While
there can be no disputing the fact that Gateshead, so unlucky not to book a
place in the Football League Division 2 after the Conference play-offs at the
end of last season, are head and shoulders above every other non-league side in
the area, the question as to which team north of the Tyne are favourites to
claim the honour of being regional top dogs in the Northern League is a moot
point.
Clearly
there are 4 sides in Northumberland who fit the bill in terms of being north of
the Tyne, but Ashington, who appear to have stabilised as a solid first
division outfit following their 2008 move from Portland Park to Woodhorn Lane
which denuded them of a large portion of their more raucous support, Bedlington
Terriers, who seem to have assumed the mantle of perennial strugglers and are
subject to relentless tsunamis of gossip related to their American owner’s
financial input, Morpeth Town, who had a solid first season back in the top
flight and a good run in the FA Vase and the delightful Alnwick Town, who
provide the warmest of welcomes at the scenic “other” St. James’ Park, aren’t
the focus of this piece, which seeks to assess the chances of teams in the
Newcastle and North Tyneside areas.
During
recent history, there has been absolutely no doubt that Whitley Bay have been
the flagship club north of the Tyne. Four FA Vase wins, including 3 in a row
from 2009 to 2011 and crowds that dwarfed all near and reasonably near
neighbours, meant they could claim with full justification to be the giants of
the local game, even attempting to steal Newcastle Benfield’s double winning
thunder in 2009 by triumphing over Glossop North End at Wembley. Certainly,
with a ground as impressive as Hillheads and a loyal and enthusiastic fanbase,
it seems strange that the Seahorses did not seek to move up the pyramid during
their glory years, though their less than satisfactory experiences in the
Northern Premier League may have left them feeling once bitten, twice shy.
However, that potential ship has sailed and the last couple of seasons have
seen a diminution in their standing. A mid-table finish and a late defeat to
Marske United in the League Cup at St. James’ Park don’t tell the full tale of
a season that saw the departure of Ian Chandler from the Hillheads dug-out
after more than a decade. With Chan now in charge at the ever perplexing
conundrum that is Durham City, Leon Ryan is player manager and in charge of
reanimating a potential giant of a club with questions over the long term
future of their ground. The signing of free scoring Peter Watling from Team
Northumbria to partner the talismanic Paul Chow will go a long way to giving
him an even chance of achieving that feat.
Without
doubt, the team that appear to have the wind in their sails as regards the
future are North Shields who stormed to the Division 2 title last season,
courtesy of the scoring exploits of Gareth Bainbridge and the astute management
of Graham Fenton. While many may struggle to ever forget Fenton’s exploits at
Ewood Park on Easter Monday 1996, he is really making a name for himself as an
assured tactician and master motivator. There is also the added factor of a
large and passionate following (1,312 versus West Allotment Celtic on Good
Friday is a scarcely credible figure at this level), comprised of Shields
traditionalists, immaculately attired Casual clothing connoisseurs and several
somewhat eccentric characters, all of whom seem to carry giant flags, that will
intimidate many soft hearted opponents. In some ways it could easily be argued
that the Robins start each home game a goal ahead because of the crowd. It
really is amazing to hear singing and chanting at a Northern League game. Do
not be surprised if North Shields take Division 1 by the throat in 2014/2015.
Newcastle
Benfield had grounds to look back on 2013/2014 with a sense of satisfaction.
Following a disappointing campaign in 2012/2013, where player manager Steve
Bowey was the third incumbent in the Sam Smiths hot seat in a calendar year and
relegation was only avoided after a last day win at Consett, last season
brought stability. A fourteenth place finish, 20 points above the drop zone and
a place in the last 8 of the FA Vase represented progress. However, Bowey left
the club at the end of the season, resulting in Paddy Atkinson and Neil Saxton
assuming control. This will be an interesting season for the Walkergate Brazilians
who will be seeking to establish themselves as the top club in the region
again.
Perhaps
one of the most intriguing factors for Benfield is the chance to reacquaint
themselves with near neighbours West Allotment Celtic in what has come to be
known as the Coach Lane Classico. Allotment, courtesy of a well-honed 4-5-1
system and a series of immaculate performances by goalscoring midfielder Sean
Reid, put together a stirring set of results at precisely the right time in the
spring and finished (distant) runners-up to North Shields, in order to reclaim
a place in the top flight. A popular, traditional club with a great committee
and a tradition of playing excellent football, Paul Stoneman’s side will be
looking to cement their place in Division 1 and they should have enough quality
to manage this feat without difficulty.
