PREMIER League players will go back to grassroots to help a Northern League side say farewell to its home for the last 60 years.

Newcastle United has announced it is to send an under-21 team to play Consett on Wednesday (May 15) in one of the final games to be played at the old Belle Vue Park ground.

The ramshackle stadium, where Consett have played their football since 1950, is to be bulldozed to make way for a new school, while the club moves to a new purpose-built ground at Crookhall.

The Newcastle side, coached by former internationals Peter Beardsley and Willie Donachie, recently lost the Premier League Under-21 play-off to Everton and included young stars such as Sammy Ameobi, Jak Alnwick, Gael Bigirimana and James Tavernier.

Consett chairman Frank Bell, a season ticket holder at St James’ Park for the last 16 years, said: "It will be a great way to see off the old ground, but we also hope it will raise funds for the new ground, which will be a venue for the whole community and include a 3G pitch as well as facilities for other sports as well as football."

Belle Vue Park was built by volunteers on the site of an old tip and hosted its first game against Sunderland Reserves in August 1950 in front of a still-record crowd of 7,000 fans.

Consett played their last game at the ground on May 11, a league match against FA Vase winners Spennymoor Town, and the stadium itself will stage its last game on May 18 when Consett hosts the Northern League Cup Final between Newcastle Benfield and Spennymoor Town.

Tickets for the Newcastle match are £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and £1 for children, available at the turnstile. A special programme will be produced for the game.