IT‘S the news the rest of the Hexham and District Sunday League was dreading.

Prolific striker Dan Kirkup will continue to pull on the jersey for quadruple winning Haltwhistle Jubilee after initially quitting in the summer to concentrate on his Northern League commitments.

Plundering more than 200 goals in four seasons for dominant Haltwhistle, the giant striker leading the line has played a huge role in the team’s recent success.

His involvement will be less than in previous years, though, as the 27-year-old will miss out the odd game to avoid any clashes with his commitments to Jarrow Roofing on Saturday afternoons.

Kirkup said: “Jarrow thought I was playing too many games with matches on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays, and we want to try to avoid picking up niggling injuries.

”I‘m getting to the age where injuries catch up on you, so I won’t be playing every week for Haltwhistle even though I’m the only player who hasn‘t missed a game for them in two seasons.

“Playing in the Northern League with Jarrow is what I take serious, but I love playing with my mates at Haltwhistle and it is the social side more than anything why I play on Sunday mornings.

“I play football on Saturdays, work all week, so Sunday is the only time I really get to see my friends.“

With Kirkup to again spearhead a fearsome front three alongside Greg Irwin and Shaun Johnstone, Haltwhistle remain favourites to make it four titles in a row.

However, they will face stiffer competition this time around as all teams have strengthened as the Courant‘s team by team preview of the Sunday League chronicles.

HALTWHISTLE JUBILEE

Home pitch: Haltwhistle Burn. 2014-2015 position: 1st.

The news that the league’s leading marksman Dan Kirkup has decided to come back is big news for the team who have won eight cups from eight entered locally, but they have also brought in new players to add further strength to the squad.

Promising teenager Jack Barker has made the switch from neighbours Bardon Mill and Neil McDonald comes in after Warden Boatside folded in the summer. Making the step up from junior football, town youngsters Dion Parker and James Charteries are new boys to the fold, while Jamie Peel‘s return from injury is a boost.

The main outgoing player is club captain Mark Storey who has dropped down a division to manage Haltwhistle Railway, so it’s pretty much as you were for a team intent on continuing their dominance.

While retaining the league is high on the agenda, manager Cameron Bell is hoping the club can progress past the quarter-finals of the Northumberland FA Sunday Cup after being dumped out on penalties for the past two seasons.

He said: ”I said before last season it will be hard to repeat the quadruple, but it will be even harder this year as everyone has strengthened. We have a good enough squad to win the league again, but our main aim is to make the county cup final where the standard of teams is higher.“

HEXHAM PHOENIX

Home pitch: Tyne Green, Hexham. 2014-2015 position: 2nd.

Runners-up in both the league and Northumberland FA Minor Cup, Hexham Phoenix showed last season they have the capabilities to compete on all fronts.

And they look set to mount a more serious challenge this year as they have added to their squad, welcoming back Matthew MacLoughlin and Lee Milton while introducing teenager George Ridley, a member of Hexham’s Saturday team, to Sunday League football.

All players from last year have stuck around, and Phoenix are set to be up there by May time.

Secretary Steven Robson said: ”Hopefully we can get closer to Haltwhistle in the league and it would be nice to get back to a local cup final too.

”Playing in the Sunday Cup this year, the county cup will be more difficult than the Minor Cup with a lot better teams in.“

STOCKSFIELD

Home pitch: Stocksfield Cricket Club. 2014-2015 position: 3rd.

Having finished third last season, breaking back into the top two is high on Stocksfield‘s agenda.

To help them with their aim of returning there after dropping down to third last season, managers Alan Forsyth and Eddie Nicholson have called on the services of striker Sam Moore, from Ryton, and David Below, while Gareth Wade returns to the cricket club side.

There were rumours players were moving on which would leave them without a squad, but that didn’t materialise.  However, they will be without the services of Scott Douglas, Scott Turley and Rob Grainey who have all moved onto Prudhoe Town.

Forsyth said: “Hopefully we will do better than last year and get closer to Haltwhistle after dropping down to third.

”We will be happy as long as we go close this year, and we will be disappointed if we finish out of the top three.“

PRUDHOE SOCIAL CLUB

Home pitch: Mickley. 2014-2015 position: 5th.

Having bid farewell to manager Mattie Thompson who is concentrating on running Prudhoe Town’s Saturday side and his Prudhoe YC juniors, Prudhoe Social Club have made changes on the pitch too.

Under the management of Shaun Sagar, they have been quick to bring in players from Wylam after their resignation including Graeme Hudspith and Michael Gilroy while Matty Fothergill joins from Ryton and Crawcrook Albion, Shaun Stewart moves from Dr Syntax Prudhoe and Tom Finnerty has been snapped up. Making returns to the club are Chris Moffitt, from Prudhoe Town, and goalkeeper Kiel Zurawlew from Prudhoe Halfway House.

They have lost striker Ste Forster who has returned to Prudhoe Town, but the Big Club are optimistic about their chances going into the weekend‘s derby at Town.

Secretary Norman Fothergill said: ”We have added quite a few from last year when we struggled for a team on some weekends, and I think we should be decent this year.

“I think we are definitely stronger than last year and, if we have our strongest team out, we will do very well.”

