Albion have signed defender, Ryan Higgins from Whitley Bay who joined the Seahorses from West Allotment Celtic in the summer of 2024 having previously been on a year’s scholarship in the USA. The 27 year old will be bolstering the RACA rearguard as the team aim to get the promotion push back on track.

Also on Thursday we signed 24 year old Kian Parker from Jarrow.

And to complete the trio we signed 22 year old defender Nathan Beesley from Whickham, welcome aboard gents!

Wednesday’s Division 2 Result

Park View 1(Frizzel) Billingham Town 0

Friday’s Division 2 Result

Park View 3 (Siyanbola 2, Young) AFC Newbiggin 1 (Elliott)

Promotion seeking FC Hartlepool are Albion’s next opponents as Albion host the side currently sitting in second place in Division 2. This fixture is the reverse of the season’s pipe opener at Grayfields Enclosure where Pools ran out 3-1 winners, Fin O’Gorman (now at West Auckland) scored a brace and Jake Stott also netted for FC, while Callum Johnston scored our consolation. Hartlepool do have a stronger record at home but have still won four of their ten league games on the road. Before Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Sunderland RCA, which knocked them off top spot, they had won their previous four games, scoring 18 goals in the process, including a half dozen in a 6-4 thriller at Darlington Town in the County Cup. We’ve a close record against the Teessiders since they joined the Northern League in 2023, winning two and losing three of our league encounters & both sides having won a Durham Challenge Cup tie each. We’ve never drawn against Pools & we are also on a bit of a draw related run just now- having gone 23 games without playing a score draw stretching back to the 4-4 at Bedlington Terriers in our last away game of 24/25 season. Our two draws this season (at Boldon & at Crook in the County Cup) were both 0-0s, a result we’ve not had at the Oldhaulage Stadium since 3rd August 2022 against the then named Chester-le-Street United, now Park View Academy. (Cue a 0-0 on Saturday!) One RACA regular who won’t feature is Josh Skivington is suspended for this game having to serve a one match ban.

Kick off is the usual 3pm & no clash with Newcastle United thankfully, so hope you can get along and cheer the RACA on to another three points.

Tuesday’s Division 2 Result

Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2 (Hillerby, Atkinson) Newcastle University 1 (Cassidy)

**Note that Billingham Synthonia’s six point deduction has kicked in & they are back bottom of the table with 7 points.

RACA 2 GRANGETOWN BOYS CLUB 1 Attendance 83

RACA finally got the win they desperately needed, but made hard work of it against a resolute Grangetown side. The two Louis, Calvert and Anderson scored in the 27th & 37th minutes respectively to put Albion in a comfortable position, but a first half stoppage time goal from James O’Brien changed the complexion of the game as both sides cancelled each other out in a scrappy second half where both sides struggled to retain possession. Boysie’s hopes of salvaging a point were dented when their keeper Luke Teare was dismissed late in the game & RACA were able to end their winless run.

MATCH SUMMARY

This fixture brought together two sides bang out of form, collectively having lost their last eight league games & while it was a bright and breezy day, Newcastle United having a home kick off at 3pm had its inevitable impact on the attendance as it dipped to two figures for the first time this season. Alfie Hyde made his Albion debut in midfield while midweek goalscorer Callum Johnston was only on the bench. In an opening quarter of the game where both keepers were virtual spectators, it was Grangetown who probably shaded things, not looking like a side short of confidence if not creating a final product. It look until 24 minutes for a keeper to get their top dirty when Rhys McLeod’s low free kick was tipped round the post by Boysie keeper Luke Teare. The visitors cleared the resulting corner and broke smartly, Morgan Dart in the RACA defence twice denying James O’Brien who saw his second shot blocked just a yard off the line before the home defence were able to clear to safety. Ryton pushed forward, Declan Bisset played the ball wide to Jack Elliott who popped the ball into a crowded box where Bisset flicked the ball to Louis Calvert who poked it home past Teare to break the deadlock. The lead was doubled in the 37th minute when Calvert dispossessed Andy Doddy midway in the Grangetown half, raced forward & found Louis Anderson who blasted a beauty into the top of the net giving Teare no chance and a distraught Doddy on his knees. It was Albion’s turn to be caught in possession in the 39^th minute when Danny Driver received the ball with both O’Brien and Brandon Gredziak bearing down on him. Gredziak got a touch on the ball which ran to O’Brien who jinked past two defenders but his curling shot was a yard wide. O’Brien was to get on the scoresheet before the interval though, when Gredziak found Joe Dixon in space & the Boysie captain tried to lob Callum Corkhill from distance, the ball going over the keeper and bouncing off the bar and back into play. O Brien reacted the quickest and he just had to slot the ball past Corkhill to bring his side back into the game.

