We are pleased to announce that the Seahorse Clubhouse has reopened for business following the relaxation of lockdown regulations. All are welcome as we make the first small step back to normality. No date has yet been decided for a return to football at non-league level. This time last year we had just started our pre-season fixtures with an away game at Durham United but it will require a decision from the government before the FA will be able to plan for football to return. It has already been announced by the FA that non-league football will only restart when spectators can be admitted to games.

Tony Fawcett and Derek Forrest have announced their first new signings since taking charge at Hillheads in April. Jordan Fry, Richard Coulson and Chris Bannon have all joined from Seaham Red Star while Scott Jasper, a favourite on the terraces in his previous spell at Hillheads, three years ago, rejoins from Ryton & Crawcrook.  Reaction from the management team and all four players can be found in the new story below. Prior to these signings, six contracted players, captain Craig McFarlane and Callum Anderson along with four of the club’s very promising youngsters, Dan Lister, Luke Taylor, Lewis Orrell and Michael Annang-Colquhoun all confirmed that they are staying at Hillheads. See full reports below.

We are pleased to advise fans that our online Club shop is now back open for business, having been closed during lockdown. Please make as much use of the shop as you can. Every purchase helps to sustain the club in these very challenging times. whitleybayfcclubshop@yahoo.co.uk

We are delighted to announce that we have now passed £4000, well beyond the original the target of £3500 which was set for our crowd funding Just Giving page. All donations, however small, are most gratefully received and will help the Club during this period when we are all experiencing unprecedented difficulty. We are extremely grateful to Antonia Brindle for organising this fund raising appeal and of course to everyone who has so generously contributed. We are keeping the Just Giving page open and further donations can be made via @AntoniaBrindle #justgiving :  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/whitleybayfc

Report by Julian Tyley