Dale is backed to lead Blyth from front after accolade boost

ALUN Armstrong has paid tribute to captain Robbie Dale - and urged the Blyth Spartans talisman to lead from the front in the run-in.

Dale was among exalted company that included England star Jamie Vardy when he was named in the Northern Premier League 50th anniversary team.

All players who have featured in the competition in the last half century were considered.

So Vardy and former Norwich City striker Grant Holt were among those in the side.

Dale made the starting eleven ahead of Lee Trundle and Anthony Ormerod, who both went on to make their mark in the professional game.

Blyth legend Dale will lead the side out tonight when relegation-threatened AFC Telford United come to Croft Park. It is the start of a pivotal penultimate week of the campaign and manager Armstrong said: “What Robbie Dale has done at Blyth has been phenomenal and it’s a great accolade to be named in the NPL 50th anniversary team.

“Hopefully that will give him a lift and spur him on to produce the goods in the last six games, as it hasn’t been happening for him. We need everyone firing if we’re to make the top seven and, hopefully, we’ll have Dan Maguire on the bench tonight.”

England C star Maguire faces a fitness test as Blyth look to end a damaging run of six straight defeats.

Maguire has been a big miss, along with defender Ryan Hutchinson, who could miss all of next season.