HT RACA 2 Grangetown BC 1

RACA didn’t look to be too shaken by the late Grangetown goal, and in the 49^th minute Declan Bisset did his trademark dance past three defenders then unleashed a powerful shot with an upward trajectory that just went over the bar,but promised much for the half ahead. Instead neither side were able to keep a hold of the ball for long, forays forward breaking down before reaching the respective danger areas though in the 57^th minute McLeod did have a shot but it was blocked by the Teessiders’ defence, the stray ball falling to Calvert who fired high and wide. In fact the main moot point of the second half came on 83 minutes when Teare was deemed to have handled the ball outside the box with RACA’s Davie Luke bearing down on him. Referee Michael Moore didn’t hesitate in producing the red card to Teare who might well have shed a few as he trudged off leaving Boysie to reshuffle the pack, Adam Lincoln taking over duties between the sticks. After a four minute build up to the subsequent free kick, it proved anti-climatic as Bisset put it over the bar. Ryton weren’t able to take advantage of the extra man although Luke wasn’t too far off with a stoppage time shot, but most importantly came away with the three points.

FT RACA 2 GRANGETOWN BOYS CLUB 1

Not a convincing performance against a struggling Grangetown side who put in a decent shift but mission accomplished in getting the win and moving back up the table to 9^th place. As a side, RACA also maintain their 100% record against Grangetown BC.

RACA- Corkhill, Groves Forbes (Fletcher 52) Dart, Hyde, Dodds, Driver (Emmerson 53), Bisset, McLeod, Anderson, Elliott (Luke 63) Calvert (Johnston 68). Unused Substitute- Skivington

Saturday’s Other Division 2 Results

Alnwick Town 2 (Clarke, Aziakounou) Chester-le-Street Town 0
Billingham Synthonia 4 (Gray 2, Irvine, Poole) AFC Newbiggin 2 (Johnstone, Hills)
Esh Winning 0 Jarrow 2 (Hardie 2)
Redcar Town 2 (Clark, Carmichael) Durham United 1 (Kay)
Seaham Red Star 2 (Thynne, Lines) Tow Law Town 0
Sunderland RCA 2 (Stanton, Dodds) FC Hartlepool 1 (Gavin)

RACA host Grangetown BC at the Oldhaulage Stadium on Saturday needing three points to prevent the other play-off hopefuls disappearing over the horizon for good. And on paper Albion couldn’t ask for better opposition, as the Teessiders are on a worse run that what we are, having lost their last six games & also lost both matches against Albion last term in their Northern League baptism season. If only predicting football was that straightforward! That said, ‘Boysie’ aren’t the best of travellers, this season they’ve only come away with the three points at Billingham Synthonia and that was back in early August, though did come away from Newbiggin with a point, which is more than we did on Wednesday and also a played a draw at Boldon way back in July. But while Albion’s record against the top teams in Division 2 is nothing short of awful, they usually despatch struggling sides quite comfortably. The Teessiders sit in 18th place in the table & of the current bottom six sides we have played against we have beaten Esh Winning 8-0, Synners 2-0 and Prudhoe 4-1, so there is cause for some optimism tomorrow in the black and blue ranks.

Kick off is at the usual 3pm if you can make it

Howay RACA!

Friday’s Division 2 Matches Results

Billingham Town 1 (Stephenson) Yarm & Eaglesciffe 0

Park View 0 Darlington Town 1 (Mallaburn)

Sunderland West End 1 (Benali) Prudhoe YC 1 (Dalton)

RACA’s poor run continued with a 2-1 defeat at Holcim Park despite taking a 9th minute lead thanks to a spectacular overhead strike from Louis Anderson. Brendan Balmbra drew the hosts level on 22 minutes & Cameron Elliott’s 70th minute goal ensured the points stayed on the Northumberland coast. Newbiggin leapfrog Albion into 9th place though have played three games more than us.

MATCH SUMMARY

This was RACA’s first competitive game at Newbiggin’s Holcim Park and with Louis Calvert still suspended Nathan Beckham gave Oliver Emmerson his first start for RACA. After an opening period where the ball spent a lot of time in the air, Albion finally broke their recent goal drought when on 9 minutes Louis Anderson played a cross from the right wing into the box which Callum Johnston met beautifully, volleying home, giving Biggin keeper Jed Scott no chance at all. And so endeth 295 minutes without a goal for RACA! Biggin pushed for an equaliser & got their reward in the 21^st minute though this one was no contender for goal of the season. Matty Nelson swung in a corner which bounced among players in the box, Bradley Higgins getting some goalbound contact on the ball for the hosts & James Cooper looked to get the final touch from afar, but it was Newbiggin defender Brendan Balmbra who was credited with the equaliser with his first goal of the season. The half hour mark saw Albion’s Declan Bissett given a half chance to score when he collected a loose ball following Biggin making a Horlicks of clearing the ball & while he jinked past two defenders his shot was straight at Scott. Johnston made the Newbiggin keeper pull off a fine save just a minute later, winning the ball in midfield then racing forward before unleashing a shot that Scott was equal to, Curtis Williamson booting the ball to safety for the hosts. Joe Groves-Forbes made Scott work again on 38 minutes cutting in from the left & drilling a low shot that Scott dived low to parry, the loose ball being gathered up before a RACA player could capitalise. The half petered out to towards the end but the 84 spectators were treat to a stop-start fireworks display by local youngsters, the smoke seemingly making a beeline for the pitch at the community stadium.

