UniBond League

Bishop Auckland are optimistic that the forthcoming season will be their last at Kingsway.

A meeting of shareholders this week was told that the complicated and protracted sale of the football club's part of Kingsway could be completed around the turn of the year, which would then allow the club to start building the new ground at Tindale Crescent.

Majority shareholder Brian Newton, who is handling the project, told shareholders in a statement: "The developers, Wilmott Dixon, are involved in an overall redevelopment of the Kingsway area, and other adjoining Durham County Council land.

"The delays they are experiencing is due to County Council standing orders which forbid land negotiation with one end user and consequently the land in question must be advertised."

Newton also pointed out: "The split of funds on completion of the sale is now agreed with both the Church Commissioners and the cricket club after lengthy discussions and negotiations."

Newton revealed that Sport England, the Football Trust, Wear Valley Council and Scottish and Newcastle Breweries "in principle are supportive" of plans for the new stadium, which has a development budget of just under £1million.

Chairman Tony Duffy, meanwhile, stated that the club will not be groundsharing.

"There are rumours that we will be groundsharing, but under the circumstances we can't do anything except stay where we are."

Bishops' first game of the new UniBond League season is at Colwyn Bay a week tomorrow

Youth soccer

Such is the growth in the junior game that Chris Lowther has now taken up part-time appointments looking after four leagues.

He is secretary of the Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League, which has 15 clubs.

And now he has taken on the New County North Durham Youth League, A and C Kelly Gateshead Youth League and the Gateshead Apollo Door League.

The only change from last season in the Tyneside Junior League is the inclusion of Wideopen for Winlaton and the programme begins a week tomorrow.

The New County North Durham Youth League will have two divisions and at U-16 level there will be two sections. In Section A there will be eight teams while section B will have ten clubs.

The newly-created U-17 division totals 12 clubs, making 30 in all in the two divisions.

Newcomers are Sandhole, Stocksfield, Hebburn Clegwell, Chopwell, Grange Village, Haydon Bridge, Quarrington Hill, Prudhoe, Washington Springwell and Sheriff Hill.

Sides making up the U-17 division are Blackfyne, Chester-le-Street Town, Chopwell, Consett, Derwent Valley, Dunston Fed, Harton and Westoe, South Shields, South Tyneside, Felling, Sandhole and Lanchester.

This season the A and C Kelly Gateshead Youth League boasts five divisions, covering ages between 11 and 15.

The U-11 division will have 11 clubs, 12 sides will compete at U-12 level, there will be 11 teams at U-13, the U-14 division boasts 15 clubs and there are no fewer than 19 teams who will compete in the U-15 division.

Despite having to play 36 matches the clubs in the U-15 section agreed not to split the division into two.

The Gateshead Apollo Door League, which is for players aged eight, nine and ten, begins on September 23.

All matches will be played at Lindhurst School, Wrekenton, on Saturday mornings and already around 40 clubs have applied.

Any other side wishing to make application must to do so by the end of August must do so to Chris Lowther on (01207) 230108.

"Junior football is really taking off and I am delighted to be looking after four leagues on a part-time, employed basis.

"I am general and fixture secretary and there is an awful lot of work to do," said Lowther, who has recently been appointed a scout for Rochdale covering the area between Birmingham and Carlisle.

Coxhoe Boys

IN an U-9 friendly, Coxhoe drew 6-6 with Easington, Adam Strong scoring five of the Coxhoe goals and their other marksman was Daniel Cuthbertson. Geoffrey Cairns scored Coxhoe's only goal in a 2-1 defeat at Durham County.

Results: U11: Coxhoe 3 (George Hesler 2, Tom Orton), Wheatley Hill 2; Coxhoe 8 (Jamie Lawson 4, Hesler, Ross Woodward, Lee Soppit, Stephen Hall), Newbottle 2; Coxhoe 6 (Jamie Lawson 2, Woodward 2, Hesler, Orton), Washington 2

Fairfield Grange United

After competing in the Stockton Sunday League for 32 years, the team are looking to play teams in the Thirsk, Ripon and north Yorkshire area on a friendly basis. Grange's players ages range from 35 to 60.

Any interested team should contact Des Ward on (01642) 895135.

Langbaurgh West Rural District League

Broughton opener Mark Smith was in fine form over the double weekend with unbeaten scores of 84 and 99 in his side's two victories, which keeps them on top.

Maltby, Stafford Place and Hutton Rudby also gained two victories.

In Sunday's matches the bowlers were on top as Kildale beat Kirby Sigston by 14 runs in a low-scoring match.

