Fantastic Start For New Look Park View

First Team Assistant Head Coach - Colin Wotherspoon

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 25th July 2026 Alnwick Town 0 v 2 Park View AFC

A new season and a new era for Park View AFC. Last season's Head Coach Michael Nelson has moved on. So has long-term Captain Dylan Wilkinson the Player's Player of the Year last season to National League North Darlington.

Goalkeeper James Hughes the Manager's Player of the Year for 2025/26 and the Ebac Northern League Division 2 Young Player of the Year has moved to First Division Newcastle Benfield.

Regular starting Centre Back Dylan Robson signed for First Division Newton Aycliffe and top scorer Stephen Siyanbola has switched to Division rivals Jarrow AFC. All were great servants and are wished well in their new homes.

But it left a void for PV to fill and as is normal they went to the well, trusted in their project and filled this season's squad by promoting from within as well as bringing in new players from elsewhere.

With one exception though these players were either already students at Park View Academy and playing for other Clubs or were coming into the Academy set-up as Park View prepared for another season in the Northern League.

The exception was experienced goalkeeper Mark Foden who has played at a higher level and was last in the Northern League with Whickham two seasons ago. Foden coming in to help out as Park View assess their goalkeeper situation.

Foden is a friend of Colin Wotherspoon returning to the First Team scene as Assistant Head Coach to John Gamble who has been re-installed as Head First Team Coach a position he has held before.

Both Gamble and Wotherspoon mainstays and stalwarts of the Park View Academy coaching set-up and very much aware of it's principles and having the belief that it is a project they have helped set-up and to thrive.

In the end the side that took to the 'other' St James Park on Saturday afternoon included Foden as a debutant for PV. The other debutant in the side was 18-year-old Swedish International student Markus Giefalk.

Giefalk has only recently arrived in the UK. The Swede switching from Spain's FC Malaga Academy looking to further his career. His impression in pre-season earning him a first competitive start.

On the bench there were also two potential debutants and incoming first year students at The Academy in Lewis Marshall and Kieran Woods both 16-year-old and earning their places in the first team squad following good pre-seasons.

The day was warm and windy with a strong breeze blowing across the pitch as the sides lined up for the kick-off with Park View having the benefit of the considerable downhill slope in the first half.

Alnwick Town had finished 8th last season just three points and two places below Park View who had just missed out on the promotion play-off places. A tight tense tussle was expected and that's what we got throughout.

The first effort on goal came the way of Park View in the third minute. Giefalk's long range diagonal free-kick from the right finding Centre Back Alex Clark at the back post about 8-yards out.

Clark though at full stretch could not get enough purchase or direction on his header that went harmlessly wide with Aaron Carr in the Alnwick goal untroubled.

Alnwick's reply was a long ball forward that Jamie Frizzel failed to clear convincingly. The ball fell to Town's Centre Forward Michael Wright who worked a shooting opportunity on his left foot from just inside the box.

Foden getting down smartly to his left to make a comfortable save holding the ball well to give him a confident first touch in PV colours. On 11 minutes Reyhan Grimaud became the first yellow card recipient of the season for Park View.

After receiving treatment he left the field only to come on without the referee's permission or serving the new one-minute wait and was correctly shown a yellow card.

Giefalk then fouled Danny Sayer just outside the PV box at an angle in a dangerous position. Evan Wilkinson tried to whip in a free-kick at goal but got it wrong and the ball caught the wind and went well over the bar.

Then a Town long-throw level with the PV box taken by Henry Rawlinson caused confusion in the PV box falling to Wright but his prodded effort from 10-yards was unconvincing and Foden gathered it easily.

It was a combative start from both sides in the early goings with both showing plenty of commitment and desire although chances were at a premium. It set the standard for the game although one exception came on 21 minutes.

That was when Park View struck with the opening goal of the game. The goal actually coming from an Alnwick free-kick in a dangerous position 20-yards from the PV goal.

Wilkinson with another whipped free-kick that Foden came for and claimed well and immediately launching his clearance down field. It was gathered in the home half by Nathan Conroy who found Brandon Young.

Young's clever ball out left gave Charlie Loveday room and he superbly skipped past Mattie Dopson speeding into the penalty area. Looking up Loveday played a great square ball to the onrushing Conroy who buried it home from 8-yards.

A lovely goal on the counter and one that obviously buoyed Park View who almost doubled that lead within two minutes as they pressed forward dangerously.

They won a corner on their right hand side that was delivered by Jacob Mallinson. Clark caused problems in the box and his header goal wards was blocked.

The rebound rebound fell to Conroy just outside the six-yard box. His follow-up was well struck but a combination of Carr and his defence got the ball around the post.

Mallinson delivered another corner but this time The Magpies defence coped with the danger well and cleared their lines easily. But PV were on the front foot now with Loveday in particular prominent.

Loveday drawing the second booking of the game when he was pulled back by Dopson as he threatened to run at the Alnwick defence through the middle. The resultant free kick being dealt with by the home defence.

Giefalk and Wright were becoming embroiled in a battle royal neither giving or taking an inch from each other. Giefalk eventually incurring the wrath of the referee once too often and receiving a yellow card for pulling Wright back.

