Frank Pattison Durham Challenge Cup set to get underway for another year

This season’s Durham Challenge Cup will begin its campaign with six Preliminary Round fixtures over the coming week.

This will be the opening round of fixtures for the Durham County FA Frank Pattison Challenge Cup, and will see it’s six games spread out equally over Tuesday and Wednesday.

There will be action in three counties across the region, with Sunderland West End hosting Billingham Synthonia, residing in South Tyneside but living with the historic boundaries of County Durham – Boldon CA will welcome Washington. The remaining fixture of the opening day sees West Auckland Town go toe-to-toe with Durham City.

Two Gateshead-based sides enter the competition on Tuesday in Gateshead Leam Rangers and Gateshead, though the former will be playing their fixture against Esh Winning at the Sunderland Ford Hub – while the latter makes the journey south to play Easington Colliery.

Easington’s near-neighbours Horden also enter the competition at this stage, taking on Wearside Division One opponents in Seaton Carew at Horden Colliery Welfare.

Last season saw the current Northern Premier League (Premier Division) leaders Hebburn Town lift the trophy at the Stadium of Light, while the previous campaign was a bittersweet ending for Sunderland R.C.W. who won the competition in what was to be their last ever game of football.

A storied competition, with Sunderland winning it a record 22 times, there’s plenty on offer for our region’s 12 teams this week – and for the campaign beyond.