Tag: BIRTLEY TOWN

Consett confirm eight-game schedule of pre-season friendlies

Consett AFC can today confirm the club’s full list of pre-season friendlies ahead of our first campaign in The Pitching In Northern Premier League (NPL).

There are eight games in all – five at home and three away – ahead of our NPL Division One East bow on Saturday 13 August.

We will receive our league fixtures at the NPL annual general meeting on Saturday June 11, but in the meantime can confirm the following friendly games:

Chairman Frank Bell said: “We’ve had a couple of late withdrawals, including one in the last 24 hours, which has meant having to find new opponents at short notice.

“But we’re happy to now be able to announce a pre-season programme which we believe will prepare us well as we step up to the Northern Premier League.”

We kick off with our first visit since 2017 to Berwick Rangers, who now play in the Lowland League, and we will also face three Northern League sides.

The first is Birtley Town, which brings a swift reunion with Paul Bryson, pictured below, who helped us to promotion as Andy Coyles’ assistant before recently departing for another of his former clubs.

They are followed by Whitley Bay and West Auckland Town, who are expected to be among the league’s leading sides next season.

We face two regular pre-season opponents in Workington and Morpeth Town, both of which will provide good tests. Workington finished second last season in the NPL Division One West, while Morpeth were 10th in the NPL Premier Division.

The last two opponents will provide very tough tests indeed, particularly as the games are both away from home.

Liversedge were last season’s champions of the NPL division we are joining, while our old Northern League friends Marske were runners-up, and join them in the Premier Division for 2022-23 after securing promotion via the play-offs.

Admission prices for the friendlies, along with matchday charges and season ticket details for our league fixtures, will be announced in due course.

Rusty Steelmen out of cup as Birtley grab last-gasp winner

Grand National Day saw Consett exit the Durham Challenge Cup at the first hurdle today when a late winner gave Birtley Town a 2-1 win.

The delayed 1st Round tie was the first match in four months for Consett and their 2nd Division hosts.

And Terry Mitchell’s side looked rusty, to say the least, on their first-ever competitive meeting with their hosts.

It was Daniel Marriott‘s first competitive start, while Darren Holden and Arjun Purewal made their 100th and 150th appearances respectively.

In a first half of few chances it was Birtley who took the lead on 15 minutes when a long ball sent JOE BARWICK clear.

He kept his composure to round keeper Kyle Hayes and finish to give the 2nd Division side a 1-0 lead.

Consett didn’t manage a shot on target in the first half, and trailed 1-0 at the break.

But they got themselves back in the game on 57 minutes when SIMON JAKAB headed home Jake Orrell’s free-kick with the help of a deflection, pictured above.

There were few clear-cut chances for either side, though Consett were grateful to Hayes for a good diving save from Owen Lancaster, diving low to his right.

A penalty shoot-out looked on the cards until Birtley grabbed a winner four minutes into injury time.

Jack Honour’s shot was blocked and Barwick’s follow-up saved, but KELVIN THEAR was first to the loose ball for a tap-in which gave Birtley a deserved win.

Substitute Kelvin Thear (No 12) wheels away after scoring Birtley’s late winner.
  • Full match report and more pictures HERE.

Consett could resume their season on April 10 with a cup match at Birtley – if spectators are allowed

Consett could resume their season next month with their much-delayed Durham Challenge Cup tie at Birtley Town – but only if spectators are allowed.

Both clubs have informed Durham FA they wish to continue in this season’s competition, which it aims to finish once non-elite football is allowed to resume as part of the easing of lockdown.

A date has been agreed for the 1st Round game to take place at the Arrowmark Home Improvements Stadium – Saturday, 10 April, with a 3pm kick-off – on condition that supporters can attend.

This depends on permission being granted by the Department for Culture Media & Sport – we’ll keep you updated with any news.

Consett are among the Northern League clubs who have expressed an interest in taking part in an end-of-season cup competition, again on the proviso that supporters are allowed to attend, and that food and drink can be sold.

No format, dates or fixtures have yet been confirmed, though again we’ll bring you updates as soon as they’re available. The league programme is likely to be curtailed, though no final decision has yet been made.

