Northern Football League

For other uses, see Northern Football League (disambiguation).

The Northern League is a British men's football league in north east England. Having been founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest football league in the world still in existence after the English Football League.

Northern League

Founded	1889; 136 years ago (1889)
Country	England
Divisions	Division One Division Two
Number of clubs	42
Level on pyramid	9 & 10
Promotion to	Northern Premier League Division One East or West
Relegation to	Northern Football Alliance Premier Division Wearside League First Division North Riding League Premier Division
Domestic cup(s)	Northern League Challenge Cup Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup J. R. Cleator Cup
Current champions	Redcar Athletic (Division One) Horden C.W. (Division Two) (2024–25)
Website	Ebac Northern League
Current: 2025–26 Season

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 the historic counties of Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire's North Riding. 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.

The area covered by the Northern League is coloured in red.

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 League to find a place in the overall structure of non-League football. Unlike the Isthmian League, which became a feeder to the Alliance Premier League in 1982, the Northern League and its clubs rejected repeated invitations. It was not until 1988 that two Northern League clubs, Bishop Auckland and Whitley Bay, accepted places in the Northern Premier League. Others including Penrith, North Shields and Spennymoor United jumped ship to neighbouring leagues (the North West Counties League and Northern Counties East League).^[1]

The Northern League formally became a feeder to the Northern Premier League, but still few clubs took the opportunity of promotion, with only five moving up over the next 20 years (Gretna in 1992, Blyth Spartans in 1994, Whitby Town in 1997, Newcastle Blue Star in 2007 and Durham City in 2008).^[1] Since the mid-2010s, FA rules have meant that clubs who are eligible can no longer refuse promotion, and two Northern League clubs are now promoted each season (the champions and the winner of a four-team playoff).

Since 1995, Northern League clubs have competed for the FA Vase, with some success, having won 11 finals, losing 4 finals. There were two all Northern League finals in 2012 (Dunston UTS beat West Auckland Town) and 2020 (Hebburn Town beat Consett).

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.^[2] The league is currently sponsored by dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac.^[3]

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 Second Division (level 10).

Current members

Bishop Auckland

Crook Town

Heaton Stannington

Newcastle Benfield

North Shields

Seaham Red Star

Shildon

Sunderland Ryhope Community Association

Tow Law Town

West Allotment Celtic

West Auckland Town

Whickham

Whitley Bay

Bedlington Terriers

Billingham Synthonia

Billingham Town

Birtley Town

Blyth Town

Boldon Community Association

Brandon United

Chester-le-Street Town

Chester-le-Street United

Durham City

Easington Colliery

Esh Winning

FC Hartlepool

Horden CW

Jarrow

Newcastle Blue Star

Newcastle University and Prudhoe Youth Club

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion

Sunderland West End

Washington

Location of the Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne & Wear clubs in the Northern League by division
– First Division – Second Division

Boro Rangers

Guisborough Town

Northallerton Town

Redcar Athletic

Redcar Town

Thornaby

Yarm & Eaglescliffe

Location of the North Yorkshire clubs in the Northern League

Penrith

Carlisle City

Location of the Cumbria clubs in the Northern League

Division One

Club	Home ground
Birtley Town	Birtley Sports Complex
Bishop Auckland	Heritage Park
Boro Rangers	Trinity College, Middlesbrough
Carlisle City	Gillford Park
Crook Town	The Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground
Guisborough Town	King George V Ground
Heaton Stannington	Grounsell Park
Newcastle Benfield	Sam Smith's Park
North Shields	Daren Persson Stadium
Northallerton Town	Calvert Stadium
Penrith	Frenchfields Stadium
Redcar Athletic	Green Lane
Seaham Red Star	Seaham Town Park
Shildon	Dean Street
Sunderland RCA	Meadow Park
Tow Law Town	Ironworks Road
West Allotment Celtic	East Palmersville Sports Pavilion
West Auckland Town	The Wanted Metal Stadium
Whickham	The Glebe Sports Ground
Whitley Bay	Hillheads Park

