Spartans hail their 'magnificent seven'

Three more players from Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Blyth Spartans have been called up to the FA Representative squad taking on the Northern League on Tuesday night to celebrate the competition’s 125th anniversary.

Spartans are now the best represented club in the squad chosen by England C manager Paul Fairclough with seven players after Conor Grant, Arran Wearmouth and Danny Parker were called up to join Nathan Buddell, Lewis Horner, Matthew Wade and Dan Maguire.

Whitby Town have four players in the squad with Darlington represented by three and Frickley Athletic with two. The FA XI kick off against a Northern League XI at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park at 7.30pm.

Proud Spartans manager Tom Wade hailed the call-ups as "a great reward" for the players, saying: "The club are proud to have the lads in the squad. It's an honour and a great reward for the hard work they have all put in this season."

The Northern League, which includes Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor Town, Whitley Bay and West Auckland, is the second-oldest league in world football, covering the North East and Cumbria as a feeder to the Evo-Stik NPL.