For the first time, Shildon Football Club will have a reserve side this season, playing in the Durham Alliance League and based at Sunnydale Leisure Centre.

The reserves will be joined in the league by reserve sides from Spennymoor Town and Bishop Auckland along with a minimum of 14 other sides. Playing last season as Durham Stonebridge, the side finished fourth in the league.

The side has announced a series of pre-season friendlies which will give Shildon fans the opportunity to go along and see the latest additions to the growing number of teams representing the club and the town this season.

The friendlies will be played at Sunnydale Leisure Centre with dates and kick off times as follows:

Sat July 5th: Shildon Reserves v  Silksworth CWFC, 2pm
Wed July 9th: Shildon Reserves v  Rutherford FC, 7pm
Sat Jul 19th: Shildon Reserves v  Easington CWFC, 2pm
Wed July 23rd: Shildon Reserves v  Ashbrooke Belford House, 7pm
Sat July 26th: Shildon Reserves v  Sunderland West End, 2pm
Sat August 2nd: Shildon Reserves v  Swallwell, 2pm

Entry to all reserves games – friendlies and league matches – is free.

Shildon Reserves’ league campaign will kick off on Saturday 9th August. Fixtures are not yet available. You can also follow the Reserves on twitter at their account @ShildonReserves where they will be tweeting all their news and live matchday scores.