Wilf Keilty and Paul Hogg have established personal records with North Shields.

The former recently made his 250th appearance and last week Hogg played his 100th game for the Robins.

Keilty's involvement at Ralph Gardner Park began in October 1986 when he made his debut in the Northern League game away to Peterlee Newtown. After three seasons with the Robins, he moved on to Tow Law Town and Whickham before returning as player coach under assistant manager Terry Paddison.

The Shieldsmen won the Wearside League championship in 2001/2 and when Paddison left in the summer of 2002, Eddie Freeman and Kenny Charlton took over for a short period.

Their departures led to Keilty being invited to become manager and he led the side in a 10-match unbeaten run. They were unable to retain the title but clinched the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup with victory over Darlington RA.

Keilty's brief now is to clinch promotion to the Albany Northern League but the manager is also hoping to steer the side to further cup successes.

Hogg meanwhile, was recently made player coach and he celebrated his centenary appearance in last week's game against Wolviston. He played his first match in the 1999/2000 season in the draw with New Marske and although not a regular scorer, he has done reasonably well for a defender.

In fact, Hogg scored in three successive games this season including a dramatic injury-time winner in an earlier game at Wolviston.

Keilty and Hogg are not the only two with long-serving records since five other players have chalked up a number of impressive performances.

Captain David Little has played 225 games, Martin Lamb 203, Paul Ross 172, Anthony Robson, four times Player of the Year, 170 and Michael Kelly 137.

"Wilf and Paul are celebrating their personal appearances but five other players have also shown commitment and dedication to the Robins. It seems that players want to come and play at Ralph Gardner Park and stay which must say something about us," claimed secretary David Thompson.

All sides, with the exception of Ferryhill Athletic and Washington Nissan UK, who have free days, are on cup duty tomorrow which means that North Shields will go into their last game of the year in third position.

They are equal on points with second-top Stokesley SC and both clubs have three games in hand on Birtley Town who lead by eight points. Cleadon SC also have the same number of points as Stokesley and North Shields but they have played one game more than their rivals.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Wearside League Cup Second Round (1.30pm except where indicated): Barnard Castle Glaxo v Gateshead Reserves, Boldon CA v Cleadon SC, Harton and Westoe v Annfield Plain, North Shields v New Marske, Ryhope CW v Birtley Town (2 pm), Stokesley SC v Windscale, Whitehaven v Darlington RA, Wolviston v Jarrow.