Aycliffe FC to travel in style for big FA Vase trip to Surrey

Northern League club Newton Aycliffe FC will travel like professionals to their FA Vase fixture this weekend – thanks to the support of two local companies.

The County Durham team make the 550-mile round trip to Camberley Town in Surrey for an FA Vase fifth round tie on Saturday – with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

Stockton travel company Compass Royston have provided their top executive coach used by several professional North-East clubs for Aycliffe’s journey South, while the cost of it has been sponsored by Aycliffe firm Mantis Media, publishers of Aycliffe Today.

The club will set off on Friday and stay overnight at the Heathrow Windsor Marriott Hotel in Slough before their big game at Krooner Park.

Manager Peter Dixon (pictured, right) said: “Making the journey as comfortable as possible and staying in a nice hotel is all about making it a good experience for the players.

“It will hopefully put them in the right mindset going into the game on Saturday and help us get the result we need and get into the quarter-finals of what is a huge national cup competition at this level of football.

“We’re grateful to Compass Royston for making the coach available and to Mantis Media for sponsoring it – hopefully we can do both proud.”

The 36-seater coach includes on-board WiFi, TVs, two kitchens and an eight-seat players’ lounge at the back of the vehicle.

Currently Hartlepool United’s official team coach, it has been made available for Aycliffe’s trip due to Pools being at home to Exeter on Saturday.

Compass Royston’s transport manager Martin Bainbridge (pictured left) said: “This coach has been used in the past by several clubs including Middlesbrough and Darlington, and was used by North Shields when they reached the FA Vase final last season, so it already knows it’s way to Wembley!

“It’s our top-of-the-range coach and we were delighted to provide it for Newton Aycliffe’s big game – we wish them our best of luck.”

Aycliffe are just three wins away from reaching Wembley – a feat the club is yet to achieve.

The Newtonians, currently sixth in the first division, have beaten Barnoldswick Town, Chester-Le-Street, Colne, Atherton Collieries and Northern League champions Marske United to reach the last 16 of the competition.

Camberley are currently fourth in the Combined Counties League Premier Division, which is equivalent to the Northern League first division.

Dixon, who has previously taken West Auckland to Wembley twice in the FA Vase, added: “It’s a huge fixture for Aycliffe and we’re delighted to have come this far.

“Saturday will be a tough game, Camberley have had more time to think about it and prepare for longer, so I’d have to say they go into the game as favourites.

“But hopefully we can pull it off and a quarter-final tie would be an even bigger deal for the club.”

Newton Aycliffe’s game at Camberley on Saturday kicks off at 3pm.

A limited number of seats on a supporters bus are still available, costing £25 each – call Yvonne Wood on 07500 866535 to book.