Bishop Auckland have announced a partnership with junior club Bishop Auckland St Mary's.
Bishops are keen to improve their links with the local community and to give promising youngsters the chance of playing UniBond League football.
Bishop Auckland chairman Terry Jackson said: "There are a number of benefits that will emanate from the new partnership. The partnership will bring the football club closer to the community, and it will provide a natural step for St Mary's players to appear for their local senior team.
"For St Mary's the benefits will be a much greater involvement with their local senior team, including access to the facilities at the new ground at Tindale Crescent.
"The partnership represents a wonderful opportunity to implement a cohesive approach to community football in the Bishop Auckland area. It is every bit as important as the move to the new ground."
St Mary's are a long established junior club, and next season will have ten teams at different age groups in the Teesside Junior Alliance, as well as an under 18s team in the Durham County Council Lomax Enterprises Saturday League.
Chairman George Nicholson said: "We are nurturing young talent in the area and we feel that having a partnership will be of enormous benefit to both parties,. It will give the players a path to follow through their football careers.
"Not only does it strengthen the future foundations of Bishop Auckland, it also recognises our efforts to carefully nurture and grow St Mary's over the last 18 years."
Bishops have cancelled their evening with Tommy Docherty next Friday due to a lack of interest. Bishops were hoping that the evening would go as well as the event with Peter Beardsley earlier this year, but they still plan to hold other functions.
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