A former prospect for Newcastle United has joined South Shields of the National League North in the hopes of succeeding.
Elliott Dickman, the manager of South Shields, has awarded Lucas De Bolle a high rating after the player agreed to join the National League North team after leaving Newcastle United.
The gifted midfield player has spent the previous nine years in the Magpies system after graduating from the renowned Wallsend Boys Club. After rising to the Under-21 level, De Bolle spent the 2022–2023 season on loan to Hamilton Academical in Scotland, where he gained his first senior experience. During that season, he was also used as a substitute in four Premier League games for Newcastle. Along with players like Miguel Almiron, Lewis Miley, and Anthony Gordon, the young player was also called up as a substitute when Eddie Howe’s team lost to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League group stage the previous season.
But only weeks after making his farewell appearances for his boyhood club in an end-of-season tour to Australia, where they played Tottenham Hotspur and the A-League All Stars, the two-time Scotland Under-21 international was released by the Magpies earlier this summer. During the offseason, De Bolle had discussions with South Shields about a potential reunion with Dickman, the former coach of the Magpies program. Several other teams also expressed interest in De Bolle. The negotiations were revived during the past two weeks with some prodding from United academy director Steve Harper, and De Bolle agreed to join the Mariners last week before making his debut in Saturday’s thrilling 3-0 victory over Warrington Town.
Following the victory at Cantilever Park, South Shields manager Dickman called his newest recruit “a real thinker” and expressed his belief that De Bolle still has the drive and desire to develop as a player.
“He’s a player with a really good football brain and he’s an absolute talent,” the Mariners manager told The Gazette. He is a true thinker, he is skilled with the ball in challenging situations, he is elegant when in possession, and most importantly, he wants to continue learning and improving his game, just like he has done throughout his brief career. Lucas has always talked with the ball, and I have no doubt that he will continue to do so. He has a strong desire to perform and get better.
He has experienced disappointment following Newcastle’s setbacks, but we spoke during the summer and were unable to come to an agreement. I knew him from my time there. Recently, Steve Harper pushed Lucas in our direction and reminded me about him, something we as a club clearly value. He was more than eager to commit to us, and we can already, so we will gain from that. I’m glad to help him out by bringing. Since we can provide him a stage on which to perform and we have a new, brilliant player on our team, I believe this is a win-win situation.
De Bolle might produce his Mariners debut at home on Saturday afternoon when they play King’s Lynn Town, a rival in the National League North.
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