Albion have signed former Stobswood & Blyth Town midfielder Harrison Borley from AFC Newbiggin. The 21 year old joined The Biggin in June 2024 but hasn’t played since their 3-2 defeat to Newcastle .University in November and becomes RACA’s first footer of 2026. Welcome aboard Harrison
Wednesday’s League Cup Result
Darlington Town 2 (Brown, Hewitt) Prudhoe YC Seniors 2 (Symington, Anderson)
(Darlington win 5-4 on penalties)
Very much weather permitting, but our next scheduled game is a trip up the A1 to face Alnwick Town. The Wick are in a similar position to ourselves, just about hanging on to the coat tails of the play-off contenders, though hitting a sticky patch not having won since November, drawing the last two games at St James’ against Sunderland West End and AFC Newbiggin. Albion won the reverse fixture 2-0 in August, Louis Calvert scoring both goals, & Alnwick remain the only team above us in the table we’ve taken points off this season.
We’ve faced The Wick on twenty one occasions in our Northern League era, all league fixtures, winning nine (including our biggest away win in the NL, 8-1 in 2006/07 season), drawing four times & losing eight. Until the win this season, Alnwick had the better of us in recent years, RACA not having won since October 2014 when four goals from Dan Robinson helped us in a 6-0 win up in NE66, though our opponents did drop into the Northern Alliance at the end of the 2017/18 campaign for a few seasons. Joe Groves- Forbes is still suspended for this game & if you’re up for the trip north, the address and post code is- St James’ Park Weavers Way, Alnwick, NE66 1BG. Let’s hope the game is ON!
This month’s lucky winners are-
1st prize No 68 S O’Neill who wins £100
2nd Prize No 71 V Stewart who wins £75
3rd Prize No 42 D Robinson who wins £25
Next month’s draw is on 07/02/2026
Well done to our three winners, if you’d like to take part in this monthly fundraiser from just £5 a month, please contact us via the usual channels on the foot of the homepage or contact Paul le Patourel on 07720 413390. Thank-you
Albion keeper Tom White signed for Division One strugglers West Allotment Celtic & went straight into their starting line up for their tough trip to Shildon today. Tom played six times for RACA this season, in three cup ties & in the last three league games covering Callum Corkhill’s injury. We wish Tom all the best in his move to Celtic.
Well 2026 has got off to a flying stop with today’s game at home to Boldon being called off due to a frozen pitch. This means our next scheduled game is a trip to Alnwick on Saturday 10th January
Saturday’s Division 2 Results
Billingham Synthonia 2 (Lamb, Irvine) Sunderland West End 2 (Clarke, Deeham)
Darlington Town 3 (Bondarenko, Woodford, McCowie) Durham United 4 (Boothroyd 2, Stewart, Challinor)
It’s Boldon CA who are the first visitors to the Oldhaulage in 2026 as they travel west on Saturday. Following a good start top the season, The ‘Villa’ are going through a bad run just now, having just won one league & cup game since beating Prudhoe at Essity Park in early September but have bolstered their squad recently with two signings from West Allotment Celtic, Max Cowburn and Jordan Laidler. Their only win in the 17 games since was a 4-2 win over Tow Law in early December & are gradually sliding towards the danger zone. The reverse fixture at Boldon was a rare 0-0 for RACA that ended a run of over 140 competitive games without a goalless draw in an Albion match & since Boldon got promoted to the Northern League, RACA have managed to avoid defeat in the nine previous games with six wins and three draws to date. Joe Groves-Forbes is still suspended for this game which kicks off at the usual 3pm as Albion try to make it four games without defeat. Howay the RACA!
FT RACA 2 TOW LAW TOWN 2 Attendance 289
RACA finished the year coming back from a two goal deficit to earn a point at home to rejuvenated Tow Law. Trailing 0-2 at half time, a Louis Calvert penalty on the hour mark gave Albion a lifeline, the recovery being completed on 90 minutes by Callum Johnston.
MATCH SUMMARY
Tow Law made the trip to face RACA for the first time since the 21/22 season due to a three season stint in Division One. The Lawyers had a poor start to the campaign but a managerial change and an influx of new players & things were looking brighter at Ironworks Road with two wins & eight goals scored in the last two games. RACA had also netted eight in their last two games so their was a hope of plenty of goals.
The 289 spectators. had to wait less than two minutes for the first goal, and it was as scruffy as they come, as a Tom White punch out from a Lawyers free kick reached Tow Law’s Will Bennett whose shot crashed into the turf & span to teammate Harry Laviolette who in turn got the ball tangled between his legs, but it ran on to Harvey Walsh who was in the right place to tap home to keep the Lawyers’ recent momentum going. For all the time Albion spent on the offensive, it took until 23 minutes until Tom Orton’s goal was seriously threatened, when a Fergus Lynch shot from a Danny Driver throw in, that was flicked on by George Hayton, whistled just over the Tow Law bar. A 31st minute defensive lapse was to prove costly for Ryton when Walsh took advantage of some indecision & ran out wide, goal side of his marker. He drilled the ball across the box, but just when it looked like it would evade everyone, in slid Zak Benjamin at the far post to knock the ball in with the keeper stranded. Albion nearly reduced the arrears on 39 minutes when Josh Skivington found Callum Johnston who lobbed Orton who had advanced to reduce the angle but defender Norton Tomlinson was on hand to nod the ball to safety before it crossed the line. Orton was called into action again on 45 minutes when a neat move involving Skivington & Louis Calvert saw Johnston on a one on one with the Tow Law keeper, seeing his shot blocked by Orton before the ball was booted upfield by Laviolette.
