• West Lancashire League Champions: 1986/87
• Lancashire FA Amateur Shield Winners: 1988/89, 1990/91
Chairman Maurice Watkin
Vice-Chairman David Smith
Treasurer Paul Muspratt
Club Secretary John Squire
Matchday Secretary Gary Fawcett
Manager Kevin Watkin
Manager Dave Round
Safeguarding Officer Steve Thomas
Head of Digital Glen Ritchie
Groundskeepers Alan Wilson & Ian Littlehales
Bar Manager Sam Trewin
Good afternoon and welcome to Rakesmoor Lane for today’s FA Vase fixture against Ryton & Crawcrook Albion FC.
Today’s cup fixture is a welcome change of focus after two frustrating results in the league. In both games, we created chances but didn’t take them – and then got punished for individual mistakes. That’s the reality of football at this level, and we know we’ve got to put both of those things right quickly if we want to get back on track.
The FA Vase always brings something different – new opposition, unfamiliar setups, and a bit of unpredictability. We don’t know a lot about Ryton, but what we do know is teams from that part of the country are always well-drilled, competitive and up for a battle. We’re expecting nothing less today and we’ll have to be ready for it from the off.
The squad is stretched at the moment – we’re missing a few through injuries, suspensions and other commitments, which has made preparation a bit more difficult than we’d like. That said, it gives opportunities to others and we’ve got confidence in the group. On a more positive note, we welcome Manny into the matchday squad. He’s been back in training and we’ll look to integrate him slowly, get him up to speed, and hopefully build him back up after his injury layoff.
We’ve spoken as a group about using the cup as a chance to build some momentum and get back to doing the basics well. If we approach it right, it’s a great opportunity to kickstart a little run and enjoy what this competition can offer.
KEVIN WATKIN
Despite the result against Darwen, I was really pleased with the performance. The lads gave everything and we could’ve been two or three up in the first 15 minutes – but at this level, chances have to be taken, especially against a side like Darwen who are strong going forward.
Going down to 10 men in the first half gave us a mountain to climb, but credit to the lads – we responded brilliantly. Second half we created more than they did and controlled the game well in midfield.
There are plenty of positives to take into today’s FA Vase tie. We don’t know a lot about Ryton, but hopefully it’s another exciting one and we can put ourselves in the hat for the next round.
This FA Vase fixture has probably come at a good time for us after a couple of disappointing league results. It gives us a chance to reset and refocus, especially against a bit of an unknown side from over in the North East.
We’ve played teams from that area before and they’re usually physical, direct and hard-working. We’ll have to be ready for whatever they throw at us and make sure we match it from the first whistle.
Last week was a tough one to take. I thought we showed real character after going down to ten men and still managed to create chances, but it just wasn’t enough on the day. With a few lads missing this weekend, we’ll need to bring that same spirit from the second half — and if we do it for 90 minutes, there’s no reason we can’t get the result.
Kev managed to rope me out of retirement – which, to be fair, only lasted about 30 minutes into the first game. Cheers Kev!
It’s been great to be back with the Stags after a few years away. I’ve got the bug again and I’m hoping to be back from injury soon to help the lads push on.
We all know the last couple of games have been frustrating, but I’m not too worried. We’ve created plenty of chances and on another day we’d have taken them.
It’s a talented squad with a great mix, and the young lads especially have really impressed me since I came back in.
I’ve really enjoyed stepping up into the first team and getting the chance to play at a good level of football. It’s been a great experience so far and I’m learning with every game.
Getting on the scoresheet early in the season has helped build my confidence, and I’m looking to keep that going and contribute as much as I can.
This weekend will be my first appearance in the FA Vase and I’m excited for it. Hopefully I can help the team progress and be part of a strong cup run.
We’ve a great group of lads in who’ve helped me settle in quickly, and I’m grateful for the support. I’ll keep working hard and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion FC, based in Crawcrook near Ryton in Gateshead, North East England, currently compete in the Northern Football League Second Division (Level 10 of the English football pyramid). Formed in 1970 to replace Prudhoe and West Wylam Co-op mid-season, they play at the Oldhaulage Stadium at Kingsley Park— renamed in 2024 following a major sponsorship deal.
