PICTURE : TOM BANKS
SecuriCorp owner Dave Shepherd with Newton Aycliffe FC chairman Allan Oliver .
whether that ’ s businesses providing services , or individuals volunteering their time to help out .”
Allan added : “ It ’ s a decent level of football , but ultimately we ’ re still a grass roots club .
“ We want to get more people involved with the club . You can ’ t get too much help in any walk of life .”
Aycliffe won the Northern League this year after 10 seasons in the first division .
They ’ d won promotion to the top flight in 2013 after quick promotions from amateur park football to the Wearside League and then the Northern League second division .
Manager Brian Atkinson – a Darlington legend as a player who also represented Sunderland and played in their FA Cup final defeat against Liverpool at Wembley in
1992 – is an Aycliffe lad and is proud to be spearheading the club ’ s historic new chapter .
“ We ’ ve done well as a club and a group of players but there ’ s a lot of work to do ,” said Brian .
“ At any level of football , there ’ s competition for players in the summer , it ’ s not my favourite time of the year as a manager .
“ But we ’ re working hard to retain the players who won promotion and bring in some new players who will bring some added quality .
“ While there is a lot to do , we shouldn ’ t forget the fact it ’ s been a fantastic achievement by the club and the town .
“ We should enjoy it and celebrate it , but if we want to compete at the next level , we need all the support we can get .”
WE SHOULD ENJOY IT AND CELEBRATE IT , BUT IF WE WANT TO COMPETE AT THE NEXT LEVEL , WE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT WE CAN GET .”
18 | Aycliffe Business