 Faced with a catalogue of absentees, there were five new faces in the squad for Penny Black.

♻️ With 18 minutes played, the home side took the lead after a recycled corner wasn’t cleared and being turned in from six yards.

🦁 The hosts were in firm control of the game having the lion’s share of possession, but with Penny Black working hard to close spaces.

✂️ Debutant Jacob Bradshaw did well to break clear down the right, flashing across the six-yard box towards Nathan Bradshaw, but the ball was cut out at the last.

🧤Elliott Morgan was called into action two minutes later, getting down brilliantly to smother an effort with the forward through on goal.

⏱️HT: North Ormesby WMC 1-0 Penny Black

🔩The home side turned the screw early in the second half, only for a wonderful Sam Simpson block to deny a second goal.

🥅 But they didn’t have to wait long, a miscontrol allowed a ball in behind which saw Elliott Morgan try to smother the effort, with the forward cutting back to score from six yards.

💥 Having given the ball away in midfield, North Ormesby WMC were set away down the left, the cross saw the forward have all the time in the world, to chest down an set for a teammate’s fizzed effort to find the bottom corner on 64 minutes.

🏹 Just six minutes later, the home side’s fourth arrived after Penny Black didn’t deal with a corner, the falling ball was brilliantly arched into the top corner from 16 yards.

📉There were several opportunities to further add to the score for the home side, but the game ended without Penny Black having a shot on target, with the hosts worthy winners.

⏱️FT: North Ormesby WMC 4-0 Penny Black

🗣️Manager Sam Loughran felt the result was more than fair. “I think that whilst we kept going, didn’t give up and gave all that we had, ultimately we fell way short of being able to be within a shout of a result.

🔉“Obviously we were missing an inordinate number of players today and I don’t care who you are, that’ll always have an impact. I can’t fault the effort of the lads who were there, and I’m grateful for that, but we’ve not been able to hit the required heights today.

💬“I thought Elf was excellent today and was brilliant to see him back involved, but Sam gets the vote from me. He never stopped running, was a real outlet and defended ever so well.”

Butler Bros Environmental Solutions LTD

Images from the wonderful Karen Harland Photography

Chris Burton - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Jake Dawson - Dovecot Bar & Kitchen & School of Sport NE
Billy Gatenby - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Adam Holland - Online Bootroom
Kieran Hutchcraft - Multicoat North East Ltd & CMJ Electrical
James Mahoney - Hartburn Roofing
Corey Mellaneo - The Lash Lady
Elliott Morgan - Blytheholme Club & Institute
Sam O'Gorman - Cortex Property Investments
Lee Robson - Morningdog Coffee
Jono Moniz - B Mac Plumbing & Heating

03/02/2026

18 January 2026

📉 Penny Black fell to defeat, despite a spirited performance, away at North Ormesby Working Men’s Club in the first game of the New Year.

❌ With no appointed match official, both teams were forced to take the whistle duties for a half apiece.

⬆️ The hosts took an early lead when the striker was allowed to waltz through on goal, round the goalkeeper and put his side in front despite being offside.

⛔️ Penny Black tried to hit back on 19 minutes after Jack Robinson sent Billy Gatenby away to the left of goal, as he evaded a defender’s lunge and tried to round the keeper only to see his effort clear the bar.

🚫 A corner from Chris Burton wasn’t dealt with by the North Ormesby WMC defence, but attempts from Jack Robinson and Andrew Lodge to convert were unsuccessful.

💥 The home side, who had plenty of possession with their visitors leaving little space, did manage to fashion an effort from the edge of the area which thumped off the bar.

🔒An Andrew Lodge free-kick into the area on the half hour was fumbled, only for Lee Robson’s resultant chest and volley for goal to whistle wide of the upright from 10 yards.

❎ Eight minutes later, Penny Black went close again with Billy Gatenby’s wonderful flick towards goal evading everyone and bouncing off the bar to safety.

⏱️HT: North Ormesby WMC 1-0 Penny Black

‼️Just nine minutes into the second half, saw Penny Black move from back to front with pace, Billy Gatenby leaving two defenders in his wake, cutting into the area and smashing an effort off the foot of the post. Simon Frank picked up the loose ball on the right and fired a ball into Chris Burton whose effort was blocked on the line.

🍃 There was another opportunity to pull level when Chris Burton was afforded the freedom of the right-side of the penalty area, cutting back for Billy Gatenby who fizzed his effort just wide of the far post.

📊 The hosts continued with their greater share of possession but couldn’t find a way through as Penny Black pushed for an equaliser.

⏫ But with 16 minutes remaining a slack pass allowed the home side space to drive forward, with the effort from the edge of the area skidding goalwards, Connor Charlton got down well to parry but saw the rebound converted to double their lead.

