Two great Shildon institutions – the football club and Hackett and Baines shop on Main Street – will come together in July to mark a momentous joint milestone.
It will be 125 years since both the football club moved onto the Dean Street ground – still its home – and since Jack Tarry opened his first shop, chiefly selling work clothes and pit boots.
The anniversary will be marked throughout July, with exhibitions organised by Durham Amateur Football Trust in the town library and other Shildon venues.
It’s hoped that there’ll be space in the resurgent Railway Institute, possibly in the Civic Hall – marking its own 50th anniversary – and, of course, in Hackett and Baines’ window.
There never was a Hackett, or even a Baines. Not in Shildon, anyway. Jack Tarry had learned the pawnbroking trade in Hartlepool and Kettering, where businesses, respectively called Hackett and Baines, stood opposite his own workplace.
“No one really knows why he chose those names when he opened up in Shildon” admits Philip Tarry, Jack’s great grandson, who in his 70s still keeps an eye on the family business. Roger Blamire, his business partner, is also a family member.
The shop, still thriving, changed gradually from a multi-department store to one specialising in what Philip terms “big ticket” items – chiefly beds, reclining chairs and other furniture and clothing for the “larger” man.
A commitment to old fashion customer service draws people from all over the North-East. Hackett and Baines will sponsor a historical brochure sketching the history of shop, football club and Shildon itself which, it’s hoped, will be available at exhibition venues.
It’s also hoped that Shildon primary school pupils – hopefully joined by Greenfield Arts College in Newton Aycliffe – will take part in a painting and photography competition based around the Dean Street ground – a cycle track before the footballers moved in.
Dave Reynolds of the Shildon Heritage Alliance, an active member of the organising committee, is also making a video history of the football club.
Local county councillors, particularly Shirley Quinn, have shown much enthusiasm for the idea.
It’s hoped that a special football match, against South Shields, will help kick off the event.
Former Shildon resident Mike Amos, co-ordinating the events for the Durham Amateur Football Trust, said that DAFT had already been given a “treasure trove” of early history of both football club and town but would greatly welcome more.
“It really is a fascinating story, from the Victorian games of fives played out the back of the ground for colossal sums of money to the kids fined by magistrates for playing football in Dean Street. There might be a bit more encouragement today.”
DAFT is a charity with the dual aim of remembering the great days of amateur football and promoting today’s non-league game and its clubs across the county.
The Trust would very much welcome the loan of any artefacts – especially old photographs, press cuttings or memorabilia – relating to Shildon football club or to Hackett and Baines.
Mike Amos can be contacted at mikeamos81@aol.com or on 01325 377463.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
