AN ANNUAL match-up in the form of the Charity Shield is being mooted as a warm-up for the Hexham and District Sunday League.

Following a popular event as part of the league‘s 50th anniversary, there are discussions about pairing the league winners from both divisions against the respective cup champions.

On Sunday, to mark the 50th season since the league started in 1974, a team of players made up from the first division tackled reigning champions Haltwhistle Jubilee while a Division Two Select XI took on Hexham Hearts, the league’s longest serving team.

The action got under way with the Division Two encounter with goals from Rose and Crown Bellingham’s Michael Mason and Ryton Social Club’s David Tremble seeing the invitational team edge out Hearts 2-1, Tom North replying.

Haltwhistle then went on to continue their dominance with a narrow 2-0 victory over the Division One XI in a tight contest, Mark Robson and new signing Neil McDonald with the goals.

One of the main organisers, Wilton Holmes, said: “It was a really smashing day and it went so well we‘re talking about introducing a Charity Shield next year for both divisions.

“They were both well contested games played in the right spirit, and we raised a further £126 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.”

l Visit our website for an extensive preview of the Sunday League, which starts on Sunday, plus more images from the anniversary game.