Factfile: Paul Blackett

Daniel Prince
Jun 16, 2023
2 min read

Paul Blackett swapped Spennymoor Town for South Shields to become the Mariners’ third signing of the summer.

We take a closer look at the 25-year-old striker, who is well-versed in life in National League North…

Paul Blackett was born on February 15th, 1998 in Newcastle
The forward spent time on the books of Newcastle United as a youngster as he attempted to make his way in the game
He then joined the Monkseaton Football Academy, where he was coached by then-Shields joint managers Lee Picton and Graham Fenton
During this period, he also played for Newcastle Benfield’s Under-18s before revealing his potential in senior football with a spell at Heaton Stannington
Blackett got his break in professional football in 2019 when he was offered a trial by Gateshead and subsequently put pen to paper after impressing
In his first season at the International Stadium, he was loaned out to Whitby Town of the Northern Premier League and scored 10 goals in 11 games to spark a huge improvement in form for his new side
The loan was brought to a premature end in March 2020 when the outbreak of COVID-19 led to a curtailment of the campaign
Blackett signed a new deal with Gateshead after his impressive stint with Whitby and featured for the Heed in that season’s National League North play-offs
Gateshead loaned him to Blyth Spartans for the following season and he notched six times in 11 starts before that season, too, was brought to an early conclusion
Bolstered by his goal-laden loan spells, Blackett returned to Gateshead ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Despite being unavailable for much of the campaign due to injury, he scored 10 goals as the Heed were promoted as National League North champions, averaging a goal every 99 minutes
That was the best minutes-to-goal ratio of any player to hit double figures in National League North that season
In November 2022, Blackett moved to Spennymoor Town and he ended last season with 11 league goals to his name in National League North
He will now aim to continue his goalscoring form in the division after signing for South Shields