The Green Army are back in the North East again this week, after drawing Blyth Spartans in the Emirates FA Cup 2QR.

TICKETS

The match will kick off at 3pm at Croft Park, and you can click here to purchase tickets now!

Tickets can also be purchased on the turnstiles at Croft Park.

TRAVEL INFORMATION (From Football Ground Guide)

From the North
From the A189 (Spine Road) take the A193 (Cowpen Road) exit and follow this into Blyth, continue on the A193 as it becomes The Broadway. Continue on the A193 at The Broadway Circle roundabout and take the next left on to Plessey Road. The ground will be on your left.

From the South
Exit the A19 onto the A189 (Spine Road) at the Annitsford Roundabout. After two miles exit onto the A1061 (signed A192 Seaton Delaval, Cramlington and Blyth Beach. Follow the A1061 for approximately three miles and exit left onto the A193. Turn right at the second roundabout onto Plessey Road as above.

Parking is freely available on the surrounding streets but please park sensibly and respect the local residents.

Postcode for SatNav: NE24 3JE

HOW ARE WE?

Mark Bower’s Squad have had a decent start to the Northern Premier League season, pulling off wins against Morpeth Town and Ilkeston Town at home, and sharing points with Guiseley and Bamber Bridge to gain 8 points from 7 games, and up until last Saturday (9th Sept) the team were on a 5 match unbeaten run after also beating Consett in the 1RQ of the FA Cup. As of 12/09, Avenue sit 16th in the League.

It was FC United of Manchester who broke the run, beating Avenue 2-0 at Broadhurst Park. We spoke to First Team Manager Mark Bower after the match

He reflected on the match, saying;

“We weren’t quite at it, we were loose in possession and gave the ball away while under no pressure. We were just that half-a-yard off it today.”

Talking on the FA Cup draw, Mark said;

“Well, they’re the the highest position team we could have possibly drawn at this stage, but we’ve been up there and had some good results over the last couple of years. We will have to have to be better than today (FC United (A), certainly when in possession, as Blyth play some good stuff and will pull us apart if we are wasteful.”

Click here for Mark’s Full interview following Avenue’s 2-0 loss to FCUM on Saturday 9th September

HOW ARE THEY?

Graham Fenton’s Blyth Spartans have had an excellent start to their National League North season, gaining 15 points from their opening 9 games, winning 5 and losing 4. The Spartans currently sit inside the playoffs at 6th.

Just last Tuesday, The Spartans recorded their biggest win of the season against our neighbours Farsley Celtic, playing out a 4-0 thrashing of the Celts at Croft Park.

Blyth come into the game following a 2-1 defeat away at Chester. Following the defeat, Graham Fenton spoke on the FA Cup Draw, saying

“We have to get ourselves where we’re 10-15% better than we were today. We know what Bradford are like, they always pose questions and make it difficult, but we’re looking forward to being back and at home.”

You can watch Graham’s full interview following Blyth’s 2-1 defeat to Chester here.

FROM THE ARCHIVES – TIM CLAPHAM

Avenue and Blyth Spartans have previously met on 20 occasions.

Seventeen of these have been in league football and three in cup competitions. The odd number of league meetings was caused when the 2019-20 season was curtailed because of the Covid epidemic and the return fixture at Blyth was not played.

Avenue’s record against the Spartans is quite good with nine wins, five draws and six defeats. The three previous cup meetings were in the Northern Premier League Cup between 1998 and 2002, with Spartans winning both ties played at Croft Park by 3-1 and 4-0, however in Jan 2002 Avenue gained some revenge when Andy Hayward scored four times in a 7-1 victory at Horsfall Stadium in the quarter-finals.

Avenue have won on four occasions in the league at Croft Park. In fact Mark Bower’s men have won the last three meetings in the north-east by 2-1, 3-1 and 1-0, all matches being played on a Tuesday evening.

When the teams meet in the FA Cup it will not be under the Croft Park floodlights. Hopefully this will not have an undue effect on the Avenue team!

We are back to league action this Saturday, facing FC United of Manchester at Broadhurst Park!

Kick Off is set for 3pm, on Saturday 9th September.

This will be Avenue and FCUM’s first meeting since 2019, when FC United took a 3-2 win at the Horsfall. The match stood at 1-1 going in at half-time, with the opener from Oli Johnson in the 39th minute evened out in the 45th +1 by Chris Sharp.

Two quick goals from FCUM came in the 2nd half, Jack Banister in the 64th minute, followed by Kurt Willoughby just a minute later.

Lewis Knight scored in the 77th minute, but the equalizer wouldn’t come for Avenue, and it ended 3-2 to FC United of Manchester.

Mark Bower’s lads will go into this game with confidence though, after a 5 match unbeaten run consisting of 2 league draws, 2 league wins, and a win last Saturday vs Consett to put us through to the 2RQ of the Emirates FA Cup.

FC will be looking to maintain their 100% home record this season, with 4 games and 3 clean sheets so far, the Reds are looking strong at the back and exciting going forward. Currently sat in midtable, a win could take Neil Reynolds team into the promotion places.

Pay on the gate prices are as follows:

Adult                    £13.00

Concession*        £9.00

U18s                    £3.00  

Under 5s             free with paying adult

*Concession means the following:

• Over 60s
• In receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit
• Student with a valid NUS card

Any person applying for a concession may be asked to produce identification at the turnstile. If a supporter is unwaged and does not have proof of any of the above, they must contact the office prior to a game.