HT RACA 0 Tow Law Town 2
Albion started the second half chiefly in their opponents’ half without threatening too much until on the hour mark, when from a corner, bodies were falling down all over the box. Eventually referee Jack Whitfield had seen enough to merit a spot kick & pointed to the spot. Calvert stepped up & sent Orton the wrong way to put RACA right back in the game. Albion continued to press as Town sat deeper and deeper but the visitors’ defence held firm though Orton had to stop a close range shot from Glenn Caygill on 84 minutes. Caygill was instrumental in the Albion leveller on 90 minutes when a Scott Olffield ball upfield was nodded down by Calvert setting Caygill up for a shot that Orton could only push into the path of Johnston who was able to tap in past the keeper’s despairing recovery dive . Albion smelt blood & pushed on for the winner in stoppage time but the Tow Law defence were not to be breached a third time and the points were shared.
FT RACA 2 TOW LAW TOWN 2
A draw that felt more like a win as RACA came from 0-2 down & scored such a late leveller, going against the recent grain where Albion have been prone to lose leads. For all that, ground has been lost many the play off rivals, & with just four league home games left to play Ryton are up against it to finish in the top five. No surprise but RACA remain in 9th place where we seem to have been stuck for weeks. Tow Law on this evidence, surely have enough to move clear of any trouble at the foot of the table.
RACA– White, Beesley, Oldfield, Lynch, Hayton, Driver, Skivington (Fletcher 65), Lawson (Hyde 75), Calvert, Johnston (Caygill 80), Dart. Substitutes Not Used- Adotey, Bailey
Saturday’s Other Division 2 Results
Billingham Synthonia 1 (Webb) Billingham Town 3 (Hogan 2, Stephenson)
Newcastle University 1 (Iverson) Prudhoe YC Seniors 0
Albion host struggling Tow Law for the first time since 2021 on Saturday with the Black & Blue hitting goal form in the last two games. The Lawyers while languishing in 20th place following their relegation last season, might just have turned a corner with an eyecatching 4-0 win over title chasers Yarm & Eaglescliffe, followed by a 4-3 win over Billingham Synthonia on Teesside on Saturday. With both sides hitting four goals in their last two games, it has the potential to be a high scoring game, the last time the two met at Kingsley Park it was 2-1 to RACA with the goals scored by lads still with us, Rhys McLeod & Louis Anderson. One player who won’t be featuring is Joe Groves-Forbes who begins his three match suspension following his red card in the Prudhoe cup tie.
Historically Tow Law just shade it over Albion winning, 10 of the 24 league games played to our 9 with 5 drawn games, though recent form favours Ryton, having won 4 out the last 5 encounters.
Kick off at the Oldhaulage Stadium is at 3pm on Saturday, hope to see a few of you there. Howay the RACA!
Boxing Day Division 2 Results
Alnwick Town 1 (Clarke) AFC Newbiggin 1 (Lee)
Boldon CA 1 (Humble) Jarrow 3 (Armstrong, Barber, Beattie)
Chester-le-Street Town 0 Park View 1 (Gallagher)
Esh Winning 0 Durham United 3 (Boothroyd 2, Rehimbeck)
Redcar Town 2 (Medcalf, Duffield) Grangetown BC 1 (Harnett)
Seaham Red Star 3 (McHarg, Wilds, O’ Connor) FC Hartlepool 1 (Bayes)
Sunderland RCA 1 (Knight) Sunderland West End 1 (Robinson)
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 1 (Williams) Darlington Town 4 (Brown, Beauchamp, Mallaburn, Hewitt)
The draw for the Ryton & Crawcrook Albion FC and Ryton & Crawcrook Albion Youth FC Christmas Raffle 2025 was held in the RACA Lounge on Sunday evening.
A huge thank you to everyone who bought tickets, donated prizes, and helped organise the draw.
The winners are…
🥇 1st Prize: 4 x Corporate Hospitality Tickets in the Four Corners at NUFC
🎟 6209 – Sheree K
🥈 2nd Prize: M&S Indulgence of Christmas Hamper (£500)
🎟 4222 – A Murray
🥉 3rd Prize: M&S The Joy of Christmas Hamper (£250)
🎟 8391 – G Astley
🎁 4th Prize: M&S The Magic of Christmas Hamper (£150)
🎟 4218 – Lucy H
🍾 5th Prize: 6 x Bottles of Champagne
🎟 9984 – Dutta
🏉 6th Prize: 4 x Tickets to Newcastle Red Bulls Prem Rugby
🎟 1815 – Ridley
🍷 7th Prize: 4 x Bottles of Premium Wine
🎟 6845 – MMT
🥃 8th Prize: Assorted Bottles of Spirits
🎟 1152 – Wilf T
🍰 9th Prize: Afternoon Tea for Two at Close House
🎟 6590 – Sach M
Congratulations to all the winners!
