Blyth Spartans held their first ever press conference in the splendid surroundings of Seaton Delaval Hall yesterday.
History was played out yesterday in a suitable setting as FA Cup heroes Blyth Spartans took over Seaton Delaval Hall.
The club held its first ever press conference in the central hall of the 18th Century building which is Blyth Valley's heritage showpiece.
The event brought together the bid by the National Trust to acquire the hall for the nation and the hopes of the Spartans of pulling off what would be a truly historic FA Cup Third Round victory over Premiership Blackburn Rovers - the first side from England's top tier which Blyth have met.
The venue for Monday's tie, Blyth's Croft Park, will also be marking its 100th anniversary from January 1.
"Switching the tie to Newcastle's St James's Park was out of the question. Playing the game at Croft Park will be a fitting memorial to the 100th anniversary," said Spartans chairman Tony Platten.
Animal-mad Steve and Claire Lucock have taken their pet collection to 81 after having some small additions to their growing furry family. The couple's rabbits have just given birth to seven baby bunnies small enough to sit in the palm of your hand.
Born just before Christmas, the little critters are the newest addition to the Lucock household, which is also home to seven guinea pigs, five snakes, two hamsters, three budgies, a chinchilla and a skunk.
The week-old bunnies take the total number of rabbits alone to 25.
Council tenants in Blyth Valley are among the most satisfied in the UK, according to a new survey.
The National Housing Federation, a body representing the interests of housing associations in Britain, carried out the survey which put Blyth Valley Housing at the top for tenant satisfaction.
Police have been cracking down on crime in carparks over Christmas.
Patrols have been stepped up in Blyth to stop thieves targeting vehicles while shoppers are busy on the High Street. Police are also urging drivers not to leave valuables on display in their cars.
The operation forms part of the force-wide campaign.
Send your good luck message to Blyth Spartans via our website.
Head to www.journallive.co.uk and click on the 'Send your stories' link in the top right hand corner of the homepage to send the lads your support.
Only 40 tickets are left for Blyth Spartans' big FA Cup clash against Blackburn Rovers. Club chairman Tony Platten last night told The Journal the final few precious spots at Croft Park would be sold from the social club on Saturday morning.
And he said the third round home clash with Sam Allardyce's men at Croft Park had set the whole town buzzing.
Posters have been put up in a number of Blyth's shop windows and a supportive banner has been erected at the local Keelrow Shopping Centre.
A historic statue of David and Goliath will play a part in the build-up to one of the biggest football games in the 109-year history of a famous non-league club.
Blyth Spartans are hosting a plum third-round FA Cup tie which will see international stars such as Paul Robinson, Roque Santa Cruz and Morten Gamst Pedersen run out at their Croft Park home ground on January 5 and guarantee more than £250,000 in the club coffers.
The club has linked up with the National Trust to stage a morale-boosting visit to Seaton Delaval Hall in the run-up to the game. Tomorrow players and coaches will visit the sculpture of David slaying Goliath in the front courtyard - symbolic of the struggle they will face.
Blyth Town hauled themselves closer to safety with a 3-1 win at home to Ashington Colliers.
Aaron Hicken and Danny Beresford (2) scored for Blyth with the Ashington goal by Anthony Wright.
A crackdown has been launched on parents who flout the law when delivering their children to and from school.
Blyth's Neighbourhood Policing Team have heard concerns from residents living by South Beach First and St Andrew's First Schools.
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