Northern 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 | Marske United (Division One) Blyth AFC (Division Two) (2017–18) |
| Website | Ebac Northern League |
 2018–19 | |
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.
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.
One of the top three teams of Division One may be eligible for promotion to Division One East/West of the Northern Premier League, subject to certain criteria.
Contents
1 History
2 Current members
2.1 Division One
2.2 Division Two
3 Champions
4 League Cup
5 References
6 External links
History
The Northern League ran as one of two major amateur competitions (with the Isthmian League) in tandem with the professional Football League, Southern League and, since 1968, the Northern Premier League.
The area covered by the Northern League is coloured in red.
In 1974, amateur status was abandoned by the Football Association and amateur leagues like the Northern had to find a place in the overall structure of non-League football. Unlike its southern equivalent the Isthmian League who became a feeder in 1982, the Northern League rejected repeated invitations to become a feeder league to the Alliance Premier League, later the Conference, when that league was created in 1979.
Ultimately, the Northern League remained out of the football pyramid until 1991, a decision that proved very costly to its status. 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 was finally forced into the pyramid, the opportunity to become a feeder league to the Conference had long passed and the Northern League was forced to become a feeder league to the lower division of the Northern Premier League, two tiers below the Conference.
The League suffered a further blow to its prestige in 1995 when the Football Association limited the entry to the FA Trophy to the first three steps of the pyramid thereby disqualifying the Northern League's clubs and those in equivalent competitions from competing for the FA Trophy. Northern League clubs now compete for the FA Vase.
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 2nd Division.
Current members
|
|   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 – First Division – Second Division |
Champions
Middlesbrough Ironopolis were champions three times in a row in the 1890s.
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]
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1906–07 | Stockton |
| 1907–08 | South Bank |
| 1908–09 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1909–10 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1910–11 | Eston United |
| 1911–12 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1912–13 | Esh Winning Rangers[7] |
| 1913–14 | Willington |
| 1914–15 | Crook Town |
| 1915–19 | Not contested due to World War I |
| 1919–20 | South Bank |
| 1920–21 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1921–22 | South Bank |
| 1922–23 | Eston United |
| 1923–24 | Tow Law Town |
| 1924–25 | Tow Law Town |
| 1925–26 | Willington |
| 1926–27 | Crook Town |
| 1927–28 | Chilton Colliery Recreation Athletic |
| 1928–29 | Stockton |
| 1929–30 | Willington |
| 1930–31 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1931–32 | Stockton |
| 1932–33 | Stockton |
| 1933–34 | Shildon |
| 1934–35 | Shildon |
| 1935–36 | Shildon |
| 1936–37 | Shildon |
| 1937–38 | Ferryhill Athletic |
| 1938–39 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1939–40 | Shildon |
| 1940–45 | Not contested due to World War II |
| 1945–46 | Stanley United |
| 1946–47 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1947–48 | Ferryhill Athletic |
| 1948–49 | Evenwood Town |
| 1949–50 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1950–51 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1951–52 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1952–53 | Crook Town |
| 1953–54 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1954–55 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1955–56 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1956–57 | Billingham Synthonia |
| 1957–58 | Ferryhill Athletic |
| 1958–59 | Crook Town |
| 1959–60 | West Auckland Town |
| 1960–61 | West Auckland Town |
| 1961–62 | Stanley United |
| 1962–63 | Crook Town |
| 1963–64 | Stanley United |
| 1964–65 | Whitley Bay |
| 1965–66 | Whitley Bay |
| 1966–67 | Bishop Auckland |
| 1967–68 | Spennymoor United |
| 1968–69 | North Shields |
| 1969–70 | Evenwood Town |
| 1970–71 | Evenwood Town |
| 1971–72 | Spennymoor United |
| 1972–73 | Blyth Spartans |
| 1973–74 | Spennymoor United |
| 1974–75 | Blyth Spartans |
| 1975–76 | Blyth Spartans |
| 1976–77 | Spennymoor United |
| 1977–78 | Spennymoor United |
| 1978–79 | Spennymoor United |
| 1979–80 | Blyth Spartans |
| 1980–81 | Blyth Spartans |
| 1981–82 | Blyth Spartans |
In 1982 the league added a second division.[3]
| Season | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Blyth Spartans | Peterlee Newtown |
| 1983–84 | Blyth Spartans | Chester-le-Street Town |
| 1984–85 | Bishop Auckland | Brandon United |
| 1985–86 | Bishop Auckland | Newcastle Blue Star |
| 1986–87 | Blyth Spartans | Billingham Synthonia |
| 1987–88 | Blyth Spartans | Stockton |
| 1988–89 | Billingham Synthonia | Consett |
| 1989–90 | Billingham Synthonia | Murton |
| 1990–91 | Gretna | West Auckland Town |
| 1991–92 | Gretna | Stockton |
| 1992–93 | Whitby Town | Dunston Federation Brewery |
| 1993–94 | Durham City | Bedlington Terriers |
| 1994–95 | Tow Law Town | Whickham |
| 1995–96 | Billingham Synthonia | Morpeth Town |
| 1996–97 | Whitby Town | Northallerton |
| 1997–98 | Bedlington Terriers | Chester-le-Street Town |
| 1998–99 | Bedlington Terriers | Durham City |
| 1999–2000 | Bedlington Terriers | Brandon United |
| 2000–01 | Bedlington Terriers | Ashington |
| 2001–02 | Bedlington Terriers | Shildon |
| 2002–03 | Brandon United | Penrith |
| 2003–04 | Dunston Federation Brewery | Ashington |
| 2004–05 | Dunston Federation Brewery | West Allotment Celtic |
| 2005–06 | Newcastle Blue Star | Consett |
| 2006–07 | Whitley Bay | Spennymoor Town |
| 2007–08 | Durham City | Penrith Town |
| 2008–09 | Newcastle Benfield | Horden Colliery Welfare |
| 2009–10 | Spennymoor Town | Stokesley |
| 2010–11 | Spennymoor Town | Newton Aycliffe |
| 2011–12 | Spennymoor Town | Team Northumbria |
| 2012–13 | Darlington 1883 | Crook Town |
| 2013–14 | Spennymoor Town | North Shields |
| 2014–15 | Marske United | Seaham Red Star |
| 2015–16 | Shildon | South Shields |
| 2016–17 | South Shields | Stockton Town |
| 2017–18 | Marske United | Blyth |
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] |
- gg = Golden Goal
References
^ Anthony Vickers (8 August 2008). "League's new name". Evening Gazette. Retrieved 8 August 2008..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ 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.
^ abcdef "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.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdbebfbgbhbibjbkblbmbnbobpbqbrbsbtbubvbwbxbybzcacb Hunt, Brian (2000). Northern Goalfields Revisited, A Millennium History of the Northern Football League. pp. 514–15. ISBN 1897585578.
^ abcdefghij "Willington AFC, Club Details". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ abcdef D.Dale & P.Livingstone. "Stockton Football Club, Giants of the Amateur Game". Archived from the original on 26 September 2007.
^ abcde "Whitby Town FC Club History". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ abcdefgh "Shildon AFC, Club History". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ ab "South Bank Football Club, History". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ abcdefg "Bishop Auckland AFC, History". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrst "Northern League Official Website (Archive)". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
^ "Fixtures/Results 1718". Northern League. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
External links
- Official website
