NE Non-League Review 2024-25
Our fate might still to be decided, but across the region another non-league season is in the can. Scott takes us through the up and downs, and everything in between.
The final whistles have all went on the non league season 2024-25 and just like at a Madonna or Guns ‘n’ Roses concert, I've kept you all waiting. But here we go in a blaze of ‘Borderline’ or ‘Welcome to the Jungle’. This is the definitive guide to who eventually did what from Tees to Tweed.
To be honest it's been a very frustrating year. Most of the higher ranked teams fell short of expectations but it was still some season. Anything where you could win a box of veg in a half time raffle (hello Brighouse) is amazing and worth talking about.
The highlight of the season had to be the SPENNYMOOR run to Wembley for the FA Trophy final. Out of nowhere and beyond the gaze of North East media, they went to London and won twice, before beating three teams from higher leagues and the incredible penalty shoot out win at Rochdale will probably live forever for the Moors fans. This put them up against higher ranked Aldershot at Wembley and it didn't go as planned. They missed a decent first half chance but three second half goals overpowered them in front of 30,000 people. Not a bad end to the season and another highlight in a last twenty years jam packed with them.
In the NATIONAL LEAGUE, GATESHEAD completely lost the plot post Christmas and missed out on even a play off place in the end. A mixture of awful injuries, loss of form and selling Oseni and Whelan in January saw the Tynesiders go from possibly going top on New Year's day to having to beat Southend to get in the play offs. They didn't and since the York game on NYD, Carl Magnay’s team won only six out of twenty games and Magnay looked lost near the end.
Just when you thought they would have had time to lick that particular wound, captain Gerg Olley launched into a tirade at the state of the club, a potential takeover led by ex-mackem Victor Anichebe fell through and then the club’s major benefactor left the club, leaving Gateshead in a perilous state, leaving yet another worrying summer for the club’s supporters. Nothing is ever easy for this lot.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED underperformed throughout the season to finish in mid-table but a decent end to the season saw them finish in 11th. They finished only eight points off the play offs, but also eight from relegation after a season in which they flirted with both, but the relationship with either was consciously uncoupled.
Darren Sarll started the season as boss but that was a terrible appointment and had Pools facing downwards. Lennie Lawrence steadied the ship in his late 70’s but he moved back upstairs and a third manager Anthony Limbrick took over in February.
To be fair he did ok after a poor start, with only two defeats in eight but the situation in the boardroom remains perilous after Rav Singh put the club up for sale and exited the building.
They started the season in a flux and that very much remains the case.
In the NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH, Spennymoor’s Trophy exploits overshadowed a lot and this included a fantastic late season run which almost grabbed them a playoff spot.
After far too many draws before February, they lost only one in the last nine and at 3:30pm on the last day, they were in the playoffs. However other teams gathered themselves and the pre-game order was restored and Moors were rueing those dropped points. You can't complain at this season though, it's been one of their best despite leaving empty handed.
For DARLINGTON it was a season of consolidation but after being in and around the playoffs for large chunks of the season, it was a bit of a disappointment to see the Quakers finish in 11th, eight points off the season extension. After last season's fight against relegation, the green shoots are there, but consistent goals were a problem, as were a chunky 15 draws.
If they were a school report, Darlington would be ‘Good. But can get distracted’.
SOUTH SHIELDS had a poor season. One of the pre-season dark horses for the title, it was a massive underachievement to see Shields finish only four places off the relegation zone.
Earlier in the season they looked set for the play offs after seemingly gathering themselves, but it was away from home which dragged them down, winning only four out of twenty on the road and the season unravelled post March with no wins in the last nine. Last week manager Elliott Dickman was relieved of his duties and quite a few players were released.
A summer of change on the cards at Mariners Park.
In the LOWLAND LEAGUE, BERWICK RANGERS can breathe a huge sigh of relief and the supporters can do the same. It's ok, they came out unscathed. Rangers took 11 points from the first five games but as those summer matches turned to Winter, they conceded goals for fun and by the New Year they were second bottom having picked up just another 11 points since those early highs.Kevin Haynes came in as manager and stopped the goals flying in, but they still didn't win much and finished third bottom, only two points off relegation to the East of Scotland League.
To sum things up, they lost a cup Semi Final to lower league Dunbar as well - the team Haynes left to join Berwick. A season to completely forget.
In the NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, what an end to the season for STOCKTON TOWN. (Take a deep breath).
First season up don't forget, Stockton had an incredible season finishing third in the table after losing only one of their last nine games. This brought a home play off tie with Guiseley, which they won 1-0. Adam Nicholson was sent off in the last league game, but the club thought he was allowed to play in the play off. However the FA and NPL saw things differently and Stockton were charged with playing an ineligible player and after much grinding of teeth and in the early hours of a bank holiday,
They were told they were kicked out of the playoffs. It was a huge kick in the balls after a season beyond wildest dreams which also included beating Oldham in the Trophy.
For BLYTH SPARTANS, the season has been a disaster from start to finish.
Apart from the headline departure of their fantasist chairman and near extinction here's a few more stats. Rock bottom (more than 30 points from safety). 100 goals conceded. 30 games lost. Failed to reach 20 points for only the third time ever, 55 players used, four clean sheets and Nobby Solano. I think for all Spartan persuasion, I will leave it there.
Insert Simpsons ‘Stop he's already dead’ meme right here.
HEBBURN would have probably taken survival at the start of the season, but it will be bittersweet for the South Tynesiders after what has been a strange season. They finished 14th with 51 points which is ok for the first season up, but after they beat Workington on New Year’s Day they had 38 points and were second but between NYD and 19 April, they won only once and it actually got to the point where they needed a win from their penultimate game to secure safety. A win and a draw eased any thoughts of that, but yes, like the rest of them it's been up and down.
