Betley head for the Britannia on National Football Day
12 Aug 2013
The Football Association honoured one of Newcastle’s leading amateur football clubs, Betley, at the weekend, accompanying the players to Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium on National Football Day.
Betley were one of two clubs from North Staffordshire chosen by the County FA to mark the contribution to the game of former England manager Sir Bobby Robson on Saturday as part of the governing body’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
Beforehand, Betley played a warm-up match against Leek, the other club to be chosen, at Newcastle College’s superb Gordon Banks Centre facilities.
Local MP Paul Farrelly joined the spectators, alongside club stalwart Ian Ashbolt, a former chair of Betley Parish Council.
‘It’s great to see all local clubs doing well and well done to Betley for being chosen as part of the FA’s celebrations. Their success is an example of what dedication - from the players, volunteers and all their local sponsors - can bring.’
‘It’s appropriate, too, to have gone to the Britannia as Stoke also celebrate their 150th anniversary along with the FA this year, as the second oldest club in the league.’
At the Britannia, the Betley players watched Stoke’s pre-season friendly against Genoa and unfurled an FA celebration banner at the edge of the Potters’ hallowed turf.
The event in Newcastle was one of four organised by the Staffordshire FA on Saturday, covering all aspects of grassroots football.
Photo: Newcastle’s MP Paul Farrelly (third from left) joins Betley and Leek football clubs at Newcastle College with Betley’s Ian Ashbolt (far left).
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