Emley make a 10th and final trip to the North East on Saturday when we travel to Co.Durham to face Bishop Auckland in the NPL D1 East at Heritage Park (3pm).

Second placed Emley are looking to maintain the good run of form which has seen us regain the leading play off spot and hopefully be ready to pounce should leaders Redcar Athletic somehow slip up, undefeated since Boxing Day and posting 5 clean sheets from our last 8 which has seen us win 7 and drawn 1.

Bishop, meanwhile are right down in the relegation scrap along with 4 other North East clubs plus Brighouse and have only won twice in their last 13 games stretching back to the end of November.

Emley have a decent record at Bishop Auckland, we have lost only 3 of our last 10 visits to the old Kingsway Ground and Heritage Park and have won 3 out of the last 4 in County Durham including a thumping 4-0 win last year which saw a tremendous hat trick for Amir Berchil.

This is the 4th meeting between the sides since our promotion back to the NPL with honours even with 1 win each and a draw, Bishop Auckland hold the thought that they were the last team to beat Emley at home, way back in October, and drew there in the previous season so a bit of revenge is on the cards for Emley as we aim to prevent a 3rd game without a win against The Two Blues!

WHO ARE THEY?
Bishop Auckland FC were formed in 1886 as Auckland Town and were founder members of the Northern League, the world's second oldest league, they first won the NL in 1898-99 and have won it 20 times, the last time was in 2023-24 earning them promotion back to the NPL for the first time since 2006, they had previously spent 17 seasons at the higher level between 1988 and 2006.

They have a rich history in amateur football, winning the FA Amateur cup on 10 occasions as well as the county cup 16 times, they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup as a Northern League club, beating Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town on their way to defeat against York City.

They play in the "Oxbridge" colours of dark and light blue after the students studying at Auckland castle formed the team.

LAST TIME WE MET:
25th October 2025, NPL D1 East
Emley 0-2 Bishop Auckland, Att- 387

LAST TIME OUT:
Bishop Auckland 1-3 Pontefract Collieries (Hopson), NPL D1 E, Att-364
Emley 3-0 Dunston ( Farrar 2, Thompson) NPL D1 E, Att- 466

HEAD TO HEAD:

Previous 5 meetings:
18th January 2025, NPL D1 E
EML 1-1 BIS (Parkin) Att- 451

28th September 2024, NPL D1 E
BIS 0-4 EML (Berchil 3, Baldwin) Att- 363

* 23rd April 2005, NPL P
EML 0-2 BIS, Att-217

* 9th October 2004, NPL P
BIS 0-3 EML (Fox, Wright, Muller) Att- 96

7th November 2001, NPL P
BIS 1-0 EML, Att- 172
*- as Wakefield-Emley

(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
BIS: D, W, D, L, L
EML: W, W, W W, W
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
BIS: 19/22
EML: 2/22
GOALS SCORED:
BIS: 56
EML: 60
GOALS CONCEDED:
BIS: 71
EML: 31
TOP SCORER:
BIS: Dean Thexton (10)
EML: Gabriel Johnson/Bailey Thompson (9)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
BIS: 359 (358 league)
EML: 419 (419 league).

MATCHDAY INFORMATION
WHEN? Saturday 7th March 2026, 3.00pm

WHERE?
Vest Construction Stadium
Heritage Park, Stadium Way, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL14 9AE.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?
M62/M1/A1/A1(M), exit A1(M) at J58 (A68) continue on A68 towards West Auckland and at Roundabout, turn right, A688 s/p Bishop Auckland, continue over roundabout then left into car park/ground.

Parking and public transport details:
https://bishopafc.com/visiting-fans/

OWW MUCH?
Adult £10
Concession Over 65s £9
Juniors Under 16s £3
Children under 5 are free, accompanied by paying adult

Programme: £2.00
Half Time 50/50 Raffle: £1
Golden Goal: 50p