If you’re able to lend a hand with tidying up the ground our second and final pre-season clean up starts from around 9:30am tomorrow (Saturday). If you can bring a litter picker or secateurs or shears that would be great but there will be spares if you don’t have any. Hope to see a few of you helping out & don’t forget it’s our second friendly at Wellfield School to face Easington Colliery later in the afternoon (2pm ko)
RACA’s extraordinary run of home draws in the various cup competitions finally ended with an away draw to Barrow based Holker Old Boys of the North West Counties League Division One North in the 1st Qualifying of the FA Vase Round to be played on Saturday 23rd August. The winners of this tie will host Keighley based Route One Rovers of The North East Counties League Division One.
We were drawn away to Holker in the 2nd qualifying round of the Vase back in 2013/14, losing 5-1 despite leading at half time from a Dean Sinclair goal. RACA’s line up that day was –
F Nairn, D Below, P Jackson, M Watson, L Barker, A Chrostowski, J Holland, J Danquah, S Edwards, D Sinclair, P Basey,
SUBS P Clarke, C Judd, M Wilson
FT HOLKER OLD BOYS 5 RACA 1 Attendance 56
NORTH SHIELDS ATHLETIC 0 RACA 3
A relatively new-look Ryton & Crawcrook Albion side were given a challenging workout by Northern Alliance Premier opponents North Shields Athletic in tonight’s opening pre-season friendly at a breezy John Spence Community High School.
Managed by former Ryton man Lee Crammond and featuring ex-Albion favourite Tyler Davis, Athletic provided stiff competition throughout the evening.
RACA Manager Nathan Beckham handed starts to several new and returning faces, including goalkeeper Callum Corkhill; defenders George Hayton and Jack Salkeld; midfielders Daniel Ord and David Luke; and forwards Louis Anderson and Callum Johnston. While Kieran Russell, Ryan Bailey, and Ben Middleton came on during the game.
Albion took a comfortable 2-0 lead into the break thanks to two goals from Louis Calvert, one neatly dispatched from open play and another confidently slotted home from the penalty spot.
North Shields returned after half-time with an entirely new eleven and fresh kits, significantly raising their game and limiting Albion’s ability to maintain their flowing first-half style. Despite Athletic’s spirited response, Albion added a third through Calvert, who once again showed nerves of steel from the spot to complete his hat-trick.
Albion now look forward to their next pre-season challenge against Easington Colliery, kicking off at 2pm this Saturday on the 4G pitch at Wellfield School in Wingate.
Tue 1st July
AFC Newbiggin 1 Whitley Bay 1
Billingham Town 3 Wynyard Village 1
Boldon CA 4 West Allotment Celtic 1
Wed 2nd July
North Shields Athletic 0 RACA 3
Seaham Red Star 2 Whickham 1
Seaton Carew 0 Park View Academy 0
Sunderland West End 0 Easington Colliery 3
Thornaby FC 1 Chester-Le-Street Town 2
Tow Law Town 0 Penrith 0
Fri 4th July
Alnwick Town 4 Whickham 0
Boldon CA 1 Newcastle Blue Star 1
Crook Town 1 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2
Sat 5th July
AFC Newbiggin 3 Rothbury FC 2
Barnard Castle 1 Sunderland RCA 7
Billingham Town 0 Whitby Town 3
Brandon United 1 Esh Winning 1
Darlington Town 0 Bishop Auckland 6
Easington Colliery 2 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0
FC Hartlepool 1 Boro Rangers 1
Jarrow v West Allotment Celtic
Redcar Athletic 2 Redcar Town 0
Seaton Carew 0 Grangetown BC 1
South Moor 0 Chester-le-Street Town 1
Sunderland West End 0 Durham Corinthians 0
Tow Law Town 0 West Auckland 4
Washington 0 Seaham Red Star 6
Wallington FC 0 Prudhoe YC Seniors 0
Wynyard Village 2 Billingham Synthonia 0
Mon 7th July
Kader 1 Redcar Town 2
Tue 8th July
AFC Newbiggin 0 North Shields 1
Boldon CA 2 Whickham 1
FC Hartlepool 0 Hartlepool United 3
Sunderland West End 2 Farringdon Detached 4
Tow Law Town 0 Blyth Spartans 1
Willington 1 Seaham Red Star 2
Wed 9th July
Darlington Town 6 Stokesley SC 0
Newcastle East End 2 Prudhoe YC Seniors 3
Ponteland United 1 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 4
West Moor & Jesmond 2 Sunderland RCA 0
Thur 10th July
Boldon CA 0 Heaton Stannington 6
Fri 11th July
Billingham Town 0 Stockton Town 5
Birtley Town 2 Jarrow 1
