The Albany League

Sugden is expected to play his 500th game in all competitions for the club, assuming that he didn't pick up an injury in his 499th game against Gateshead in the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek.

Consett manager Colin Carr said: "It's a great achievement by Jeff to play so many games for the club.

"He's been a great servant to the club, and has been magnificent for us over the past decade.

"He's had some great games for us, and I haven't had an ounce of trouble from him.

"You don't hear of many players these days reaching 500 games at all levels.

"I know that I can rely on him, and hopefully he can help pull us away from the relegation zone. And I'm sure that he can keep going well beyond the 500 mark."

Sugden isn't the only Consett player reaching the milestone. Striker Colin McLeod is also closing in on the mark sometime in November.

Peterlee's new manager Andy Toman has already got a good idea of what he needs to do to strengthen the squad.

Toman, who has picked up honours at both professional and non-league levels, took over last week, but couldn't strengthen the team in time for the FA Vase tie last Saturday against Ossett Albion, and Wednesday night's Durham Challenge Cup tie against Tow Law.

"There's some good players at the club, but at the moment they're not performing.

"What I'm after is a mixture of youth and old heads, just as there was at Whitby when we won the FA Vase five years ago."

Whitley Bay manager Andy Gowens believes that his side is back to normal as they build up for their defence of the FA Carlsberg Vase.

Whitley have had an inconsistent start to the season, but they've picked up in recent weeks, and last Saturday moved further up the table when they came from behind to beat Newcastle Blue Star 2-1.

"Hopefully, we've turned the corner," said Gowens. "The players are starting to produce more, so hopefully we're back in our stride.

"We must try and put a run together. If somebody puts 12 good games together, they can storm up the table.

"And all the better if we can do that by November 9th - the next round of the FA Vase."

Prudhoe manager Steve Smith has dismissed suggestions that he applied for the vacant manager's post at Seaham Red Star before it was filled by Neil Hixon.

There were rumours going around that Smith had been given his old job, in which he took Seaham to the runners-up spot in the league two years ago, but he flatly denied them.

"I didn't apply for the job at all," said Smith, who had spells as a player at Shildon and Horden before moving to Prudhoe as manager.

"I am more than happy where I am. I'm working with a great committee, and they want me to help them stay in the First Division."

Tow Law manager Graeme Forster believes that his side has started the long road to recovery.

Lawyers have won their last three games, and he said: "Maybe we're turning the corner again. I had a go at the players when we lost at Hyde in the FA Cup, and I've had a good response."

Seaham Red Star's new boss Neil Hixon has told his players that they will have to undergo pre-season training - in October.

Hixon was appointed last week following the resignation of Wilf Constantine, and he said: "There is plenty of work to be done.

"One of the things we must work on is the players' fitness levels. There is going to be a shock to the system, and it will be like pre-season again.

"But there's something to work on, as there are some very good players at the club, and hopefully we can sort things out by Christmas."

Seaham have also managed to sign Hixon as a player, because his registration was held by Eppleton, whom he left during the summer for the Peterlee job.

Durham City have arranged to play Esh Winning in an ANL Division One game on Friday, November 15, instead of the following day. Durham have already played West Auckland on a Friday night this season, and they were rewarded with an above-average crowd.

Willington chairman John Phelan has praised the club's players after they won 4-2 at Alnwick on Saturday.

The win was only Willington's second of the season, and it was even better considering that they only had a wafer-thin squad.

Phelan said: "We were very short of players, and our manager, David Styles, had to go on the bench even though it's a while since he played.

"The players deserve plenty of congratulations for winning the game. Two players even made the long journey up from Yeovil in Somerset to play, so at least they were rewarded with a win."

Newcastle Blue Star and Durham City have brought forward their league game from Saturday to tonight at the Wheatsheaf.

Newcastle Blue Star's Northumberland Senior Cup tie was postponed in midweek against Amble, and has been rescheduled for next Tuesday night, which means their scheduled league cup tie at Murton has been re-arranged for Tuesday November 12.

Prudhoe's Northumberland Senior Cup tie was also called off, so their League Cup tie at Peterlee has been switched to November 13.

The Albany Northern League Division Two game between Hebburn and Ashington was postponed on Tuesday because of a waterlogged pitch.

Dunston's Durham Challenge Cup tie with Billingham Town was postponed on Tuesday, and is expected to be re-arranged for next week.

Durham FA have ruled that the outstanding Durham Challenge cup tie between Washington and Darlington Reserves should be played on October 30 (7.30 pm).

The draw for the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup is to be made on BBC Radio Cleveland on Tuesday night, in the Tuesday Match programme.

The draw for the second round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on November 9 is: Sheffield v Guisborough, Pontefract v Northallerton, Billingham Synthonia v Whitley Bay, Consett v Billingham Town, Dunston v Tow Law, Brigg v Horden, Morpeth v Brandon, Thornaby v Fleetwood, Clitheroe v Bedlington, Prescot Cables v West Auckland.

Consett are playing Billingham Town in a league game this Saturday.

Tomorrow's fixtures

Division One: Billingham Synthonia v Bedlington, Chester-le-Street v Peterlee, Consett v Billingham Town,Guisborough v Jarrow Roofing, Prudhoe v Brandon, Shildon v Washington, Tow Law v Dunston, West Auckland v Morpeth, Whitley Bay v Marske.

Division Two: Evenwood v Kennek Ryhope CA, Horden v Willington, Murton v Hebburn, Northallerton v Crook Town, Norton v Eppleton, Seaham Red Star v Washington Nissan, Shotton v Easington, South Shields v Alnwick, Whickham v Penrith.