Image: KR Photographics
Teesdale Park is set for a mouthwatering weekend of football as both the Thornaby FC men’s and women’s teams prepare for crucial home fixtures.
With league points and promotion charges on the line, the club is calling on the ‘12th man’ to walk through the turnstiles and cheer the Blues to victory.
The men’s first team faces a significant six-pointer this Saturday as they welcome Marske United to Acklam Road (KO 3pm).
After a stop-start period – including the postponement of last weekend’s trip to Newcastle Benfield – joint managers Craig Skelton and Simon Kasonali are eager to secure the points needed to climb away from the Ebac Northern League Division One relegation zone.
The game carries extra emotional weight for the management duo. Both Skelton and Kasonali are former Marske men, having left the club at the end of last season.
While Skelton was a standout forward for the Seasiders, Kasonali is something of a club legend, having made over 500 appearances.
Thornaby currently sit four points above Marske with a game in hand, making this a vital opportunity to create some daylight at the bottom of the table.
Skelton said: “Facing your former club is always a fixture you look for, but the sentiment stops at kick-off. Marske will be challenge so we know it will be tough, but we are really excited to be back at Teesdale Park.
“We’ve only lost one of our last four completed matches and the spirit in the camp is high. We need to be clinical and start turning these home games into three points to move us up the table where we belong.
“The lads have been training hard and had a much-needed friendly with Chester-le-Street Town on Saturday to blow away some of the cobwebs, providing valuable minutes for some of the lads.”
The excitement continues on Sunday as Curtis Collantine finally takes charge of his first game as Thornaby Women’s manager.
Following the weather-enforced postponement of last week’s trip to Sunderland West End, the visit of Wallsend BC Women (KO 2pm) marks the team’s first competitive outing since early November.
Despite the long break, the Blues remain in a strong position in the North-East Regional Women’s League Premier. Having suffered only one defeat all season, Collantine knows Thornaby are ready to navigate a 14 game run until the end of the season to keep the club’s promotion dreams alive.
Thornaby sit fourth, 11 points behind leaders Bradford City, but with two vital games in hand.
Collantine said: “I can’t wait to be in charge of my first match and get back in the dugout. It’s been a long wait for the girls since their last match, they are desperate to get back at it and I’m looking forward to meet the fans and for the fans to see the girls back in action.”
