SOUTH SHIELDS steamed to their fourth trophy of a fantastic season at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, as over 13,000 Mariners fans looked on with glee, writes Joe Cooper.

Shields have undoubtedly been the North East’s team of the season, winning every competition they entered and winning their last two finals 5-0 and 4-0.

Walking down Wembley Way in the sun at 9am, there were already hordes of Mariners fans walking around and singing. Out in force in claret and blue, the well-behaved group flocked to Covent Garden before and after the clash, with many staying on until the early hours.

The scenes were a far cry from the state the club found itself in just a few years ago, forced to play their home games at Peterlee, with as few as 12 fans turning up to watch.

Winning the Vase convincingly caps the perfect season for a rejuvenated club who are only looking upwards. One man who was in the perfect position to reflect on Shields’ meteoric rise over the last two years is Barrie Smith.

Smith has been with the club for nine years and stuck with them through the ‘dark days’ at Peterlee. Speaking after yesterday’s win he said: “It’s just something you dream of, but with the squad we’ve got, I always had a feeling we could do well in the Vase.

“It meant the world to me [to get on the pitch] - I got a bit emotional as I was standing there and Wayne [Phillips] was coming off because it’s not something I ever thought I’d do.

“To have my family on the pitch and to top it off and win it was extra special.”

Smith’s story is just one of many jovial tales to come out of the win. Even ex-Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca was overcome by the occasion.

“It was a great experience to take part in the game. I enjoyed every minute,” he said.

Manager Graham Fenton, who won the competition two years ago with rivals North Shields, was happy for his key midfielder who had never visited the ground as a player before Sunday.

“I was delighted for Julio Arca, because winning at Wembley is something that he has always dreamed of,” he said.

The club now turns its attention to next campaign, one in which they will be playing in the Evo-Stik First Division North.

A league famous for its long away days, next season will bring up new challenges for the Mariners, who have lofty ambitions of rising up towards the Football League.

Nevertheless, they will ride towards next season on a wave of optimism and with two full-time managers, after joint-bosses Graham Fenton and Lee Picton signed new deals which will involve running a club academy.

Wembley victory still fresh in the mind, the only way is up for Shields. Next season can’t come soon enough for Mariners fans.