Northern League: Stalwart Mark Collingwood can 'drive' Seaham Red Star promotion bid
There are some eye-catching fixtures in Northern League Division Two this weekend.
Assistant manager Michael Johnson believes Mark Collingwood’s ‘high standards’ can help Seaham Red Star push for promotion into the Northern League’s top tier this season.
It has been a challenging start to the new campaign for Collingwood’s men after a depleted Red Star side followed up an opening day defeat against Billingham Town with a 3-1 loss at AFC Newbiggin on Wednesday night. All eyes now go on Saturday’s visit to Prudhoe YC as they look for their first point of the season - and Johnson believes the stability offered by Collingwood will be ‘massive’ for the club throughout the campaign.
He told The Echo: “Colly is massive for the club on and off the pitch. He brings continuity, stability and he brings in sponsor deals. It doesn’t bare thinking about what would happen if the club lost him because he’s that important on a number of levels. Our aim is to win the league this season and Colly will absolutely drive that because he has high standards. The fact he’s done so many years now is massive at a time when managers aren’t at clubs for so long so that stability is massive for us.”
Division Two fixtures
Saturday: AFC Newbiggin v Newcastle University, Billingham Town v Darlington Town, Durham United v Stokesley SC, FC Hartlepool v Boldon CA, Grangetown Boys Club v Chester-le-Street Town, Jarrow v Alnwick Town, Park View AFC v Seaton Carew, Prudhoe YC Seniors v Seaham Red Star, Sunderland RCA v Tow Law Town
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