Northern Football League#Division One

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.

File:Division of Level 9 teams by English Counties (2022–23).svg

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/north-east-sport/football/non-league-football/2008/08/08/league-s-new-name-84229-21491860/|publisher=Evening Gazette|title=League's new name|author=Anthony Vickers|access-date=8 August 2008|date=8 August 2008}} The league is currently sponsored by dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac.{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/north-east-non-league-football/2012/06/03/the-northern-league-has-a-new-sponsor-county-durham-based-dehumidifier-manufacturer-ebac-ltd-79310-31101591/|publisher=Sunday Sun|title=The Northern League has a new sponsor – County Durham-based dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac Ltd.|author=Steve Brown|access-date=3 June 2012|date=4 June 2012}}

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).

{{location map+ |North East England |float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of the Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne & Wear clubs in the Northern League by division
8px – First Division 8px – Second Division |places=

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.638206 |long=-1.693507 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Bishop Auckland |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.7146 |long=-1.7512 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Crook Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.9990 |long=-1.5905 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Heaton Stannington |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.991871 |long=-1.558805 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Newcastle Benfield |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=55.0053 |long=-1.4591 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=North Shields |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.843458 |long=-1.363943 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Seaham Red Star |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.6338 |long=-1.6506 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Shildon |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.867309 |long=-1.368359 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Sunderland Ryhope Community Association |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.7471 |long=-1.8186 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Tow Law Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=55.009791 |long=-1.563731 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=West Allotment Celtic |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.629214 |long=-1.719579 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=West Auckland Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.9437 |long=-1.6802 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Whickham |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=55.034737 |long=-1.454616 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Whitley Bay |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |float=right |lat=55.1306 |long=-1.5865 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Bedlington Terriers |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.5997 |long=-1.2818 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Billingham Synthonia |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.6022 |long=-1.2857 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Billingham Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.887872 |long=-1.580698 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg

|label=Birtley Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=55.1058 |long=-1.5197 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Blyth Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.95064 |long=-1.460392 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Boldon Community Association |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.7565 |long=-1.6287 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Brandon United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.83592 |long=-1.586802 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Chester-le-Street Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.847922 |long=-1.560239 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Chester-le-Street United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.7888 |long=-1.5422 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Durham City |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.7844 |long=-1.3283 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Easington Colliery |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.7624 |long=-1.7209 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Esh Winning |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.698513 |long=-1.231609 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=FC Hartlepool |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.764411 |long=-1.317206 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Horden CW |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.965127 |long=-1.497119 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Jarrow |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.975086 |long=-1.694126 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Newcastle Blue Star |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.966739 |long=-1.83355 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Newcastle University and Prudhoe Youth Club |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.9708 |long=-1.7938 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Ryton & Crawcrook Albion |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.9080 |long=-1.4382 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Sunderland West End |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |North East England |lat=54.928523 |long=-1.518499 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg

|label=Washington |label_size=0}}

}}

{{location map+ |Yorkshire and the Humber|float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of the North Yorkshire clubs in the Northern League |places=

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber|lat=54.788778 |long=-1.542158 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Boro Rangers |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber|lat=54.538289 |long=-1.064265 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Guisborough Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber |lat=54.3277 |long=-1.4540 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Northallerton Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber |lat=54.602875 |long=-1.038874 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Redcar Athletic |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber |lat=54.610608 |long=-1.090661 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Redcar Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber |lat=54.5527 |long=-1.2821 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Thornaby |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Yorkshire and the Humber |lat=54.4962 |long=-1.3501 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Yarm & Eaglescliffe |label_size=0}}

}}

{{location map+ |AlternativeMap=Cumbria UK district map 2023 (blank).svg|float=right |width=350 |caption=Location of the Cumbria clubs in the Northern League |places=

{{location map~ |Cumbria|lat=54.657735 |long=-2.714011 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Penrith |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |Cumbria|lat=54.877179 |long=-2.916027 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label=Carlisle City |label_size=0}}

}}

+ indicates ground share

File:IronopolisFC.jpg

Originally the league comprised a single division. The champions were as follows:{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engnorthernleaghist.html|title=England – Northern League|access-date=2 July 2008|website=RSSSF|date=7 February 2007}}

In 1897, the league briefly split into two divisions.{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/HOWDENLW.HTM|title=HOWDEN-LE-WEAR|publisher=Football Club History Database|access-date=7 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/STOCKTSJ.HTM|title=STOCKTON ST JOHN'S|publisher=Football Club History Database|access-date=7 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/WHITBY.HTM|title=WHITBY|publisher=Football Club History Database|access-date=7 September 2012}}

In 1900, the league reverted to a single division.

In 1905 the league split into two sections, one for professionals and one for amateurs. This lasted for a single season.

In 1906 the league reverted to a single division, a format retained until 1982.

In 1982 the league added a second division.

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

• gg = Golden goal

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.northernfootballleague.org/ Official website]

{{Northern League (football)}}

{{Football in England table cells}}

Category:Northern England

Category:1889 establishments in England

9

Category:Sports leagues established in 1889