New NPL East clubs and their history

The main protagonists came from the Cheshire League and the Lancashire Combination. However, the teams of the Midland League sought entry en bloc, together with Boston United from the West Midlands (Regional) League, whilst several semi-pro clubs applied from the North Regional League.

One of those North Eastern teams was Stockton - the Ancients. Their bid failed and having already shifted Leagues they continued to move Leagues until they finally folded in 1975. Move forward over 50 years and Stockton Town have now earned the town a place within the NPL East Division. Formed in 1979, the club had a phenomenal five season period where they won the Wearside League four years on the trot, scoring over 100 points and a century of goals each time. On moving up to the Northern League second Division the performance was almost repeated, but they ‘only’ gained 93 points with 111 goals as they lifted their fifth Championship in a row. This was followed by a Wembley runners-up appearance, to Thatcham Town, in the 2018 FA Vase Final. As the top Northern League team in the curtailed double season PPG list, with 2.48 PPG, they’ve now earned the right to move up yet again. The Anchors play in yellow and blue at Bishopton Road West, an 1800 capacity ground, just over 2km from the River Tees.

Another new club into the East Division went one better and won the delayed 2020 FA Vase final, beating Consett 3-2 in a deserted Wembley on 3rd May this year. The Hornets, so called thanks to their Black and Yellow strip, are home at the Hebburn Sports and Social Ground, roughly midway between Gateshead and South Shields. Formed in 1960 as Reyrolles, later Hebburn Reyrolles, then simply Hebburn, Town was appended from 2000. Initially playing in local leagues before moving up through the Wearside League and then into the Northern League in 1989. The Hornets achieved second spot in both 2018 and 2019, eventually gaining promotion with a second FA PPG table position (2.20 PPG) for the Northern League 1st Division.

Joining them in the NPL East are Shildon (2.07 PPG), who reformed in 1903 and won four consecutive Northern League titles after WWII. After 1940 they had to wait until 2016 to repeat the achievement. The Railwaymen play in all red, at Dean Street, with a 2,000 capacity and well known for its distinctive grandstand, erected in 1923. It lies just under 6km South-East of Bishop Auckland. Although well acknowledged FA Cup fighters, they reached their only FA Vase Semi-Final in 2013. Now, after 2,896 Northern League games the club goes into NPL East, the highest level at which the Shells have ever played.

On a couple of personal connections, as a young child my father took me to football matches around West Yorkshire. One vivid recollection is of a ground, sloping sideways down a hill, with woodland above it. I remember nothing else of the game or the teams playing, because I was just too young. My main memory was a pot-bellied stove in the dressing rooms after the game. I had no idea where it was until I visited a match over 40 years later so that I was able to identify that same ground thanks to my vague memories of how the now levelled ground looked and the pot-bellied stove, in what had now become Liversedge’s clubhouse, at the very same Clayborn ground. Reformed as a soccer club after the Northern Union (Rugby League) club folded in 1910, they played in local leagues and eventually became Founder Members of the NCEL, a league in which they stayed until a PPG of 2.39 gave them the promotion which they sought. Sedge play in blue on their 2,000 capacity Clayborn ground in Cleckheaton, 9km South-East of Bradford.

For so long the whipping boys of the NCEL, Yorkshire Amateur (2.22 PPG), a club my father played for after WWII, have gained promotion to the NPL East Division after several years of better performances. The club formed at the end of the Great War and play in white and navy. Originally at home at Elland Road, following the enforced disbanding of Leeds City, they moved out two years later after Leeds United’s formation. In 1922 the Ammers relocated to Bracken Edge, a little over 3km North-East of Central Leeds, where they still play today, currently with a 1550 capacity.

The final NCEL promoted club is Bridlington Town, welcomed back to the Northern Premier after 13 seasons away. Their PPG of 2.03 was enough to bring the Seasiders back into the fold. Their well-appointed Queensgate ground lies about 1km from the North Sea, and was also the home ground of the previous Bridlington Town (1918-1994), who graced the League for four seasons until folding, as well as Scarborough Athletic. Brid play in red and have recently erected a fine new clubhouse just in time for their ascent up the leagues.

The original Bridlington Town became defunct in 1994. This club had formed after WWI as Bridlington Central United; reforming and becoming Bridlington Town and joining the Yorkshire League in 1920. There they stayed until the League merged with the Midlands League to form the NCEL in 1982. In 1989-90 they won the Premier Division and gained promotion to the NPL. During that time, they became the only Northern Premier side to win the FA Vase, beating Tiverton Town 1-0; and also gained promotion to the Premier Division. However, financial turmoil, playing home games at Belle Vue, Doncaster (for legal reasons) and a next to bottom finish forced the club to fold at the end of the following season.

By Dom McKenzie