# 1996–97 Northern Football League

The 1996–97 Northern Football League season was the 99th in the history of Northern Football League, a football competition in England.

## Division One

Division One featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs, promoted from Division Two:
* Easington Colliery
* Morpeth Town
* South Shields

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Whitby Town | 38 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 131 | 37 | +94 | 99 | Promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One |
| 2 | Billingham Synthonia | 38 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 109 | 46 | +63 | 90 | |
| 3 | Bedlington Terriers | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 113 | 37 | +76 | 86 | |
| 4 | Durham City | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 69 | 50 | +19 | 68 | |
| 5 | Crook Town | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 88 | 56 | +32 | 66 | |
| 6 | Morpeth Town | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 73 | 56 | +17 | 66 | |
| 7 | Guisborough Town | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 68 | 54 | +14 | 60 | |
| 8 | Tow Law Town | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 76 | 70 | +6 | 53 | |
| 9 | South Shields | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 52 | 63 | −11 | 50 | |
| 10 | Murton | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 58 | 80 | −22 | 50 | |
| 11 | Consett | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 65 | 59 | +6 | 47 | |
| 12 | Dunston Federation Brewery | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 64 | 70 | −6 | 46 | |
| 13 | Shildon | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 72 | 86 | −14 | 46 | |
| 14 | Easington Colliery | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 56 | 72 | −16 | 44 | |
| 15 | RTM Newcastle | 38 | 13 | 3 | 22 | 66 | 87 | −21 | 42 | |
| 16 | Seaham Red Star | 38 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 50 | 83 | −33 | 35 | |
| 17 | Stockton | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 70 | 105 | −35 | 34 | |
| 18 | Chester-le-Street Town | 38 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 53 | 86 | −33 | 33 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 19 | Whickham | 38 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 38 | 98 | −60 | 21 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 20 | West Auckland Town | 38 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 41 | 117 | −76 | 21 | Relegated to Division Two |
* ↑ Bedlington Terriers were deducted three points.

## Division Two

Division Two featured 16 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs.
* Clubs relegated from Division One:
** Eppleton Colliery Welfare
** Ferryhill Athletic
** Peterlee Newtown
* Plus:
** Jarrow Roofing BCA, joined from the Wearside Football League

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Northallerton Town | 36 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 98 | 41 | +57 | 81 | Promoted to Division One |
| 2 | Billingham Town | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 111 | 39 | +72 | 75 | Promoted to Division One |
| 3 | Jarrow Roofing BCA | 36 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 88 | 34 | +54 | 75 | Promoted to Division One |
| 4 | Ashington | 36 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 71 | 38 | +33 | 71 | |
| 5 | Evenwood Town | 36 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 84 | 46 | +38 | 67 | |
| 6 | Horden Colliery Welfare | 36 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 67 | 37 | +30 | 64 | |
| 7 | Prudhoe Town | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 73 | 48 | +25 | 64 | |
| 8 | Shotton Comrades | 36 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 91 | 43 | +48 | 63 | |
| 9 | Willington | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 78 | 54 | +24 | 61 | |
| 10 | Peterlee Newtown | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 56 | |
| 11 | Hebburn | 36 | 16 | 3 | 17 | 66 | 61 | +5 | 51 | |
| 12 | Ryhope Community | 36 | 12 | 5 | 19 | 50 | 70 | −20 | 41 | |
| 13 | Norton & Stockton Ancients | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 37 | |
| 14 | Brandon United | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 64 | 76 | −12 | 37 | |
| 15 | Alnwick Town | 36 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 55 | 79 | −24 | 34 | |
| 16 | Eppleton Colliery Welfare | 36 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 44 | 110 | −66 | 25 | |
| 17 | Washington | 36 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 43 | 79 | −36 | 22 | |
| 18 | Esh Winning | 36 | 7 | 3 | 26 | 44 | 100 | −56 | 21 | |
| 19 | Ferryhill Athletic | 36 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 16 | 177 | −161 | 5 | Relegated to the Wearside Football League |
| 20 | Darlington Cleveland Social | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Club folded, record expunged |
* ↑ Billingham Town were deducted three points.
* ↑ Horden Colliery Welfare were deducted three points.
* ↑ Shotton Comrades were deducted three points.
* ↑ Norton & Stockton Ancients were deducted three points.
* ↑ Alnwick Town were deducted three points.
* ↑ Washington were deducted three points.
* ↑ Esh Winning were deducted three points.