⛵️With the wind firmly out of the Penny Black sails, it was North Ormesby Working Men’s Club who saw the game out to secure all three points.

⏱️FT: North Ormesby WMC 2-0 Penny Black

🗣️Manager Sam Loughran praised his side’s efforts. “I couldn’t ask for much more from the lads, really. They’ve given everything, created multiple opportunities, defended well against a very good side who have ultimately been more clinical than us today.”

🔉“We’ve carried out the game plan relatively well, tried to deny them space and build from there. We’ve hit the woodwork twice, we’ve had one cleared off the line, we’ve had two fly centimetres wide and other than finishing those chances, we’ve couldn’t do much more.

💬“Billy’s caused them problems, I thought Ad had another strong performance, Batesy has ran his socks off, Lodge has broken things up really well, but the award goes to Lee today for another astute showing, he’s commanded well and led that backline brilliantly.”

Butler Bros Environmental Solutions LTD

Images from the wonderful Karen Harland Photography

Chris Burton - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Jake Dawson - Dovecot Bar & Kitchen & School of Sport NE
Billy Gatenby - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Adam Holland - Online Bootroom
Kieran Hutchcraft - Multicoat North East Ltd & CMJ Electrical
James Mahoney - Hartburn Roofing
Corey Mellaneo - The Lash Lady
Elliott Morgan - Blytheholme Club & Institute
Sam O'Gorman - Cortex Property Investments
Lee Robson - Morningdog Coffee
Jono Moniz - B Mac Plumbing & Heating

12/01/2026

14 December 2025

📉 Penny Black threatened a comeback for the second week running but ultimately fell short with Fox Covert VPR taking a deserved three points.

🔗 It was nearly the dream start for the hosts, as Billy Gatenby combined with Chris Burton to fashion an opportunity for the former, and with his effort looking destined for the bottom corner was magnificently saved by the legs of the goalkeeper.

⛔️ Penny Black had some last ditch blocking of their own to do after 10 minutes, with Lewis Scott brilliantly clearing off the line from a Fox Covert VPR shot with keeper Scott Campbell beaten.

🧤Jacob Waters did well to find Billy Gatenby in a pocket of space, with his through-ball to Chris Burton advancing on goal saw a low effort saved by the keeper.

❓The visitors were growing into the game and asking questions of the Penny Black defence with increasing intensity.

1️⃣ Three minutes before the interval, a Fox Covert VPR counter-attack bore dividends with a first time low finish found the bottom corner.

⏱️HT: Penny Black 0-1 Fox Covert VPR

🏡 Inside five minutes of the restart, the visitors doubled their lead after a cross from the right was headed home from six yards.

🎁 Fox Covert VPR’s third was gift-wrapped which allowed a simple finish from 17 yards, as the hosts found themselves 3-0 down inside an hour.

✨Billy Gatenby couldn’t make the most of an opportunity as he attempted to meet a looping ball, but quickly made amends within 50 seconds after a mazy Corey Mellaneo run found the striker, who turned with his first touch and poked the ball into the net after 68 minutes.

🎯Just seven minutes later Penny Black put themselves right back in it, as quick thinking from Simon Frank found Kieran Hutchcraft with a throw-in, and having been allowed time delivered a sumptuous cross from deep for Billy Gatenby to power a header past the keeper to give his side hope.

🚫Billy Gatenby then found Chris Burton on the edge of the penalty area who turned and hit a shot straight at the keeper on 76, two minutes before he went for an acrobatic effort that cleared the bar.

🥊 But with 83 minutes on the watch, Fox Covert VPR put themselves out of reach, scoring from the edge of the box after an unchallenged effort nestled in the bottom corner.

5️⃣ There was a fifth for the visitors in the 89th minute with Penny Black pushing on, in what is their first defeat in eight.

⏱️ FT: Penny Black 2-5 Fox Covert VPR

🗣️Manager Sam Loughran cut a frustrated figure. “I think we’ve let a real opportunity pass us by today. We gifted them two of the goals, and another two shouldn’t have been allowed to get that far with a bit of communication. You can’t give a side with that quality such a head start.”

🔉“Having watched it back, it was disappointing to see the amount of times we just gave the ball away - and that’s really not us. We didn’t really get into a rhythm nor make the most of the chances we had and ultimately were punished. It didn’t help with the number of dropouts so late, but these are the times we have to stick together and understand we’ll get more out of things if we work as a collective.

💬“Billy’s grabbed another two goals today and could have easily come away with a couple of assists too, but Ad was a stand out today, he met everything that came near him, led by example and certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.”