Redcar Town 1 Bishop Auckland 2
Sunderland West End 0 Horden CW 1
Sat 12th July
AFC Burradon & New Fordley 1 Seaham Red Star 0
Boldon CA 2 Washington 2
Huddersfield Town Academy 1 Park View Academy 1
Newcastle Blue Star 3 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 1
Coldstream 2 Alnwick Town 2
Darlington Town 5 West Auckland Reserves 1
FC Hartlepool 1 Easington Colliery 1
Gateshead Leam Rangers 1 Prudhoe YC Seniors 1 (neutral venue)
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 3 Newcastle Chemfica 2
Shildon Railway 0 Grangetown BC 4
Sunderland RCA 4 Shotton Colliery 0
Tow Law Town 0 Whickham 4
Wolviston 0 Billingham Synthonia 1
Mon 14th July
AFC Newbiggin 4 Ashington 2
Birtley Town 1 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0
Tue 15th July
FC Hartlepool 1 West Auckland 0
Hebburn Town 4 Boldon CA 0
Kader 1 Billingham Town 4
Marske United 1 Grangetown BC 0
Northallerton Town 1 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2
Redcar Town 0 Guisborough Town 6
Wed 16th July
Alnwick Town 3 AFC Burradon and New Fordley 2
Darlington Town 1 Seaton Carew 1
Esh Winning 0 Durham FC Corinthians 1
Newton Aycliffe 1 Park View AFC 1
Ponteland United 1 Prudhoe YC Seniors 2
Seaham Red Star 4 Gateshead Leam Rangers 3
Wallington 2 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 3
West Auckland Reserves 1 Sunderland RCA 1
Willington 2 Tow Law Town 0
Thur 17th July
Marske United 2 Billingham Town 0
Sunderland West End 5 Easington Lane 1
Fri 18th July
Chester-Le-Street Town 1 Birtley Town 0
Newcastle Benfield 3 Jarrow 2
Redcar Town 3 Pickering Town 2
Seaham Red Star 1 Heaton Stannington 3
West Auckland 4 Darlington Town 0
Sat 19th July
Barnard Castle v Tow Law Town
Boldon CA 2 Farringdon Detached 3
Esh Winning 1 South Moor 3
FC Hartlepool 4 Hartlepool Pools Youth 0
Hebburn Town Reserves 1 Alnwick Town 3
Park View AFC 1 Middlesbrough Academy 5
Prudhoe YC Seniors 2 Whickham 2
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 5 Darlington RA 0
Sunderland RCA 3 Horden CW 3
Tadcaster Albion 8 Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2
Tees FC 2 Grangetown BC 3
Tue 22nd July
Sunderland West End 3 AFC Burradon and New Fordley 2
West Auckland 3 Billingham Town 0
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 0 Seaton Carew 1
Wed 23rd July
Boldon CA 2 South Shields 2
Cramlington United 2 AFC Newbiggin 3
Park View Academy 2 Hartlepool United XI 0
SUMMARY OF FRIENDLIES
The table below is just a bit of fun & while factual regarding results
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | “PPG“ |
| AFC NEWBIGGIN | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 2.00 |
| ALNWICK TOWN | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 2.50 |
| BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1.50 |
| BILLINGHAM TOWN | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 0.60 |
| BOLDON CA | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 1.14 |
| CHESTER LE STREET TOWN | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 3.00 |
| DARLINGTON TOWN | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 1.40 |
| ESH WINNING | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.00 |
| FC HARTLEPOOL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1.75 |
| GRANGETOWN BC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 2.25 |
| JARROW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.00 |
| PARK VIEW | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1.20 |
| PRUDHOE YC | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 1.80 |
| REDCAR TOWN | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 1.20 |
| RACA | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 2.14 |
| SEAHAM RED STAR | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 2.00 |
| SUNDERLAND RCA | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 1.60 |
| SUNDERLAND WEST END | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 1.17 |
| TOW LAW TOWN | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0.20 |
| YARM & EAGLESCLIFFE | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 1.20 |
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion kick off their 2025/26 preparations with a newly-added friendly away at North Shields Athletic on Wednesday evening.
