Match Preview - Durham County FA 'Frank Pattison' Challenge Cup - Wednesday 9th September 2026 - Sunderland West End (H) - Kick-Off 19:30pm

It's Cup Football at The Riverside on Wednesday night as two old rivals meet in the First Preliminary Round of the Durham County FA 'Frank Pattison' Challenge Cup. Sunderland West End being the visitors.

Park View have enjoyed a good relationship with the West Enders stemming from their days as Ebac Northern League rivals in Division 2 and also as tenants to them as landlords when Park View's 'home' was the Ford Quarry Hub.

That rivalry looked to be at an end when West End withdrew from the Northern League at the end of the 2025/26 season with initially no plans to remain in senior football. But one team's misfortune can be another's gain.

So it proved as when Silksworth resigned from the Wearside League it left a gap in the Premier Division. West End applied were accepted then rejected and then amid wranglings were finally confirmed as a top-tier side in the Division.

Such a late acceptance has seen West End still in reality finding their feet and in the four league games they have played so far they are yet to pick up a win. Two draws two defeats means two points and 14th place in the table so far.

They also went out of the Durham Trophy last weekend 4 - 2 at home to Annfield Plain leaving them winless in their first five games in all competitions as a Wearside League side.

Park View meanwhile are having a solid season in the Ebac Northern League Division 2 and with 15 points from 11 games made up of 4 wins 3 draws and 4 defeats are in a respectable mid-table 10th position.

Last Saturday Park View missed the chance to go higher after losing 2 - 0 at home to Sunderland RCA. A disappointing afternoon for PV's youngsters who could not break down a solid experienced committed opponent.

With this and four more home games to come in September Park View will be looking for home comforts and rewards to try and make some progress in the League.

But before that they and their neighbourly opposition will both be hoping for a win on Wednesday in such a prestigious cup competiton. If the game is a draw at 90 minutes it will go straight to a penalty shoot-out.

The action at The Riverside kicks off at 7:30pm.