A lot of money was raised for Newton Aycliffe football club by dedicated fans and volunteers at the weekend. It’s estimated the Frank Swinburne Memorial Day raised over £3,000, with sponsorship still being collected.
Fans walked the 26-mile route from Northallerton to Aycliffe on Saturday – replicating in reverse Frankie’s Aycliffe-to-Northallerton walk back in 2009 – while others cycled the route, including the club’s chairman Gary Farley.
Aycliffe ran out 6-2 winners in the inaugural Frank Swinburne Memorial Cup – with a post-match presentation by the Swinburne family followed by a BBQ.
The game was sponsored by Herbalife (www.healthynewyou.co.uk) with the players and the walkers benefitting from the brand’s nutritional products and advice.
Former club captain Sean Tarling will run the gruelling route this weekend, having been unavailable on Saturday due to commitments with new team Bishop Auckland.
While he runs his former club travel to Tow Law in their next pre-season fixture. The following Saturday (August 3) Newtonians host their final home friendly, as Barnsley-based club Athersley Rec make the return trip to Moore Lane Park. Aycliffe travelled south in their opening fixture in early July winning 2-1.
It will be the club’s final pre-season commitment as games against Darlington Cleveland Bridge and Darlington RA have been cancelled. The former have folded whilst the latter are Aycliffe’s opponents in the FA Cup and the two clubs have decided not to meet in a non-competitive game so close to the tie.
