Newton Aycliffe FC’s pre-season preparations conclude on Saturday, 3rd August, when Step 3 side Basford Utd make the journey up from Nottingham. Kick off at Moore Lane is at 1pm.
Brian Atkinson’s side start their second season in the NPL East Division away to Sheffield FC on 10th August. Aycliffe are unbeaten against Sheffield FC, with their last meeting a 1-1 draw featuring a last minute wondergoal courtesy of Liam Adamson.
The first home game for Aycliffe is against newly promoted, and current Northern Counties East League champions, Emley AFC on Tuesday 13th August. Emley are no strangers to NPL football however, they played in the league throughout the 1990s under their original Emley FC incarnation.
Aycliffe’s foray into the FA Cup begins on 17th August when they play host to either Beverley Town or Whitley Bay in the Preliminary Round, Ossett United are the visitors on the 24th, and newly promoted Sherwood Colliery follow on the 31st. In between those three games are two midweek fixtures, both of which are away to two newly promoted teams from the Northern League. With a Wednesday night encounter at Heaton Stannington on the 21st, and a local derby against Northern League champions Bishop Auckland on the August Bank Holiday Monday (the 26th).
September 7th provides Aycliffe’s second ever FA Trophy game, away to Ellesmere Port based Vauxhall Motors.
Like last season, Aycliffe play Dunston away on Boxing Day and New Years Day is a home game against Bishop Auckland. Aycliffe make their first ever visits to Emley AFC on 4th January, Bradford (Park Avenue) on 15th March, and Sherwood Colliery on 19th April respectively.
There will be a few new faces at Moore Lane for this season, with Dean Thexton & Joe Ferguson returning while Craig Moody & Alex Nelson have also been brought in to strengthen the squad.
Fixture details can change, so please keep an eye on social media & the club’s website www.newtonaycliffefc.co.uk for details. The website also has details of Season Tickets which are now available. Prices have been frozen from last season despite there being two extra home games as the league has been expanded.
Photo: Dean Thexton returns to the club; story by Ryan Livingston.