🗓 Wednesday 2 July
🕖 7:30 PM Kick-Off
📍 John Spence 4G (NE29 9PU)
🎟 Free Entry
Get down and support the lads as pre-season gets underway!
A quick look at what our Division Two rivals have been up to this week.
NEWS
AFC Newbiggin- Have announced coach/assistant manager Geoff Burt has left the club.
Alnwick Town- Announce they have retained winger Joe Eggleston, midfielder George Hedley, winger Brannon Patterson and midfielder Josh Walker.
Billingham Synthonia- Have announced that Chris Rix & Tom Lea will be joint managers for the forthcoming season. Also announced the signings of forward Junior Masandi, centre half Josh Bowmaker, Jay Bradley from Marske United, Hamza Mohammed and the reserve team trio of Nathan Atkinson, Kaden Lancaster & Taylor Cammileri.
Billingham Town- Have announced the return of centre forward Craig Hutchinson, left winger Luke Hogan, midfielder Jack Connor, forward Gary Mitchell and keeper Jaan Yaqub.
Darlington Town- Announce the signing of full back Jackson Cherry and Jonny Parr.
Grangetown BC- Announce the signing of striker Joe Dixon from Northallerton Town, midfielder Dom Stacey from Darlington RA, keeper Sam Pinnegar also from Darlington RA,winger Millen Burnett, keepers Adam Lincoln and Luke Teare, centre half James Carr, right back Brandon Gredziak, central midfielder Oscar Mahoney, left back Luke Hegarty, forward Makafui Johnson & right back Sean Bending plus the retention of midfielders Joe Eason, Sam Campbell & Charlie Paterson, Cameron Inglis, Ollie Barnett and Aidan Mather.
Jarrow- Announce the retention of Luke Hudson, Dylan Archer, Levi Collins, Josh Willis, Ryan Hardie, Lutfur Karim, Jak Wells, Tom Ions, Darryll Donnelly, Johnny Bainbridge Finn Day Danny Driver, Evann Jardine, Kian Parker & Jack Armstrong plus the signings of Joe Bates, Harry Sawyer and the retirement of Karl Morruison & Chris Brennan
Park View Academy- Have appointed Micky Barron as 1st Team Assistant Manager and have announced the signings of forward Harry Edmonds, defender Reyhan Grimaud
Redcar Town- Announce that Craig Hill has joined the 1st Team coaching staff & have signed midfielder Jude Harrison
Seaham Red Star- Have announced that Lewis Porritt has joined the club from Chester-le-Street Town.
Sunderland RCA– have retained centre midfielder Alfie Hyde & forward Taylor Richardson
Tow Law Town- Announce the signings of Will Bennett, Connor Hodgson, keeper Leo Strange, Ellis Wymer, Harry Chapman, Sol Tones & Jayden Bowes.
Yarm & Eaglescliffe- Have retained the services of Division 2 top scorer last season Tom Atkinson along with keepers Cal Roberts & Ethan Lansdell, Josh Marshall, Joe Hillerby, Joe Dalton, Cam Wild, Ross Harrison, Ste Roberts, Harry Stewart-Titchiner, Jack Dalton along with Freddie McBride from the reserves, Adam Groom, Dylan Gnaglo from Grangetown BC, Sean Chidanyka from Darlington RA and Foz Garton from Billingham Synthonia.