Thank you again to everyone who took part, donated prizes, and supported the raffle. Your contributions make a huge difference to our club and youth teams.
FT ESH WINNING 0 RACA 4 Attendance 40
Albion heaped the misery on to Esh Winning with a 4-0 win at West Terrace, the damage being done in the first half with goals from Louis Anderson, Louis Calvert (2) and Callum Johnston. The Stags came close to ending their goal drought on more than one occasion in the game but they remain rooted to the foot of the table while RACA scored four goals for the second time in five days.
MATCH SUMMARY
Esh Winning were RACA’s hosts desperately hoping to arrest their run of defeats and blanks in front of goal & at a misty and damp West Terrace, Albion must have fancied their chances of completing the double over the Stags.
Things looked to be going as planned when on 6 minutes RACA opened the scoring following an Esh throw in won by Ryton’s Scott Oldfield. Louis Calvert looped the ball forward & Louis Anderson who won the race against defender Ellis Swinburn & coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Taylor Bell in the Stags goal. Esh then weathered a mini period of Albion forward play before enjoying a few forays forward as the visitors set back. Noah Ellis had a shot on 11 minutes albeit high and wide, but the Ryton rearguard were able to snuff out any threat from the men in yellow and green. The pendulum swung back to Ryton and Calvert fired a shot from the left wing into the side netting. Tom White in the Albion goal was called to action on 26 minutes when a ball ricocheted to Adam Yorke who looped a shot that had White scrambling across his line and clawing the ball out for a corner. For all Esh’s possession Ryton were to double their advantage on 35 minutes when Calvert jumped up above everyone to nod home a Fergus Lynch corner. 2-0 became 3-0 on 43 minutes when a Danny Driver cross was nodded goalwards by Callum Johnston. The ball looked to loop over Bell but he managed to push the ball away ; unfortunately for him, it fell to the feet of Calvert who tapped home his fifth goal within a week. The game looked to be won before the interval when Lynch pumped a ball upfield for Johnston to run on to. The RACA number 11 beat defender Callum Moore for pace & then fired a beautiful shot that found the top corner of the net giving Bell no chance.
HT Esh Winning 0 RACA 4
The second half proved to be a bit disappoining for the visitors with RACA unable to add to their advantage though Nathan Beesley fired one not far over the Stags bar on 51 minutes. To Esh’s credit they plugged on & on 56 minutes Joshua O’Brien even hit the post from a corner for the hosts, the rebound being cleared by Ryton. Bell made the first of several decent second half saves on 57 minutes when Anderson unleashed a powerful, the keeper blocking with his chest, the rebound being fired over by Calvert. Anderson should have made it 5-0 on 67 minutes when a stray ball fell to him & with half an empty net gaping, he put his effort wide. Bell blocked a shot from distance from Beesley on 72 minutes, then on 79 minutes his chest came to the rescue again coming out to block Kurtis Dodds shot by closing the Ryton substitute down. Esh came agonisingly close to getting a consolation on 85 minutes when Harley Cairns met a cross, controlling the ball with his chest then seeing his shot having the sting taken out of it by White, then Johnston intervening to prevent the ball crossing the goal line. When your luck is out….
FT ESH WINNING 0 RACA 4
RACA do what’s needed & continue their dominance over Esh Winning in recent seasons, with eight wins and two draws in the last ten meetings including this season’s 12-0 aggregate score over the Stags but despite the win Albion stay in 9th place. The two Louis’ tie on 13 goals each in Ryton’s own golden boot race, with Calvert in particular finding his touch again. Meanwhile Esh have now lost fourteen league and cup games on the trot but there was enough spirit shown there for some optimism at Waterhouses.
RACA– White, Beesley, Oldfield, Lynch (Dodds 52), Hayton, Driver, Skivington (Parker 71), Lawson (Fletcher 58), Anderson (Caygill 76), Calvert (Groves-Forbes 63), Johnston.
SATURDAY’S OTHER DIVISION 2 RESULTS
Alnwick Town 0 Sunderland RCA 0
Billingham Synthonia 3 (Irvine 3) Tow Law Town 4 (Walsh 2, Shevells, Benjamin)
Boldon CA 0 Seaham Red Star 1 (Appleby)
Durham United 0 Billingham Town (Watt 2, Mitchell)
Jarrow 2 (Hudson, Barber) Darlington Town 1 (Coles)
Newcastle University 1 (Burgess) Grangetown BC 1 (O’Brien)
Redcar Town 5 (Taylor, Clark, Sekete, Robinson-Coley, Abdullahi) Prudhoe YC 1 (Symington)
Sunderland West End 0 Park View 7 (Gallagher 3, Siyanbola 2, Loveday, Bewicke)
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2 (Atkinson 2) FC Hartlepool 0
FRIDAY’S DIVISION 2 RESULT
AFC Newbiggin 4 (Smith 3, Lee) Chester-le-Street Town 3 (Conroy 2, Maw)
