Sunderland reserves are to play a series of friendlies next seaon as they lose their FA Premier Reserve league status…
Sunderland have decided to withdraw their reserve team from the league system after a controversial reorganisation of the FA Premiership Reserve League.
The new system allows only clubs with top-flight status the right to field their second string in the competition.
And while there did exist plans for a new-look Championship Reserve League, they have been dropped due to a shortage of interest, meaning Sunderland faced the unattractve prospect of joining the Pontins Holidays League Division East, including the likes of Hartlepool, Grimsby, Lincoln and Scarborough.
Sunderland have decided not to join this league and therefore have lined up a string of friendlies against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle instead.
Chief executive Peter Walker said: ‘Reserve games are necessary not only to aid senior players in their recovery from injury, but also as a means to give experience to younger players.
‘We feel the club’s needs are best served by securing a higher level of opposition to play against. It will also ensure we can arrange fixtures to suit the club’s timetable.’
Meanwhile Sunderland’s home reserve games will no longer be played at Durham’s Archibalds Stadium, their home of ten years, after Durham City FC decided to install an artificial playing surface.
Ironically, Sunderland were forced to change venue as FA Premier Reserve League rules state that artificial pitches cannot be used, therefore starting with the next season the reserves will be play their home games at the Hetton Centre, in Hetton-le-Hole.
The ground, that includes a 250-seater stand, is the home of Eppleton CW and is only a short walk from Hetton bus station.