BARRASFORD

Home pitch: Barrasford. 2014-2015 position: 6th.

Although they made a cup final last year, The Robins from Barrasford seriously struggled for players last term.

So bad was the situation, the club came close to folding until an 11th hour meeting decided that there was the interest to keep the small village team playing football.

Family commitments have seen Lee Armstrong and Paul Makepeace, the latter to Haydon Bridge Anchor, depart, but the demise of Warden has been to their advantage as they have brought in six new players and preseason performances have been promising.

Secretary Gary Nixon said: The first division is looking really strong this year, so I don't expect us to be challenging for any honours.

“If we can bed the new players in and stay in the league then try and build on that in future seasons, but the most important thing was to carry the team on.”

PRUDHOE TOWN

Home pitch: Kimberly Park, Prudhoe. 2014-2015 position: 8th.

After their struggles from last year saw them finish second bottom in the division, Prudhoe Town have spent the summer reinforcing and look like they will be a force to be reckoned with.

They have plucked Rob Grainey, Scott Douglas and Scott Turley from rivals Stocksfield, brought Ste Forster from Prudhoe Social and Scott Brown from Dr Syntax. Another player set to star is Ross Porter who returns after a year out.

Managing to keep hold of most of their squad from last year, there is a lot of confidence flying around Kimberly Park.

Secretary Gary Tranter said: “We have signed a few on but I’m not going to say we‘re going to do anything spectacular after a disappointing season last year.

”But I will say is that we definitely won’t be where we were last year, and we have a squad that is certainly capable of breaking into the top four.“

BARDON MILL BOWES LYON

Home pitch: Bardon Mill. 2014-2015 position: 9th.

Avoiding relegation due to a teams dropping out after winning the division‘s wooden spoon, it is hard to believe Bardon Mill Bowes Lyon were one of the form teams of the second half of last term.

They lost just once after Christmas as an influx of players from Allendale saw performances, and results, significantly improve, and there are high hopes they can continue their good form.

Brothers Paul and Jordan Wilson join Martin Hardy from Warden, while teenagers Connor Dickinson, Ciaran Fleming and Billy Rogan are moving up from Haydon Bridge United’s junior ranks. Jordan Norris, who plays for Alston on a Saturday has signed up, while Rob Hayes returns to the squad.

They have lost key player Jack Barker to Haltwhistle, and Andy Wrightston and Stuart Sproul have joined Haltwhistle Railway.

Adam Dickson said: ”We‘re just looking to get as many points on the point and avoid relegation as soon as possible, and anything after that is a bonus.

“We only lost once from Christmas to May and hopefully we can do well this year, and perhaps even enjoy a little cup run.“

HALFWAY HOUSE PRUDHOE

Home pitch: Prudhoe High School 3G. 2014-2015 position: 1st in Division Two.

Returning to Division One after walking the lower division, Halfway House Prudhoe are hoping their stay will be longer than last time after being relegated after one season.

Their move to the 3G pitch at Prudhoe High School has been a contentious one as it was voted against 17-1 at the league AGM, but the playing surface will suit a youthful YC side who are purveyors of flowing football.

Bolstering the ranks, manager Duncan Graham has brought in Adi Sutcliffe, Harry Mitchell, Jamie Crichton, Andy O’Neil, Ant McDonald, Mark Clark, Dom Walsh and Olly Barnard from Wylam, while the signing of striker Connor Powell is a big one once he recovers from injury. Jordan Phillips returns from Prudhoe Social, goalkeeper Liam Blair has re-joined and Danny Driver comes back from university.

Kiel Zurawlew has went back to Prudhoe Soical and Paddy Finnerty has left to concentrate on playing for Prudhoe YC Seniors on Saturdays, while Adam Greenwood, Ben Smith and Sam Yielder will miss spells as they go off to university.

Graham said: ”We are hoping to build on a successful second division campaign last season and are aiming for a top half finish in Division One and some good cup runs.”

PHOENIX CHOPWELL

Home pitch: Blackhall Mill. 2014-2015 position: 3rd in Division Two.

Losing leading marksman Alan Rennison to Blackhall Mill, of the Consett League, will be a big blow to Phoenix Chopwell as they step up to the higher division after their promotion in their debut campaign.

But things don‘t look too bad as they have brought in Andrew Smith, a prolific scorer in the Consett leagues, alongside the promising Thomas Ridley from Blackhall. Other players strengthening the squad are brothers Barty and Daniel Spoor, Kieran Barker and James Thear.

But other than Rennison, it is pretty much as you were for Chopwell who are keen to get their Division One campaign under way.

Secretary Paul Forster said: “I think we are in a pretty strong position, and if we get everybody out we will do okay.

”I can’t really say I‘m confident though as we haven’t really had a chance to see everybody in a game set-up as all our friendlies have been cancelled.“

OPENING FIXTURES

Beales of Hexham Division One.

Hexham Phoenix v Halfway House Prudhoe.

Barrasford v Bardon Mill Bowes Lyon.

Stocksfield v Phoenix Chopwell. 

Prudhoe Town v Prudhoe Social Club.

Haltwhistle Jubilee no game.