Speaking personally, I’m delighted that the Tyneside Amateur
League has decided to visit us here at Percy Main for both the Tyneside amateur
Shield and Selcray Bowl finals, as not only do I get the chance to watch
football right up until the end of May (though I’ve trips to Ireland, for
Shamrock Rovers versus Cork City and Scotland, for Shotts Bon Accord versus an
opposition yet to be determined, planned for June to keep my interest in the
beautiful game at the required level of unhealthy obsession), but also because
I’m keen to see more Tyneside Amateur games. The only experience I’ve had of
this League was High Howdon 2 West Jesmond 11, on the Astroturf at Churchill
School back in February, when a hard frost put paid to every other game in the
area. Despite the arctic temperatures, I enjoyed the goalfest immensely and, to
return the favour for his company that day, I’ve agreed to pen a few words
about the Northern Alliance for your esteemed editor and Tyneside Amateur
League Press Officer Paul Mosley.
My interest in the Alliance is predominantly related to my
club Percy Main Amateurs, about whom I published a book entitled “Village
Voice” (copies available from me for £5 or email me at iancusack@blueyonder.co.uk for
details) and for whom I act as Assistant Secretary and canteen operative,
though I’m writing this article in a personal capacity. However, I am
passionate about the quality and integrity of the Northern Alliance, preferring
it to all other versions of football I see on a regular basis, which also
includes at least a dozen games a season at St. James’ Park. Consequently I’ll
do anything I can to praise the competition to outsiders.
I may be naïve in this next statement, but my assumption is
that all teams and players wish to test themselves by competing at the highest
possible level. This means that sides in the Corinthian, North Northumberland
and Tyneside Amateur may ultimately wish to progress in to the Alliance, which
is why there have been 9 applicants for next season. The ideal capacity of the
Alliance is seen as being 48 clubs in 3 divisions; in 2011/2012, there were 43
clubs as season’s end, in a slightly unwieldy and imbalanced 16-11-16 split. Of
those 43 clubs, 2 have resigned and are presumably about to enter the Wearside
League, namely Murton who finished bottom of the Premier Division and Harton
& Westoe, who finished 4th in Division 2. This would suggest
there are 7 vacancies and that a large number of clubs will be promoted from
Division 2 to bring a seriously under populated Division 1 that lost Berwick
United, Newcastle East End, Stobswood and Wark to oblivion and Peterlee to the
Wearside League back to full strength. However, all such speculation will be
answered in due course at the Alliance AGM and so it seems more fitting to
concentrate on the season just ending rather than idly muse over the future
composition of the league.
The Champions of the Premier Division, by 3 points over
Hebburn Reyrolle, were Heaton Stannington, who deservedly brought the title to
Grounsell Park after a season of glorious attacking football. Hopefully the
championship will make up for their disappointment at losing the Challenge
(Divisional) Cup on penalties to Whitley Bay A after a thrilling 2-2 draw on May
Day Monday at Amberley Park in Killingworth. At the same time, Hebburn
Reyrolle’s title chances ended when Percy Main visited the South Tyneside
outfit and beat them 2-1 at home, in a fully merited victory. This was Percy
Main’s best result of a season that ended encouragingly, though we will hope to
push on from 10th spot next year.
Other Premier Division winners included Seaton Delaval
Amateurs, who capped a fine first season under Mick Jeffels by overcoming
Ashington Colliers 3-1 in the George Dobbins League Cup at Bedlington Terriers’
Doctor Pit Welfare Park. Finally Killingworth YPC captured the Northumberland
FA Senior Benevolent Bowl with a victory over Prudhoe Town of the Wearside
League on penalties after 120 scintillating minutes of ebb and flow football.
This result, welcome though it was, does not finally settle the argument as to
which league is the stronger, as Prudhoe had cruised past Stocksfield and then
Heaton Stannington, both by the decidedly one-sided margin of 4-0, to get to
the final.
Division 1 belonged to Amble United. Despite the shortfall
in members, the Northumberland side were a credit to the competition and deservedly
won the treble, finishing 6 points above Wallsend Town in second and 11 points
clear of third placed Wallington. In addition, Amble won the Combination
(Divisional) Cup by defeating Wallsend Town 1-0 in the final at Woodhorn Lane,
ashington and the Subsidiary Cup, with a 4-2 victory over a spirited Newcastle
University side here at Purvis Park, in a game that went to extra time.
Amazingly Amble could have been the first side to go through a Northern
Alliance season undefeated in the 123 years of the competition’s existence, but
missed out on this by losing 2-0 at home in their final game to mid-table
Heddon. The other winners of silverware were Wallington, who thumped Chemfica
6-2 in the Northumberland FA Minor Cup at Blue Flames, on an absolutely
freezing Friday night in the middle of May.
Hexham were Division 2 champions. The side from the
Wentworth Stadium overcame long term front runners Red House Farm by winning
their games in hand at the end of the season. As has already been pointed out,
a lack of teams in the division above as well as the imminent departure of
Harton & Westoe means that several other second division sides could be
sweating on promotion; Carlisle Northbank in third, Bedlington Terriers in
fifth and sixth placed Whickham Lang Jacks are all on amber alert for
unexpected elevation.
Also in Division 2, Whickham Lang Jacks won the Amateur
(Divisional) Cup 2-1 against Willington Quay Saints at Derwenthaugh Park in
Swalwell, after the first game had been abandoned with the scoreline level
after an injury to a Willington player. One final piece of silverware was the
Bill Gardner Memorial Trophy, which was won by Wallsend Town, 2-0 over
Bedlington Terriers Reserves at Seaton Delaval on Easter Monday.
So, it seems that the season was a good one, with 9 sides
winning trophies. Obviously the sides of the season were Heaton Stannington and
Amble United, but even poor old Cramlington United, who finished bottom of
Division 2 with a paltry 5 points, contributed plenty to the football
competition I value above all others. If your team is to join the Alliance,
remember the history and treat acceptance as an honour!!
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