Northern Football League
The Northern League is a men's football league in north east England for semi-professional and amateur teams. Having been founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest football league in the world still in existence after the English Football League.
Founded | 1889 |
---|---|
Country | England |
Divisions | Division One Division Two |
Number of teams | 44 |
Level on pyramid | Levels 9 and 10 |
Feeder to | Northern Premier League Division One East or West |
Domestic cup(s) | Northern League Challenge Cup Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup J. R. Cleator Cup |
Current champions | Dunston UTS (Division One) Billingham Town (Division Two) (2018–19) |
Website | Ebac Northern League |
It contains two divisions; Division One and Division Two. Division One sits on the ninth tier of the English football league system, five divisions below the Football League. These leagues cover County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, northern Cumbria and the northern half of North Yorkshire.
The champion club of Division One is promoted to the lower division of the Northern Premier League.
History
The Northern league was one of many leagues formed the year after the Football League. In its first season, it consisted of ten clubs that were a mixture of professional and amateur organisations. During its early years, the competition included clubs such as Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Darlington that would go on to play in the Football League. In 1905, the league split into two divisions, one professional and one amateur. The next year, however, the Northern League made the decision to abolish the professional division and restrict itself to amateur clubs, or at least clubs that claimed to be amateur.
Between the World Wars and in the early years following World War II, the Northern League's amateur status meant that they and, their equivalent in the London area, the Isthmian League dominated the old FA Amateur Cup. The two Leagues continued to be separate from the professional game which was dominated by the Football League, Southern League and, from 1968, the Northern Premier League.
The Northern League and Isthmian League (with its feeder leagues) continued to claim amateur status right up until, following pressure, amateur status was abandoned by the Football Association in 1974. This left amateur leagues like the Northern to find a place in the overall structure of non-League football. Unlike its southern equivalent the Isthmian League who became a feeder to the Alliance Premier League in 1982, the Northern League rejected repeated invitations. Ultimately, the Northern League remained out of the football pyramid until 1991. The league declined throughout the 1980s as its leading clubs defected to other leagues within the football pyramid, such as the Northern Counties East Football League. When the Northern League finally joined the pyramid, it was as a feeder league to the lower division of the Northern Premier League (Level 9).
Since 1995, Northern League clubs have competed for the FA Vase, with some success, having won 10 finals.
The League had an unusual sponsorship deal put in place by Brooks Mileson, owner of the Albany Group, who were its sponsors in 2003. In that year, Mileson announced that he had created a trust which would continue to sponsor the league throughout his lifetime and that of his sons. In 2008, however, the league announced that this sponsorship had come to an end, and it held a raffle to determine its next sponsor. Interested parties were invited to buy a stake in the raffle for £250. The winning stake was held by a local training company and the league was known as the skilltrainingltd Northern League from the 2008–09 season until the 2011–12 season.[1] The league is currently sponsored by dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac.[2]
Level 11 clubs from the North Riding Football League, Northern Football Alliance and Wearside Football League may apply for promotion into the Northern League's (level 10) Second Division.
