Hexham football season preview, including upcoming fixtures
In the first qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Vase to be played on August 26, they have been drawn at home to Harrogate Railway Athletic, with the winners of that tie at home to Albion Sports or Billingham Town in the next round on September 23.
In their last three pre-season matches, they drew 1-1 at Wallington and won 5-0 at home to Gateshead Rutherford AFC before winning 2-1 against Whickham at a wet Essity Park on Saturday to claim the George McCreedy Memorial Cup.
As well as being boosted by the return of club stalwart Kieran Russel, the core of last season’s squad has been retained with several exciting young players recruited. New manager Mark McMeekin, an influential player at Prudhoe over the last five years, will be assisted by former Newcastle Blue Star Reserves manager Dean Walker and Scot Goldsmith-Scott has returned to the club as part of the coaching staff whilst also registered as a player.
Their new signings include 18 year old forward Joseph Armstrong (ex-Winlaton Community), 19 year old striker Kyle Gilmour (ex-Ryton & Crawcrook Albion), 17 year old central midfielder or left back Hugo McNicol (ex-Hexham FC), 19 year old forward Sam Peat (ex-Sunderland West End and Newcastle Blue Star Reserves), 19 year old central defender Jordan Plunkett (ex-Winlaton Community and Newcastle Blue Star), 19 year old midfielder Roman Sparks (ex-Gateshead Rutherford AFC) and 19 year old midfielder Aaron Willoughby (ex-Newcastle Blue Star).
Opening Fixtures
Saturday, July 29 (3.00pm) Yarm & Eaglescliffe (A)
Wednesday, August 2 (7.30pm) Horden CW (H)
Saturday, August 5 (3.00pm) Billingham Synthonia (H)
Tuesday, August 8 (7.30pm) FC Hartlepool (A)
Saturday, August 12 (3.00pm) Bedlington Terriers (A)
Wednesday, August 16 (7.30pm) Sunderland West End (H)
Saturday, August 19 (3.00pm) Washington (H)
Wednesday, August 23 (7.30pm) Blyth Town (A)
Wednesday, August 30 (7.30pm) Billingham Town (H)
After finishing third in the Bay Plastics Northern Alliance Premier Division last season, Wallington have strengthened their squad with some quality signings ahead of the new campaign which starts on Saturday, August 5.
Their new recruits include the experienced Ethan Page (ex-Bedlington Terriers), central defender Curtis Williamson (ex-Stobswood Welfare), left-back Dan Roberts (ex-Morpeth FC) and winger Sheldon White who made the English Universities squad when he was studying at Leeds University.
After being sidelined through injury last season, striker Jack Palmer is fully fit again however fellow striker Keelan Nellis who suffered ankle ligament damage at Haltwhistle in April is likely to miss the first month of the season.
After losing 4-2 against Ebac Northern League Division One side Heaton Stannington in their second pre-season friendly, Wallington drew 1-1 with Prudhoe YC Seniors before beating Rothbury 3-2 at a rain-soaked Oakford Park on Saturday in the annual Mark Bruce Memorial Trophy match. The visitors went 2-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes through goals from Paul Dunn and Chris Laidlaw. Kyle Reardon halved the deficit on 27 minutes before second half strikes from Jordan Nellis saw the Scots Gap-based hosts retain the trophy.
Wallington manager Trevor Baston knows that his side’s early season form on their travels must improve in the new campaign after they lost three of their four away games in August last year.
Opening Fixtures
Saturday, August 5 (2.30pm) Hebburn Town Reserves (H)
Wednesday, August 9 (7.00pm) Ponteland United (A)
Saturday, August 12 (2.30pm) AFC Newbiggin (H)
Wednesday, August 16 (6.45pm) Burradon & New Fordley (A)
Wednesday, August 23 (6.30pm) Stobswood Welfare (A)
Saturday, August 26 (2.30pm) Haltwhistle Jubilee (H)
Wednesday, August 30 (6.15pm) Cramlington United (A)
Haltwhistle Jubilee have also made a number of additions to their squad with manager Cameron Bell well aware that his side’s away form has plenty of room for improvement after they only managed to pick up 7pts out of a possible 45pts on their travels in the 2022/23 campaign.
He said: »We had nine players on show in our first pre-season friendly against Whickham U23’s who weren’t at the club last season and there was a lot of positives to take from the 2-1 win. »
Their new signings include winger Brady Wiser (ex-Carlisle Northbank and Kirkoswald), defender/midfielder Chris Nixon, Haydon Bridge cricketer Liam Stephenson, along with the former Hexham trio of Will Forsyth, Matty Kilby and Owen Murtough. In addition, former player Kieran Macmillan has re-signed and will share goalkeeping duties with Thomas Craney.
Opening Fixtures
Saturday, August 5 (2.30pm) Stobswood Welfare (H)
Wednesday, August 9 (7.00pm) Cramlington United (H)
Saturday, August 12 (2.30pm) Hebburn Town Reserves (A)
Wednesday, August 16 (6.45pm) Killingworth FC (A)
Wednesday, August 23 (6.30pm) West Moor & Jesmond AFC (H)
Saturday, August 26 (2.30pm) Wallington (A)
Wednesday, August 30 (6.15pm) Newcastle Independent FC (A)
Our other Premier Division side Ponteland United have been weakened by the loss of three key players. Henry Rawlinson and last season’s top-scorer Joe Rowan have signed for Burradon & New Fordley, while talented goalkeeper Grady Wilson has been granted a football scholarship in the USA.
Opening Fixtures
Saturday, August 5 (2.30pm) Alnwick Town (A)
Wednesday, August 9 (7.00pm) Wallington (H)
Saturday, August 12 (2.30pm) Newcastle Independent FC (A)
Wednesday, August 16 (6.45pm) Percy Main Amateurs (H)
Wednesday, August 23 (6.30pm) Seaton Delaval AFC (H)
Saturday, August 26 (2.30pm) Killingworth FC (H)
Wednesday, August 30 (6.15pm) Gateshead Rutherford AFC (A)
As well as losing Will Forsyth, top-scorer Matty Kilby and Owen Murtough to Haltwhistle Jubilee, Reeves Independent First Division side Hexham FC have been further weakened with Branndon Fearns-Kennedy signing for Killingworth FC.
Opening Fixtures
Saturday, August 5 (2.30pm) Gosforth Bohemians (A)
Wednesday, August 9 (7.00pm) Bedlington FC (H)
Saturday, August 12 (2.30pm) Newcastle Blue Star U23 (A)
Wednesday, August 16 (6.45pm) Ponteland United Reserves (H)
Wednesday, August 23 (6.30pm) Rothbury FC (A)
Saturday, August 26 (2.30pm) Forest Hall Celtic (A)
Wednesday, August 30 (6.15pm) Whitley Bay Reserves (H)
The draw has also been made for the first round of the Reeves Investment Services George Dobbins League Cup with all matches taking place on Saturday, August 19 (2.00pm).
The ties involving our local sides are as follows: Haltwhistle Jubilee v Burradon & New Fordley, Wallington v Blyth Town Reserves, Whitley Bay Sporting Club A v Ponteland United, Willington Quay Saints v Hexham FC, Ponteland United Reserves v Wideopen FC, Cramlington United v Heddon United FC, Prudhoe YC Seniors Reserves v Blyth Rangers.