“They won’t have free run of Craik Park when they come here that’s for sure.”
Saturday afternoon sees Notts County head to Northumberland, and Morpeth, for their FA Trophy Third Round match after their opponents progressed without kicking a ball on Tuesday night.
Having been scheduled to face fellow Northumberland side, Blyth Spartans, the game was unfortunately forfeited early evening due to a covid-19 case at Croft Park, the outcome meaning that it’s Craik Park that will host Neal Ardley’s National League outfit.
The Highwaymen, who are currently in the bottom half of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, are under the guidance of non-league stalwart, Stephen Turnbull, himself a Spartans legend, and his assistant’s Craig Lynch and Jon McDonald, the manager cutting his teeth for the first time in the managerial game.
FA Vase winners just four years ago, defeating Hereford 4-1 at Wembley, the Northumberland side, packed full of north-east names, won both the Northern Premier League Division One East and Northumberland Senior Cup (2-1 in extra-time against North Shields) double in 2019 as they reached the highest level they’ve played.
Among the squad in which Turnbull has to choose from, is an ex-County player, midfielder Liam Noble, who having been born on Tyneside, has had two spells with the Nottinghamshire club, 2016-16 and again in 2018.
Noble’s first spell at County would initially be under Shaun Derry before a plethora of managers came and went between the Geordie midfielder’s two spells, the second coming being under the tutelage of former Newcastle United star, Kevin Nolan, and a season that would see the club make the play-offs, losing in the play-off semi-finals to Coventry City.
Speaking to the Nottingham Sport Noble said of his time at Meadow Lane: “I had a brilliant time there, on both occasions, under two great people.
“The first time, as a young lad, playing every week, was a fantastic experience, whilst the second saw us make the play-offs.
“That was great, even though I couldn’t play until the January but we had some really good lads there, on both occasions.
“However, after we lost that play-off semi-final, it was all downhill, literally.”
Now back in his native north-east, and after a spell with Hartlepool United, Noble was taken to Craik Park by Turnbull’s predecessor, Morpeth legend, Nicky Gray, who resigned in the summer after nearly a decade at the helm.
Gray was the man responsible for bringing Noble, and others, onto the Highwaymen’s rollercoaster journey, a move which the midfielder is grateful, and, although he’s no longer at the helm, the pair still catch-up a couple of times a week.
“It’s going really well here at Craik Park,” continued Noble.
“We’ve a great bunch of lads and a good, young manager as well; they’re real, football people, I’m really enjoying it, and I’ve not looked back.”
Among the players to watch, all over Craik Park, come from their goal-scoring goalkeeper Dan Lowson and centre-back Jeff Henderson, to the four-time FA Vase winner and club stalwart Chris Reid, a plethora of strikers such as Wayne Phillips and Joe Walton, Andrew Johnson and Liam Henderson, there is definitely talent throughout with which County will be wary of – then there’s those with Football League experience as well, Noble being accompanied by that of Connor Oliver and the experienced Carl Finnigan.
Drawing County though, in the Trophy, is not one that fazes Noble, nor will it the Highwaymen either, even though their visitors at the weekend are a few divisions higher up the footballing pyramid.
“It’s all about levels, but it’ll still be 11 vs. 11,” added Noble.
“But we’re at the level we are for a reason and they won’t have free run of Craik Park when they come here that’s for sure.
“We’ve got a really good team, and have nothing to lose even though they’ll no doubt be fitter and stronger, so we’ll see what they’re made of and give it a real good go ourselves.”
Stephen Turnbull’s Morpeth Town welcome Neal Ardley’s Notts County to Craik Park, Morpeth, in the depths of Northumberland, this Saturday, 19 December, in the FA Trophy Third Round.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @morpethtownafc a view of Craik Park from above, the home of Morpeth Town.