Current members
Division One
|
Division Two
|
Ashington Bishop Auckland Chester-le-Street Town Consett Dunston UTS Guisborough Town Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association Marske United Morpeth Town Newcastle Benfield Newton Aycliffe North Shields Penrith Ryhope Colliery Welfare Seaham Red Star Shildon South Shields Sunderland Ryhope Community Association Washington West Allotment Celtic West Auckland Town Whitley Bay Alnwick Town Bedlington Terriers Billingham Synthonia Billingham Town Blyth Town Brandon United Crook Town Darlington Railway Athletic Durham City Easington Colliery Esh Winning Heaton Stannington Hebburn Town Northallerton Town Norton & Stockton Ancients Ryton & Crawcrook Albion Stockton Town Team Northumbria Thornaby Tow Law Town Whickham Willington
|
Champions
Originally the league comprised a single division. The champions were as follows:[3]
Season | Champions |
---|---|
1889–90 | Darlington St. Augustine's |
1890–91 | Middlesbrough Ironopolis |
1891–92 | Middlesbrough Ironopolis |
1892–93 | Middlesbrough Ironopolis |
1893–94 | Middlesbrough |
1894–95 | Middlesbrough |
1895–96 | Darlington |
1896–97 | Middlesbrough |
In 1897, the league briefly split into two divisions.[3][4][5][6]
Season | Division One | Division Two |
---|---|---|
1897–98 | Stockton | Howden-le-Wear |
1898–99 | Bishop Auckland | Stockton St. John's |
1899–1900 | Darlington | Whitby |
In 1900, the league reverted to a single division.[3]
Season | Champions |
---|---|
1900–01 | Bishop Auckland |
1901–02 | Bishop Auckland |
1902–03 | Newcastle United A |
1903–04 | Newcastle United A |
1904–05 | Newcastle United A |
In 1905 the league split into two sections, one for professionals and one for amateurs. This lasted for a single season.[3]
Season | Professional | Amateur |
---|---|---|
1905–06 | Sunderland A | Bishop Auckland |
In 1906 the league reverted to a single division, a format retained until 1982.[3]
In 1982 the league added a second division.[3]
League Cup
Season | Winner | Score | Runners–up | Venue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1923-24 | Cockfield | 3–1 | Ferryhill Athletic | Bishop Auckland | [8] |
1924-25 | Willington | 2–0 | Ferryhill Athletic | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1925-26 | Willington | 2–0 | Crook Town | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1926-27 | Stockton | 1–1 | Bishop Auckland | Crook | [8][10] |
1926-27 (R) | Stockton | 0–0 | Bishop Auckland | Bishop Auckland | [8][10] |
1926-27 (R2) | Stockton | 1–1 | Bishop Auckland | Stockton | [8][10] |
1926-27 (R3) | Stockton | 3–0 | Bishop Auckland | Crook | [8][10] |
1927-28 | Willington | 1–1 | Chilton Colliery RA | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1927-28 (R) | Willington | 3–2 | Chilton Colliery RA | Chilton | [8][9] |
1928-29 | Whitby United | 2–1 | Chilton Colliery RA | Stockton | [8][11] |
1929-30 | Stockton | 4–2 | Ferryhill Athletic | Bishop Auckland | [8][10] |
1930-31 | Willington | 3–1 | Chilton Colliery RA | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1931-32 | Willington | 2–2 | Whitby United | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1931-32 (R) | Willington | 2–2 | Whitby United | Stockton | [8][9] |
1932-33 | Stockton | 2–0 | Willington | Bishop Auckland | [8][10] |
1933-34 | Shildon | 3–1 | Bishop Auckland | Shildon | [8][12] |
1934-35 | Shildon | 2–1 | Chilton Colliery RA | Bishop Auckland | [8][12] |
1935-36 | Evenwood Town | 3–2 | Trimdon Grange | Bishop Auckland | [8] |
1936-37 | Crook Town | 2–2 | Bishop Auckland | Shildon | [8] |
1936-37 (R) | Crook Town | 2–1 | Bishop Auckland | Willington | [8] |
1937-38 | Shildon | 1–0 | Cockfield | Bishop Auckland | [8][12] |
