Pen pictures

Michael is another player who is starting his fifth season at the club. He is well liked by the fans because he makes things happen on the pitch. He is a fast, tricky winger who likes to run at defenders. Very direct in his play, he also possesses the ability to cross the ball at pace into the danger area. 100% energy and commitment enables him to help out in defence as well.

Jonathan begins his third season with RCA after signing from Shildon. A naturally gifted midfielder he possesses a vast repertoire of passes, is good in the tackle and is powerful in the air. He has played extensively in the Northern League and higher - his former clubs include Hebburn, RCW, Durham, Darlington and Shildon.

Dylan, who is now beginning his third season with RCA, joined us from Easington Colliery. He was at Sunderland AFC from the age of 8 to 15, before joining Hartlepool United on a scholarship from the age of 16 to 19. Dylan has also had Northern League experience, spending two months at Bishop Auckland, and is an excellent signing for RCA. Dylan was named Sponsors' Player of the Season for 2017-18.

John had three seasons at Meadow Park after transferring from Team Northumbria, leaving us for two years at Bishop Auckland - and now he returns for his second spell at Maedow Park. JJ is Mr Reliable, a tenacious tackler who has a great engine and loves to overlap. He is well respected throughout the Northern League and has proved time and time again that he has the ability and the quality to play at this level and above. A likeable lad off the pitch, he is not to be trifled with on it.

Sam is a Ryhope lad who turns 19 in November 2018. He played for Middlesbrough up to the age of sixteen and then at Scunthorpe from 16-18. A strong centre half who can read the game well, Sam's key strengths are his passing and pace.

Reece joined us from the Foundation of Light, which he attended as a 16 and 17 year old. He can operate on the left or right wings or play as a striker. His key strengths are the ability to make things happen and his pace.

Ross starts his third season with the club after returning from Billingham Synthonia. A left sided player, Ross has developed into a very good full back who is equally at home playing in the centre of defence. Defensively he is very competent, loves to get forward in support of his midfield and has a great range of passing. Injury free he is a great asset to the squad and a pleasure to have around the club.

Reece begins his fourth season with RCA after a brief spell at Washington in 2016-17. Strong and with a fierece shot, Reece is capable of turning defence into attack with his range of passing and rarely misplaces a ball. He also has the ability to take control of a game and always looks composed. He was at Sunderland Academy from 2011 to 2013 before joining Gateshead after his release.

Luke signed for RCA from Easington Colliery and is now in his third season at RCA. Luke is a strong tackling, powerful central midfielder who can quickly turn defence into attack. Luke was joint winner of the Committee Player of the Season award and the Fans' Player of the Season in 2017-18.

Ross begins his a third season with the club after returning from Washington. He returns to Meadow Park to reunite his partnership with "Swanna". Ross is a powerful centre back who is good in the air, is a good distributer of the ball and has the ability to read the game and make it look easy. He is cool under pressure and is rated very highly at SRCA. Ross was joint winner of the Sponsors' Player of the Season Award for the 2017-18 season.

Luke is now into his fifth season with the club. A Sunderland lad, he thrives on the challenges of the first division. He is a strong tackling defender who possesses good positional sense and is able to read the game well. He is always looking to support his midfield colleagues.

Greg starts his third season with RCA since signing from Washington and now captains the side. At 6'4", Greg is a powerful, imposing, no nonsense, old school central defender. As expected, he is good in the air, but he is also deceptively good on the ground with great awareness of situations as they develop. Greg was joint winner of the Management Player of the Season and winner of the Players' Player of the Season awards in the 2017-18 season, a testimony to his leadership on the pitch.

Sunderland RCA's manager Martin has a wealth of Northern League experience both as a player and as a manager. He managed the very successful Ryhope Colliery Welfare team who in Season 2010-11 won all four competitions in the Wearside League. Repeating the feat the following year and also clinching promotion for RCW to the Northern League Division 2. He has also managed Bishop Auckland for a short time. He is passionate about his football, especially in the local area, and instills a sense of belief in his players.

Mark has been a big supporter of RCA off the field and has now jumped over the fence to join the football management. After a bad knee injury put pay to his footballing career as a youngster, Mark, from Birtley, ran teams in the Gateshead and District Sunday League. Mark brings commitment, energy, enthusiasm and management experience to the organisation of the team.

Mohsen is a local business man who has run local football teams in the Sunderland area and has been recruited by Sunderland RCA for his ideas on young local footballers to come through the junior systems. Mo is currently doing UEFA B badges and has lots of connections with his national football team, Egypt, who he follows whenever he can. Mo will be a great asset to RCA with his local and training knowledge.