Ryton & Crawcrook Albion have announced five pre-season friendly matches in preparation for the 2022-23 season.

Daniel Iredale and his coaches and players will return to Crawcrook to commence pre-season training on 18 June before their opening friendly with Northern Alliance outfit Alnwick Town on 2 July.

Albion travel to Scotland on 9 July to face Edinburgh United of the East of Scotland Football League for the second consecutive pre-season. A midweek trip to First Division side Sunderland RCA follows on 12 July before a visit to Burradon & New Fordley on 16 July.

RACA will then host neighbours Winlaton Community at Kingsley Park on Friday 22 July in their final pre-season test before the new Ebac Northern Football League Division Two season is scheduled to kick off on Saturday 30 July.

More details will follow in due course.

PRE-SEASON FIXTURES:

Alnwick Town v RACA
St James’ Park, Alnwick
Saturday 2 July KO: 14:00

Edinburgh United v RACA
Patties Road, Edinburgh
Saturday 9 July KO: 14:00

Sunderland RCA v RACA
Meadow Park, Sunderland
Tuesday 12 July KO: 19:30

Burradon & New Fordley v RACA
Action Park, Cramlington
Saturday 16 July KO: 14:00

RACA v Winlaton Community
Kingsley Park, Crawcrook
Friday 22 July KO: 19:30

All kick-off times stated in BST.

* Pre-season fixtures, dates, kick-off times & venues are subject to change.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are pleased to announce the list of players retained from last season ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The retained list of players are joined in the squad by recent new signings Jack Cooper and Damien Stevens.

Meanwhile, everyone at the club would like to thank all of the departing players from last season for their contributions to Ryton & Crawcrook Albion and wish them the very best of luck for the future.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion can confirm that captain Callum Turnbull has decided to leave the club this summer after 11 years at Kingsley Park.

The 32-year-old forward-turned-defender, who joined the club from university outfit Team Northumbria in 2011, went on to make 327 appearances for RACA scoring 55 goals.

He captained the team to the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup last month in what turned out to be his final game – scoring in the penalty shootout in the final against Newcastle University in Birtley.

Vice-captain for many years, Turnbull succeeded David Below as club captain in 2020 and is now one of the club’s longest serving players in the Northern League.

“Everyone at Ryton & Crawcrook Albion would like to place on record our thanks to Callum for all he has done for this football club since joining over a decade ago,” read a statement from the Committee and Management.

“He has been an outstanding player, inspirational captain and has always demonstrated loyalty and an exceptional commitment to the cause.

“He will always be held in the highest regard by everybody at Kingsley Park and lifting the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup – the club’s first trophy in many years – in his final act as an Albion player was a fitting way to finish.

“We wish him well with whatever he decides to do next and look forward to welcoming him back in the future.

“Callum Turnbull: Captain. Leader. Legend.”

In his farewell message, Turnbull said: “Thank you to everyone involved with the club over the years. I’ll be sad to leave so many great people… It’s been an absolute pleasure.

“It’s the right time for me to go and the club’s in a great position to challenge for promotion next year. What better way to leave than with the cup final win!!!

“Up the RACA! 🔵⚫️”

The Football Association has today announced that Tow Law Town will be promoted to Ebac Northern Football League Division One following the resignation of Ryhope CW from the league at the end of last month.

Ryhope’s resignation left the step 5 division with 19 teams for the 2022-23 season, but today’s announcement means that it can now run with a full complement of 20.

Tow Law were picked, ahead of the relegated Billingham Town and the third-placed Boldon CA, after finishing as the losing finalist in the Division Two promotion play-offs.

The decision means that Division Two will run with 21 clubs for the new season – as it did last season.

Ebac Northern League Division One: Ashington, Bishop Auckland, Carlisle City, Crook Town, Guisborough Town, Heaton Stannington, Newcastle Benfield, Newton Aycliffe, Northallerton Town, Penrith, Pickering Town, Redcar Athletic, Seaham Red Star, Sunderland RCA, Thornaby, Tow Law Town, West Allotment Celtic, West Auckland Town, Whickham, Whitley Bay.