1938-39 | Shildon | 2–0 | Ferryhill Athletic | Bishop Auckland | [8][12] |
1939-40 | Shildon | 2–0 | Bishop Auckland | Shildon | [8][12] |
1945-46 | Crook Colliery Welfare | 2–1 | Bishop Auckland | Shildon | [8] |
1946-47 | Stanley United | 3–1 | Shildon | Ferryhill | [8] |
1947-48 | South Bank | 3–1 | Tow Law Town | Bishop Auckland | [8][13] |
1948-49 | Willington | 4–2 | West Auckland Town | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1949-50 | Bishop Auckland | 3–1 | Shildon | Bishop Auckland | [8][14] |
1950-51 | Bishop Auckland | 6–2 | Ferryhill Athletic | Shildon | [8][14] |
1951-52 | Billingham Synthonia | 1–1 | Tow Law Town | Bishop Auckland | [8] |
1951-52 (R) | Billingham Synthonia | 1–0 | Tow Law Town | Bishop Auckland | [8] |
1952-53 | Shildon | 3–3 | Evenwood Town | Bishop Auckland | [8][12] |
1952-53 (R) | Shildon | 3–2 | Evenwood Town | Bishop Auckland | [8][12] |
1953-54 | Bishop Auckland | 4–1 | Shildon | Bishop Auckland | [8][14] |
1954-55 | Bishop Auckland | 6–0 | Crook Town | Crook | [8][14] |
1955-56 | South Bank | 2–0 | Bishop Auckland | Crook | [8][13] |
1956-57 | Willington | 3–0 | Evenwood Town | Bishop Auckland | [8][9] |
1957-58 | Stanley United | 2–1 | Durham City | Bishop Auckland | [8] |
1958-59 | West Auckland Town | 7–0 | Crook Town | Shildon | [8] |
1959-60 | Bishop Auckland | 1–0 | Penrith | Shildon | [8][14] |
1960-61 | Crook Town | 2–0 | Bishop Auckland | Crook | [8] |
1961-62 | Stanley United | 5–1 | West Auckland Town | Shildon | [8] |
1962-63 | West Auckland Town | 4–0 | Crook Town | Shildon | [8] |
1963-64 | Whitby Town | 2–0 | West Auckland Town | Shildon | [8][11] |
1964-65 | Whitley Bay | 1–1 | Spennymoor United | North Shields | [8] |
1964-65 (R) | Whitley Bay | 3–1 | Spennymoor United | North Shields | [8] |
1965-66 | Spennymoor United | 2–1 | Penrith | Shildon | [8] |
1966-67 | Bishop Auckland | 4–0 | Tow Law Town | Spennymoor | [8][14] |
1967-68 | Spennymoor United | 0–0 | Whitley Bay | Crook | [8] |
1967-68 (R) | Spennymoor United | 3–2 | Whitley Bay | North Shields | [8] |
1968-69 | North Shields | 2–0 | Tow Law Town | Spennymoor | [8] |
1969-70 | Whitby Town | 4–1 | Spennymoor United | South Bank | [8][11] |
1970-71 | Whitley Bay | 4–1 | North Shields | Blyth | [8] |
1971-72 | North Shields | 0–0 | Spennymoor United | Blyth | [8] |
1971-72 (R) | North Shields | 2–1 | Spennymoor United | Ferryhill | [8] |
1972-73 | Blyth Spartans | 2–0 | Spennymoor United | Spennymoor | [8] |
1973-74 | Tow Law Town | 2–1 | Ashington | Crook | [8] |
1974-75 | Willington | 2–1 | Bishop Auckland | Spennymoor | [8][9] |
1975-76 | Bishop Auckland | 2–1 | Ashington | Blyth | [8][14] |
1976-77 | Whitby Town | 3–1 | Durham City | Spennymoor | [8] |
1977-78 | Blyth Spartans | 5–1 | Willington | North Shields | [8] |
1978-79 | Blyth Spartans | 4–3 | Consett | Spennymoor | [8] |
1979-80 | Spennymoor United | 2–1 | North Shields | Consett | [8] |
1980-81 | Spennymoor United | 2–0 | Consett | Blyth | [8] |
1981-82 | Blyth Spartans | *1–1 | South Bank | Bishop Auckland | [8]*2–1(pens) |
1982-83 | Norton & Stockton Ancients | 2–1 | Whitby Town | Horden | [8] |
1983-84 | Horden Colliery Welfare | 2–0 | Blyth Spartans | North Shields | [8] |
1984-85 | Whitby Town | 2–1 | North Shields | Spennymoor | [8][11] |
1985-86 | Blue Star | 2–0 | Durham City | Spennymoor | [8] |
1986-87 | Spennymoor United | 2–1 | Easington Colliery | Shildon | [8] |
1987-88 | Billingham Synthonia | 2–1 | Shildon | Spennymoor | [8] |
1988-89 | Guisborough Town | 2–1 | Tow Law Town | Spennymoor | [8] |
1989-90 | Billingham Synthonia | 5–2 | Whitby Town | Guisborough | [8] |
1990-91 | Gretna | 1–0 | Newcastle Blue Star | Newcastle (Blue Star) | [8] |
1991-92 | Blyth Spartans | 1–0 | Consett | Murton | [8] |