Butler Bros Environmental Solutions LTD

Images from the wonderful Karen Harland Photography

Chris Burton - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Jake Dawson - Dovecot Bar & Kitchen & School of Sport NE
Billy Gatenby - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Adam Holland - Online Bootroom
Kieran Hutchcraft - Multicoat North East Ltd & CMJ Electrical
James Mahoney - Hartburn Roofing
Corey Mellaneo - The Lash Lady
Elliott Morgan - Blytheholme Club & Institute
Sam O'Gorman - Cortex Property Investments
Lee Robson - Morningdog Coffee
Jono Moniz - B Mac Plumbing & Heating

12/01/2026

7 December 2025

📈 Penny Black defied the odds to come back from two goals down to eventually run out comfortable winners against Jack Hatfields.

🧤The visitors went close with Billy Gatenby stinging the hands of the keeper with a driven cross, the rebound was just out of reach of Simon Frank, with the ball falling to Jack Robinson, but his effort was straight at the keeper.

🥌 Within 90 seconds, the hosts opened the scoring, cutting in from the right to curl into the far post just inside the area.

‼️ With 21 minutes gone, the hosts doubled their advantage after miscommunication left Penny Black with a sizeable task in front of them, and were to lose Sam Simpson and Sam O’Gorman to injury quickly, leaving the visitors with no subs.

🎯 Just six minutes before the break, Billy Gatenby’s foray saw the ball drop edge of the area for James Mahoney who guided a rising effort like a missile past the keeper to halve the deficit.

📝 But as the game entered the 45th minute, the script was written for former Penny Black defender Steven Brown to rise highest from a recycled corner to head Jack Hatfields 3-1 in front.

🔘Penny Black pushed for a way back into the game and were gifted an opportunity after Billy Gatenby was clattered when rising to meet a looped ball, with the striker dusting himself down and finding the net from the penalty spot four minutes into added time.

⏱️HT: Jack Hatfields 3-2 Penny Black

🫁 With just the 11 bodies remaining on the pitch, Penny Black knew they were in for a lung-busting second 45 against a side with a plethora of options from the bench.

☄️ Midway through the half, an underhit clearance from the Jack Hatfield’s goalkeeper fell to Jack Robinson out of the left, 45 yards up from goal. With work still to do, his first touch took him forward, his second was an effort that sailed over the keeper and bounced into the net from 40 yards out, wide on the left to give Penny Black an equaliser they’d craved.

🔩With the Jack Hatfields disappointment palpable, Penny Black turned the screw. Within four minutes, Adam Holland picked out Billy Gatenby on the left, his surging run saw him cut back from the byline to Chris Burton whose poachers instinct saw him convert from six yards out.

⏳Jack Hatfields tried to find a way back into the game they’d led for so long, and with tiring Penny Black legs the minutes ticked slowly over.

🌤️ Billy Gatenby was set away and competed with the onrushing keeper, finding Simon Frank who’s effort was blocked on the line, but fell to James Mahoney who doubled his tally for the day and put daylight between the sides.

💥With almost the final act of the game, Kieran Hutchcraft picked out Billy Gatenby from a drop-ball, who muscled his way between two defenders, smashing an effort goalwards that pinged off the post and into the net to seal the point.

⏱️FT: Jack Hatfields 3-6 Penny Black

🗣️Manager Sam Loughran spoke of his pride towards his players. “I can only describe that as one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever seen from us. We’ve had drop outs this morning, we’ve got so many out of position, lads coming back from injury, then lost both Sam’s in the first half, meaning we had to go with what we had - and every one of them has given everything to see that through.

🔊“At 3-1 down, you’re thinking it’s not our day, but we steadied the ship, shifted a couple of things around and pushed on with determination.

💬“The lads were first class today. Lodge was superb in goal, commanded ever so well and Billy’s grabbed two goals and was a constant thorn. It was ever so tight, but Lee just misses out despite a top drawer performance which was commanding and composed, with Jam just nipping ahead. He’s ticked the midfield over brilliantly, broke things up, set us forward and bagged two goals at vital times.”

Butler Bros Environmental Solutions LTD

Images from the wonderful Karen Harland Photography

Chris Burton - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Jake Dawson - Dovecot Bar & Kitchen & School of Sport NE
Billy Gatenby - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Adam Holland - Online Bootroom
Kieran Hutchcraft - Multicoat North East Ltd & CMJ Electrical
James Mahoney - Hartburn Roofing
Corey Mellaneo - The Lash Lady
Elliott Morgan - Blytheholme Club & Institute
Sam O'Gorman - Cortex Property Investments
Lee Robson - Morningdog Coffee
Jono Moniz - B Mac Plumbing & Heating

24/11/2025

🎢 It was a seven-goal thriller in the first round of the Terry May Trophy as Penny Black progressed at the expense of Premier League Woodman Arms.

