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The 2023–24 season was the 126th in the history of the Northern Football League, a football competition in England. The league operates two divisions in the English football league system, Division One at Step 5, and Division Two at Step 6.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 this season were announced by the Football Association on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the league's Division One (Step 5) promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from the division.[2]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bishop Auckland |
| Promoted | Bishop Auckland Heaton Stannington |
| Relegated | Sunderland RCA |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One featured 16 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs.[3]
- Promoted from Division Two:
- Demoted/relegated from the Northern Premier League:
Division One table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Auckland (C, P) | 38 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 133 | 32 | +101 | 100 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
| 2 | Shildon | 38 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 126 | 32 | +94 | 91 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Heaton Stannington (O, P) | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 76 | 42 | +34 | 78 | |
| 4 | Birtley Town | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 98 | 56 | +42 | 75 | |
| 5 | West Auckland Town | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 88 | 49 | +39 | 75 | |
| 6 | Guisborough Town | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 75 | 40 | +35 | 70[a] | |
| 7 | Boro Rangers | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 82 | 42 | +40 | 68 | |
| 8 | Carlisle City | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 73 | 81 | −8 | 60 | |
| 9 | West Allotment Celtic | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 85 | 53 | +32 | 59 | |
| 10 | Whitley Bay | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 71 | 76 | −5 | 57 | |
| 11 | Whickham | 38 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 73 | 68 | +5 | 54 | |
| 12 | Redcar Athletic | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 82 | 67 | +15 | 51 | |
| 13 | Crook Town | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 50 | 60 | −10 | 51 | |
| 14 | North Shields | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 55 | 63 | −8 | 44 | |
| 15 | Penrith | 38 | 13 | 2 | 23 | 82 | 89 | −7 | 41 | |
| 16 | Seaham Red Star | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 45 | 74 | −29 | 30 | |
| 17 | Newcastle Benfield | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 56 | 99 | −43 | 30[b] | |
| 18 | Northallerton Town | 38 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 39 | 106 | −67 | 21 | |
| 19 | Tow Law Town | 38 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 32 | 159 | −127 | 13 | |
| 20 | Sunderland RCA (R) | 38 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 28 | 161 | −133 | 5 | Relegation to Division Two |
Source: Northern League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Shildon | 0 | |||||||
| 5 | West Auckland Town | 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Heaton Stannington | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | West Auckland Town | 0 | |||||||
| 3 | Heaton Stannington | 1 | |||||||
| 4 | Birtley Town | 0 | |||||||
Semifinals
| 1 May | Shildon | 0–1 | West Auckland Town | Shildon |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Dean Street Attendance: 604 |
| 2 May | Heaton Stannington | 1–0 | Birtley Town | High Heaton |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Grounsell Park Attendance: 1,235 |
Final
| 6 May | Heaton Stannington | 3–0 | West Auckland Town | High Heaton |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Grounsell Park Attendance: 2,107 |
Stadia and locations
Location of Division One clubs
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Birtley Town | Birtley Sports Complex | |
| Bishop Auckland | Heritage Park | 1,950 |
| Boro Rangers | Stokesley Sports Club (groundshare with Stokesley Sports Club) | 2,000 |
| Carlisle City | Gillford Park | |
| Crook Town | The Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground | 1,500 |
| Guisborough Town | King George V Ground | |
| Heaton Stannington | Grounsell Park | |
| Newcastle Benfield | Sam Smith’s Park | 2,000 |
| North Shields | Ralph Gardner Park | 1,500 |
| Northallerton Town | Calvert Stadium | |
| Penrith | Frenchfield Stadium | 1,500 |
| Redcar Athletic | Green Lane | |
| Seaham Red Star | Seaham Town Park | |
| Shildon | Dean Street | 2,000 |
| Sunderland RCA | Meadow Park | 1,500 |
| Tow Law Town | Ironworks Road | 3,000 |
| West Allotment Celtic | East Palmersville Sports Pavilion | 1,500 |
| West Auckland Town | Darlington Road | 2,000 |
| Whickham | Glebe Sports Ground | 4,000 |
| Whitley Bay | Hillheads Park | 4,500 |
