And Blyth Spartans have been singing the same tune recently with regard to other local football clubs.

Following their friendly at Croft Park last week against Bedlington Terriers, Spartans agreed to give half the gate money to the club a few miles up the road.

Blyth chairman Tony Platten said: "It was a gesture of goodwill we were entirely happy to make in terms of assisting the new management team at Bedlington to build for their future.

"The wider picture of non-league football in south east Northumberland demands that we all pull together when we can."

Spartans were also involved in coming to the assistance of Ashington FC, who found themselves temporarily homeless.

"Until they are able to play at their new ground Ashington are due to play at Bedlington but because of the Terriers having a home game on the date of the Ashington's FA Cup Preliminary Round match on August 16 a new venue proved imperative," added Platten.

"Thanks to Blyth Valley Borough Council and ourselves the dilemma was resolved and the Colliers game against Thackley will now take place at Blyth."

Looking ahead to the Spartans' forthcoming Blue Square North season which starts with a home fixture against Solihull Moors this Saturday, the chairman said: "We have been developing our off the pitch infrastructure during the past few months in terms of the new learning centre, which will provide a fantastic new sponsors area on match days.

"I'm confident that this will help ensure the long-term future of the club through a wider portfolio of sponsorship opportunities.

"This season we need to consolidate ourselves in the league and to do that we must improve our home performances in order to maintain good attendances and therefore a steady income stream."

The club is offering an invitation to local companies to attend an event when they can view the new facility and hear details of how they can assist the club.

This will be on August 11 and interested companies should contact general manager Ian Evans at generalmanager@blythspartans.com for further details.

The chairman added: "On the pitch we have strengthened by bringing in central defender Richard Pell from Gainsborough and in securing the signature of exciting young striker Ged Dalton."

Team manager Harry Dunn has had a difficult pre-season with the unavailability of players.

"It's the same in non-league generally with holidays and other things, but it doesn't help," Dunn said.

"The results have been poor but at least it's been good from the point of view of avoiding injuries."

Dunn echoed his chairman's views about the role of finance when it comes to speculating about the Spartans' prospects.

"It's going to be a hard year with many other clubs having more resources than ourselves, but we'll just have to crack on," he said.

Although still in need of improving his strike options, Dunn was pleased to have signed loan player Simon Todd from Darlington.

"Simon is in their first team squad and although only 19 he is a quality player who will compliment Chris McCabe in the centre of our midfield.

"He will be training with us this week in advance of the Solihull game."

Spartans' opening game will see the club once again being neighbourly in terms of the hospitality offered to the visitors, but hopefully not being as obliging as the pre-season friendly results would indicate.

Fixtures for August include:

• Saturday, August 9, v Solihull Moors (home) 3pm


• Tuesday, August 12, v Southport (away) 7.45pm


• Saturday, August 16, v AFC Telford United (away) 3pm


• Saturday, August 23, v Workington (home) 3pm


• Bank Holiday Monday, August 25, v Farsley Celtic (away) 3pm


• Saturday, August 30, v Hucknall Town (home) 3pm