Match Preview: Easington Colliery (a)

We took a look at Easington Colliery in our final Match Preview of the season.

On the 8th August 2018, Redcar Athletic travelled to Welfare Park to take on Easington Colliery in their first ever Northern League game.

Seven years on, that same fixture will be their last.

WHO ARE YA?

Easington Colliery

One of the oldest clubs in the Northern League, Easington Colliery Welfare came to pass as early as 1913.

The Colliers began their journey in English football in the Wearside League, a division where the club spent most of their history, first winning the title in 1930.

Easington’s most successful years came in the aftermath of the Second World War, twice winning the league title, once the Monkwearmouth Cup in an impressive double, but most spectacularly reaching the First Round Proper of the Emirates FA Cup in 1955.

The club beat four Northern League sides to qualify, eventually exiting the competition at the hands of Tranmere Rovers in front of a 4’500 strong crowd at Welfare Park.

Easington Colliery Welfare – as it was then known – disbanded in 1964, reformed just nine years later, where the club eventually merged with Easington Rangers to form the Easington Colliery AFC that exists today.

The unified club fought through the Northern Football Alliance and the Wearside League to regain its Northern League status, finally clinching promotion back to the promised land in 2024.

CURRENT FORM

Today is the day. Failing an utter capitulation the likes of which the league has never seen, Redcar Athletic will be crowned champions, and promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One.

Victory this afternoon would see the Steelmen end the season on a high, and secure a points total of 94.

For Easington Colliery, a successful first season could get better, as today is not their final outing.

On Monday, the Colliers face our title rivals, Shildon, in the Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup final, vying for silverware to cap a more than satisfactory first campaign in Division One.

Defeats to Northallerton Town and Boro Rangers make up their last two.

RESULTS

See our full list of results.

PREVIOUS HISTORY

History favours the Colliers when the two sides go head-to-head, from Redcar Athletic’s first match in the Northern League in 2018 – a devastating 5-1 loss – to their first home defeat of the season back in November.

It was a late penalty which befell the Steelmen that day, although on the balance of play, the three points where coveted by the better side.

REDCAR ATHLETIC 1-2 EASINGTON COLLIERY

Click below to read our report.

TEAM NEWS

With the Northern League title as secure as it can be – without being yet set in stone – there is the possibility some may be given a well-earned rest this afternoon.

Bradley Fewster and Priestley Griffiths remain the biggest doubts. Brad hasn’t complete ninety minutes since his injury in Seaham, whilst Priestley hasn’t featured since his own.