• 1970 Club Birth – Created to fill a sudden vacancy, playing first match in October 1970 thanks to a modest loan from Ryton Social Club.
• Cup Winners (1980s) – Claimed the Prudhoe Hospital Cup twice, the Northern Combination League Cup, and the Durham FA Trophy.
• League Climb – Won Northern Football Alliance Division One in 1997 and earned promotion to the Northern Football League by 2005.
• Mixed League Era – Finished 3rd in 2007–08 to reach Division One; suffered a brutal 2010–11 season marked by heavy defeats.
• Name Change in 2011 – Expanded its identity to include Crawcrook with a new name, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion FC.
• Ernest Armstrong Cup Glory (2021–22) – Under Daniel Iredale, finished 6th in league and won the cup final on penalties, capping a strong season.
• Ground Transformation – Launched a new 3G pitch in 2020, serving both the club and local community for training and match-play.
• Key Players Depart – Iconic captain Callum Turnbull retired in 2022 after 11 years, over 300 appearances, and 55 goals.
• Top-Half Finish & FA Vase Run (2023–24) – Completed the season in 7th place and reached Round 2 of the FA Vase for the first time since 2008.
• Commercial Milestone (2024) – Signed their biggest sponsorship ever, renaming their ground to The Oldhaulage Stadium at Kingsley Park.
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion FC are a non-league football club based in Crawcrook (near Ryton) in Gateshead in the North East of England, currently playing in the Northern Football League Second Division – Step 6 or Level 10 in the English football pyramid.
Shortly after the start of the 1970-71 football season John Oliver, the club’s first secretary, and Les Robson were approached to see if a club could be formed quickly to take over the fixtures of Prudhoe and West Wylam Coop who had just resigned from the Northern Combination League. After securing a loan from Ryton Social Club of 12 pounds 10 shillings Oliver and Robson approached local councilor Leo Murray and got permission to play football at Stargate.
Ryton FC played their first Northern Combination League game, a 3-3 draw, against works team Parsons Athletic on Saturday 17th October 1970.
The mid-1980’s saw the club transfer to Clara Vale for home games and during this period Ryton won the Prudhoe Hospital Cup twice, the Northern Combination League Cup as well as the Durham County FA Trophy.
Following the amalgamation, in 1988, of the Northern Alliance, the Northern Combination and the Northern Amateur League’s into three divisions, Ryton were allocated a position in the First Division of the newly structured Northern Football Alliance league.
Ryton won the Division One title in 1997, thus securing promotion to the Premier Division where the club remained until gaining promotion to the Northern Football League at the end of the 2004–05 season.
The football club is recognised as having achieved chartered status and offers the chance for a child to be coached in football skills from the age of 6 years of age, through all age groups, up to senior level.
The 2005-06 season marked Ryton’s first campaign in the Northern Football League finishing a respectable 11th place in Division Two, followed by a 12th place finish in 2006-07 then a commendable 3rd place in 200708 which gained Ryton promotion to Division 1 for the 2008-09 season where the club finished a very creditable 10th place.
That was where the upward progress ended as the following season Ryton finished 17th, then came the infamous 2010-11 season which saw the club finish rock bottom with just 8 points, receiving a whole host of league and cup drubbings on the way including the 10-0 and 7-0 losses to Shildon in the league and losing 8-0 at home to South Shields in the FA Vase.
Coupled with the fact that Kingsley Park was based in Crawcrook, and wishing to involve the local community further, the club sought, and was subsequently granted permission by the Durham County FA, to change the name to Ryton and Crawcrook Albion Football Club at the commencement of the 2011-12 campaign in which RACA finished 18th in the first season back in the second division.
The 2012-13 season saw a slight improvement in fortunes with a 14th placed finish. Then a new, very
young outfit in 2013-14 under the guidance of manager John Wilson and his team, also then new to the club, faced a tough campaign with survival the target which was famously secured on the last day of the season. With the squad older and wiser and stability achieved, there was an upward progression with a mid-table finish in 2014-15.
