Callum Dobson thanks Blyth Spartans after helping Hebburn Town to historic promotion

Callum Dobson provided one of the more unique stories on a history-making final day of the season for Hebburn Town.

Sunderland’s decision to recall academy goalkeeper Isaac Allan from a loan spell with the Hornets ahead of Saturday’s season-ending home game with Rushall Olympic prompted Hebburn to recall Callum Dobson from a similar spell at Northern Premier League East Division club Blyth Spartans.

The former South Shields stopper has been a big part of a successful relegation battle for the men from Croft Park and they officially got over the line and avoid a third consecutive relegation with a win at Bishop Auckland on Saturday. However, the job was all but done by the time Marc Nash’s men walked out at Heritage Park with only an almost impossible set of results needed to condemn them to life in the Northern League.

With his former club’s battle already won, Dobson, who was named player of the season at Spartans, was left to focus on a surprise appearance in Hebburn’s win against Rushall as Daniel Moore’s men secured a 2-0 win that saw them crowned as Northern Premier League champions and landed a first ever promotion into the National League North.

Dobson reflected on an eventful week and thanks key figures at Spartans for the support and guidance he received before making a late return to take part in his parent club’s history success.

‘I owe everything’

He told The Gazette: “It’s been an interesting week. I found out on Saturday that I was being recalled and I was straight into training on Tuesday and Thursday and then kept a clean sheet today. It’s crazy to be honest. It’s absolutely fantastic. The club was on the brink of extinction and now they’re in the National League North with Morecambe, Hereford, big clubs.

“I owe everything to Nashy, Woody, Hoggy at Spartans because they put everything into me and I got my rewards with winning the league with Hebburn and Spartans staying in the league as well. I got player of the season there too and I just owe everything to Spartans for what they’ve done for me this season.”

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