"Better Together Cup" 2026

We are delighted to announce that the weekend of 18th and 19th July 2026 will see the inaugural “Better Together Cup” friendly tournament held at Croft Park, the home of Blyth Spartans AFC.

Supported by QTS Data Centres as part of the “Better Together” programme, and with a particular theme of promoting mental health, the Better Together Cup will be competed for by five invited teams: Blyth Spartans AFC; our friends and neighbours Ashington AFC and AFC Newbiggin; Horley Town FC, newly promoted to the Isthmian League Division One South East, and Dunstable FC of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

The fixture schedule is:

Saturday, 18th July

2:15pm Blyth Spartans AFC v Horley Town FC

6:00pm Dunstable FC v AFC Newbiggin

Sunday, 19th July

12:00pm Ashington AFC v Horley Town FC

15:30pm Blyth Spartans AFC v Dunstable FC

At Blyth Spartans, alongside Ashington AFC, we have always believed that 'Better Together' is about much more than football.

For us the Better Together initiative has meant using football as a vehicle to raise awareness of mental health, encourage people to talk openly, and ensure that those who may be struggling know that support is available. For us, success is not measured by what happens on the pitch, but by how many lives we can reach with that message. If we can use football to engage more people, start more conversations, challenge stigma and encourage more individuals to seek support when they need it, then we believe that is a victory for everyone involved.

With that in mind, we are delighted to support AFC Newbiggin's involvement in the Better Together Cup. By involving another club, its players, supporters and wider community into the campaign, we have an opportunity to significantly increase the reach of an initiative that continues to make a positive impact across our communities.

The Better Together Cup games will take place against the background of a busy Croft Park, with the first-ever Blyth Spartans Supporters' Trust beer festival also being held over that weekend.

The club's usual food and drink outlets will be open alongside extra children's entertainment, and of course the clubhouse will be open on the Sunday night to screen the World Cup final.

Tickets will be available via the Blyth Spartans AFC website, priced at £10 per day, or £15 for a two-day ticket; concessionary prices will also be available.