Pearson determined to prevent ‘good mate’ Riley from winning
Local rivals Sunderland RCA and Ryhope CW will meet on the opening day of the Northern League Division One season on Saturday.
Notforthefirsttimeintheir recent history, the two clubs separated by just a mile will meet on the opening week of the season.
There are new faces in both dugouts as Steve Riley takes chargeofRCAforthefirsttime, and former Easington Colliery duo Dave Pounder and Craig Hughes join Ryhope boss Gary Pearsoninanew-lookmanagement team.
Pearson is preparing his side to meet a “very organised” RCA outfit as he looks to preventhis“goodmate”Rileykicking off his reign with a win.
He told The Echo: “Everybody at our club thought it would be RCA because we alwaysplaytheminthefirstcouple of weeks of the season.
“It’s fine, it will be a nice game, me and Steve Riley are good mates. He will be very organised like his teams were at Bishop Auckland, he is a disciplinarian, he knows what he wants from his players, and I think they will be very hard to break down.”
Both sides will have summer signings on show, with formerWhitleyBaystrikerMichael Colquhoun and veteran Andrew Johnson set to debut for RCA, and Morgan Dart, Connor Slack and Mathew Wade in contention for the visitors.
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood could hand
debuts to new signings Mark Robinson, Adam Lennox and JoeKerridgewhenhetakeshis side to promotion contenders Consett.
Elsewhere on Saturday, West Allotment and Crook
Town mark their returns to the top tier with respective awaytripstoNorthShieldsand Thornaby.
RedcarAthleticaretheonly newly-promoted side to be at homeontheopeningdayofthe campaign as they host Northallerton Town at Green Lane.
Former Stockton Town striker Sonni Coleman could make his Newton Aycliffe debutwhentheyvisitBillingham Town,andDamienStevenswill be in the Whickham squad for their trip to Whitley Bay after returningtotheclubthisweek.
Ashington hit the road as they travel to Cumbria to take on Penrith and Bishop Auckland will hope to move on from a poor pre-season when they visit Guisborough Town.
NewsigningsRossCoombe and Jordan Lavery are in contention for West Auckland Town as they host Newcastle Benfield.