Spartans boost media team

Fresh on the back of the appointment of a new managerial team for next season led by Tom Wade, the Blyth Spartans' media team have announced a hat-trick of new signings for the 2013-14 campaign.

On Tuesday the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club revealed that Wade and coaches John Cornforth and Carl King had taken over at Croft Park on a permanent basis following February's departure of former manager Paddy Atkinson. They'll now be backed up in the Premier Division club's growing media department by Junior Press Officer Michael Soulsby, Match Day Video Officer Stuart Dick and new Programme Editor Adam Sancaster as the club's seeks to increase its portfolio of ever expanding media output.

Soulsby is already a familiar face at Croft Park, having supported the club from the terraces for many years. He will be liaising with Senior Press Officer Mark Carruthers, as well as writing match previews and Player of the Month pieces for the official website.

Michael said: "I'm really excited about joining the club's media team and it's an honour to work with them directly. Being able to write up and publish news and support the rest of the media team is why I want to be here and it's just great to be officially linked with the team I've supported for years."

Dick brings a wealth of media experience in various roles from North East clubs, including Bedlington Terriers and Newcastle United Womens Football Club. He will be responsible for shooting footage of all home games next season and uploading the highlights to the club's new YouTube channel, BSAFCTV, which will be officially launched in July.

Dicks said: "I'm delighted to join the at Blyth Spartans media team. For me it is all about expanding my repertoire as a journalist in a professional environment. I have been Press Officer at two other local clubs, commentated for Radio Northumberland and I'm now looking forward to creating video coverage for Blyth."

Sancaster takes over as Blyth's Programme Editor following a successful interview with the Blyth Spartans Supporters’ Club. A Sports Journalism student at the University of Sunderland and heading into his third year in September, he said: "I'm excited to be given the massive opportunity to edit the match day programmes and so grateful to be here. I am really impressed with the current clean, sleek look of the programme, but - as expected - I will be looking to make a few tweaks.

"Naturally, the chance to take on a role of responsibility at one of the most popular clubs in the North East was too good not to go for and, ultimately, I hope that everyone will continue reading the programmes next season."

Blyth's former Programme Editor Glen Maxwell has a taken on a new role as Visual Media Officer and backed the trio. He added: "The Spartans' media team is nearly twice the size now with these appointments, which - giving our plans for expansion - will only help us to improve our output next season.

"It's great to be able to welcome Michael, Stuart and Adam to the media team. I spoke to both Stuart and Adam before they were given their jobs and, I have to say, I was very impressed with the pair of them. Michael has already submitted content on the website as well and he looks to be another great acquisition to the team."