Ebac Northern League Division Two: Bedlington Terriers, Billingham Synthonia, Billingham Town, Birtley Town, Blyth Town, Boldon CA, Boro Rangers, Brandon United, Chester-le-Street Town, Chester-le-Street United, Easington Colliery, Esh Winning, Horden CW, Jarrow, Newcastle University, Prudhoe YC Seniors, Redcar Town, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, Sunderland West End, Washington, Willington.

Fixtures are due to be released soon after the Northern Football League’s AGM, which is due to be held in Crook on June 18. The 2022-23 season is scheduled to begin on July 30.

The draw for June’s RACA 100 Club was held on Sunday.

The winners are:

• 🥇 No.4 T Fawcett £100

• 🥈 No.37 G Winthorpe £75

• 🥉 No.67 T Dobson £25

Congratulations to the lucky trio! The next draw is scheduled for July 2, 2022.

To join the RACA 100 Club or for more details, please contact Mr Paul Le-Patourel on 07720413390.

Relive Ryton & Crawcrook Albion’s victory in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup Final against Newcastle University in Birtley on Friday 13th May 2022 with this special film.

First screened at the RACA Awards ceremony on Friday 27th May 2022.

Ryhope Colliery Welfare have today announced their resignation from the Ebac Northern Football League Division One.

“It is with deep regret and great sadness that we have advised the Ebac Northern League that Ryhope CW FC wish to tender their resignation from the Northern League, this is obviously not a decision that has been taken lightly but is the consequence, in the main, of the lack of volunteer support for our club playing at the level we are at on the field coupled with the ongoing demands of the League standards required off the field.

“The club needs to restructure to continue its long history but we recognise this must be done at a lower level to enable it to grow again with fresh impetus, leadership and firm foundations.

“We are deeply saddened to be left with what we see as our only viable option for Ryhope CW FC to continue.

“We wish to put on record sincere thanks to all the volunteers that have helped the club over the last few seasons and particular thanks goes to the management and playing staff for the most successful season the club has experienced during the 2021-2022 season culminating in winning the Durham FA Challenge Cup.”

– Ryhope CW Statement

A spokesman for the Northern Football League said: “We can confirm that we have received Ryhope CW’s resignation from the league.

“We are consulting with the FA about the effects of this decision so can’t comment further at this stage.

“We are sorry to receive the resignation and wish the club all the best for the future.”

The FA had announced the allocation of clubs for the two divisions for the 2022-23 season on May 12. Division One had remained at 20 clubs with Ryhope, while Division Two was expanded to 22 teams. It is unclear if Ryhope’s resignation will result in any changes to the make-up of the divisions.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion trio Shaun Pickford, Konner Lamb and Rhys McLeod all scooped honours at the club’s end of season awards on Friday evening.

Pickford was selected as the Players’ Player of the Season by his fellow teammates, while he was also the ‘pick’ for the Committee’s Player of the Season award.

Following a public vote, Konner Lamb edged the Supporter’s Player of the Season award. Lamb also took home the Top Goalscorer accolade after scoring 21 goals in all competitions for Albion.

Rhys McLeod was chosen as the Young Player of the Season and the Manager’s Player of the Season.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are delighted to announce the signings of Jack Cooper and Damien Stevens for next season.

Attacking midfielder Cooper returns to Kingsley Park for a second spell after scoring 19 goals in 32 appearances in 2019 before joining Newcastle Benfield.

Forward Stevens – a proven goalscorer in the Northern League – played for Bishop Auckland and Whickham last year, and he also had a previous stint at Marske United.

The capture of both players further strengthens Daniel Iredale’s squad ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The 2022-23 Ebac Northern Football League season will begin on Saturday, July 30.

Subject to approval by the Football Association, it is proposed that the season will conclude on April 22, 2023.

Because of the increased number of teams in Division Two, the Northern League’s Management Committee has decided that there will be a First Division Cup and the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup (for Division Two teams) to alleviate fixture pressure on Division Two teams.

These two separate cups is what happened this season, but in previous seasons there has been a league cup for teams from both divisions.

Fixtures are due to be released soon after the league’s AGM, which is scheduled to be held on June 18.