First game in Ebac Northern League Division one sees Newcastle Benfield make the trip down to Bedford Terrace in a 3pm kick off.
The match is sponsored by the Cleveland Bay and Matchball sponsored by Tooth Express. Thank you for your continued support.
It’s a fresh start for all teams in the league, for the Y&E we are the new starters, the Year 7s on their first day of secondary school. Benfield are an established Northern League side with experienced players & management team and they will be a real tough test for the Y&E.
We’ve got the vast majority of the squad back from last season, that strong core of players who all deserve to represent the team in Division one. Striker Tom Atkinson has been in impressive pre season form looking sharp and he’ll be keen to get off the mark in Division one. Fellow forward Ste Roberts is also back. In midfield Harry Stewart Titchner, Josh Marshall, will both be looking to back up impressive 2025/26 campaigns. Fellow midfielders Josh Larkin & Charlie Fixter are back to full fitness following injuries last season, with Joe Hillerby also back in pre season action folloqing injury. Add in the experience of Joe Dalton, Harry Williams, Foz Garton and Pete Bulmer in to the mix as well and there is plenty of depth in midfield.
Defensively it’s pretty much business as usual from last season with Cam Wild, Jack Dalton, Jack Proctor, Ethan Jones, Sam Conway, Leo Cheesebrough and Alex Dougall all back again. Not to mention Dan Jones who will likely be splitting his playing time between striker & central defender again this season.
In goal, supporters player of the year Callum Roberts is back with Ethan Lansdell also back with squad.
Throughout the squad we’ve got a good mix of youth & experience, across the pitch and plenty of strength & depth. The squad has been bolstered with the addition of two experienced Eaglescliffe lads in Mikey Roberts & Dan McWilliams who have both played extensively in higher divisions.
We’ve added depth at Keeper with Matty Calvert signing for us, speedy winger Reece McMann returns & young players Kristos Cofinas & Luca Di Cicco signing for us after impressing in pre season. Ben Powell is also in the squad, stepping up from the reserves.
It’s clear Jacko & the management team are going to have some tough choices to make selecting teams this season. As ever injuries, suspensions and wider player availability will influence selection, but there is confidence in the squad the management team have pulled together.
The lads have looked good in pre season but as we know it is form in the league that counts.
Last season Benfield finished 13th in the league on 42 points. Their last pre season fixture was a 0-0 draw against Berwick Rangers. Their manager Andrew Ferguson is always well connected and will have assembled another strong squad ahead of the new season There is a relatively familiar face in goal for Benfield with Park View keeper James Hughes who was voted Division 2 young player of the season last year, joining recently.
There’s no Boro game tomorrow, the weather looks decent, the pies will be as tasty as ever from the cafe and you can have a go on our 50/50 half time draw. Minty will have printed match programmes for sale. Get yourself there to support the lads in a historic game for the Y&E.
#utyae
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