HT AFC Newbiggin 1 RACA 1

The early part of the half was short on goalmouth action, though Newbiggin substitute Michael Johnstone wasn’t too far off after being set up by James Cooper on 64 minutes but his shot hit the side netting. If the home side’s first goal was scrappy, there was nothing fortuitous about their second, Nelson finding Cameron Elliott who advanced towards the Ryton goal & as the defenders backed off, Elliott took his chance & fired home sweetly past keeper Callum Corkhill to put his side ahead. Rhys McLeod, the sole Albion substitute used on the night, did get an effort on target on 74 minutes but it was straight at the keeper. Corkhill had to pull off a trademark save with his feet from a 90^th minute shot from Harrison Borley to prevent Biggin getting a third goal, but two were enough to take the three points and Ryton go down to a third straight league defeat.

FT AFC NEWBIGGIN 2 RACA 1 Attendance 84

RACA– Corkhill, Fletcher (McLeod 61), Skivington, Luke, Hayton, Dodds, Emmerson, Groves-Forbes, Anderson, Johnston, Bisset. Unused Substitutes- Whittaker, Ord, Adotey, White

RACA host 19th placed Grangetown BC on Saturday as they aim to get the season back on track.

Wednesday’s Other Division 2 Results

Jarrow P Redcar Town P (Floodlight Failure)

Tow Law Town 0 FC Hartlepool 3 (Bayes 3)

Thursday’s Northumberland Senior Cup Result

Newcastle University 2 (Manning, o.g.) Ashington 0

Albion make the trip to the South Northumberland coast to face AFC Newbiggin on Wednesday without the high winds that caused the postponement of the original fixture, this being the first competitive game between the sides at Holcim Park. RACA still shocked by Jack Salkeld’s horrible injury sustained at Durham United will be keen to end the recent goal drought, though will be without Louis Calvert whose one match suspension didn’t count on Saturday as the match at Maiden Castle wasn’t completed. Newbiggin will be on a high following their comfortable 4-0 home win over basement boys Esh Winning on Saturday that moves them up to 12th just a point behind RACA, though they have played three games more. Hopefully the conditions will be drier than the reverse fixture in Crawcrook where Albion won by the odd goal in five in heavy rain, Johnston & Bisset (2) on target for RACA, Matthew Nelson & Ethan Smith scoring for AFC Newbiggin.

If you’re travelling up to watch the boys, the address for your Sat Nav is Newbiggin Sports and Community Centre, Woodhorn Rd, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea NE64 6HG

News of a rescheduled game, away to Durham United is now on Thursday 20th November

Tuesday’s Division 2 Result

Billingham Town 4 (Mitchell, Hopson, Watt, Stiff) Sunderland West End 3 (Ajavon, Robinson 2)

DURHAM UNITED A-A RACA

Albion’s first visit to Maiden Castle was brought to a premature end as Jack Salkeld suffered what is believed to be a double leg fracture on 23 minutes. An ambulance was called and referee Evan Culling finally abandoned the game due to the expected length of time it would take to get Jack safely off the pitch. We all wish Jack a speedy recovery & hope he’s not in too much pain tonight.

Saturday’s Division 2 Results

AFC Newbiggin 4 (Nelson 2, White, Johnstone) Esh Winning 0
Chester-le-Street Town 2 (Wright 2) Boldon CA 1 (Watts)
Darlington Town 2 (Dixon, Mallaburn) Alnwick Town 4 (Clark 2, Cherry, Agostinho)
FC Hartlepool 6 (Smith 3, Bennett, Bayes, Gavin) Sunderland West End 1 (Benali)
Grangetown Boys Club 0 Seaham Red Star (Burton, Rutherford)
Tow Law Town 1 (Ashworth) Sunderland RCA 2 (Stanton, McCarthy)

FA Vase 1st Round Results (Division 2 Sides)

Redcar Town 1 (Clark) Tadcaster Albion 1 (Redcar win 5-4 on penalties)

