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Club news items from previous seasons are held in the Archive area.

Mark's message

Submitted by Mark Cowan on Saturday, 11 August 2018

I’d just like to start by wishing Lenny a speedy recovery from his heart attack last week, not just from me, but from everyone connected with the club. Also a special mention to our Physio Rachel Davison, who did a great a job in looking after Lenny while waiting on the ambulance. I’d also like to thank everyone for welcoming me to the club since taking over Stevie’s role at the beginning of the season. It’s a learning curve for me, but one I’m really enjoying and I've got a great set of lads to work with.

So, we didn’t have the best of starts on Saturday against Newcastle Benfield on the opening day of the new season. After going in at half time 0-0 and having most of the possession, I thought we could go on to win it. They got their goal early in the second half and we didn’t really recover from it and at times we tried to rush the play looking for an equaliser.

We had a good opportunity to put this right on Wednesday when we went up to face newly promoted Whickham and got a great response from the lads. We had to work hard as Whickham tried to stop us from playing, but after taking control of the game and showing our quality, we came away with all three points. Good to see Stevie Callen get two goals and Adzey get on the score sheet - but Pagey is adamant it’s his goal! A well deserved clean sheet to go with a well deserved win.

Jak Ashton leaves for Easington

Submitted by Tim Robinson on Thursday, 9 August 2018

Good luck and best wishes to Jak Ashton who has joined fellow Northern League side Easington.

Jak signed for RCA in the 2017-18 season from Dunston UTS, having previously been at Queen of the South, in Dumfries, and Gateshead. An intelligent and skillful player, Jak’s position is left back, but he can also play left midfield. A terrific signing for Easington.

The Emirates FA Cup preview

Submitted by Simon Mears on Monday, 6 August 2018

Craig Hodgson takes on former RCA striker Josh Home-Jackson during last season's Ryhope Derby at Meadow Park.

The magic of The Emirates FA Cup returns to Meadow Park this Saturday, 11 August, and what a tie it is, as Sunderland RCA take on our very near neighbours Ryhope Colliery Welfare in the Extra Preliminary Round. Kick-off for this big match is 3pm.

To add to the excitement, BT Sport will be filming the build up to the match, as well as interviewing players, management and club officials from both sides prior to kick-off. They will also be filming the match as part of a series in which one match is featured in each of the qualifying rounds, documenting where The Emirates FA Cup begins.

Swaz's thoughts

Submitted by Martin Swales on Saturday, 4 August 2018

Welcome back to Meadow Park everyone for the start of 2018/19 season.

I’d just like to start by thanking everyone for last season - players, management team, committee, fans and sponsors - for all your support and commitment last season.

Finishing fourth was a huge achievement for us, a small club with limited resources, and it’s testament to everyone involved with the club. As people often say we are punching above our weight in this league. What we have is a team of hard working and dedicated committee, a fantastic group of players, a great management team and a superb set of fans which makes the club what it is today.

On the playing side we’ve managed to keep all the lads who we had last season and also added a few great additions. Mark ‘Sparky’ Davison is a top, top player who has joined us from Morpeth and needs no introduction to RCA. We’ve also signed Alex Ramshaw from Seaham, who’s a player we’ve all been impressed with pre-season. As we like to have a core of local lads at the club we’ve also signed some young exciting talent in Dom Moan, Sam Lilley, Sam Robinson and young Spanish keeper Andy Kokoska.

Flashback: Goals from 2017/18

Submitted by Ryan Prentice on Friday, 3 August 2018

With the new season starting this weekend we thought we'd share all of the goals you may have missed towards the back end of last season.

Please let us know which goal you thought was the best and your predictions for the season ahead.

New goalkeeping coach

Submitted by Tim Robinson on Wednesday, 1 August 2018

James - Lenny - French has joined RCA as a goalkeeping coach. Carl Morris will continue with us, but because of family commitments - his daughter has started playing football - he cannot make every Saturday.

Lenny played Northern League football for most his career and worked with Martin Swales at Ryhope CW and Bishop Auckland. He's a great addition to our team.

Lenny started playing for Greatham in the Wearside League many moons ago. They then merged into Hartlepool Town and eventually made it into the Northern League Division 2, only to fold shortly afterwards due to financial problems. From there Lenny went to Chester-le-Street, the club he played for the longest. He then stopped playing - for all of three months. He returned to the game to play for Esh Winning when they we were promoted to the Northern League Division 1. Lenny then signed for Washington and subsequently for Ryton, gaining promotion to Division 1 with both clubs. After leaving Ryton he signed for Ryhope CW and moved into coaching. Lenny then followed Martin Swales to Bishop Auckland, finishing there last season.

Football on a bowling green

Submitted by Tim Robinson on Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Ross McNab

Ross McNab in first half action for RCA.

Please click here for more photos from the match. Thanks very much to Simon Mears for the photos from tonight.

After another sweltering day more suited to Perth in Australia than Perth Green in South Tyneside, RCA took the short trip to Northern League Division 2 side Jarrow for their sixth pre-season game. We had played Jarrow in a friendly before last season and they gave us a good game. That was the club's first season in the Northern League where they finished 12th. I expected a proper game which would give some indication of what we might expect this season.

Sunderland RCA 4 Billingham Synthonia 2

Submitted by Simon Mears on Saturday, 21 July 2018

Dominic Moan evades a challenge during a second half attack.

For more photos from the match please click here.

Following hot on the heels of Thursday’s win at AFC Killingworth, Sunderland RCA went into this afternoon's home friendly match with Billingham Synthonia looking for a fourth victory in five pre-season matches played.

A summer evening in Killingworth

Submitted by Tim Robinson on Friday, 20 July 2018
Sam Robinson

New signing Sam Robinson turns with the ball during a first half attack by RCA in Thursday evening's pre season game at AFC Killingworth.

After having me tea at Bob and Thelma's, I made my way to Amberley Playing Fields for the pre season friendly against AFC Killingworth, who had kindly agreed to reverse the original fixture. The home club,  the product of a recent merger between Killingworth YPC and Killingworth Town, have had a great start to their pre season, beating fellow North Tyneside club Cullercoats 8 - 1.

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