By Martin Walker
Newton Aycliffe have been handed an away trip to Marske United in the opening day of the new season.
The Newtonians will kick off the 2012-13 Ebac Northern League campaign with the Teesside trip on Saturday 18th August.
The Seasiders, now under the control of former player Craig Gibbin following Paul Burton’s resignation in May, finished 18th in 2011-12, and beat Aycliffe 3-1 in the corresponding fixture last October.
The first visitors to Moore Lane Park in 2012-13 will be recently-promoted Hebburn Town, with that game penned in for Wednesday 22nd August.
Hebburn Town were Aycliffe’s first ever opponents in the Northern League back in August 2009, when the Newtonians came from two goals down to win 3-2 in front of 365 fans at Moore Lane Park.
Other key fixtures include Bishop Auckland (home) on August Bank Holiday Monday (27th), Spennymoor (away) on Saturday 1st September, Darlington 1883 (away) on Tuesday 11th September and at home on Saturday 8th December, Bishop (away) on Boxing Day and Spennymoor (home) on Saturday 9th February,
The club are yet to hear who their first competitive fixture of the campaign will be against, as the FA Cup kicks off the season a week before the league fixtures take place. The FA isn’t expected to release details of their draws until next month.
● Meanwhile, Aycliffe have now completed an eye-catching programme of pre-season friendlies.
As well as their blockbusting match with Sunderland on Friday 20th July, the Newtonians will play Teesside League division one outfit Richmond Town away and Conference North side Harrogate Town at home.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Wednesday 11th July: Newton Aycliffe FC under 18s (H) 7.30pm
Saturday 14th July: Murton AFC (H) 3pm
Friday 20th July: Sunderland XI (H) 7.30pm
Wednesday 25th July: Percy Main Amateurs (H) 7.30pm
Saturday 28th July: Richmond Town (A) 3pm
Wednesday 1st August: Coxhoe Athletic (A) 7pm
Friday 3rd August: Harrogate Town (H) 7.30pm
Aycliffe’s 2012-13 league fixtures in full:
Sat Aug 18th,2012 Marske United A
Wed Aug 22nd,2012 Hebburn Town H
Sat Aug 25th,2012 Norton & Stockton A
Mon Aug 27th,2012 Bishop Auckland H
Sat Sep 1st,2012 Spennymoor Town A
Tue Sep 4th,2012 Durham City A
Sat Sep 8th,2012 Dunston UTS H
Tue Sep 11th,2012 Darlington FC 1883 A
Sat Sep 22nd,2012 Newcastle Benfield A
Wed Sep 26th,2012 Penrith H
Sat Sep 29th,2012 Billingham Town H
Tue Oct 2nd,2012 South Shields A
Sat Oct 6th,2012 Ashington A
Wed Oct 10th,2012 Consett H
Sat Oct 13th,2012 Bedlington Terriers A
Sat Oct 20th,2012 Billingham Synthonia H
Tue Oct 23rd,2012 Sunderland RCA A
Sat Oct 27th,2012 Whitley Bay A
Wed Oct 31st,2012 Celtic Nation FC H
Sat Nov 3rd,2012 West Auckland Town H
Sat Nov 10th,2012 Shildon A
Sat Nov 17th,2012 Team Northumbria H
Wed Nov 21st,2012 Whitley Bay H
Sat Nov 24th,2012 Guisborough Town A
Sat Dec 1st,2012 Durham City H
Sat Dec 8th,2012 Darlington FC 1883 H
Sat Dec 15th,2012 Penrith A
Sat Dec 22nd,2012 South Shields H
Wed Dec 26th,2012 Bishop Auckland A
Sat Dec 29th,2012 Marske United H
Sat Jan 5th,2013 Consett A
Sat Jan 12th,2013 Sunderland RCA H
Sat Jan 19th,2013 Celtic Nation FC A
Sat Jan 26th,2013 Norton & Stockton H
Sat Feb 2nd,2013 Hebburn Town A
Sat Feb 9th,2013 Spennymoor Town H
Sat Feb 16th,2013 Dunston UTS A
Sat Feb 23rd,2013 Newcastle Benfield H
Sat Mar 2nd,2013 Billingham Town A
Sat Mar 9th,2013 Ashington H
Sat Mar 16th,2013 Bedlington Terriers H
Sat Mar 23rd,2013 Billingham Synthonia A
Sat Apr 6th,2013 West Auckland Town A
Sat Apr 13th,2013 Shildon H
Sat Apr 20th,2013 Team Northumbria A
Sat Apr 27th,2013 Guisborough Town H