Burscough 6 Billingham Synthonia 0

Ramsbottom United 3 Jarrow 0

Billingham Town 1 (Hopson) Brigg Town 2

Yarm & Eaglescliffe 5 (Conway, Wild, Atkinson 2, Hillerby) Colne 0

Well done to Redcar Town and Yarm and Eaglescliffe who are the Second Division’s remaining representatives left in the FA Vase following their wins on Friday night and Sunday respectively

Albion’s conquerors in the competition Holker Old Boys have made it through to the 2nd Round following a penalty shoot out victory at Wythenshawe FC

Albion face new opposition in the form of Durham United when they travel to Maiden Castle on Saturday. Last season’s Wearside League champions had a slow start to their Northern League career but results have steadily improved, although a three point deduction won’t help their cause. United currently sit in 18th place, have won their last two league games and 77 goals have been scored in their 19 games, the highest goals per game in the division. Hopefully Albion’s goal drought will come to an end as Durham have only kept one clean sheet at home, that in a 3-0 win over Grangetown, but have also only failed to score at Maiden Castle, a 0-4 loss to Yarm back in August, so our defence might be given a hard time too.

If you’re planning to knock off a new ground, the address for you satnav is The Graham Sports Centre, Stockton Rd, Durham DH1 3SE

RACA welcome a new face in the squad having signed Alfie Hyde from Sunderland RCA in midweek.

One face who won’t feature today is Louis Calvert who picked up a one match ban following his 5th yellow card in the Jarrow game

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are delighted to confirm that our away fixture at Tow Law Town on Saturday 4th April 2026 has been selected as part of the Ebac Northern League Easter Groundhop.

The Groundhop – a long-standing tradition where supporters travel between multiple matches over one weekend – will return to its roots in 2026, marking the first Northern League edition in over three decades.

Jointly organised by the Ebac Northern League and GroundhopUK, the 5-day Easter weekend event will run from Thursday 2nd to Monday 6th April 2026, featuring 12 matches and 24 clubs across the North East.

Our trip to Ironworks Road to face Tow Law (moved to a 6:30pm kick-off on Easter Saturday) will be one of the featured fixtures from the Northern League’s two divisions, attracting visiting supporters from across the country and offering a fantastic opportunity to showcase the atmosphere and hospitality of Northern League football.

The event is expected to generate increased attendances and exposure for participating clubs, and we look forward to welcoming the Groundhoppers for what promises to be a memorable occasion.

Further details, including ticketing and matchday information, will be confirmed closer to the date.

Thursday 2nd April 2026                 
19:30 – West Auckland Town v Thornaby                             
Friday 3rd April 2026
11:00 – Grangetown Boys Club v Redcar Town
14:30 – FC Hartlepool v Seaham Red Star
18:00 – Easington Colliery v Horden CW
 
Saturday 4th April 2026
11:00 – AFC Newbiggin v Alnwick Town
14:30 – Newcastle Blue Star v Carlisle City
18:30 – Tow Law Town v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
 
Sunday 5th April 2026
11:00 – Darlington Town v Yarm & Eaglescliffe
14:30 – Shildon v Crook Town
18:00 – Durham United v Esh Winning
 
Monday 6th April 2026
11:00 – Jarrow v Boldon CA
14:30 – Sunderland West End v Sunderland RCA

* Fixtures, dates and times are subject to change.

Tuesday’s Division 2 Results

Billingham Town 1 (White) Tow Law Town 2 (Prudhoe 2)
Chester-le-Street Town 0 Billingham Synthonia 1 (Gray)

The draws for the 1st Round of the Northern League cups have been made & RACA have a home tie against neighbours Prudhoe in the Ernest Armstrong Cup.

Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup 1st Round

Sunderland RCA	v	Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
Penrith	v	Newcastle Blue Star
Billingham Synthonia	v	Jarrow
Park View AFC	v	West Auckland Town
Kendal Town	v	Chester le Street Town
Yarm & Eaglescliffe	v	Prudhoe YC Seniors
Horden CW	v	Northallerton Town
Alnwick Town	v	Shildon
Esh Winning	v	Marske United
Carlisle City	v	Boldon CA

Should we get past RCA then it’s a trip to Birtley Town in the Second Round

Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup 1st Round

AFC Newbiggin	v	Alnwick Town
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion	v	Prudhoe YC Seniors
Sunderland RCA	v	Park View AFC
Grangetown Boys Club	v	Chester le Street Town
Billingham Town	v	Billingham Synthonia
Yarm & Eaglescliffe	v	Seaham Red Star

Should be beat Prudhoe then it’s another home tie in the second round v the winners of the Grangetown v Chester le Street Town tie.

All match dates are yet to be confirmed