Matchday Programme: Issue 1 James Main on his time as the club's media manager

James Main talks about his time as Head of Media at Hebburn in the last two seasons, his appreciation for the club, and his plans following his graduation

It has been an absolute honour to serve as Head of Media at Hebburn Town over the past two seasons during my time at University.

When I first got involved at a Northern League club in 2017/18, namely Seaham Red Star, I never expected to see such high quality and entertaining football at such a low level.

Before I studied Sports Journalism at the University of Sunderland, I was a season ticket holder at Morecambe so I was used to League 2 football which at the best of times was dull. You do get the odd good game at that level though!

When I saw the opportunity arise to come onboard at Hebburn Town, I jumped at the chance. I didn’t know a great deal about the club, but when I met with Stephen Rutherford and he explained the club’s ambitions it was a no-brainer to join.

I’m so glad that I did get onboard at the club. I have seen some great football, worked with two great managers in Scott Oliver and Kevin Bolam and met some really great people which I will come onto in a moment.

It’s a good job I wasn’t bad luck to Hebburn like I was at Seaham – I saw some cracking wins. In 2018/19 the ones that come to mind are a 9-0 win over Whitley Bay, a big 4-0 win over City of Liverpool in the first round of the Vase and a dramatic 2-1 win over Hallam.

Equally last season a 13-0 win over Birtley Town, a last-minute winner from Robbie Spence away at Longridge in the Vase and many more – it was just a shame the season was cut short by Covid-19!

During my time, I’ve seen, interviewed and got to know many good players including the likes of Graeme Armstrong, Paul Chow and Louis Storey.

I’ve also really enjoyed getting to know and having good banter with the likes of Stephen Rutherford, Vin Pearson, Ricky Bainbridge, Dave Patterson, Helen and Peter Stoker, Colin and Terry Smith, Kim Furlong, Mick and William Laffey, Sean Harrison, Richard Waugh, Tony Robinson, Bob Smith and many more.

What has particularly touched me is the way everyone at the club appreciates the work you do for them, and that has really helped me along the way.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped and assisted me in my work at the club, the likes of Kieran Archer (who now steps up to become Head of Media for this season), Ed Painter, Stephen Rutherford, Sean Harrison and Richard Waugh.

I bet you’re thinking, where’s he going? Well now I’ve graduated from university, I am making the move to London to start a new job next week.

I am going to be working as a Personal Assistant for a disabled Sports Journalism student at the University of East London, and I hope to do some freelance work as a journalist alongside this too.

I will be at the Hemsworth game, and I look forward to that as it’ll be my first game since before lockdown, but unfortunately my last time at the Green Energy Stadium for some time. I will be at the FA Vase final should we make it!

I would like to wish everyone at the club all the best for the future, and I hope the team goes far – it certainly has the potential to!

All the best,

James