PRE SEASON FRIENDLIES INVOLVING DIVISION 2 SIDES
Tue 1st July
AFC Newbiggin v Whitley Bay
Boldon CA v West Allotment Celtic
Wed 2nd
Seaham Red Star v Whickham FC (Venue TBC)
Sunderland West End v Easington Colliery
Thornaby FC v Chester-Le-Street Town
Tow Law Town v Penrith AFC
Fri 4th
Alnwick Town v Whickham FC
Boldon CA v Newcastle Blue Star
Crook Town v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Sat 5th
AFC Newbiggin v Rothbury FC
Barnard Castle v Sunderland RCA (2pm)
Brandon United v Esh Winning FC
Darlington Town v Bishop Auckland
Easington Colliery v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (Wellfield 4G – 2pm)
FC Hartlepool v Boro Rangers
Jarrow FC v West Allotment Celtic
Redcar Athletic v Redcar Town
Sunderland West End v Durham FC Corinthians
Tow Law Town v West Auckland
Wallington FC v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Wynyard Village v Billingham Synthonia
Mon 7th
Kader FC v Redcar Town
Tue 8th
AFC Newbiggin v North Shields
Boldon CA v Whickham FC
FC Hartlepool v Hartlepool United
Marske United v Billingham Synthonia
Sunderland West End v Farringdon Detatched FC
Tow Law Town v Blyth Spartans
Willington AFC v Seaham Red Star
Wed 9th
Darlington Town v Stokesley SC
Newcastle East End v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Ponteland United v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
West Moor & Jesmond v Sunderland RCA
Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC v Yarm & Eaglescliffe Reserves
Thur 10th
Boldon CA v Heaton Stannington
Fri 11th
Billingham Town v Stockton Town
Birtley Town v Jarrow FC (7pm)
Sunderland West End v Horden CW
Wolviston FC v Billingham Synthonia
Sat 12th
AFC Burradon & New Fordley v Seaham Red Star
Boldon CA v Washington FC
Brandon United v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Coldstream FC v Alnwick Town
Darlington Town v West Auckland Reserves
FC Hartlepool v Easington Colliery
Gateshead Leam Rangers v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Newcastle Chemfica
Sunderland RCA v Shotton Colliery
Tow Law Town v Whickham FC
Mon 14th
AFC Newbiggin v Ashington AFC
Birtley Town v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (7pm)
Tue 15th
FC Hartlepool v West Auckland
Guisborough Town v Redcar Town
Hebburn Town v Boldon CA
Kader FC v Billingham Town
Marske United v Grangetown BC
Northallerton Town v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Redcar Town v Guisborough Town
Seaham Red Star v Gateshead Leam Rangers (Venue TBC)
Stockton Town v Billingham Synthonia (7.45pm)
Wed 16th
Alnwick Town v AFC Burradon and New Fordley
Darlington Town v Seaton Carew
Esh Winning v Durham FC Corinthians
Newton Aycliffe v Park View AFC
Ponteland United v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Wallington FC v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
West Auckland Reserves v Sunderland RCA
Willington AFC v Tow Law Town
Thur 17th
Marske United v Billingham Town
Sunderland West End v Easington Lane FC
Fri 18th
Chester-Le-Street Town v Birtley Town (7pm)
Newcastle Benfield v Jarrow FC
Norton & Stockton Ancients v Billingham Synthonia
Redcar Town v Pickering Town
Seaham Red Star v Heaton Stannington (7.45pm)
West Auckland v Darlington Town
Sat 19th
Barnard Castle FC v Tow Law Town
Boldon CA v Farringdon Detached FC
FC Hartlepool v Hartlepool Pools Youth (Annual Alice House Hospice Charity Cup)
Prudhoe YC Seniors v Whickham FC
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Collegians FC
Seaham Red Star v Ollerton Town
Stobswood Welfare FC v AFC Newbiggin
Sunderland RCA v Horden CW
Tadcaster Albion v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Tue 22nd
Marske United v Marske United Reserves
Newcastle Blue Star v Chester-Le-Street Town
Redcar Town v Boro Rangers
Sunderland West End v AFC Burradon and New Fordley
West Auckland v Billingham Town
Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC v Seaton Carew FC
Wed 23rd
Boldon CA v South Shields (Sam Bartram Trophy)
Cramlington United v AFC Newbiggin
If you’re able to lend a hand at the ground tomorrow (Saturday) we’re assembling from 09:30. If you’re able to bring garden shears or secateurs, a litter picker, bin bags & if possible a wheelbarrow that would be great, but if not there will definitely be spare equipment to borrow. Hope to see a few of you there. Thanks
We have two clean up days arranged on Saturday 28th June & Saturday 5th July at the Oldhaulage Stadium. Details of times & any implements to fetch will be published nearer the time so if you can lend a hand on either day that would be champion.
