
Sassco’s 11-a-side team sprung into action in 2002, developed from a set of players from the different 6-a-side teams, who were playing in the Sassco Leagues since 1999.
The team never really achieved a great deal in terms of silverware, coming close in a final in their second season. However, the events undertaken by Sassco far surpass any other teams in their generation. Pioneering Adidas team kits from overseas, recording 11-a-side games in widescreen, customised soccer balls developed in Asia, overseas football tours and prestigious friendlies against Northern League teams and teams from outside their own leagues.
The team is still active and recently played at the Stadium of Light, as well as regular friendly games against local opponents. For one of their most recent games, five players from the original line up back in 2002 were present.

“There’s nee one here!” …said Bunta in an SMS message which even looked angry. Luckily for him the players were there, he just didn’t know them. Most of the players didn’t…

Over 60’s superstar, Nelly Richardson, fires in a (geri)hat-trick. Only 5 players remained from our previous, resounding 8-4 win over AFC Washington. This time we were playing on Washington’s favoured day,…

Best performance for a while. Our third 11-a-side game was rapidly coming up and the squad was a bit up and down. We had entrants, then drop-outs, and with temperatures heading…

Washington Deaf walloping. So, heading back to the car; tails between our legs and blowing out of our arses, then finding out some shithousery activity. Washington Hub was where the game…

Post-pandemic Sassco unbeaten so far in 2021. Our first game after the lock down saw a similar team and similar performance to the previous game v Hillarys. We were 2-1 down…

Another defeat for the 11-a-side. A late report from the 11-a-side game back in October, Sassco’s last one for 2020. A mix of players with debuts from Michael Brown, David Cruickshanks.…

Devastated to hear that we’ve lost Dean Matthews to Covid. Dean played for Sassco in the 6-a-side and 11-a-side from 2006 for a couple of years. He also helped to source one…

A bit of a shambles. Normally we cobble together a squad of bare 11, but with so many missing from the usual bunch, we really cobbled together a big squad. The…

Here’s a quick fitness guide and some advice based on some articles on the Internet and general common sense. As you’ll end up being a bunch of tubby’s, it’s recommended having…

9 then 15 then 12 before ending up with 11 Not a great deal to say. We had, what I thought was, our biggest squad since I created an imaginary Sassco…

Sassco 11-a-side and 6-a-side have been Adidas since 1999 to around 2008 when we decided to have a one-season dalliance with Kappa, which was abandoned mainly because most of the team…

No more Mr. Nice Guy. Player power was booted up the arse and consigned to the dust bin as I shoved all the fat lads into my favourite, defensive 4-5-1 system.…

Dog Turd Formations. So it was the final hurrah in the competitive set of games. We needed a win to be in contention of the play off to get to the…

Introductions on Facebook Messenger . . . after the game. As with all things, the hectic prelude to the game completely gets turned around by the performance. This was one of…

We had our strongest team out so it was predictable we got a hammering. From last weeks’ positive result, we just didn’t get it on. Two quick goals in the opening…

Wardle must score…and does. After last weeks debacle in attack, when Wardle, clean through on goal, in the final moments, where I’d bet my rented house on him, stumbled into a…

Wardle must score! Picture the moment. Fatty Wardle, returning for Sassco in only his second game in the last 9 years (2016 being the most recent one and 2009 before then),…

Overconfidence…something unusual for Sassco. We were exceptionally confident for this one. So confident I even suggested a strong goalkeeper to them. So confident I told Kyle Burns he was centre half…

We’re delighted that HFF Civil Engineering are sponsoring Sassco 11-a-side. This if for the duration of the Durham Elevens Football League, which is played at Gateshead on Monday evenings over the…

It takes a total of 16 minutes for McDermont to come alive. Our rearranged encounter v Newton & Co. which was originally abandoned on around 25 minutes when one of our…