In
Division 2, newly relegated Team Northumbria will need to regroup quickly, if
they are to provide a realistic challenge for promotion. It was something of a
shock that a side renowned for excellent passing football on their billiard
table pitch at Coach Lane could end up apologetically falling out of the top
flight. Now, having seen chief striker Peter Watling and midfield artiste Ben
Sayers leave the club, it may be difficult for them to challenge the pre-season
favourites Seaham Red Star, Washington and Ryhope CW at the business end of the
table.
The same
will probably be true for Heaton Stannington, who will do tremendously well to
replicate last season’s 5th place finish. Having adjusted well to
life in the Northern League, after finally complying with ground grading
requirements related to floodlights and seating, it will be interesting to see
if their previously one dimensional approach, that saw all play channelled
through departed goal machine Jonathan Wright, will prove as effective as last
year without the contribution of Wright, or whether sides will be wise to The
Stan’s style of play. All in all, it promises to be yet another fascinating
season in the Northern League. Why on earth would you choose to watch any other
kind of football? Unless it’s the Northern Alliance of course.
During
2013/2014, three clubs dropped out of the Northern Alliance; Wallsend Town were
expelled from the Premier Division for a series of serious disciplinary
transgressions that left the management committee with no option other than to
call an EGM to vote on the side’s continued presence in the league. Expulsion
was confirmed and Wallsend Town will be competing in the Durham Alliance, a
notional feeder for the Wearside League, in 2014/2015. Also leaving the
Alliance in 2013/2014 were Chopwell who, having thrown in the towel in 2011,
regrouped in the Tyneside Amateur League, one of the Alliance’s 3 notional
feeders (the others being the geographically disparate North Northumberland
League and vaguely alma mater-ish Newcastle
University graduate influenced Corinthian League)before being accepted back in
the Alliance in 2013. Sadly they lasted barely half a season before resigning
again. The other side to resign were First Division Forest Hall, citing a lack
of players and committee members.
Happily, in preparation for the big kick off
on August 9th, the Alliance is back up to its full complement of 48
clubs for 2014/2015. This follows the admission of Lindisfarne Custom Planet,
based around the Wallsend Workingmen’s club of that name and playing at the
Rising Sun Sports Ground rather than on Holy Island, Shilbottle from the North
Northumberland League and the renaissance of Forest Hall.
To
accommodate such changes, only Percy Main Amateurs have been relegated from the
top division, being replaced by North Shields Athletic, who will be playing on
the astroturf 4G pitch at John Spence High School as it has the requisite
permanent rail round the pitch needed for Alliance Premier Division and
Gateshead Redheugh 1957, or Whickham Sports Club as they are now known, whose
home is the impressive and continually improving Eslington Park. The favourites
for the title must be champions Blyth Town, whose stated aim is to upgrade
their South Newsham base, the only ground I’ve not visited in the top flight,
to Northern League standards. However, Killingworth Station, based at West
Moor, who give you a free programme and hot drink at half time in return for
your £1.50 entry fee, will also be fancied to do well. Whitley Bay A, who play
at Hillheads, Red House Farm from Gosforth and the Cumbrian challenge from
Carlisle City and Northbank will also be dark horses. That said, it is worth
visiting any Alliance ground for the sheer honest of endeavour to be seen on
the park; certainly Rutherford, formed in 1878, who play at Lobley Hill and
Wallington, in existence since 1877, at the impossibly scenic Oakford Park in
Scots Gap, should be on any serious football enthusiast’s must-see list, as
will Wheatfield Park, home to Seaton Delaval Amateurs.
In
Division 1, things are less clear cut. Percy Main will fancy a quick return to
the top flight, but newly promoted Wallsend Boys Club, Blyth Isabella, another
ground I’ve not been to, and Northumberland Minor Cup winners AFC Newbiggin
will aim to hit the ground running. Both Cramlington Town and Newcastle
Chemfica looked set to win promotion last season, before running out of steam
with the pressure of 2 or more games a week when the light nights came (no
floodlights and no midweek winter games in the Alliance) and will aim to
improve this time around, as will the impressively organised Birtley St.
Joseph’s, now calling Wrekenton Blue Star their home ground. Grounds well worth
a visit in this division include Benson Park in leafy NE3, home to Gosforth
Bohemians, Newcastle University’s charming Cochrane Park and the maritime
splendour of Links Avenue, Cullercoats. My aim is to get up to see Wooler play
and complete my set for Division 1.