MORPETH TOWN were in mid-table for most of the season but a great end to the year saw them finish eighth for their highest ever position. Town only lost once (to runaway champions Macclesfield) in their last 13 games and this new found miserly defending also coincided with a real upturn from home which has been a massive achilles heel in the past. They also reached a Northumberland senior cup final but lost on pens to Heaton Stannington. Not as many headlines as the other clubs but very satisfying.
The NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE EAST had more plot twists than a new Sky Atlantic series, especially at the bottom, but let's start at the top and it was more heartache for DUNSTON.
Remember last season when they lost in the play off final on pens to Stockton? Well, the same thing happened again as Stocksbridge Park Steels came up and shocked them to win on spot kicks. Dunston had finished as runners up in the season which meant they only had to win two home games to go up. They beat Emley in the semi, but failed to break down the Steels.
NEWTON AYCLIFFE were top scorers and at times unplayable, but missed out on the play offs on the last day for the second year running as they lost then drew the last two games after seemingly being set and even going to third late in the season. So much to enjoy from them though.
At the bottom, going into the last three games SEVEN teams were separated by three points and at various times HEATON STANNINGTON, CONSETT and ASHINGTON all looked in danger of the drop. However when the dust settled, all survived.
Stan actually finished 12th in the table after a superb run of six wins from eight games right at the end dragged them from what looked like a doomed position to a celebratory one. This was the club's highest ever finish, and things got even better when they won the Northumberland Senior cup for the very first time in front of over 3,000 at St James’ Park after beating Morpeth on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Everyone can afford to be very smug over in the East end.
Consett fans winced at a lot of games in 24/25 but just when they looked like going down, they would get a result (the shock win over Dunston on 12 April a case in point after four defeats from five) and when all is said and done, they look forward to a fourth year in a row in a very unforgiving and costly league.
Ashington’s season was a car crash but the away record (which was as good as a play off side) kept them up despite ten home defeats. The colliers changed manager in September and Nick Gray ultimately did his job despite incidents like three players actually giving up football it was that bad and Ashington having three different goalkeepers for one game in November. Three isn't the magic number.
BISHOP AUCKLAND were not great at home after Christmas but they mostly avoided the relegation pile up and finished comfortably in 11th, eight points off the fourth relegation spot. In their first season up that will more than do.
In the NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE,
REDCAR ATHLETIC were deserved champions. They spent big on players and wages and lived up to the odds on favourite tag despite the huge jolt in the winter of a loss of form and major backers pulling out. They accrued 94 points, scored 110 goals and won 29 games and although they were pushed all the way, they are worthy winners.
SHILDON were the team that pushed them all the way. The railwaymen got 88 points and won the DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP at Sunderland but still ended up gutted.
In the playoffs, BLYTH TOWN shocked them in the semi final at Shildon with a 2-1 win which ended their season. BORO RANGERS and 50 goal striker Stuart Rose finished third and matched up at home to BLUE STAR in the other semi final. Again, the higher ranked team lost out as Star won comprehensively, 3-0.
That set up Blue Star v Blyth in front of 2,151 on a Friday night in Scotswood. What could go wrong? Blyth equalised with a 90th minute penalty and it went all the way to pens which Blyth Town won 4-2 and gained promotion to the NPL East and in the same league as Spartans, which is unbelievable.
TOW LAW and SEAHAM RED STAR were relegated. EASINGTON shocked Shildon 3-1 to win the league cup and cap a decent season after promotion. NORTH SHIELDS and WHITLEY BAY finished just outside the play offs as did BENFIELD in seventh. WHICKHAM were lucky to stay up but did reach the DCC final.
In DIVISION TWO, after several near misses, HORDEN CW finally landed promotion and the title one point clear of YARM and EAGLESCLIFFE.
The Colliers always looked favourites but lost on the penultimate day to fourth bottom RCA and it looked like they might choke again. However they did the business on the last day and finally got there. Yarm won the second Division cup beating Horden 2-0 in the final but despite 95 points and scoring 101 goals, they lost in the play off semi to THORNABY, who finished 20 points behind. Thornaby then went on to beat third placed JARROW (who amassed 93 points) in the play off final on pens and won promotion. CHESTER LE STREET UTD also got in the playoffs before losing to Jarrow.
ALNWICK will be happy with a top ten place and RYTON and CRAWCROOK were seventh. Relegated were WASHINGTON (they only won 4 out of 42) and GRANGETOWN, though they might get a reprieve if as expected crisis club BEDLINGTON TERRIERS are demoted due to ground grading failures.
In the NORTHERN ALLIANCE PREMIER DIVISION, congratulations to BURRADON AND NEW FORDLEY who cruised to the title in the end. A tight three team race for most of the season saw them surge away at the end and win the league by 14 points, they also remained unbeaten. They won't be promoted though, that honour goes to NEWBIGGIN, who finished second but were the highest team to apply to go up.
The 1st division was won at a canter by HEBBURN reserves while WHITLEY BAY SPORTING and PRUDHOE YCS reserves won the other two championships respectively.
Phew. If you are still with me, you will agree that's been some season. It may not have been as successful as most would have liked but it certainly wasn't boring.
See you in a couple of months. Berwick start their season on 19 July.
Scott Robson
A whirlwind tour of a whirlwind season. Good work Scott!
Well done, Scott. Heart goes out to the Blyth Spartans fans. They deserve better.