A quick look at what our Division Two rivals have been up to this week.
NEWS
AFC Newbiggin- Have added Darren Maguire to the coaching staff & signed Jed Scott as their first ever Northern League signing
Billingham Town- Have announced they are retaining the following players- Sam Asigiri, Liam Southall, Kieran Stares, Lennox Barry, Harry Close, Josh Stiff, Joel White, Josh Hodgkinson, Reece Littlefair, Lucas Pilling, Mathew Robinson, Leo Myers, Dale Hopson, Paul Young & Matty Wilkinson.
Chester-le-Street Town- Announce they have retained Kieran Hall, Josh Akal, Luke Collins, Alex Lawrence, Will Cornish and Flynn Martindale.
Park View Academy- Announce the signings of midfielder Matthew Henderson, club captain Dylan Wilkinson and defender Keane Mitchell
Redcar Town- Announce the signings of goalkeeping coach Terry Stones (ex Hartlepool United & Seaham Red Star), keeper Will Cowey, right back Cameron Wilson, forwards James Watt, Alex Bruton and Connor Smith and midfielder Jack Chapman
Seaham Red Star- Have announced that Kieran Beattie has joined the club from Chester-le-Street Town.
Tow Law Town- Announce the signings of forwards Charlie Herron and Reece Marsden, defenders Kenny Shevels and Ash Adams, midfielders Kieron Alderson and Norton Tomlinson and Finlay Thomas.
PRE SEASON FRIENDLIES INVOLVING DIVISION 2 SIDES
Tue 1st July
AFC Newbiggin v Whitley Bay
Boldon CA v West Allotment Celtic
Wed 2nd
Seaham Red Star v Whickham FC (Venue TBC)
Sunderland West End v Easington Colliery
Thornaby FC v Chester-Le-Street Town
Tow Law Town v Penrith AFC
Fri 4th
Alnwick Town v Whickham FC
Boldon CA v Newcastle Blue Star
Crook Town v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Sat 5th
AFC Newbiggin v Rothbury FC
Barnard Castle v Sunderland RCA (2pm)
Brandon United v Esh Winning FC
Darlington Town v Bishop Auckland
Easington Colliery v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (Wellfield 4G – 2pm)
FC Hartlepool v Boro Rangers
Jarrow FC v West Allotment Celtic
Redcar Athletic v Redcar Town
Sunderland West End v Durham FC Corinthians
Tow Law Town v West Auckland
Wallington FC v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Wynyard Village v Billingham Synthonia
Mon 7th
Kader FC v Redcar Town
Tue 8th
AFC Newbiggin v North Shields
Boldon CA v Whickham FC
FC Hartlepool v Hartlepool United
Marske United v Billingham Synthonia
Sunderland West End v Farringdon Detatched FC
Tow Law Town v Blyth Spartans
Willington AFC v Seaham Red Star
Wed 9th
Darlington Town v Stokesley SC
Newcastle East End v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Ponteland United v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
West Moor & Jesmond v Sunderland RCA
Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC v Yarm & Eaglescliffe Reserves
Thur 10th
Boldon CA v Heaton Stannington
Fri 11th
Billingham Town v Stockton Town
Birtley Town v Jarrow FC (7pm)
Sunderland West End v Horden CW
Wolviston FC v Billingham Synthonia
Sat 12th
AFC Burradon & New Fordley v Seaham Red Star
Boldon CA v Washington FC
Brandon United v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Coldstream FC v Alnwick Town
Darlington Town v West Auckland Reserves
FC Hartlepool v Easington Colliery
Gateshead Leam Rangers v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Newcastle Chemfica
Sunderland RCA v Shotton Colliery
Tow Law Town v Whickham FC
Mon 14th
AFC Newbiggin v Ashington AFC
Birtley Town v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (7pm)
Tue 15th
FC Hartlepool v West Auckland
Guisborough Town v Redcar Town
Hebburn Town v Boldon CA
Kader FC v Billingham Town
Marske United v Grangetown BC
Northallerton Town v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Redcar Town v Guisborough Town
Seaham Red Star v Gateshead Leam Rangers (Venue TBC)
Stockton Town v Billingham Synthonia (7.45pm)
Wed 16th
Alnwick Town v AFC Burradon and New Fordley
Darlington Town v Seaton Carew
Esh Winning v Durham FC Corinthians
Newton Aycliffe v Park View AFC
Ponteland United v Prudhoe YC Seniors
