Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (A)
Isuzu FA Vase
Second Round
Click HERE for updates on WhatsApp
Click HERE for updates on Twitter
- Saturday 9th November 2024
- 3:00pm kickoff
- The Oldhaulage Stadium at Kingsley Park, Crawcrook, Gateshead, NE40 3SN
- Supporters' coach arranged by Union 1908 - book your place HERE
- Dogs welcome
- Pay on the gate, cash or card:
The Albion clubhouse has a social and bar area on the ground floor and kitchen area on the first floor. The clubhouse is also served by a large car park next to the entrance.
___________________________________________
Preview
West travel to Tyneside this weekend to face Ryton & Crawcrook Albion in the 2nd Round of the FA Vase.
West's confidence is renewed after an important 3-1 win at Squires Gate in midweek returned the club to within touching distance of the NWCFL Premier Division playoffs. With half a dozen rivals in league action on Saturday, West's attention turns to the FA Vase and an opportunity to reach the 3rd Round for third season in succession.
Tom Murray returned to the team on Tuesday after missing the defeat to AFC Liverpool - his first league absence since July - while Jimmy Moore and Victor Abadaki are available after completing their suspensions. Manager Paul Marshall should be in a position to select from a near full-strength group, save for longer term absentees.
Though they play their football one level lower in the non-league pyramid, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion are a tricky obstacle standing in West's path. RACA made light work of Barnoldswick Town in the last round, strolling to a 3-0 win just four days before Barlick reacted by beating West in the league.
Albion are enjoying a strong start to their season, sitting 5th in the Northern League Division Two. In the run up to the FA Vase draw on October 21st they'd won ten of their previous 13 games - enjoying some emphatic results along the way - but since the draw they've registered one win, one draw and two defeats.
The latter of those defeats came at home on Tuesday night in the Durham FA Cup, relinquishing a half-time lead to lose 4-2 to FC Hartlepool - an opponent they'd despatched 5-0 in the league only a fortnight ago. An additional concern for Albion was the injury enforced substitution of captain Jack Errington just 12 minutes in.
In reaching the 2nd Round, Albion have already matched their best FA Vase run. Nostell Miners Welfare - themselves two-time FA Vase opponents for West - prevailed in a replay at this stage of the 2008/09 edition, when RACA were known simply as Ryton.
West, of course, are some way off matching their best FA Vase run, which came in reaching the 2022/23 Quarter-Finals. West visited Whitley Bay on their run to the last eight that season and another journey to the North East this time around will bring back good memories and hopefully prove a good omen.
This is the 11th time West have faced lower-division opponents in the Vase - winning eight of the previous ten, losing at Penistone Church in 2016 and at Lower Breck in 2018. The last such meeting was a 2-0 home win against RACA's divisional rivals Horden as part of that extended 22/23 campaign - another positive omen.
As unfamiliar as the Oldhaulage Stadium will be for most, that's not the case for a number of West's staff. Paul Marshall brought his Cheadle Town side here last season in the 1st Round of the same competition, with West full-back Max Sutton opening the scoring in a 5-3 win. Jordan Lazenbury, Jack McConnell and Kyle McGonigle all played that afternoon, with Adam Jones and Marshall himself among the substitutes.
West will once again be backed by a large travelling contingent - any supporters who have not yet arranged their travel can contact Union 1908 to book one of the final few remaining spots on the supporters' coach - click HERE.
RACA enjoy sizeable home support - for comparison, they would have the 12th highest average attendance if they were a NWCFL Premier Division club - and they'll be looking to make their presence felt with an opportunity to make club history in front of them.
___________________________________________
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion At A Glance
Home colours: Blue & black / black / blue
Change colours: Yellow / blue / yellow
Pitch surface: Grass
2023/24 position: 11th, Ebac Northern League D2
2023/24 average attendance: 209
Travelling distance: 158 miles
West away season round trip: 868 miles
The club was formed in 1970 as Ryton, taking its current name in 2011. Their history is well documented in this informative section of their website. They are managed by Nathan Beckham (no relation), who took over in December 2022. Since their formation the club has played at Kingsley Park, renamed the Oldhaulage Stadium at the start of this season as part of a long-term sponsorship.
Their clubhouse was built in 1998 and opened by Prince Andrew ahead of a friendly against Newcastle United, which attracted a record crowd of 1,100.
___________________________________________
Form Guide
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
5th, NL Division 2 (step 6)
Form position: 8th
Last six overall: LDWWWL
Home position: 4th
Last six home: DWWWLW
West
6th, NWCFL Premier (step 5)
Form position: 6th
Last six overall: WLDWLW
Away position: 9th
Last six away: WDLWDW
___________________________________________
Route Through The Rounds
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion
2Q Garstang (H) W 5-2
R1 Barnoldswick Town (H) W 3-0
West
R1 Stockport Town (H) W 2-0
___________________________________________
Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
