Northern Lights

Stockton Town  2  Sunderland RCA  0

Northern League – Division One

It is without doubt, to my own detriment, that I haven’t watched enough football in the North East.

Yes, the league clubs have all been done, the new and the old at Middlesbrough and Sunderland, the Step 1-4 stuff (minus Dunston but that’s another story), but I have to be honest, the Northern League has been relatively uncharted territory.

When you look at it pragmatically though, there is no reason why I haven’t ventured up more often. 

Firstly, it’s not as far away as you might think, secondly, the top tier is comfortably the best Step 5 league on the isle bar none, the Vase results confirm that, thirdly, the grounds are great and the support excellent, and finally, the welcome is so very friendly.

This season though, circumstance has forced my hand a little, for the better. You see, an extra division is dropping in at Step 4, so all three of the Northern Step 5 leagues are promoting three clubs each. So, by definition, I’ve got my eye on the Northern League to see who might be moving into the Northern Premier League next season.

Hebburn Town are splashing the cash and were pre-season favourites, while also in the mix as we stand are Consett, Shildon and Newton Aycliffe. However, the best record of the lot, and victors over Hebburn only a week earlier are Stockton Town, the FA Vase finalists from two seasons ago, a club very much on the up, and with a midweek game on the plastic, it was from my own point of view, a no brainer!

I did a quick Google Map exercise when I saw the fixture and noted  I could get home in just less than two hours, so that made my mind up, it was happening and it was happening very soon.

The journey to Stockton is dead easy, take the A1 and the A19, and then depending on the traffic you can either carry straight on to the A66 Darlington Road and enter Stockton that way, or, as I did, turn off a bit earlier and travel up through the pretty town that is Yarm. Those of us of a certain age will remember listening to Dance Anthems on Radio One and hearing about the nights at ‘Tall Trees’ in Yarm, when the likes of Judge Jules, Pete Tong and Tall Paul would be on the decks.

I timed my journey North to perfection, but without prior knowledge, the home of Stockton Town is not that easy to locate. I mean, you can see it, it sits on the junction of two roads, but access is via a Sixth Form Centre, and unless you know that, then like me, you run the danger of sailing straight past it!

You park in the large educational establishment car park, and it’s in front of you that you spot the clubhouse, which looks very much like a room in the school sports centre that has been converted for that purpose. But, it was a good idea, because it’s large, spacious and comfortable, and pre-match it got busy, crowds are up at Stockton, they average around the 400 mark.

Stockton Town as a club are not that old. They are only around thirty years in existence, and found senior football when they joined the Wearside League from the Teeside League in 2010. They won it four seasons on the bounce from 2013 to 2017 and made the move to the Northern League.

The Second Division of the Northern League was won at the first attempt, but the clubs start to their First Division campaign in the 2017-18 season was a disaster with nine straight defeats. That said, they did finally finish sixth and get to Wembley, only to lose to Thatcham Town in the Vase Final.

This season it’s looking very good, a win against tonight's visitors Sunderland RCA would take them top.

Football in Stockton isn’t all about Stockton Town though. Stockton FC were a huge name in North East football, with FA Amateur Cup glory, FA Cup runs, and a Northern League side from 1985 after the club re-formed, they were massive in their day. However, in 1999 they became the club that is now Thornaby and re-located to the town. It was time for someone else to pick up the mantle.

The ground is very easy to describe. Located in the confines of the college, it’s surrounded by a tall caged fence, with access to all four sides of the pitch. On the West side is a seated stand with a small covered terrace next to it. The dressing rooms and a the tea bar form part of a portakabin style building that also sits towards the bottom end of this side of the ground. Otherwise it’s hard standing all the way round, and of course, the reason I had no fears  going up on a December night, an artificial pitch.

I have to say the club were incredibly friendly. From the moment I walked in the club officials were happy to chat, and talk about what this season may bring in Northern League circles. Let’s get this very clear, doubts have arisen in the past about Northern League sides actually wanting promotion, well trust me, Stockton Town absolutely definitely want to go up!

The crowd on a cold night was just over 300, but looking in the programme it was incredible to see some of the average crowds of the teams. The divisional average would be way over every Step 4 league in the Country. Stockton and Consett get over 400, Whitley Bay, Bishop Auckland, North Shields, Guisborough and Hebburn get over 300, while very few get under 200 through the gates. It’s incredible really, but a real testament to the strength and the quality of the Northern League.

The football, well I have to say at the top end, from what I’ve seen, the standard is easily Step 4, and this was very much the case tonight. Stockton have, and will play better this season, but a goal in each half was enough to give them the three points and leapfrog Hebburn.

Nathan Mulligan opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Jordan Robinson netted with a header against a resolute and well organised outfit from Wearside, but it was the clubs fifth straight win, and as we stand, no one would bet against them getting one of the three promotion spots.

What a great club though, it just felt right from where I was looking in at them. They appear organised, efficient, well supported, tight and welcoming. I genuinely liked what I saw and enjoyed what I experienced. I wish them well for the future and I hope they get a Northern League / Vase double this season! In some ways they reminded me a little of South Shields, on a much smaller scale I might add, and look what’s happening with them?

The Northern League and clubs like Stockton Town, it really sums up what non-league football is all about.