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Blyth Town |
| Promoted | Blyth Town Easington Colliery Newcastle Blue Star |
| Relegated | Brandon United |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division Two featured 18 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs:
- FC Hartlepool, promoted from the Wearside League
- Newcastle Blue Star, promoted from the Northern Alliance
- Thornaby, relegated from Division One
- Yarm & Eaglescliffe, promoted from the North Riding League
Division Two table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blyth Town (C, P) | 42 | 34 | 3 | 5 | 139 | 37 | +102 | 105 | Promotion to Division Two |
| 2 | Newcastle Blue Star (P) | 42 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 102 | 46 | +56 | 89 | Qualification for the play-offs, then promotion to Division One |
| 3 | Easington Colliery (O, P) | 42 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 97 | 49 | +48 | 83 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Bedlington Terriers | 42 | 24 | 5 | 13 | 81 | 54 | +27 | 77 | |
| 5 | Horden Community Welfare | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 76 | 58 | +18 | 74 | |
| 6 | Billingham Synthonia | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 105 | 62 | +43 | 73 | |
| 7 | Chester-le-Street Town | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 83 | 60 | +23 | 72 | |
| 8 | Yarm & Eaglescliffe | 42 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 79 | 70 | +9 | 71 | |
| 9 | Newcastle University | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 104 | 78 | +26 | 64 | |
| 10 | Esh Winning | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 61 | 69 | −8 | 64 | |
| 11 | Ryton & Crawcrook Albion | 42 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 99 | 68 | +31 | 62 | |
| 12 | Jarrow | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 80 | 72 | +8 | 62 | |
| 13 | Thornaby | 42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 61 | 57 | +4 | 61 | |
| 14 | FC Hartlepool | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 81 | 64 | +17 | 60[a] | |
| 15 | Prudhoe Youth Club | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 49 | |
| 16 | Boldon Community Association | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 62 | 91 | −29 | 46 | |
| 17 | Redcar Town | 42 | 14 | 4 | 24 | 57 | 90 | −33 | 46 | |
| 18 | Billingham Town | 42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 58 | 85 | −27 | 44 | |
| 19 | Chester-le-Street United | 42 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 50 | 79 | −29 | 42 | |
| 20 | Sunderland West End | 42 | 8 | 7 | 27 | 61 | 96 | −35 | 31 | |
| 21 | Washington | 42 | 6 | 2 | 34 | 43 | 149 | −106 | 20 | |
| 22 | Brandon United (R) | 42 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 30 | 175 | −145 | 7[b] | Relegation to the Wearside League |
Source: Northern League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Newcastle Blue Star | 2 | |||||||
| 5 | Horden Community Welfare | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Newcastle Blue Star | 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Easington Colliery | 2 | |||||||
| 3 | Easington Colliery | 4 | |||||||
| 4 | Bedlington Terriers | 0 | |||||||
Semifinals
| 3 May | Newcastle Blue Star | 2–1 | Horden Community Welfare | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 19:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Scotswood Attendance: 1,061 |
| 4 May | Easington Colliery | 4–0 | Bedlington Terriers | Easington |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Welfare Park Attendance: 310 |
Final
| 8 May | Newcastle Blue Star | 1-2 | Easington Colliery | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 19:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Scotswood Attendance: 1,771 |
Stadia and locations
Location of Division Two clubs
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Bedlington Terriers | Welfare Park | 3,000 |
| Billingham Synthonia | Stokesley Sports Club (groundshare with Stokesley Sports Club) | 2,000 |
| Billingham Town | Bedford Terrace | 3,000 |
| Blyth Town | South Newsham Playing Fields | |
| Boldon Community Association | Boldon Colliery Welfare | |
| Brandon United | Welfare Ground | |
| Chester-le-Street Town | Moor Park | |
| Chester-le-Street United | Riverside | |
| Easington Colliery | Welfare Park | |
| Esh Winning | West Terrace | 3,500 |
| FC Hartlepool | Grayfields Enclosure | |
| Horden Community Welfare | Welfare Park | |
| Jarrow | Perth Green | |
| Newcastle Blue Star | Scotswood | |
| Newcastle University | Kimberley Park | |
| Prudhoe Youth Club | ||
| Redcar Town | Mo Mowlam Memorial Park | |
| Ryton & Crawcrook Albion | Kingsley Park | 1,500 |
| Thornaby | Teesdale Park | 5,000 |
| Sunderland West End | Ford Hub Sports Complex | |
| Washington | Northern Playing Fields | |
| Yarm & Eaglescliffe | Bedford Terrace (groundshare with Billingham Town) | 3,000 |
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