Consett will return to match action on Saturday 1 August with a visit to Northern Alliance side Newcastle Blue Star.

We are awaiting Government guidance on whether supporters will be allowed to attend the fixture, which will be at Scotswood Sports Centre with a 1pm kick-off.

Blue Star were one of the most famous non-league clubs in the North East before the old club folded in 2009.

They famously won the FA Vase in 1978 as a Wearside League club, and joined the Northern League in 1985, immediately winning the 2nd Division title and League Cup.

They did another double, winning the 1st Division championship and League Cup, in 2006, and were promoted to the Northern Premier League in 2007.

After leaving their home at the Wheatsheaf Ground to share with Newcastle Falcons rugby club at Kingston Park the club were promoted to the NPL Premier Division via the play-offs in 2009.

But off-the-field problems – particularly being asked to repay £65,000 in loans which they had received for the Wheatsheaf Ground – resulted in the club’s demise.

Newcastle Blue Star was reformed in 2018, and finished 3rd in their first season in the Northern Alliance Premier Division. Their short-term aim is to re-establish themselves as a Northern League club.

They are managed by former Newcastle United player Kenny Wharton, and recently appointed another ex-Magpie, Lee Clark, as director of football.

Consett’s second friendly will be a home game against local rivals Tow Law Town at Belle View Stadium on Tuesday 4 August, and we will also entertain Morpeth Town on Saturday 22 August.