Finally, the FA has been in touch with ourselves and Hebburn Town regarding the delayed 2020 FA Vase Final, which it still hopes to play before the end of the current football season.

Discussions are continuing between the FA, Wembley, BT Sport, competition sponsors and the DCMS over a suitable date for the game to take place with fans in attendance. Watch this space…

All Consett AFC games are OFF until further notice due to Tier 4 Covid-19 restrictions

Consett AFC first-team games and training are being postponed until further notice, due to Covid-19 precautions.

This is due to the Government’s decision to place the North East into Tier 4 restrictions to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

That means our first scheduled game of 2021, the Durham Challenge Cup tie at Birtley Town this Saturday, January 2, is OFF.

Northern League fixtures, which were hoping to restart on Saturday, January 9, will not be resumed until further notice.

That means our next scheduled home game, v Seaham Red Star on Saturday, January 9, is OFF.

Subsequent fixtures will depend on which tier of restrictions we’re placed in at the next review.

The Northern League management committee meets on Monday, January 4, to consider options available for the rest of the season.

Consett AFC Chairman Frank Bell said: “Sadly, we have entered Tier 4, and we won’t have football for some weeks.

“However, I believe it is in all our safe interests. Please take care, and I hope to see you all soon.”

Consett’s cup tie at Birtley is switched to a Saturday afternoon

Consett’s Durham Challenge Cup tie at Birtley Town has been rearranged for a second time.

The 1st Round tie – postponed last week due to a waterlogged pitch at the Arrowmark Home Improvements Stadium – was initially rescheduled for this Wednesday, December 23.

But following an agreement between the two clubs it will now take place at the same venue at 3pm on Saturday, January 2.

Birtley advise us that the crowd limit is 150, but it’s home supporters only, who will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If there are any changes to the limit or entry arrangements, we’ll let you know.

The reward for the victors is an away tie at either Crook Town or Willington.

Penrith and Ashington games are OFF as Northern League delays its restart – but our cup ties go ahead

Consett’s next two Northern League games, against Penrith and Ashington, have been postponed after the league management committee decided to delay the restart of fixtures.

However, this Saturday’s FA Vase 3rd Round tie v West Auckland Town is unaffected, and will go ahead as planned, with a 3pm kick-off at Belle View Stadium. The game is now sold out and no admission will be available on the day.

Our away Durham Challenge Cup tie at Birtley Town, which was postponed this week, has been rearranged for Wednesday, December 23, KO 7.30pm.

The decision to delay the restart of league fixtures follows a meeting of the league management committee (LMC) to discuss club responses to the Government’s changes to Tier 3 restrictions, which allow up to 150 spectators to attend fixtures, but means clubhouses must remain closed.

A number of clubs were prepared to resume fixtures from Saturday December 19, but some have been told by their local councils that they are not permitted to sell refreshments.

The majority had already indicated it isn’t financially viable to play games with attendances pegged at 150, and with no income from food and drink, they would still have significant levels of expenditure, with no grants available to cover any deficit.

Some clubs felt a change to Tier 2 restrictions allowing attendances to rise to 300 could allow a return, but the LMC decided to postpone this weekend’s fixtures even before today’s decision to leave the North East in Tier 3.

The situation will be reviewed again by the LMC on Monday, January 4, with a possible resumption date of Saturday, January 9.

A LMC spokesman said: “The committee fully understands and shares the frustration at the situation we find ourselves in, and we are grateful for the patience of officials, volunteers, players and spectators.

“In the meantime we will be writing to all the relevant local authorities to see if they are willing to address the issue of the sale of refreshments at grounds in their area, as this provides such crucial revenue for clubs.”

Our game at Penrith was due to take place on Monday, December 28, and the home game v Ashington on Saturday, January 2. New dates will be set by the league in due course.

At the moment our next scheduled league game is on Saturday, January 9, when we are due to entertain Seaham Red Star. However, at the moment both clubs are still involved in the FA Vase, and the next round is due to be played on that date.

Northern League suspends fixtures for two weeks – but Consett’s FA Vase tie v Maltby Main will go ahead behind closed doors

The Northern League’s management committee have decided to suspend fixtures for two weeks beyond the end of the current UK-wide lockdown, it was announced today.

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