Division Two

Club	Home ground
Bedlington Terriers	Dr Pit Welfare Park
Billingham Synthonia	Broughton Road
Billingham Town	Bedford Terrace
Blyth Town	Gateway Park
Boldon CA	Boldon Colliery Welfare
Grangetown Boys Club F.C.	B&W Lifting Ltd Stadium
Chester-le-Street Town	Moor Park
Chester-le-Street United	Riverside Sports Complex
Easington Colliery	Welfare Ground (Easington)
Esh Winning	West Terrace
FC Hartlepool	Grayfields Enclosure
Horden CW	Horden Recreation Ground
Jarrow	Perth Green CA
Newcastle Blue Star	Scotswood Sports Centre
Newcastle University	Kimberley Park (Prudhoe)+
Prudhoe Youth Club	Kimberley Park
Redcar Town	The Vibrant Doors Stadium
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion	Kingsley Park
Sunderland West End	Ford Quarry
Thornaby	Teesdale Park
Washington	Northern Area Football Fields
Yarm & Eaglescliffe	Bedford Terrace (Billingham)+

+ indicates ground share

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:^[4]

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.^[4][5][6][7]

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.^[4]

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.^[4]

Season	Professional	Amateur
1905–06	Sunderland A	Bishop Auckland

In 1906 the league reverted to a single division, a format retained until 1982.^[4]

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[8]
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
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.^[4]

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	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
2018–19	Dunston UTS	Billingham Town
2019–20	No champions; season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic
2020–21	No champions; season abandoned due to lockdown regulations
2021–22	North Shields	Carlisle City
2022–23	Newton Aycliffe	Boro Rangers
2023–24	Bishop Auckland	Blyth Town
2024–25	Redcar Athletic	Horden C.W.

number of titles (1890-2024)

rank-club-(titles-last won)

• 1-Bishop Auckland (20–2024)
• 2-Blyth Spartans (10–1988)
• 3-Spennymoor Town (10–2014)(a)
• 4-Shildon (6–2016)
• 5-Stockton (5–1933)
• 6-Crook Town (5–1963)
• 7-Bedlington Terriers (5–2002)
• 8-Billingham Synthonia (4–1996)
• 9-Middlesbrough Ironopolis (3–1893)
• 10-Middlesbrough (3–1897)
• 11-Newcastle (3–1905)
• 12-South Bank (3–1922)
• 13-Willington (3–1930)
• 14-Ferryhill Athletic (3–1958)
• 15-Stanley United (3–1964)
• 16-Evenwood Town (3–1971)
• 17-Tow Law Town (3–1995)
• 18-Whitley Bay (3–2007)
• 19-Darlington (3–2013)
• 20-Eston United (2–1923)
• 21-West Auckland Town (2–1961)
• 22-Gretna (2–1992)
• 23-Whitby Town (2–1997)
• 24-Dunston Federation Brewery (2–2005)
• 25-Durham City (2–2008)
• 26-Marske United (2–2018)
• 27-North Shield (2–2022)
• 28-Darlington St.Augustine's (1–1890)
• 29-Sunderland (1–1905)
• 30-Esh Winning Rangers (1–1913)
• 31-Chilton Colliery Recreation (1–1928)
• 32-Brandon United (1–2003)
• 33-Newcastle Blue Star (1–2006)
• 34-Newcastle Benfield (1–2009)
• 35-South Shield (1–2017)
• 36-Dunston UTS (1–2019)
• 37-Newton Aycliffe (1–2023)

