Hebburn Town ready to celebrate 1,000th Northern League game

The Hornets go into the game unbeaten in their last two outings after beating Brandon United in a seven-goal thriller before having to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw against Whickham on Saturday.

But perhaps more importantly than the game itself is the fact that the match marks a major landmark in the club’s history.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Richard Porthouse, accompanied by the Mayoress and Northern League chairman Mike Amos will present a trophy to Billy Laffey the Chairman of Hebburn Town, in recognition of its 1,000th game.

The club, which was formed over 100 years ago, originally as Reyrolles, the engineering company, has been the town’s senior football team playing in several different leagues including the Tyneside Amateur, North Eastern and Wearside Leagues.

In 1989, the club joined the Northern League, the second oldest football league in the world, and have remained there ever since.

As a further part of the celebrations, Amos – who is standing down as league chairman at the end of the season – is walking to the Sports & Social Ground before the game as part of his Last Legs tour.

The 70-year-old has so far raised more than £18,000, walking over 400 miles to 35 clubs this season, for the Bobby Robson Foundation and will be joined on his latest leg by Hebburn stalwarts Alan Armstrong, Ricky Bainbridge and Paul Hill.

The walk will start in the Newburn area on the North Bank of the Tyne at 10am tomorrow and follow the Keelman’s Way down river to Newcastle and on from there on the South Bank of the Tyne, via Bill Quay, to the ground.

Anyone wishing to join the Hebburn walk, or donate, should contact Ricky on 07847949175.

Hebburn boss Scott Oliver, meanwhile, revealed Lee McMahon (groin) James Talbot (hamstring) Kyle Morris (suspension) will all miss the visit of the North Yorkshire side with Chris Smith and Callum Smith also unavailable due to both players being on holiday.

He said: “We’ve had injury problems all season but every team is in the same boat.

“Northallerton have had tough games recently so it is vital that we start well. We have had eight days of and they have recently played.

“If you look at mid-table, there is about seven teams within four points of each other.

“We finished poorly last season and took it into the start of this season. We want to finish to finish in the top half of the table.”