Dabba Hewson’s side were quick out the blocks last time out in an eventual 3-1 defeat at home against Bishop Auckland, after Luke Brown put them ahead after just 66 seconds.

For Penrith’s next league fixture, it’s 66-miles east they head to Sam Smith’s Park - a home Newcastle Benfield have occupied since the early 1990’s

Here’s the lowdown on this weekend’s fixture...

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

KICK OFF: Saturday 4th September - 15:00

LOCATION: Sam Smith’s Park, NE4 4NU

TICKETS: ADULTS/ £6, CONCESSIONS/ £3, U18s/ FREE

FOOD/BAR: Roppa’s bar - opens at 13:00
Snack attack - opens at 14:15

BENFIELD’S BEGINNINGS

‘The Lions’ are familiar opposition for Penrith this century, and they have achieved a lot of success at Northern League level since their founding just 33 years ago.

The club originally entered the Northern Alliance Division Two in 1988 as Brunswick Village Football Club, however, the identity of the team has changed numerous times over the years.

By the early 1990s they moved to their current residence, Sam Smith’s Park, and thus became Newcastle Benfield Park; after many more adaptations the current title of Newcastle Benfield F.C was settled in the 2008-09 season.

Their first venture into the Northern League came in 2003 and they secured promotion from Division Two as runners-up in that first season.

Benfield have been in Division One ever since, but not without triumphant success along the way.

At this level they have won three honours, two of which came in their most notable season back in 2008-09.

In fact, Penrith were heavily involved in Benfield’s on-field success as the pair met both on the final day of the season and in the Northern League Cup final that season.

Benfield went to the top of the table after the final day encounter for the first time in the season to win the league, and were also victorious in the cup final.

They haven’t reached such heights since, but are often top-half finishers in Northern League Division One.

With the last few campaigns having been curtailed, the Lions most recent best was finishing seventh in the 2017-18 season as then player-manager Paul Brayson scored 49 goals.

MEET THE MANAGER

STUART ELLIOTT
DOB: 27-08-97
POB: Hendon, England
TEAMS MANAGED: Newcastle Benfield (February 2019-present)

After making his way into professional football as an apprentice at Newcastle United, Stuart Elliott played for more than 20 clubs both in a professional and semi-professional capacity over two decades.

Despite plying his trade in the north of England for many years, Elliott is London-born and played in Arsenal’s youth system until his late teens.

Upon moving to Newcastle United, he captained the reserves and was named in the first-team squad on several occasions but ultimately never made an appearance at senior level.

From starting his career as a defender, Elliott developed as a midfielder in multiple loan spells away from the club before leaving the Magpies for Darlington in 2000.

The majority of his career after the turn of the century was spent in non-league, finishing up with spells in the Northern League with both Newcastle Benfield and Ashington.

His first foray into management came in February 2019 as he was appointed by his former employers at Benfield, taking over from caretaker and striker Paul Brayson who was placed as his assistant.

Elliott’s tenure with the Lions started well with a 1-0 win at Ashington, before a first home league win came against Guisborough Town at Sam Smith’s Park.

Benfield ultimately finished mid-table with a 10th-placed finish in the Northern League Division One in 2018-19, and Elliott in-turn earned a contract extension.

It has been a frustrating couple of years at this level for most clubs,however, and due to the Covid-19 predicament Elliott has yet to complete a full season in charge of the Lions.

Elliott’s side were in 8th after 31 games played in the 2019-20 season before lockdown wreaked havoc on the footballing calendar, and the club only managed 13 games the following season.

ONE TO WATCH - PAUL BRAYSON

The striker took temporary charge of the team before Stuart Elliott’s arrival in February 2019, and the 43-year-old remains a vital asset on the field.

Like his manager, he started off his career with Newcastle United after progressing through the youth ranks, but it was with Reading and Cardiff City that he made a name for himself in the Football League.

He has featured in non-league football since 2004 and enjoyed a successful spell with Northwich Victoria until 2007- making over 100 appearances for the club.

Brayson has played on a part-time basis across the North East ever since and ran a taxi leasing company in Newcastle between 2007 and 2014.

In eight seasons with Benfield Brayson has registered more than 250 goals and earned himself the Northern League Player of the Year accolade on two occasions (14/15 and 17/18).

The Newcastle-born striker continues to be a shining light in attacking areas and already has five goals in the 2020/21 season.

WE’VE MET BEFORE?

Penrith’s last visit to Sam Smith’s Park came in January 2020 as they battled to earn a 1-1 draw. The Bonny Blues trailed at the break but managed to find a breakthrough in the 86th minute as Adam Main’s deflected effort earned a point after Luke Miller had earlier saved a penalty.

The spoils were also shared at Frenchfield Park in January 2017 as it ended 1-1. This one will last long in the memory of a number of Penrith fans as record appearance maker Willie Paul made his 700th outing for the club at the age of 37.

Fixtures between the Bonny Blues and the Lions have been disrupted over the last couple of years, with the last meeting coming back in October 2020 at Frenchfield Park as Benfield won 2-1.