# Northern Football League

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.
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.
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 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. The league is currently sponsored by dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac.
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
### 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

Originally the league comprised a single division. The champions were as follows:
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
| Season | Professional | Amateur |
| 1905–06 | Sunderland A | Bishop Auckland |
In 1906 the league reverted to a single division, a format retained until 1982.
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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 | No champions; season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2020–21 | No champions; season abandoned due to lockdown regulations | 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 |

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