George McLaughlin has decided to step down as South Shields kitman for health reasons.
But supporters need not fear – he is not planning to stop being a regular face at games any time soon!
George, 70, joined the club initially to offer first-aid support in 2014, while the club’s physiotherapist Andrew Morris took a break for work reasons.
He went on to become a hugely popular figure among players, staff and supporters alike, providing a genial presence at matches and a friendly face which is now synonymous with the club.
George suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, a condition which has prompted him to step back from his kitman duties.
However, he still intends to attend every match at 1st Cloud Arena as a key part of the club’s mascot experience team.
George said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and I’m still enjoying it now. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I wish I had done it years and years ago.
“I’ve made friends with so many people here. Football has been my life for as long as I can remember, and South Shields is in my blood now.
“Now is the right time to step back from my kitman duties, but I still love the role I have now and certainly have no intention of walking away from that any time soon.
“I’m part of a big family at South Shields – you don’t get rid of me that easily!”
George cites the Wembley weekend of 2017 and Warren Byrne’s remarkable goal at Tow Law Town a year earlier as two of his favourite memories as kitman – even if the former resulted in a serious knee injury after he famously slipped on the Wembley steps!
No victory over the last nine years has been complete without George’s iconic fist pumps – an action he may now continue on the sidelines rather than the pitch.
Thank you for all your efforts as kitman, George, and for your continued enthusiasm for all things SSFC.