1992-93 | Seaham Red Star | *2–2 | Brandon United | Billingham (Town) | [8]*3–0 (pens) |
1993-94 | Northallerton Town | 2–0 | Blyth Spartans | Brandon | [8] |
1994-95 | Consett | 2–0 | Whitby Town | Crook | [8] |
1995-96 | Whitby Town | 1–0 | Dunston Fed Brewery | Billingham (Synthonia) | [8][11] |
1996-97 | Bedlington Terriers | 3–0 | Billingham Synthonia | Dunston | [8] |
1997-98 | Dunston Fed Brewery | 3–2 | Tow Law Town | Durham | [15] |
1998-99 | Dunston Fed Brewery | 4–1 | Jarrow Roofing | Peterlee | [15] |
1999-00 | Dunston Fed Brewery | 4–0 | Durham City | Jarrow | [15] |
2000-01 | Bedlington Terriers | 4–1 | Marske United | West Auckland | [15] |
2001-02 | Durham City | *3–2 | Shildon | Durham | [15] aet *gg |
2002-03 | Shildon | *3–2 | Billingham Synthonia | Darlington (Feethams) | [12][15] aet *gg |
2003-04 | Dunston Fed Brewery | *2–1 | Durham City | Whitley Bay | [15] aet *gg |
2004-05 | Bedlington Terriers | *2–2 | Dunston Fed Brewery | Durham | [15]*7–6(pens) |
2005-06 | Newcastle Blue Star | 1–0 | Dunston Fed Brewery | Durham City | [15] aet |
2006-07 | Newcastle Benfield | 1–0 | Sunderland Nissan | Dunston | [15] |
2007-08 | Billingham Town | 2–1 | Shildon | Seaham | [15] |
2008-09 | Newcastle Benfield | 2–0 | West Allotment Celtic | West Allotment | [15] |
2009-10 | South Shields | *2–2 | Ashington | Dunston | [15]*6–5 (pens) |
2010-11 | Newcastle Benfield | 3–1 | Spennymoor Town | Dunston | [15] aet |
2011-12 | Team Northumbria | 4–1 | West Auckland Town | Newcastle (Coach Lane) | [15] |
2012-13 | Spennymoor Town | 1–0 | Newcastle Benfield | Consett | [15] |
2013-14 | Marske United | 2–1 | Whitley Bay | Newcastle (St.James' Park) | [15] aet |
2014-15 | Shildon | 2–0 | Newton Aycliffe | Bishop Auckland | [15] |
2015-16 | Shildon | *1–1 | Marske United | Billingham (Synthonia) | [15]*4–3 (pens) |
2016-17 | South Shields | 5–0 | North Shields | Whitley Bay | [15] |
2017-18 | Dunston UTS | 1–0 | Bishop Auckland | Consett | [16] |
2018-19 | Newcastle Benfield | *0–0 | West Auckland Town | Seaham | [15]*3–4 (pens) |
2019–20 | Postponed |
- gg = Golden Goal
References
- Anthony Vickers (8 August 2008). "League's new name". Evening Gazette. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
- Steve Brown (4 June 2012). "The Northern League has a new sponsor – County Durham-based dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac Ltd". Sunday Sun. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- "England – Northern League". RSSSF. 7 February 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
- "HOWDEN-LE-WEAR". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- "STOCKTON ST JOHN'S". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- "WHITBY". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- "ESH WINNING RANGERS". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- Hunt, Brian (2000). Northern Goalfields Revisited, A Millennium History of the Northern Football League. pp. 514–15. ISBN 1897585578.
- "Willington AFC, Club Details". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- D.Dale & P.Livingstone. "Stockton Football Club, Giants of the Amateur Game". Archived from the original on 26 September 2007.
- "Whitby Town FC Club History". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- "Shildon AFC, Club History". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- "South Bank Football Club, History". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- "Bishop Auckland AFC, History". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- "Northern League Official Website (Archive)". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- "Fixtures/Results 1718". Northern League. Retrieved 16 May 2018.