Alnwick were preferring the direct route whilst Park View were trying to play through newly elected Club Captain Ben Gallagher and the impressive industrious Young. But it was Town's direct approach that almost paid off.

A long ball into the inside left channel from Rawlinson saw Sayer collect well and outpace Giefalk giving him a free run at the PV and a 1-on-1 opportunity with only Foden to beat.

The experienced keeper though showed his ability and mettle. Timing his movement off his line perfectly and blocking Sayer's low effort with his feet at the expense of a corner. A great effort from the debutant keeper.

The battle between Wright and Giefalk continued and off the ball Giefalk was seen lying flat-out in his own box with the Assistant flagging for the referee's attention. Following the discussion Wright was issued with a yellow card.

Both sides had half chances before the break. Lee Waugh launching a free-kick from halfway deep into the PV box towards Town targets. Foden though came and claimed comfortably.

Then a fantastic overlapping run by Grimaud down the right saw him get to the byline before attempting to pull the ball across the box. Rawlinson doing well to cover and concede a corner that Mallinson took but Alnwick cleared easily.

The half-time whistle came with the difference between the two sides being that Park View had taken their one great clear cut chance and Alnwick had not taken theirs.

No changes at half-time but an early one in the second for Alnwick when Jaymie Shell was replaced by Tom Wilson. Going down the slop now the home side did get some momentum and forced Park View back.

From one dangerous bit of possession the ball was played into the box and fell at reasonably close range to Sayer but he couldn't get any power in his touch and prodded the ball straight at Foden who collected easily.

Despite the possession the PV defence and midfield stood strong and restricted Alnwick's efforts to create any further chances of note. The game was further interrupted by several substitutions from both sides.

On 60 minutes Park View brought on Frankie Young for Ollie Taylor and two minutes later ex-Park View Academy student Joe Malone came on for a clearly limping Wright. Then on 67 mins, PV introduced Niall Armstrong for Conroy.

Alnwick continued pressing without being able to break Park View down whilst on the counter the pace of Armstrong and Loveday kept the home defence honest and alert.

Waugh was booked for The Magpies for a bad challenge on Brandon Young in midfield when Young was trying once again to initiate a PV break before Giefalk limped off on 71 minutes to give 16-year-old Marshall a debut.

The home side not long later made another substitution with Antonio Agostinho replacing Sayer and moments later they came very close to an equalising goal.

A corner from their left taken by Dopson was delivered to the back post and in a crowd of bodies it appeared to be Captain Jack Fennell that looped a header back over everyone that looked destined for the top corner.

But Mallinson was in the right place at the right time and made a spectacular overhead bicycle kick right on the line to get the ball away and keep his side's slender lead intact.

Then Dopson whipped a dangerous ball from the right into the back post but youngster Marshall showed good awareness and anticipation to head the ball behind for corner. Dopson took the kick but Foden commandingly claimed it.

An excellent counter attack from a defensive clearance almost gave Park View and opening. Loveday picking the ball up and running at the heart of the Alnwick defence before slipping a ball through for Armstrong to run on to.

Armstrong controlled well but just as he was about to pull the trigger from inside the box Wilkinson got across well to make a crucial block and concede a corner. Mallinson swung it in but once again the home defence cleared well.

A good forward header from Brandon Young opened up the space for his skipper Gallagher to try his luck from fully 25-yards. The shot was well struck but always high as it flashed over the bar.

On 88 minutes the goal came that sealed the destiny of the three points as Park View got their season off to superb winning start. It was substitute Armstrong that had looked lively since coming on that got it.

It was another superb breakaway moment. Frankie Young's firm defensive header finding Mallinson in space who streaked away from his markers and straight down the middle. Had Loveday on his left and Armstrong on his right.

He chose Armstrong who timed his run perfectly to stay onside control the ball well as he advanced into the box before sliding it past Carr as the keeper came off his line to meet him. A moment for PV to celebrate.

It also gave Park View the opportunity to send on their last two substitutes with Ethan Lowery replacing goal provider Mallinson and Woods coming on for a senior debut in place of the tireless Loveday.

They were the last significant moments of a game where Park View had to dig deep at times, battle hard and show great commitment all of which they did with resolution and style.

It gave the team a great start to the campaign and also got Gamble and Wotherspoon's reign at the helm off and running. A lot more games to go but a clean sheet and two well taken goals away from home is very encouraging.

TEAM : 1. Mark Foden 2. Charlie Loveday 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Ollie Taylor 5. Alex Clark 6. Markus Giefalk 7. Jacob Mallinson 8. Ben Gallagher (c) 9. Nathan Conroy 10. Brandon Young 11. Reyhan Grimaud

SUBS : 12. Frankie Young (for Taylor 60 mins) 13. Niall Armstrong (for Conroy 67 mins) 14. Lewis Marshall (for Giefalk 71 mins) 15. Ethan Lowery (for Mallinson 89 mins) 16. Kieran Woods (for Loveday 90 mins)

SCORERS : Conroy 21 mins, Armstrong 88 mins PLAYER of the MATCH : Brandon Young