Football
FOOTBALL will return to the dale at the beginning of April – but action has been severely curtailed due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
Of the local leagues, only the Wear Valley Sunday League is resuming fixtures, which is good news for players in of second division Gainford Cross Keys and Toft Hill Three Tuns.
Gainford welcome North Bitchburn Red Lion to the dale and Toft Hill take on Leeholme WMC when league matches kick off again on Sunday, April 4.
However, it’s a different story in the Crook and District League, which plays on a Saturday afternoon.
All teams – including Bowes FC, Glaxo Rangers and Evenwood Town – were asked whether they wished to resume fixtures.
At a special general meeting, clubs voted 11-3 in favour of declaring an end to the 2020-21 campaign.
The County Cup, organised by Durham FA, will continue and the teams still involved in the competition have the option to play or withdraw.
The Darlington Sunday Invitation League has also called a halt to league games for the rest of this season.
However, cup action is continuing, with Middleton Wanderers in action on Sunday, April 4, at home to Darlington Slater’s Arms, and Staindrop FC taking on Skerne Park.
A man with long experience of football administration has taken over as chairman of the Crook and District league.
Charlie Tyers, currently secretary of Middlestone Moor Masons Arms, was unanimously elected at the recent special general meeting.
He succeeds John Priestley who stepped down from the role after more than 20 years.