Saturday results

Chopgate 166 for 7 (M Lane 37, H Leng 4-36), Crathorne 168 for 3 (C Marshall 61, P Mooney 47); Thimbleby 188 for 6 (D Barningham 63, T Garbutt 35, J Harris 4-65), Broughton 189 for 2 (M Smith 84*, A White 41*); Great Smeaton 157 for 5 (M Barber 35), Swainby 161 for 6 (A Kerr 65, M Kerr 59); East Harlsey 140 for 5 (P Mason 59, A Fawcett 4-37), Ingleby Greenhow 136 for 8 (M Fawcett 57, N Parkin 42, J Grainge 6-35); Kildale 159 for 8 (S Corcoran 36, L Sonley 48*, S Hollis 6-57), Stafford Place 160 for 6 (C Simpson 68*, M Lawrence 30, S Livingston 37, L Sonley 3-27); Maltby 154 for 8 (A Morrow 34, T Hobson 34, K Clarkson 5-67), Kirby Sigston 114 (P Hutchinson 3-27, S Close 3-13); Scruton 93 (Johnnie Bailey 6-34, P Coombes 3-22), Hutton Rudby 96 for 5 (J Hurford 38).

Sunday

Kildale 55 (K Clarkson 5-17, W Town 5-31), Kirby Sigston 41 (Dan Doughty 3-21, L Sonley 7-18); Broughton 198 for 8 (M Smith 99*, N Stockton 4-53), Chopgate 162 for 8 (M Lane 53, C Lane 33, R Briddock 4-54); Great Smeaton 155 for 6 (M Blench 96), Thimbleby 156 for 0 (A Daniel 70*, A Barningham 69*); Ingleby Greenhow 150 for 8 (M Fawcett 52, N Parkin 48, S Brass 3-65, M Brass 3-25), Scruton 152 for 5 (D Barker 75*, K Norman 40, D Fawcett 3-29); Crathorne 57 for 8 (D Covell 3-34, P Hutchinson 4-21), Maltby 58 for 0 (S Close 37*); Hutton Rudby 204 (Johnnie Bailey 34, C Roe 63, G Shinwell 6-88, M Kerr 4-56), Swainby 136 (A Kerr 44, C Beadle 64*, J Dennis 6-38); East Harlsey 176, Stafford Place 177 for 5.

Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League

Division B

P W D T L Pts

Annfield Plain 16 5 5 0 1 226

Blyth 16 10 2 0 4 218

Tynedale 16 8 5 0 3 206

Ashington 16 8 4 0 4 195

Backworth 16 8 3 0 5 189

Consett 16 7 6 0 3 180

Lintz 16 7 4 1 4 179

Morpeth 16 7 2 2 5 178

Ryton 16 7 3 0 6 172

Swalwell 16 7 3 0 6 167

Shotley Bridge 16 5 3 1 7 152

Seaton Burn 16 6 2 0 8 149

Burnopfield 16 5 4 0 7 147

B'well and Walbottle 16 4 5 0 7 136

Whickham 16 4 5 0 7 136

Greenside 16 4 4 0 8 123

Sacriston 16 4 4 0 8 121

Alnwick 16 4 4 0 8 115

Lanchester 16 3 5 0 8 106

Percy Main 16 2 3 0 11 74

Boddingtons Durham Coast League Juniors

Dawdon celebrated winning the Under-18 Division on Tuesday night when they defeated Bill Quay.

First team captain Bobby Stephenson said the entire club was delighted at the success of the younger players.

"We have some very good young players coming through the ranks and the team was unbeaten throughout the season.

"The lads also won the William Orton Cup, defeating Bill Quay in the final so we could not have enjoyed a better season," said Stephenson.

The championship of the Under-15 Division has still to be decided and a play-off may be necessary.

Castle Eden still have Bill Quay to play and if they win they will be joint-top with Seaham Park.

John Watson, manager of the Seaham lads, said: "We have a good all-round side and I am confident that if we have to play Castle Eden we will give them a good game."

Castle Eden secretary Leo Taylor said that no date had yet been fixed for the

crucial match with Bill Quay.

"If we manage to beat them then the play-off will be a real tense match with everything to play for." said Taylor.

NatWest Tyne League

P W D L Pts

Haydon Bridge 15 9 4 2 132

Haltwhistle 14 10 1 3 125

Humshaugh 15 8 3 4 117

Allendale 15 7 1 7 115

Matfen 15 5 3 7 92

Wylam 15 5 3 7 92

North Tyne Riverdale 14 5 1 8 90

Stocksfield 15 0 4 11 5