Wallington FC v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
West Auckland Reserves v Sunderland RCA
Willington AFC v Tow Law Town
Thur 17th
Marske United v Billingham Town
Sunderland West End v Easington Lane FC
Fri 18th
Chester-Le-Street Town v Birtley Town (7pm)
Newcastle Benfield v Jarrow FC
Norton & Stockton Ancients v Billingham Synthonia
Redcar Town v Pickering Town
Seaham Red Star v Heaton Stannington (7.45pm)
West Auckland v Darlington Town
Sat 19th
Barnard Castle FC v Tow Law Town
Boldon CA v Farringdon Detached FC
FC Hartlepool v Hartlepool Pools Youth (Annual Alice House Hospice Charity Cup)
Prudhoe YC Seniors v Whickham FC
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Collegians FC
Seaham Red Star v Ollerton Town
Stobswood Welfare FC v AFC Newbiggin
Sunderland RCA v Horden CW
Tadcaster Albion v Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC
Tue 22nd
Marske United v Marske United Reserves
Newcastle Blue Star v Chester-Le-Street Town
Redcar Town v Boro Rangers
Sunderland West End v AFC Burradon and New Fordley
West Auckland v Billingham Town
Yarm & Eaglescliffe FC v Seaton Carew FC
Wed 23rd
Boldon CA v South Shields (Sam Bartram Trophy)
Cramlington United v AFC Newbiggin
The fixtures for the 2025/26 Ebac Northern Football League Division Two season are out, and Ryton & Crawcrook Albion will begin the new campaign with an away trip to FC Hartlepool on Saturday 26 July.
Just four days later, Albion return home for their first match at the Oldhaulage Stadium, hosting Sunderland West End on Wednesday 30 July.
Manager Nathan Beckham and his side will need to hit the ground running to keep pace in what’s shaping up to be a relentless opening two months, with ten league fixtures provisionally scheduled by the end of August and eight straight midweek rounds.
The regular season is due to conclude on Saturday 18 April 2026 with a trip to Grangetown Boys Club.
The Division Two champions will again earn automatic promotion to the Northern League’s top tier, while a four-team play-off will decide who joins them. At the other end of the table, the bottom three clubs will be ‘liable’ to relegation.
Local interest will peak on Saturday 9 August when Albion make the short journey to Essity Park to face Prudhoe YC Seniors in the first Tyne Valley derby of the season. The return fixture in Crawcrook is set for Saturday 29 November. Both eagerly anticipated derby clashes, however, are likely to be moved to the Friday night slots.
Albion will face two newly-promoted sides. A trip to AFC Newbiggin, promoted from the Northern Alliance Premier Division, is set for 4 October; while the journey to another university outfit, Durham United – from the Wearside League – follows on 18 October. Both will make the return visits to the Oldhaulage Stadium on 14 March and 11 April respectively.
From the other direction, Seaham Red Star and Tow Law Town join Division Two following relegation from the top flight. Albion welcome Seaham on 6 August and travel for the reverse on 22 November. Tow Law visit NE40 on Boxing Day – always a special date in the football calendar – with the away fixture on 4 April.
Meanwhile, Chester-le-Street United have rebranded as Park View AFC and return to their traditional home at the Riverside while Billingham Synthonia continue at Stockton.
The fixture calendar includes a few “free” Saturdays – currently 6 December, 28 February, and 28 March – which may be used for any rearranged matches due to postponements.
As always, the FA Vase campaign will also begin early in the season. The First and Second Qualifying Rounds are scheduled for 23 August and 20 September respectively, with the draw expected to be released on 4 July.
You can view the full fixture list in the graphic below. Fixtures will be uploaded onto the Matches page on our website in due course.
Please note that all fixtures are subject to change. Make sure to check the website and follow us on social media (@RACAFC1970) for updates throughout the season.