☀️ It was the visitors that started the game the brightest, seeing a couple of efforts clear Connor Charlton’s bar in the opening few minutes.

🎯Penny Black had attempts of their own, Andrew Lodge hitting a dropping ball from the edge of the area on target after five minutes, before Billy Gatenby skimmed his low effort just wide having been found by Jack Robinson three minutes later.

‼️The pendulum swung back the way of Woodman Arms, twice going close in as many minutes. An effort fell just wide having rounded Connor Charlton, moments before the Penny Black goalkeeper was forced into a full-stretch save away to his right to tip over.

💥The resultant corner proved decisive. After a scramble in the six-yard box that saw the ball blocked before hitting the crossbar, the rebound was turned in to give Woodman Arms the lead on 23 minutes.

🎟️ As was to become a theme in the game, the lead didn’t last long. With 25 minutes played Adam Holland played a sumptuous ball in behind centre-back and full-back for the onrushing Josh Marley who showed composure to deliver a wicked ball across goal, only for the goalkeeper to divert into his net when trying to reach it.

🚫 Seven minutes before the break, Penny Black raced clear again with Billy Gatenby haring into the area and with Junior Masandi unmarked to his left, opted to shoot only for the goalkeeper to produce a superb block to keep the game in the balance.

⏱️HT: Penny Black 1-1 Woodman Arms

📈The hosts started apace in the second half, as Joe Simpson drove at the Woodman Arms’ backline, finding Billy Gatenby to his left, who this time found Junior Masandi with a low ball across goal, who turned in from close range to put his side in front.

🟰This time the lead was shorter-lived, as just 60 seconds later Woodman Arms restored parity with Penny Black stretched and the effort comfortably finding the net on 51 minutes.

🧤With Woodman Arms looking dangerous on the break, there was a full-blooded flash across the face of the Penny Black goal, Adam Holland did all he could to prevent it finding an onrushing striker on the edge of six yards, only to see the block fly towards the bottom corner where Connor Charlton was on hand to produce a magnificent save low to his right.

🔘With 63 minutes on the clock, Woodman Arms were rightly awarded a penalty kick which was duly dispatched to put them 3-2 up and into the lead for a second time.

2️⃣ But yet again, the equaliser came instantly. Substitute Arron Robinson delivered a cultured cross to the far post for Jack Robinson to head towards goal, only for the keeper to partially block, with Junior Masandi on hand to convert under pressure for his second of the game.

⚖️ As both sides pushed for a winner, the game hung in the balance awaiting a grandstand finish.

📸 With five minutes remaining, substitute Chris Burton, who’d only been on the pitch for less than two minutes, was fortunately only half-caught by a knee-high lunge on the left, with referee Gary Broughton playing a wonderful advantage. The subsequent charge and flash across goal from inside the area found Junior Masandi at the back post to turn home and seal his hat-trick.

⛔️ Woodman Arms pushed in the final five minutes but despite a string of corners and breaks, couldn’t find the telling touch as Penny Black progress to the quarter-finals of the Trophy they won last season.

⏱️FT: Penny Black 4-3 Woodman Arms

🗣️Manager Sam Loughran lauded his player’s efforts. “We’ve had to dig in today against a really decent side who had an abundance of quality on show today. It was a real gutsy performance in a real back-and-forth type of game and the energy levels needed for that were huge."

🔊“You’ve just got to look at the timings of the goals. We’ve been ahead for a total of six minutes in the whole game, whilst they were ahead for just three minutes - and yet there were seven goals. Great game for the neutral! I thought we worked our goals ever so well and battled throughout. A really pleasing win.

💬“Connor has pulled off some sensational saves today. Addy has saved us with some great blocks and covering. Junior has a habit of being in the right place at the right time, bagging a hat-trick which takes his tally to 10 already and is ever so unlucky to miss out, but Josh Marley pips it for a stellar performance full of quality, assertion and intent, both offensively and defensively.”

Butler Bros Environmental Solutions LTD

Images from the wonderful Karen Harland Photography

Chris Burton - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Jake Dawson - Dovecot Bar & Kitchen & School of Sport NE
Billy Gatenby - Turners Glazing and Repairs
Adam Holland - Online Bootroom
Kieran Hutchcraft - Multicoat North East Ltd & CMJ Electrical
James Mahoney - Hartburn Roofing
Corey Mellaneo - The Lash Lady
Elliott Morgan - Blytheholme Club & Institute
Sam O'Gorman - Cortex Property Investments
Lee Robson - Morningdog Coffee
Jono Moniz - B Mac Plumbing & Heating