The 2015-16 campaign started under the stewardship of Wilson’s former assistant Paul Dobie with Sunderland academy coach Jordan Moore as coach for RACA. However, despite a decent start Dobie resigned in October and was swiftly replaced by former Ryton player Craig Robson with Carl Piecha, another ex player as his assistant, with Moore remaining as coach. The campaign ultimately proved slightly disappointing with RACA losing every cup game and finishing only 16th in the table.
The 2016-17 season proved to be even worse and Robson stood down, Moore moving up to manager before Peter Bryson took over in January 2017 with Moore reverting back to a coaching role. However, “Brysa” resigned just two months into the job and so Albion quickly acquired the services of Monkseaton boss Anthony Fawcett who steered the club away from relegation. Moore moved to Whickham so Fawcett and new assistant Simon Moody transformed the squad in 2017-18 with a host of players from Monkseaton and north Tyneside signing on.
A steady season followed culminating in an appearance in the Ernest Armstrong Cup final, Fawcett’s men losing 2-0 to Chester-Le-Street Town in Consett. The 201819 season saw more improvement with the club just missing out on a top-half finish.
A strong first half to 2019-20 saw RACA amongst the top four promotion-chasers and in the EA Cup semi-final but the campiagn was halted in March 2020 due to a global health pandemic, the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19). A month later, the season was officially ended and all results controversially “expunged” by the Football Association.
And Fawcett’s 3-year reign ended as he decided to take up the vacant post at Whitley Bay during the close season so Mark Bullock, already part of the coaching staff, stepped up to replace him to begin a new era.
Thanks to a Football Foundation grant and years of fundraising by the club’s committee members and volunteers, the clubs third-generation (3G) all-weather pitch was completely rebuilt over the summer. Not only used by club members, the facility is also open to the local community where it is often used by nearby schools and youth organisations.
After a difficult start to a delayed 2020-21 campaign –disrupted by further Covid-19 restrictions – the club parted company with Bullock after 15 games in charge.
In January 2021, former club captain and defender Daniel Iredale was appointed manager after a hugely successful 3-year stint as Cullercoats head coach. But the season itself, initially suspended in November 2020 to control the ongoing health emergency, was curtailed by the FA in February 2021 for the second successive year.
Iredale had to wait over six months for his first competitive game in charge – a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Heaton Stannington at Kingsley Park to kick off the 2021-22 Northern League campaign. His first season in charge saw Albion finish sixth in the league and lift the Ernest Armstrong Cup, beating Newcastle University 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final in Birtley.
The cup final turned out to be the last match for captain Callum Turnbull – one of the club’s longestserving Northern League players after 11 years, 327 appearances and 55 goals.
After just one win in ten games at the start of the 202223 season, Iredale departed the club by mutual consent, and he was quickly replaced by former Prudhoe Youth Club Seniors coach Joe Kendrick on September 8. On December 30, former Killingworth boss Nathan Beckham was appointed as Manager after Kendrick was forced to step aside due to work commitments. Beckham and new assistant Andrew Waugh steered the side to safety.
Over the summer of 2023, Waugh stepped up to join Beckham as joint manager while Michael McMullen came in as First Team Coach. But in September, Beckham was back in sole charge following the departure of Waugh while Gary Somerville joined as assistant. Albion finished the season in the top half with striker Aaron Costello scoring a club seasonal-high of 34 goals.
In August 2024, the club announced a transformative stadium naming rights deal with Blaydon-based Oldhaulage. The five-year sponsorship deal was the largest commercial agreement in the club’s 54year history and saw Kingsley Park renamed as The Oldhaulage Stadium at Kingsley Park.
On the pitch, Albion were fighting for a play-off spot for most of the season but finished just short despite improving on the points gained from the previous season. They finished the campaign in 7th place. They did, however, progress into Round 2 of the FA Vase for the first time since 2008.
Holker’s Digital Media Team hand-picks their favourite photo this week.
