Consett will complete their pre-season preparations for 2021-22 with a friendly against Workington.

The Northern Premier League side will visit Belle View Park on Saturday, July 24, for a 3pm kick-off.

They are the third NPL opponents who Terry Mitchell’s side will face, after Morpeth Town and South Shields.

It promises to be a tough test, as The Reds were third in the North West Division when last season was abandoned, after being 10 points clear at the top when the previous campaign was declared null and void.

Familiar foes

Consett and Workington have met several times in recent seasons, including an FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round clash in 2014-15, when we lost 2-0 at Borough Park.

The friendship forged that day meant we have met three times since in friendly fixtures.

The most recent was in July 2019, when goals from Dan Hawkins, Darren Holden and Michael Brown saw Consett win 3-0 at Belle View.

The previous season, we played an entertaining 3-3 draw at Borough Park, with the hosts recovering from a two-goal deficit.

While in August 2015 Consett came from behind to beat Workington 2-1 at Belle View.

It should be another competitive game against a team who will be hoping to make it third time lucky as they bid for promotion, despite last week’s shock departure of manager Danny Grainger.

Consett’s full pre-season schedule

Saturday 3 July (H) v Billingham Synthonia, KO 1pm

Tuesday 6 July (H) v Morpeth Town, KO 7.30pm

Saturday 10 July (H) v Richmond Town *KO TBA

Tuesday 13 July (A) v Sunderland XI *KO TBA

Saturday 17 July (H) v Horden Community Welfare, KO 3pm

Tuesday 20 July (A) South Shields, KO 7.30pm

Saturday 24 July (H) Workington, KO 3pm

The Northern League’s AGM is being held as a virtual meeting this Saturday, 19 June, which is when we expect to receive our league fixtures.

The 2021-22 season kicks off on Saturday 31 July, with the FA Cup starting a week later.