We Are Blyth - Colin Myers

An excerpt from Spartans assistant boss Colin Myers' interview with the matchday programme, which will be available to read in full inside this Saturday's edition.

In the latest in a series of programme features profiling those off the pitch at Croft Park, Spartans assistant boss Colin Myers looks back at his time in the game, both as a player and as a coach. Among the highlights, he remembers Northern League success with Durham City, Jarrow Roofing's gallant run to the semi-finals of the 2004-05 FA Vase, and, more recently, his involvement with the English Colleges FA.

For Colin, it all began at Sunderland. After progressing through the youth setup on Wearside, a career at the top appeared to be on the cards. That was, until injuries took their toll.

"I signed for Sunderland at 14 as a schoolboy, and went through the ranks all the way up until first-year pro. I started off as a right-winger, believe it or not! But I ended up playing at right-back, and in midfield. I picked up a couple of injuries, and I went out on loan to Hibernian. I played a couple of reserve team games up there. I came back, and when Len Ashurst took over from Alan Durban, I moved onto Plymouth. In my first pre-season friendly there, I picked up another bad injury, and that was about it as far as the pro game was concerned."

For many, such a setback may have been a bitter pill to swallow. However, Colin admits that he was not too downbeat to call time on his professional career.

"I think, when you are injured a lot, you start to think to yourself 'maybe this isn't for me'. I had plenty of time to think about it - it wasn't out of the blue, like it is for some young lads who walk into the gaffer's office. I knew I would be getting finished, and in the end I was finished on medical grounds."

He ended up at Northern League side Brandon United, his hometown club, where he played for two seasons under future Shildon and Spennymoor Town boss, Ray Gowan. From there, it was on to nearby Durham City, a club in transformation.

"I went there in 1991, and they weren't doing particularly well at the time. They were relegated that season, actually. But then Billy Cruddas came in as manager, and they came into a bit of money. And of course, they ended up winning the Northern League a couple of years later, which was in my last season there."

Pick up a copy of the matchday programme this Saturday to read Colin's feature in full.