in bold, competing for the 2023–24 season in division one or two

• (a) with Spennymoor United, ancestor club

League Cup

Season	Winner	Score	Runners–up	Venue	Notes
1923-24	Cockfield	3–1	Ferryhill Athletic	Bishop Auckland	[9]
1924-25	Willington	2–0	Ferryhill Athletic	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1925-26	Willington	2–0	Crook Town	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1926-27	Stockton	1–1	Bishop Auckland	Crook	[9][11]
1926-27 (R)	Stockton	0–0	Bishop Auckland	Bishop Auckland	[9][11]
1926-27 (R2)	Stockton	1–1	Bishop Auckland	Stockton	[9][11]
1926-27 (R3)	Stockton	3–0	Bishop Auckland	Crook	[9][11]
1927-28	Willington	1–1	Chilton Colliery RA	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1927-28 (R)	Willington	3–2	Chilton Colliery RA	Chilton	[9][10]
1928-29	Whitby United	2–1	Chilton Colliery RA	Stockton	[9][12]
1929-30	Stockton	4–2	Ferryhill Athletic	Bishop Auckland	[9][11]
1930-31	Willington	3–1	Chilton Colliery RA	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1931-32	Willington	2–2	Whitby United	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1931-32 (R)	Willington	2–2	Whitby United	Stockton	[9][10]
1932-33	Stockton	2–0	Willington	Bishop Auckland	[9][11]
1933-34	Shildon	3–1	Bishop Auckland	Shildon	[9][13]
1934-35	Shildon	2–1	Chilton Colliery RA	Bishop Auckland	[9][13]
1935-36	Evenwood Town	3–2	Trimdon Grange	Bishop Auckland	[9]
1936-37	Crook Town	2–2	Bishop Auckland	Shildon	[9]
1936-37 (R)	Crook Town	2–1	Bishop Auckland	Willington	[9]
1937-38	Shildon	1–0	Cockfield	Bishop Auckland	[9][13]
1938-39	Shildon	2–0	Ferryhill Athletic	Bishop Auckland	[9][13]
1939-40	Shildon	2–0	Bishop Auckland	Shildon	[9][13]
1945-46	Crook Colliery Welfare	2–1	Bishop Auckland	Shildon	[9]
1946-47	Stanley United	3–1	Shildon	Ferryhill	[9]
1947-48	South Bank	3–1	Tow Law Town	Bishop Auckland	[9][14]
1948-49	Willington	4–2	West Auckland Town	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1949-50	Bishop Auckland	3–1	Shildon	Bishop Auckland	[9][15]
1950-51	Bishop Auckland	6–2	Ferryhill Athletic	Shildon	[9][15]
1951-52	Billingham Synthonia	1–1	Tow Law Town	Bishop Auckland	[9]
1951-52 (R)	Billingham Synthonia	1–0	Tow Law Town	Bishop Auckland	[9]
1952-53	Shildon	3–3	Evenwood Town	Bishop Auckland	[9][13]
1952-53 (R)	Shildon	3–2	Evenwood Town	Bishop Auckland	[9][13]
1953-54	Bishop Auckland	4–1	Shildon	Bishop Auckland	[9][15]
1954-55	Bishop Auckland	6–0	Crook Town	Crook	[9][15]
1955-56	South Bank	2–0	Bishop Auckland	Crook	[9][14]
1956-57	Willington	3–0	Evenwood Town	Bishop Auckland	[9][10]
1957-58	Stanley United	2–1	Durham City	Bishop Auckland	[9]
1958-59	West Auckland Town	7–0	Crook Town	Shildon	[9]
1959-60	Bishop Auckland	1–0	Penrith	Shildon	[9][15]
1960-61	Crook Town	2–0	Bishop Auckland	Crook	[9]
1961-62	Stanley United	5–1	West Auckland Town	Shildon	[9]
1962-63	West Auckland Town	4–0	Crook Town	Shildon	[9]
1963-64	Whitby Town	2–0	West Auckland Town	Shildon	[9][12]
1964-65	Whitley Bay	1–1	Spennymoor United	North Shields	[9]
1964-65 (R)	Whitley Bay	3–1	Spennymoor United	North Shields	[9]
1965-66	Spennymoor United	2–1	Penrith	Shildon	[9]
1966-67	Bishop Auckland	4–0	Tow Law Town	Spennymoor	[9][15]
1967-68	Spennymoor United	0–0	Whitley Bay	Crook	[9]
1967-68 (R)	Spennymoor United	3–2	Whitley Bay	North Shields	[9]
