Aycliffe Today Monthly | 29
Like many clubs across the Northern League, Newton
Aycliffe ‘employ’ a host of everyday volunteers in
order to survive. These volunteers come in all guises,
but share one passion. Newton Aycliffe FC.
Aycliffe Today looks at the hardy souls who
dedicate hours of their time to the town’s only semiprofessional football club.
John Gaskarth
(Events Manager)
Like Paul, John is another who has
had various roles within the backroom
staff during his seven years at the club.
John and close friend Darren Verdon
originally ran the catering operation
when Moore Lane Park opened its
gates in the Spring of 2009, but since
then John has coordinated his efforts
into fundraising events, organising
various successful evenings around
the town to help raise much needed
funds for the club. John is also the
‘voice of Moore Lane Park’ and can
be heard week-in, week-out on the
microphone around the ground before,
during and after the game.
Barry Waters
(Sponsorship Manager)
After successfully founding and
running the clubs’ Official Supporters
Club, Barry joined the committee of the
football club in 2010 and has secured
various relationships with some of
Aycliffe’s major businesses, many of
whom are now main sponsors of the
club. Barry travels to every Aycliffe
game – along with his wife Louise
(who is also another who dedicates a
lot of her time and energy to the club
in various capacities) – and even gave
up watching his beloved Newcastle
United.
Robert Tarling
(Matchday Manager)
Be it on your way out of Tesco, or your
way into Moore Lane Park, Rob is yet
another who lives and breathes the
game, and is only too happy to talk
football. Rob has been with the club
for six years – he meets and greets
spectators on a matchday, and has
recently seen his role evolve into the
management of matchday volunteers.
Others:
The club also counts passionate husband-wife pair, Bob and Yvonne Wood, as key members of their matchday operations,
with Retail and Merchandise being one of their major contributions to the club. Geoff Hay is a dedicated volunteer, who
during the season sells raffle tickets and programmes, but more vital are his efforts during the off-season, when he becomes
the club’s groundskeeper. Peter Robinson and Derrick Mawson are the remaining pair of the quintet, and these gentlemen
are only too happy to discuss the pre-match news whilst they sell programmes and raffle tickets.
Newton Aycliffe FC would not be where it is today without the loyal assistance of the people mentioned.
As ever, the club is growing and growing, and needs more volunteers of the ilk of the people above. If you feel you have
anything to offer the club, in whatever capacity, you are urged to contact Steve Cunliffe (07872 985501) or Dan Lewis
(07581 784726) to discuss your strengths and ideas.
W
www.newtonaycliffefc.co.uk
@NAycliffeFC