Steve Carney RIP

Everyone connected with Spartans are shocked and saddened by today's news that our club legend Steve Carney passed away this morning. Steve had been battling with Pancreatic cancer and the club were made aware of his passing earlier on today. He was a member of the legendary Spartans side that reached the fifth round of the FA Cup during the 1977/78 season taking Wrexham to a replay that was played out in front of over 42,000 fans at St James Park.

Steve joined the club from North Shields at the beginning of the 1977/78 season playing both in defence and in midfield. He scored his first goal for Spartans in a 5-0 win at Ashington, with his brother Rob on the scoresheet that day too. In his debut season Steve scored a total of sixteen goals in sixty three games with the most famous being an equaliser in the epic 3-2 win at First Division Stoke City to help set up the tie against Wrexham. His final goal of that season was the first in the 2-1 Northumberland Senior Cup Final win at St James Park over his former club, North Shields.

The following season Steve made thirty five appearances scoring three goals and his form had attracted the attention of Newcastle United. During the early part of the 1979/80 season that attention turned into a bid and Steve joined the Magpies for a fee of £1,000. His last appearance in what would be his first spell at Spartans came in a 5-0 victory at Whitley Bay, Steve scoring the fifth goal of the game.

Making his Magpies debut in a 2-0 home win over Fulham alongside former Spartans team mate Alan Shoulder, Steve went on to make 149 apperances for United. His only goal being the Magpies first of the season as they returned to the top flight in August 1984 at Filbert Street, home of Leicester City.

After leaving United he went on to play for Darlington and Hartlepool United, also being loaned to Rochdale by the former. He would return to Croft Park via Tow Law Town in March 1987 helping Spartans win the Northern League title both that season and the following year too. He was to remain a key part of the club until the end of the 1990/91 when he announced his retirement after making 167 appearances during his second spell at the club.

Current Spartans manager Tom Wade revealed his admiration for Steve and expressed his sadness at his passing. He said "I played with Steve for half a season at Dudley and he just never missed a tackle. He was seen as an old school hardman but he had a lot of talent on the ball. He is a true Blyth legend both on and off the pitch and he will be sadly missed by not only by everyone at the club but by the town as a whole."

Everyone connected with Spartans wish to pass on their condolences to Steve's family and he will never be forgotten by the club and our supporters.