1968-69	North Shields	2–0	Tow Law Town	Spennymoor	[9]
1969-70	Whitby Town	4–1	Spennymoor United	South Bank	[9][12]
1970-71	Whitley Bay	4–1	North Shields	Blyth	[9]
1971-72	North Shields	0–0	Spennymoor United	Blyth	[9]
1971-72 (R)	North Shields	2–1	Spennymoor United	Ferryhill	[9]
1972-73	Blyth Spartans	2–0	Spennymoor United	Spennymoor	[9]
1973-74	Tow Law Town	2–1	Ashington	Crook	[9]
1974-75	Willington	2–1	Bishop Auckland	Spennymoor	[9][10]
1975-76	Bishop Auckland	2–1	Ashington	Blyth	[9][15]
1976-77	Whitby Town	3–1	Durham City	Spennymoor	[9]
1977-78	Blyth Spartans	5–1	Willington	North Shields	[9]
1978-79	Blyth Spartans	4–3	Consett	Spennymoor	[9]
1979-80	Spennymoor United	2–1	North Shields	Consett	[9]
1980-81	Spennymoor United	2–0	Consett	Blyth	[9]
1981-82	Blyth Spartans	*1–1	South Bank	Bishop Auckland	[9]*2–1(pens)
1982-83	Norton & Stockton Ancients	2–1	Whitby Town	Horden	[9]
1983-84	Horden Colliery Welfare	2–0	Blyth Spartans	North Shields	[9]
1984-85	Whitby Town	2–1	North Shields	Spennymoor	[9][12]
1985-86	Blue Star	2–0	Durham City	Spennymoor	[9]
1986-87	Spennymoor United	2–1	Easington Colliery	Shildon	[9]
1987-88	Billingham Synthonia	2–1	Shildon	Spennymoor	[9]
1988-89	Guisborough Town	2–1	Tow Law Town	Spennymoor	[9]
1989-90	Billingham Synthonia	5–2	Whitby Town	Guisborough	[9]
1990-91	Gretna	1–0	Newcastle Blue Star	Newcastle (Blue Star)	[9]
1991-92	Blyth Spartans	1–0	Consett	Murton	[9]
1992-93	Seaham Red Star	*2–2	Brandon United	Billingham (Town)	[9]*3–0 (pens)
1993-94	Northallerton Town	2–0	Blyth Spartans	Brandon	[9]
1994-95	Consett	2–0	Whitby Town	Crook	[9]
1995-96	Whitby Town	1–0	Dunston Fed Brewery	Billingham (Synthonia)	[9][12]
1996-97	Bedlington Terriers	3–0	Billingham Synthonia	Dunston	[9]
1997-98	Dunston Fed Brewery	3–2	Tow Law Town	Durham	[16]
1998-99	Dunston Fed Brewery	4–1	Jarrow Roofing	Peterlee	[16]
1999-00	Dunston Fed Brewery	4–0	Durham City	Jarrow	[16]
2000-01	Bedlington Terriers	4–1	Marske United	West Auckland	[16]
2001-02	Durham City	*3–2	Shildon	Durham	[16] aet *gg
2002-03	Shildon	*3–2	Billingham Synthonia	Darlington (Feethams)	[13][16] aet *gg
2003-04	Dunston Fed Brewery	*2–1	Durham City	Whitley Bay	[16] aet *gg
2004-05	Bedlington Terriers	*2–2	Dunston Fed Brewery	Durham	[16]*7–6(pens)
2005-06	Newcastle Blue Star	1–0	Dunston Fed Brewery	Durham City	[16] aet
2006-07	Newcastle Benfield	1–0	Sunderland Nissan	Dunston	[16]
2007-08	Billingham Town	2–1	Shildon	Seaham	[16]
2008-09	Newcastle Benfield	2–0	West Allotment Celtic	West Allotment	[16]
2009-10	South Shields	*2–2	Ashington	Dunston	[16]*6–5 (pens)
2010-11	Newcastle Benfield	3–1	Spennymoor Town	Dunston	[16] aet
2011-12	Team Northumbria	4–1	West Auckland Town	Newcastle (Coach Lane)	[16]
2012-13	Spennymoor Town	1–0	Newcastle Benfield	Consett	[16]
2013-14	Marske United	2–1	Whitley Bay	Newcastle (St.James' Park)	[16] aet
2014-15	Shildon	2–0	Newton Aycliffe	Bishop Auckland	[16]
2015-16	Shildon	*1–1	Marske United	Billingham (Synthonia)	[16]*4–3 (pens)
2016-17	South Shields	5–0	North Shields	Whitley Bay	[16]
2017-18	Dunston UTS	1–0	Bishop Auckland	Consett	[17]
2018-19	West Auckland Town	*0–0	Newcastle Benfield	Seaham	[16]*4–3 (pens)
2019–20	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21	Cancelled due to COVID-19 local lockdown regulations
2021–22	Cancelled
2022–23	Cancelled

• gg = Golden goal