Black Cats to provide opposition for Dale testimonial

Blyth Spartans captain Robbie Dale is to be rewarded for his eleven years of service at the club with a well earned testimonial.

Premier League side Sunderland will provide the opposition for the game that will take place on Saturday 1st August at Croft Park. Kick off will be 3pm.

Dale has made 451 appearances in over a decade at the club, scoring 144 goals in that time, placing him third on Spartans all-time goalscorers list.

His list of honours makes for impressive reading. Included on there are winners medals in the Unibond Premier Division, Unibond Chairman's Cup and the Northumberland Senior Cup.

The winger has also played in two FA Cup Third Round appearances for the club and made national headlines as his brace against Birmingham City last season gave his side a sniff of one of the biggest giantkillings in the club's history.

It wasn't to be as the Midlands outfit hit back in the second half but Dale recieved many plaudits from within the media, even seeing his second goal against the Blues nominated for Match of the Day's Goal of the Round competition.

On a personal level Dale had a massively successful season last time out winning the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division Player of the Season, the Evo-Stik NPL Supporters Player of the Season and he was named in the League Team of the Year.

As the Black Cats were announced as the opposition for Dale's testimonial, current Spartans manager Tom Wade paid tribute to his club captain.

He said "Robert deserves a big game to celebrate what he has achieved in his eleven seasons at Blyth Spartans. He is a pleasure to work with"

Wade also thanked Sunderland for their support with the fixture.

"It is a great gesture by Sunderland to give us this fixture to honour a Spartans and non-league legend in Robbie Dale. When we asked them we thought it would be a no but they were delighted to help us out and sorted it very quickly"

Further details of the fixture will be revealed in due course.