Welcome to the Consett AFC website at www.consettafc.com. Here you will find all the news and information about The Steelmen of the Albany Northern League Division One.

 

 

 
 

July 2003 News

30 July 2003

Another friendly and another draw.  It also has to be said it was another promising performance as a Consett side without several key figures played out a 2-2 draw with First Division Morpeth Town.  Consett had much the better of the first half, taking the lead on 34 minutes when an overhead kick from Michael Pitt was deflected in by Chris Hodgson.  The Steelmen could have gone two up from the penalty spot four minutes later but Pitt's effort was saved.  Moments later however Morpeth equalised through an unstoppable 30 yard screamer that gave Andy Colling no chance.  It was much the same story in the second half as Consett went 2-1 up just after the hour mark when good work down the right by Hodgson presented the easiest of chances for Pitt to convert.  Again though the visitors pegged Consett back within minutes and the home side were thus denied the victory their performance deserved.  

27 July 2003

A very good crowd turned out at Belle Vue this afternoon for the inaugural match for the John Challoner Memorial Trophy.  A Select XI of players from past and current Consett Sunday Leagues, plus Northern League players such as David Bayles and Lee Ellison from Shildon and Mark Eccles of Tow Law, took on a team of referees in a match to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.  The result wasn't important, however for the record the Players won 4-2, in spite of some refereeing that may have tended towards the biased!  The match, together with a post match raffle and auction, raised a tidy sum for the charity.  Thanks go out to Heather Davison and Paul Nicholson for their efforts in organising such a successful occasion, which is to become an annual event following the generous donation of a trophy by Bill Reid.

26 July 2003

A first pre-season defeat for Consett as they surprisingly lost 2-3 at home to Annfield Plain of the Wearside League.  There were few chances in an even 1st half, but Plain took the lead after 39 minutes following a corner.  Consett had a good spell after the break and levelled after 48 minutes when Sugden headed in the rebound after Andy Thompson's free-kick had hit the post. Consett dominated with Thompson hitting a post and Sugden and Pitt heading narrowly over. The Steelmen went ahead on 69 minutes when Thompson headed home from Terrell's free-kick. The visitors equalised four minutes later and scored the winner in the last minute, both goals the result of slack defending. However it was virtually a reserve back four that was on the field at the time as the manager again took the opportunity to look at some new players.  

23 July 2003

Consett's promising pre-season form continued tonight with a good 1-1 draw at home to First Division Jarrow Roofing.  Consett went behind 20 minutes into the game when the Roofers intercepted and punished a stray Johnny Brown pass.  Consett equalised on 38 minutes through an excellent solo effort from Andy Green, who picked up the ball 30 yards out, shrugged off a couple of challenges and then rounded the keeper to slot into an empty net. In the second half the Steelmen could easily have won the game, Andy Green being denied by a last ditch block and Michael Pitt failing to make contact from close range with the goal at his mercy, but performance was more important than the result.  The big plusses from this game being the excellent performances of youngsters Green and Ben Thompson, who came in and did so well at the end of last season, while new signing Martin Bell at full back had a sound debut.

19 July 2003

Consett returned to action with a friendly game against Spennymoor United, and played out a very creditable 1-1 draw against a side three leagues above them.  With five new faces in the starting XI it was very much a new look side and the Steelmen put in a very good performance, taking the lead after just 12 minutes when some smart work by former Birtley Town player Paul Terrell created a chance for ex-Whitehill striker Michael Pitt, which he duly buried.  On the half hour Spennymoor equalised when a penalty awarded against Johnny Brown for handball was saved by James Platten, however the penalty-taker scored from the rebound.  A lot of promising things came out of this game though, one which a very competitive Spennymoor side would have ended with 9 men had it not been a friendly - their goalkeeper having handled outside his area in the first half and their full back having been substituted at the referee's request for punching Andy Green (who was also removed from the game for some reason).  Consett's new central midfield pairing of Stephen Lish and Paul Bryson in particular looked very impressive, and Ray Lish had every reason to be happy with the early signs displayed by his fledgling team.

15 July 2003

Another friendly for your diaries.  At fairly short notice we now have a game this coming Saturday 19 July, and our return to action after the summer break comes in the shape of a home game against Spennymoor United, who were of course our conquerors in last season's FA Cup. 

14 July 2003

We have an amended friendly fixture.  On Wednesday 30 July we will now be playing a friendly against Morpeth Town at Belle Vue, instead of the originally scheduled one at Birtley Town. 

7 July 2003

FA draw day today, with the draws being made for the early rounds of the FA Cup and the FA Vase.  This year thankfully they've been reasonably kind to Consett.  In the FA Cup there is no requirement this season for us to play in the Extra Preliminary Round, and instead we go straight into the Preliminary round where we have drawn Willington away.  This game is to be played on Sat 30 August - oddly enough just five days after we go there in the league.  Should we progress past that tie (and there's every reason to hope we will) then we will go into the First Qualifying Round, where a trip to either Skelmersdale United, Atherton Laburnum Rovers (both North West Counties Division 1) or Glasshoughton Welfare (Northern Counties East Premier) awaits us on 13 September.

In the Vase, again we've been spared playing in the First Qualifying Round and go straight into the Second Qualifier.  There we will entertain the world's oldest football club Sheffield FC of the Northern Counties East Premier on Sat 20 September.

Also drawn today was the FA Youth Cup and Consett enter at the First Qualifying Round stage where they will be required to visit North Ferriby United.  That tie is to be played by 6 September.

6 July 2003

The draw has been made for the Craven Cup, which is for Second Division teams only.  Consett have been drawn at home to Murton in the first round, which is of course new manager Ray Lish's former club.  Should we progress beyond that fixture an away trip to Alnwick Town or Easington Colliery awaits us in the second round.  No dates have been given for these games, although last year's first round ties were played in November.

1 July 2003

Consett's Pre-Season Friendlies Announced
The Steelmen warm up for the new season with six pre-season friendlies which are as follows:

Wed 23 July Jarrow Roofing (H)
Sat 26 July  Annfield Plain (H)
Wed 30 July Birtley Town (A)
Sat 2 Aug Sunderland (H)
Tue 5 Aug Esh Winning (H)
Sat 9 Aug Washington (H)

Secretary's Update
The latest bulletin from Consett's Club Secretary can be found on Ian Hamilton's page.  Click the Secretary's Update link, or go to the page from the Club Information menu item, to read details of new boss Ray Lish's first signing and some good news regarding the club's finances.

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Albany Northern League Div 1
Pos Team Pl GD Pts
1 Spennymoor Town 42 55 97
2 West Auckland 42 59 95
3 Dunston UTS 42 51 90
4 Sunderland RCA 42 52 88
5 Ashington 42 33 77
6 Whitley Bay 42 36 76
7 Bedlington 42 48 70
8 Bishop Auckland 42 18 69
9 Newton Aycliffe 42 18 65
10 Shildon 42 20 59
11 Billingham S 42 -3 59
12 Newcastle Benfield 42 8 55
13 South Shields 42 -11 51
14 Norton and Stockton Ancients 42 -6 50
15 CONSETT 42 -7 50
16 Guisborough 42 -30 50
17 Billingham T 42 -23 49
18 Marske United 42 -28 44
19 Penrith 42 -38 40
20 Jarrow Roofing 42 -49 40
21 Tow Law Town 42 -58 28
22 Stokesley 42 -128 4