Get the lowdown on the U’s next opponents: Spennymoor Town

The Opposition

National League North outfit Spennymoor Town are set to take a break from league action, and will be looking to reach the FA Trophy semi-final for the first time.

Graeme Lee’s side have hit form in recent weeks and have lost just one game from their last six, with their quest to close the gap on the top seven being aided by notable wins over title contenders Kidderminster Harriers and Hereford as well as a thumping 7-0 victory over Rushall Olympics, although they currently sit in 12th with a nine-point gap from seventh.

The County Durham-based outfit reached the last eight of the FA Trophy with wins over South Shields, Alfreton Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Boston United – the latter win being secured on penalties – and will now be looking to bounce back from their first defeat in five outings last time out on Saturday when they visit the VBS Community Stadium.

Recent Form

Spennymoor Town 0-1 Marine

Kidderminster Harriers 1-2 Spennymoor Town

Spennymoor Town 3-1 Alfreton Town

Hereford 0-2 Spennymoor Town

Spennymoor Town 2-2 Boston United (3-1 on pens)

Southport 1-4 Spennymoor Town

The Manager

Graeme Lee

Former defender Graeme Lee has taken the reins at The Brewery Field since January 2024, following in the footsteps of his father Tony Lee who had also managed Spennymoor, and signed a new deal at the start of the season after guiding them from a relegation battle to one point outside the play-offs last season.

Born in Middlesbrough, Lee began his career in football with an extended stint at Hartlepool United, making his First Team debut at the age of 17 and going on to turn out more than 250 times for the club. He would win the Player of the Year award in 2001/02 and contributed to the Pools’ promotion to the Second Division the following year, narrowly missing out on the title having previously won reached the play-offs three years in a row.

After departing Victoria Road in 2003, Lee enjoyed spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers before returning to Hartlepool on loan in 2008, and was followed by another loan spell at Shrewsbury Town. He was then released by Rovers at the end of the season and subsequently joined Bradford City, which preceded stints at Notts County and Darlington, before finishing his career with Cumbria-based outfit Celtic Nation.

Upon his retirement from professional football, Lee returned to his hometown when he joined Middlesbrough as Head Coach of the Under-23’s, before returning to Hartlepool for a third stint, but this time as manager of the League Two side. He lasted just five months in the role before being dismissed with one game left of the season, having led the team to the EFL Trophy semi-final in which they lost on penalties to eventual winners Rotherham United, as well as FA Cup Fourth Round, losing away to Premier League side Crystal Palace.

He returned to management a year later when he joined Northern League Division One side Marske United, but stepped down after another five-month stint to join Spennymoor in January 2024. Tasked with leading  them away from the relegation zone, Lee successfully turned around their form and won successive Manager of the Month awards for February and March, guiding the side to within three points of a play-off place with 13 wins from their final 18 matches, before missing out on the top seven by a point. Nonetheless, Lee had done enough to remain in charge at The Brewery Field, and signed a new contract at the start of the season.

One to Watch

Glen Taylor

A Spennymoor Town legend, Glen Taylor has written himself into Moors history in recent years as well as carving out a reputation as one of the hottest properties in non-league, with over 100 goals to his name.

Born in Ashington, Northumberland, the 34-year old has spent his whole career in the North-East of England, starting out at Whitley Bay before joining Blyth Spartans in 2011. Taylor spent a season at Crofton Park before moving to Spennymoor for the first time, but he lasted just three months at The Brewery Field when he opted to return to Ashington, moving to Ashington AFC in October 2012. Three years with the Colliers then preceded a return to Spennymoor in 2015, and he has remained with the club ever since.

A fans’ favourite, Taylor surpassed 350 appearances for the Moors last term and continues to strike fear into opposition defences up and down the land. Capable of poaching or producing the spectacular, has produced consistent performances that has seen him scoop a number of Player of the Year accolades since rejoining the Moors.

Taylor’s goalscoring exploits show no signs of slowing down as he struck 20 goals again in 2022/23 before top-scoring with 17 in all competitions last season despite missing three months due to a knee injury that required surgery.

The frontman then finished 2023/24 just 14 goals shy of 200 in a Spennymoor shirt, and he will have his eyes firmly fixed on that incredible landmark after penning a new two-year deal during the summer which will extend his stay in County Durham to a decade straight.

Last Time We Met

A brace from Glen Taylor and a late strike from Andrew Johnson secured a 3-0 victory over Sutton in January 2019, sending Spennymoor Town into the Third Round of the FA Trophy.

The Moors took the lead after 21 minutes when Taylor rifled a spectacular volley from 20-yards following a corner, and doubled their advantage shortly after the hour-mark when he met a free kick at the far post to smash home another fantastic volley.

On-loan Croatian goalkeeper Karlo Žiger was at his best throughout the match and continued his fine form to keep Spennymoor from adding a third with a superb double save, before Andrew Johnson raced onto a threaded through ball that sliced open the U’s defence 15 minutes later, being denied at the first attempt by Žiger. However, Johnson was on hand to tuck away the loose ball on the rebound and seal a comfortable win in County Durham.

Head-to-Head

Spennymoor Town 3-0 Sutton United (12/01/2019)