In
Division 2, relegated Willington Quay Saints will play on the adjoining pitch
at the Rising Sun to Lindisfarne Custom Planet. Favourites for the division
must be Longbenton, playing at the Oxford Centre, who only lost out on
promotion in their final game. I’m intending to spend a bit of time watching
Alliance Division 2 games, as I need to visit Leam Rangers, who also have a
side in the Wearside League at the same step in the pyramid, Whitburn Athletic,
Grainger Park and Shilbottle (without a marker pen I hasten to add) to complete
my set. One place worth visiting is High Howdon’s home at Walker School, where
the 4G pitch is the best synthetic surface I’ve ever seen; keep this in mind
for wintry weather when parks pitches are closed by the council.
If the
Northern League is too glamorous for your tastes, dip your toe into the
Northern Alliance pool; you’ll not regret it.
In addition to "Northern Promise," I penned an article about Whitley Bay for the Bridlington Town programme for the FA Cup game on Saturday 16th. I wasn't there, being up in Glasgow, where the appropriately named restaurant above is located. I will be blogging about Clydebank v Yoker Athletic soon, but before then, here's my bit on the Seahorses -:
I’d like to think I got ahead of the game in terms of being sickened by the Premier League and the malign influence of Sky as I started watching non-league football in the north east well over 20 years ago now. Since 2009 I’ve actively been involved and attached with a few different clubs after taking my enjoyment of the grassroots game to a higher level; between 2009 and 2013 I was Assistant Secretary at Percy Main Amateurs in the Northern Alliance, two steps below where Whitley Bay are, then last season I edited the programme and acted as press officer for Heaton Stannington in their debut season in the Northern League second division, before moving on for this campaign to the same role at Newcastle Benfield, who have been Whitley Bay’s main rivals for the distinction of being the top Northern League Division 1 side north of the Tyne.
During that time, I’ve found that while Northern Alliance games are regularly accompanied by oath-edged imprecations of violence, swivel-eyed death threats and the kind of physical intimidation more suited to a taxi rank at closing time on Christmas Eve, though the full time whistle sees a defined end to hostilities amid handshakes, smiles and the promise of pints in the bar afterwards, it is undeniable that the Northern League is a far more insidious environment. Whispers, innuendo, on-line bitching and behind closed doors politicking is the way of this particular world, occasioning bizarre and unlikely truces, pacts, alliances and blocs, with pronounced differences between the actual and cyber conduct and comments of fools with nothing better to do than invent conspiracy theories.
One club, other than Benfield of course, stands well above this snide milieu; Whitley Bay are uniformly admired, respected and liked by followers of the local non-league game in the Tyneside area, which is truly astonishing considering they have the biggest crowds, best ground and have had unrivalled recent national success. You don’t win 4 FA Vases without picking up a few admirers on the way. What Bay offered was stability (manager Ian Chandler was in charge for a decade until leaving for Durham last season) and a great ground, with terracing on all sides, including cover on two in impressive stands. There’s also the small matter of goal machine Paul Chow, who scored the quickest ever goal at Wembley in the 2011 Vase final. Truly, Whitley Bay, despite being formed as recently as 1966, are the closest to a dynastic, establishment club north of the Tyne; second only to the venerable Blyth Spartans in terms of tradition and atmosphere.
While it must be admitted that a proportion of the increased Bay support has come directly from the ranks of disgusted and disenfranchised Newcastle United supporters (Bay’s 2009 FA Vase win coincided with Newcastle’s relegation from the Premier League for instance) and that Bay are clearly the club of choice for non-natives who’ve settled in the region and have picked up on the importance of local football, despite Heaton Stan’s bizarre ability to attract over a dozen die-hard Scottish ex-pat followers, Whitley Bay are the highest profile non-league club in the Newcastle area with a solid, loyal and unwavering local support. Not that it is anything to encourage, but they have a gang of replica shirted zealots who stand behind the goal and sing at games. They are unstinting in their devotion to manager Leon Ryan and his players, including impressive new striking option Peter Watling from relegated Team Northumbria.
The only cloud on Bay’s horizon is the renaissance of local rivals North Shields, managed by former Blackburn, Villa and West Brom striker Graham Fenton, who stormed to the Northern League Division 2 title last season, watched by average crowds almost the size of Bay’s. The impending power struggle between The Seahorses and The Robins promises to be a fascinating one; let’s hope the Benfield Lions are also have something to say as the season draws on.
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