DATE 06.08.24
EUXTON
This one’s a bit different – not action on the pitch, but something just as important. A cold beer on a Saturday afternoon, pitch in the background, and time to catch up with mates. It’s what non-league football’s all about really… the game, the people, the community.
Founded in 1936, Holker Old Boys AFC began as an under-16 side, formed by the former pupils of Holker Central Secondary School, originally located on Holker Street in Barrow-in-Furness. While the school has long been replaced by a bingo hall, the club’s legacy continues to thrive.
Founded in 1936, Holker Old Boys AFC began as an under-16 side, formed by the former pupils of Holker Central Secondary School, originally located on Holker Street in Barrowin-Furness. While the school has long been replaced by a bingo hall, the club’s legacy continues to thrive.
By 1939-40, Holker joined the North Western Open Age League, playing on local fields. Their commitment to youth football remained strong, with junior teams keeping their roots alive. The club expanded into the West Lancashire League in 1967, running teams in both leagues and later securing a permanent home at Rakesmoor Lane in 1971 - a site with a history as an isolation hospital and allotments.
The formation of the Furness Premier League in 1980 saw them enter two teams, with the Reserves progressing into the West Lancashire League Division 2. Success followed in the mid-80s, with a runner-up finish in 1985/86, before claiming the West Lancs League Division 1 title in their Golden Jubilee season (1986/87). The late 80s brought further glory, as Holker lifted the Adidas Lancashire Junior Shield twice, triumphing over Walkden Town (1988/89) and Park United (1990/91).
With ambitions to compete at a higher level, Holker faced the challenge of upgrading their Rakesmoor Lane ground. Through sheer determination and community effort, they expanded facilities, built new changing rooms, and enclosed the pitch. Their hard work paid off in 1991 when they secured a place in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) Division Two.
Holker adapted well to the higher level, finishing third in 1993/94 and earning promotion to Division One. Their time in the top flight was mixed, peaking at 11th place in 1995/96 before a difficult spell led to relegation in 1998/99. This prompted a period of rebuilding, both financially and structurally. The club expanded its setup to include three open-age sides and a thriving junior section, covering ages six to sixteen, plus a girls’ team.
By 2002/03, Holker had regained stability, finishing fifth in Division Two. Off the pitch, significant investments followed, with £80,000 secured for stadium improvements, pitch drainage, and parking. Though the mid-2000s saw inconsistent league performances, there were standout moments: reaching the FA Cup’s Second Qualifying Round (2004/05) and hosting FC United of Manchester in 2005/06 before a record crowd of 2,303. These achievements provided vital funds for further ground improvements, including floodlight upgrades in 2006/07.
The club’s commitment to youth development was also recognised with the FA Charter Standard Development Club Award. This dedication bore fruit in 2006/07 when the U18s, featuring many future first-team players, won the LFA Furness Building Society Youth Cup. By 2008/09, the senior team had climbed to ninth in the renamed Vodkat League First Division.
Under Dave Smith and Maurice Watkin, Holker enjoyed a resurgence, finishing third in Division One in 2010/11. A managerial change in 2011/12 brought challenges, but Smith’s return helped steady the ship. The 2012/13 season was tough, with the club narrowly avoiding last place, though an FA Cup run provided a financial boost.
The 2013/14 season marked a turning point, with Gary Fawcett and Stuart Roberts leading the team to a respectable sixth-place finish and a semi-final appearance in the NWCFL Challenge Cup. Further improvements followed between 2017 and 2019, including pitch enhancements, bar refurbishments, and an extended kitchen. Chairman Maurice Watkin ensured a warm, modern club atmosphere.
Holker reached a milestone in 2018/19, playing their 1,000th NWCFL league game and receiving a commemorative trophy. Despite a challenging season, the team avoided relegation, with Kevin Watkin, Paul Southward, and Glyn Dixon taking the reins to guide the club to safety.
Through decades of highs and lows, Holker Old Boys AFC remains a club built on passion, resilience, and a deep-rooted community spirit - one that continues to shape its future with ambition and pride.
