Tag: durham university

Consett strengthen squad by signing Dutch defender who impressed in Durham University friendly

Consett have added to their growing multi-national squad by signing 23-year-old Dutch defender Wouter Verstraaten.

A centre-back or full-back, he also plays for Durham University, and scored against the Steelmen in the recent friendly, which the students won 2-1.

He signed for Consett last week, but we have been awaiting international clearance to come through so he could play.

Wouter, who spent 11 years at the PSV Eindhoven youth academy, made his professional debut for their city rivals FC Eindhoven in 2015.

In 2016, he joined Pacific Tigers in the United States, and also played for Portland Timbers U23s. In January he was selected by Los Angeles FC in a first round of the draft for the MLS season, but did not make it to the team.

He returned to his homeland, and was signed for amateur side VV Geldrop until he came to England.

Consett squad get some useful minutes under their belt in Durham University friendly

Consett used most of the squad who aren’t starting games regularly in a friendly against Durham University at a rainy Belle View tonight.

And despite suffering a 2-1 defeat, manager Terry Mitchell was pleased to get some minutes into the legs of players who will have a big part to play in the weeks and months to come as injuries and suspensions kick in.

Only goalkeeper Kyle Hayes remained from the team which started against Sunderland RCA at the weekend. Take out him, Nick Allen and Andrei-Vasile Ardelean, and the other eight players only had nine starts between them this season.

Nathan Lawrence and Thomas McAloon both got their first taste of action since rejoining the club, while some players looked understandably rusty due to lack of game time.

Consett took the lead on 28 minutes, when centre-back Simon Jakab finished from close range in a goalmouth scramble from a right-wing corner.

A minute later it was 1-1 when Durham centre-back Verstraaten netted at the back post from a corner.

Six minutes before half-time the students, who were playing their first pre-season game, took the lead when Hayward surged into the box and fired in off the post.

And that’s the way it stayed, as neither side troubled the scorers in the second period. Andrei-Vasile Ardelean did have the ball in the net, but was correctly ruled offside.

Consett: 1 Kyle Hayes, 2 Nick Allen, 3 David Brown, 4 Dan Hawkins (captain), 5 Simon Jakab, 6 Chris Rogan, 7 Michael Brown (sub A Trialist 46), 8 Nathan Lawrence, 9 Andrei-Vasile Ardelean, 10 Joe Sloan (sub Michael Brown 59), 11 Thomas McAloon.

Durham University: 1 King, 2 White (sub Gilbey 85), 3 Elson, 4 Hayward (sub Kilvington 46), 5 Verstraaten, 6 L. Smith, 7 Sampson, 8 Gourlay, 9 Beg (sub Hartley 70), 10 Hizzett (sub Buys 60), 11 Stokoe (sub Eastham 85).

Consett to face Durham University in friendly which will raise money for Prostate Cancer UK

‪This Tuesday night, 24 September, Consett will play Durham University in a friendly at Belle View.

Kick-off will be 7:30pm, and it will be pay what you want on the gate, with all funds going to Prostate Cancer UK.

With the help of the Conny Army, the club hopes to raise as much money as possible for Men United in the next 30 days.

The match will be used by Consett manager Terry Mitchell to give some if his squad, including new signings Nathan Lawrence and Thomas McAloon, much-needed game time.

We have played friendlies against Durham University a couple of times in recent seasons, and they are invariably good games, with plenty of attacking football.

The most recent was in January 2019, when Consett ran out 8-3 winners.

Calvin Smith in last season’s friendly v Durham University, which Consett won 8-3.