Durham City are expecting a bumper crowd for their pre-season friendly against neighbours Sunderland tomorrow, writes RAY SIMPSON.

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy has told Durham that he will be sending a strong first team squad, and that includes Thomas Sorensen, Kevin Phillips, Gavin McCann and Tore Andre Flo.

And Durham manager Billy Cruddas is telling fans to make sure they get to the Archibald Stadium in plenty of time for the 3pm kick off.

"Considering that it's the first friendly of the season for Sunderland, we think that there is every possibility that there'll be a full house," said Cruddas.

"It's a magnificent gesture by Sunderland to play their stars on Saturday. I think a lot of people will be coming along to see the big names, and how Sunderland are shaping up."

Cruddas will also use the occasion to give his new signings an outing, his latest being striker Andrew Shaw from Spennymoor, defender Jamie Howe from Esh Winning, and defender Ray Stanger from West Auckland.

And after Saturday, Durham have two more high profile friendlies coming up. On July 19th, Darlington are sending a strong team, then on Thursday 24th July, Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock visit.

"I think it's quite a feather in our cap to have the first teams of these clubs coming along," said Cruddas.

Consett's new manager Ray Lish has made his son Steve his first new signing at Belle Vue. Lish, appointed a month ago, will look at the current playing squad in forthcoming friendlies.

He has also brought in Paul Bryson as player-coach. Bryson is a veteran of the Northern League and was player-manager of Chester-le-Street until two years ago until he quit to concentrate more on his coaching job in the Sunderland Academy. Bryson was playing for Birtley in the Wearside League last season.

Jarrow Roofing will have the leading scorers from both divisions in their team in the new season.

Roofing already have the highly-rated Paul Chow on their books, but now manager Richie McLoughlin has signed Adam Johnston, who ran away with the Second Division leading scorer award last season. He has also signed Gavin Cogden, another striker from Washington Nissan.

The draw for the Northern League's Craven Cup is, first round: Alnwick Town v Easington , Consett v Murton, Newcastle Blue Star v Kennek Ryhope CA, Shotton v Prudhoe

Second round: Alnwick or Easington v Consett or Murton, Evenwood v Shotton or Prudhoe, Hebburn v Crook, Benfield Saints v Washington Nissan, Seaham v Northallerton , South Shields v Newcastle Blue Star or Kennek Ryhope CA, Whickham v Ashington, Willington v Norton.

The rivalry between Northern League clubs and those from the UniBond League continues in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup on August 23.

ANL clubs have caused some shocks in recent years, and they will fancy their chances again this time round, with five ANL clubs at home - Peterlee, Crook, Billingahm Synthonia, Guisborough and Shildon.

Billingham Town have been paired against FA Vase winners Brigg Town in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup on August 23.

Willington play Consett, the week before they play them in the Second Division of the ANL.

The draw for the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup on August 23 is: Garforth v Whickham, Holker Old Boys v Penrith,Norton v Evenwood, Ossett Albion v Alnwick, Washington Nissan v Jarrow Roofing, Shotton v Newcastle Blue Star, Dunston v Abbey Hey, Oldham Town v Northallerton.

The draw for the first preliminary round on August 30 is: Brigg v Billingham Town, Maine Road v Ashington, Bishop Auckland v Flixton, Peterlee v Bridlington, Crook v Guiseley, Tow Law v Salford City, South Shields v Bedlington, Willington v Consett, Shotton or Newcastle Blue Star v Dunston or Abbey Hey, Billingham Synthonia v Chorley, Liversedge v Gateshead, Guisborough v Kendal, Cheadle v Chester-le-Street, Durham City v Rossington Main, Horden v Brandon, Esh Winning v Bacup Borough, Garforth or Whickham v Hebburn, Thornaby v Easington, Shildon v Workington, Selby v Washington, Maltby Main v West Auckland, Sheffield v Washington Nissan or Jarrow Roofing, Brodsworth or Pickering v Whitley Bay, Norton or Evenwood v Oldham Town or Northallerton, Marske v Winterton Rangers, Prudhoe v Morpeth, Seaham Red Star v Murton.

The draw for the first qualifying round on September 13 is: Stockbridge or Squires Gate v Prudhoe or Morpeth, Pontefract or Clitheroe v Horden or Brandon, Maltby or West Auckland v Blackpool Mechanics or Colwyn Bay, Tadaster or Winsford v Marske or Winterton Rangers, Norton or Evenwood or Oldham Town or Northallerton v Liversedge or Gateshead, Ossett Albion or Alnwick or Alsager v Thackley or Ossett Town, Durham or Rossington Main v Shildon or Workington, Maine Road or Ashington v Woodley Sports or Ramsbottom, Thornaby or Easington v Guisborough or Kendal, Armthorpe or Louth v Garforth or Whickham or Hebburn, Bamber Bridge or Prescot Cables v Esh Winning or Bacup Borough, Crook or Guiseley v Hall Road Rangers or St Helens or Trafford, Bishop Auckland or Flixton v Brodsworth or Pickering or Whitley Bay, Ckleadle or Chester-le-Street v Seaham Red Star or Murton, Billingham Synthonia or Chorley v Selby or Washington, Shotton or Newcastle Blue Star or Dunston or Abbey Hey v Brigg or Billingham Town, Atherton or Farsley v Sheffield or Washington Nissan or Jarrow Roofing, Peterlee or Bridlington v Tow Law or Salford, Skelmersdale or Glasshoughton or Atherton LR v Willington or Consett, Fleetwood or Darwen or Parkgate v South Shields or Bedlington.

Spennymoor, Blyth and Whitby are exempt to the second qualifying round because of their status of UniBond Premier Division.

The first qualifying round draw of the FA Vase on September 6 is: Liversedge or Kennek Ryhope CA, Penrith v Flixton, Washington v Warrington, Evenwood v Ashington, Billingham Synthonia or Brodsworth, Norton v Tadcaster, Chester-le-Street v Marske, Guisborough v Maltby Main, Poulton Victoria v Ryton.

The draw for the second qualifying round on September 20 is: Easington v Worsborough Bridge, Tow Law v Ossett Albion, Poulton Victoria or Ryton v Prudhoe, South Shields v Washington Nissan, Horden v West Allotment, Cammel Laird or Great Harwood v Washington or Warrington, Newcastle Benfield Saints v Thornaby, Alnwick v Peterlee, Billingham Synthonia or Brodsworth v Penrith or Flixton, Guisborough or Maltby v West Auckland, Norton or Tadcaster v Esh Winning, Atherton LR v Evenwood or Ashington, Murton v Bacup Borough, Consett v Sheffield, Colne v Chester-le-Street or Marske, Louth v Willington, Liversedge or Kennek Ryhope CA v Darwen, St Helens v Hebburn, Crook v Padiham or Armthorpe, Newcastle Blue Star v Hallam, Atherton Coll v Dunston, Seaham v Alsager or Rossington Main, Hall Road Rangers v North Shields, Harrogate RA v Jarrow Roofing, Abbey Hey or Ramsbottom v Shotton, Shildon v Salford City.

The draw for the first qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup on September 6 is: Morecambe v Chester-le-Street, Glasshoughton v Seaham Red Star, Whitley Bay v Darlington College, North Ferriby v Consett, Witton Albion v Burscough or Penrith.