RACA face a trip to the far side of the lake district with a trip to North West Counties Football League side Holker Old Boys who play at the same level as ourselves in their Division One North. We last visited the Rakesmoor Lane Stadium in the Vase back in 2012 and were beaten 5-1.
ALBION’S FA VASE FORM AGAINST NORTH WEST COUNTIES LEAGUE SIDES
Ryton have previously met NWCFL opposition on nine occasions in our FA Vase exploits, including in our first four Vase ties. In 2003/04, our first season in the Northern League / FA Vase, we were drawn away to Poulton Victoria on the Wirral but were beaten 4-1 in Wallasey in the 1st Qualifying Round. The Vics have dropped a few levels since then, last seen in the lower reaches of the 3rd Division of the West Cheshire League last season (the rough equivalent of the 2nd Division of the Northern Alliance)
The following season Ryton were given a home draw in the 1st Qualifying Round, with Manchester based Abbey Hey making the trip to the Tyne Valley. We recorded our first ever Vase win after a 3-2 victory against the current NWCFL Premier League side. The reward was a home tie against another NWCFL side in the 2nd Qualifying Round, this time against Flixton who were despatched 5-2. Sadly Flixton FC folded in 2012 due to dwindling support. Back to 2004/05 & Ryton were rewarded with another home tie in the 1st Round Proper against relative giants Skelmersdale United, now in the Liverpool County Premier League (step 7) but at the time, Skem proved too good for us winning 3-1 at Kingsley Park.
There was to be a gap of nine years until we faced our next NWCL opposition, a 2nd Qualifying draw in the 2013/14 competition away to Holker Old Boys on the outskirts of Barrow in Furness. A RACA side struggling badly in the league, surprisingly took the lead through a Dean Sinclair goal, but the superior fitness of the Cumbrians came to the fore as the hosts ran out 5-1 winners. Holker are still in the NWCL today, in the 1st Division North.
In 2023/24 as a reward for beating 1st Division Penrith, we were drawn at home against NWCL Premier Division Cheadle Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round. The Step 5 side had the upper hand in an eight goal thriller winning 5-3 with goals for Albion coming from Fergus Lynch (2) & Richie Hoggins.
In last year’s tournament in the 2nd Preliminary Round, we welcomed 1st Division North Garstang to the Oldhaulage Stadium and beat them 5-2 with a Louis Calvert hattrick plus goals from Abu Salim & Matty Todd propelling us into the 1st Round proper to face NWCFL Premier League side Barnoldswick Town, again at home. A very even first half was followed by a second 45 minutes that Albion dominated, with Rhys McLeod, Louis Calvert and Joe Groves-Forbes all scoring in a 3-0 victory to send RACA into the 2nd Round for only the second time ever. With most at RACA hoping for a fun away day, once again we were drawn at home yet again, & to another North West Counties side in West Didsbury & Chorlton of the Premier League. Sadly for Albion this is where the run ended as the visitors deservedly won 2-0 though we had the handicap of Glenn Caygill being sent off.
On to 2025/26 & we finally get an away tie and it’s back at Holker Old Boys who currently sit 7th in the NWCFL 1st Division North. They’ve not had the intensive start RACA have had, having just played 4 games to our 8, getting off to a flyer with a 5-0 win over Nelson (who we hosted in a pre season friendly a few years back) then beating Fulwood Amateurs away 4-1. However two 2-1 home defeats to Steeton and to Darwen have tempered enthusiasm a little so hopefully RACA can put in a better showing than we did back 12 years ago & head back to the North East with a home tie against Route One Rovers…. more on them if we make it through!
Thursday’s Division 2 Results.
Durham United 1 (o.g.) Darlington Town 1 (Wilson)
Newcastle University 4 (Morris 2, Milner, Sheldon) Tow Law Town 0