Club news items from previous seasons are held in the Archive area.
Michael Charlton in action for RCA at Penrith during last season's Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round match.
This Saturday, 5 August, kick-off 3.00pm, Sunderland RCA begin the new season with a match at home to Garforth Town in the Extra Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Another cancelled match, I'm afraid. This evening's friendly has been called off because of the rain affected pitch at Waterhouses. We are sorry for the disappointment.
Unfortunately, the pre-season friendly with Hartlepool U23s due to be played this Saturday, 22 July, has been cancelled because of player availability problems at Hartlepool.
We are sorry for the disappointment.
Sunderland RCA have drawn Garforth Town at home in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.
Garforth Town play their football in the Northern Counties East Premier League - the same league as familiar Vase opponents Bridlington Town, Handsworth Parramore, Hemsworth Miners Welfare and AFC Mansfield.
The match will be played at Meadow Park on Saturday, 5 August, with a 3.00pm kick-off.
Should RCA win that match then we have a further home draw in the Preliminary Round against either Ashington or Ryhope Colliery Welfare.
The Preliminary Round is to be played a fortnight later on Saturday, 19 August.
Our competitive season starts, as usual nowadays, with the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on 5 August, which is not ideal but there you are. At the time of writing we don’t know our opponents but we will do by the time of the SAFC friendly match, listen for announcements or check the website or Twitter for details.
In the FA Vase our efforts of last season will be rewarded with exemption until the Second Round Proper in November. Somewhere over 600 clubs will play in the Vase this season, starting in September and we won’t enter until the last 128. With South Shields taking promotion it looks like, unless rules have changed, that only ourselves, Shildon, Morpeth and Billingham Town will be exempt to that stage this season, fewer than in the last half a dozen years.
Most of last season’s team have signed on again for 2017/18, which is great news. John Butler has decided to retire after a long and top class career in local football, he will be much missed around the club, but hopefully he will stay in touch. He will certainly always be welcome at Meadow Park. Well done John, enjoy your free time. Nathan O’Neill is a major new signing for the club from local rivals Ryhope CW, reuniting with Martin Swales. Carl Morris has refund to strengthen the goal keeping department. A number of other new faces have been involved in training and will probably be involved tonight.
The pitch has had major work done again this summer, many thanks to Turfcare for their great work and expertise, and is now being cared for by our excellent, hard working committee members, Graham, Dave and George. The pitch last season held up remarkably well and hopefully we can hope for the same again this year.
On the subject of volunteers we are always looking for people to get involved with the running of the club, whether helping on match days, or with promoting the club or anything else. We have a great team of people, but extra hands are always welcome. Anyone who would be able to help with a couple of hours on home match days with catering and serving would be very welcome, but there is also help needed elsewhere on a match day or during the week behind the scenes. Just speak to any committee member for more info.
Match day prices for 2017/18 will be £6.00, £4.00 concessions, with accompanied children free. It is a slight increase, the first for several years, but still great value.
Season tickets for the new season are available now from the club. Prices show a small increase on last season, to reflect the rise in match day prices, but still represent very good value for top quality Northern League action. Adult tickets are £70.00 and concessions £50.00. All accompanied children under 16 go free as always.
Sunderland RCA are delighted to announce a pre-season friendly match with a Sunderland AFC XI.
The match will take place at Meadow Park on Monday, 10 July with a 7.00pm kick-off.
Admission prices are £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.
A cracking match to begin our pre-season campaign - be there!
Sunderland RCA's pre-season fixtures for the forthcoming season are as follows:
Wednesday, 12 July: Jarrow FC - away - 7pm.
Saturday, 15 July: Willington - away - 3pm.
Tuesday, 18 July: Chester-le-Street Town - away - 7:30pm.
Saturday, 22 July: Hartlepool United Under 23s - home - 1pm
Wednesday, 26 July: Esh Winning - away - 7:30pm.
Saturday, 29 July: Pickering Town - home - 3pm.
Sunderland RCA will begin the 2017-18 Northern League campaign with the same fixture as we ended the 2016-17 season - Penrith at home. The fixture will be played on Tuesday, 8 August.
Notable matches include the first of the Ryhope derbies against Ryhope Colliery Welfare on Saturday, 26 August at Meadow Park. The reverse match is at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, 27 January 2018.
Other highlights include a home match against Consett on Boxing Day (please note: the 11am kick-off time may change).
For a full list of RCA's 2017-18 Northern League fixtures please click here.
We are awaiting confimation of further pre-season friendlies - in addition to the Willington and Pickering Town matches - and these will be posted on our website once they have been finalised.
Congratulations to Sunderland RCA captain Greg Swansbury and his fiancee Hollie on their marriage today. Very best wishes for the future to Greg and Hollie from everyone at the club.
Sunderland RCA, Meadow Park
Beechbrooke, Ryhope
Sunderland SR2 0NZ
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