Disabled supporters pay either the concession or under 18s price and any carer receives free admission.

See below for more information on Broadhurst Park. Information taken from https://fc-utd.co.uk/grounds/broadhurst-park#

Matchday information

There is no segregation in place for this fixture.

Turnstiles will be open from 1:00pm  – cash and card payments are accepted.

Our turnstiles are operated by volunteers; we would appreciate supporters arriving at the ground in time for kick-off so that the volunteers can finish as early as possible.

Early entry is via reception from 12.30pm until 1:00pm.

From 1:00pm access through reception will be for officials/players/sponsors/match day diners and those needing lift access only.

Food & drink

The main bar is open from 1.00pm and will close after half time as there is a pre-booked function in the evening.

For this match the SMRE bar is open from 1.00pm and will stay open until last orders at 6:30pm.

For the 2023/24 season the Kazbar has been fitted out with a new bar, and will be serving a selection of lager, IPA and cider. Please note this bar will only take card payments.

Food is available from our usual food outlets:

Chip van  – pies, chips, peas & soft drinks.

Kazbar  – pies, peas, vegetarian samosas, crisps, snacks, soft drinks & hot drinks. 

Main bar  – TBC

Sweet stall  – selection of sweets & soft drinks.

Match day dining

If you would like a group dining experience with a fantastic view of the pitch on a match day, then our match day dining tickets are for you. Priced at £40, with juniors half price. The experience includes the following:

• Ticket for the game
• Delicious two-course meal served before kick off
• Pre-match brief from the Manager
• Match day programme & team sheet
• Half time refreshment
• Private bar
• Car park space (if you are attending with friends, the deal includes one space per four guests).

To book click here. For any further queries contact Danny Davis (Commercial Manager) on 0161 769 2005 or email danny.davis@fc-utd.net

Getting to the game

Parking

Parking is available at our stadium car park (M40 0FJ). To book a place email office@fc-utd.uk or ring 0161 769 2005.

Please note that St. Matthews car park is not available.

In fairness to our neighbours, please do not park on St Mary’s Road or the side roads thereof.  Please use Lightbowne Road.

Please see the Travel Hub for full details of how to get to our ground

Broadhurst Park

Ground Address: 310 Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ View Map

Ground Capacity: 4,400

What’s the ground like?

Broadhurst Park is the UK’s first new ground to be built and funded by a supporter-owned football club.

Covered on all sides, with standing and seating in the main stand and with a large and expansive home standing area behind the goal, FC United’s purpose-built 4,400 capacity homeshows what can be achieved when football fans with a vision work together and make things happen.

FC United’s members were involved at every stage during the design and construction process and the result is a stadium and community facility that is the envy of many clubs in higher leagues.

FC United is looking to create the first pollinator-friendly football stadium in the UK after supporters won a £4,000 Grow Wild community project award to develop a landscaping project at the ground.

As a community facility, Broadhurst Park will be used every day by local people and will host a range of sporting and recreational activities. A well-appointed function room and meeting spaces are also available for the local community, businesses and other organisations to hire.

Funding for the £6.3m facility has come from a variety of sources. FC United fans have raised £2 million from a pioneering Community Share Scheme and close to a further £1 million from other fundraising. Grant funding has also been provided from Sport England (Iconic Facilities Fund), the Football Foundation (FSIF), Football Foundation (Community Facilities Fund), Manchester City Council, Social Investment Business (My Community Rights), Manchester College and Viridor.

We would like to wish all supporters a very warm welcome to Broadhurst Park.

Getting to the ground by public transport

Please see our comprehensive Travel Hub.

Getting to the ground by car

Please see our comprehensive Travel Hub.

Local Pubs

Pubs within 1 mile of Broadhurst Park:

Miners Community Arts & Music Centre, 63 Teddington Rd, Moston, Manchester M40 0DJ

• Located a stone’s throw from Broadhurst Park ‘The Miners’ is an award-winning multi-arts venue hosting music, art & film events. Featuring a café, bar and pool tables the venue is open before FC United home games.

Gardeners Arms Hotel, Moston Lane, M40 5RZ

• Imposing red brick and white stone JW Lees pub on Greengate Roundabout. This is a 2-roomed community local with pool, darts and cask ale. 

Railway Hotel, 82 Dean Lane, M40 3AE

• A large red brick Joseph Holt pub. There are several rooms in what is an interesting layout. Railway memorabilia features as a nod to the history of the railway depot next door. Has darts (Manchester Dartboard), TV and cask ale. 

Charlestown, 204 Charlestown Road, M9 7ED

• Large suburban pub owned by JW Lees. Pub has large lounge, vault room, beer garden and cask ale. 

Blue Bell, 493 Moston Lane, M40 9PY

• Large red brick Victorian Joseph Holt pub dating from 1890. Interesting ‘spire’ style structure and 4 distinct rooms inside, all interconnected around a central bar. Typical Holts community feel and serves cask ale.

Fairway Inn, Nuthurst Road, M40 3PL

• Joseph Holt pub that reopened in 2017, after a major refurbishment. Offers an extensive food menu and cask ale available. Outdoor seating area with canopies available.