The Northern League conundrum – stick or twist?
- As Spennymoor Town finally proceed with promotion and all its consequences, the ambitious Consett AFC hope their new stadium will lead to similar success -
Sitting on the River Derwent, just 14 miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, lies the County Durham town of Consett. It was a coal town which developed from a small village of less than 200 into a booming iron and steelworks behemoth, boasting some of the finest blast furnaces around. It is home to Rowan Atkinson and Denise Welch, as well as giving Frank Clark, Joe Joyce and Barry Venison to the world of football. With that strong footballing heritage in mind, ambitious Consett AFC chairman Frank Bell is determined to put his Northern League team on the modern football map.
The Steelmen recently moved into an outstanding new home – Belle Vue Stadium – which was officially opened last November with a match against Newcastle United’s reserve team, coached by Peter Beardsley. It boasts state-of-the-art floodlights, seating areas and sheltered dugouts. They even have branded club wheelie bins! But Bell is most excited about the playing surface. “The pitch is certainly our number one key element. It’s 3G, which allows us to use it all through the week, facilitating not only the first team but all the junior teams and community clubs we have. Over 900 kids train here”, he states.
Kick off was delayed by 25 minutes that night, due to the mass turnout of spectators. However, retaining some of those new faces is a huge challenge for the non-league club. The majority came along to see big names but can’t be persuaded to stay local when the likes of Billingham Synthonia come to town. Bell hopes that the social aspect of being a community club will persuade people to return. “We’re the largest community club in the north. The new, 170-metre function room helps with our fund raising activities – we’ve raised £20,000 for local organisations, dance troupes and scout groups. But it isn’t easy [to get fans to look locally] because it’s really tempting to stay home, buy a four-pack and watch Manchester United vs. Barcelona on a rainy Tuesday night.
“The Northern League, though, is a really enjoyable social experience. It’s not just about coming to watch football; you’re coming to see friends at a place where everyone knows each other’s name. Once we get them in, a lot of people become hooked! We now have a facility with comfortable seats, where they can stay warm, get a drink and watch Sky Sports in the bar. We provide quality too. When we butter, it’s with Lurpak, our coffee is Nescafé and our burgers are 90% beef – they don’t shrink when cooked!”
It’s working too, with many Newcastle supporters replacing their season tickets with Consett ones after becoming disillusioned with the Mike Ashley regime. “That’s why I chose to get involved with local football”, admits Toon fan Bell. “I have to say, I’ve absolutely loved it.” There’s been a slight increase in attendances since last year’s move but the chairman knows that, to get where they want to be, this rise must continue. “Realistically, we can go all the way to the Conference and the level of support we could gain would sustain us. But we need the supporters to go with us; we need them to want that as much as we do.”
Not that reaching the Conference is easy. The Northern League Division One is four levels below but, fascinatingly, is about more than simply winning the division. In fact, only one champion between 2006 and 2012 accepted promotion from the world’s second oldest surviving league. Durham City were that exception but swiftly returned, after their main sponsors ditched them due to an insufficient pitch blocking further promotions. The progression criteria is problematic – any team finishing in the top two needs a certain standard of facilities – but many clubs aren’t willing to pay the extra travel costs that come with it.
Darlington 1883 chose promotion in 2013 - only the failings of predecessors Darlington FC forced them that low down the league pyramid, so a club of their size can support the rise. This summer, Spennymoor Town took the brave decision to join them after winning the Northern League for the fourth time in five seasons. Manager Jason Ainsley called it “a fantastic achievement”, before paying tribute to chairman Bradley Groves. “To see the team where it is now brings great pride. The amount of work the chairman has put in is testament to where the club is at. If it wasn’t for him, the club wouldn’t exist.”
Hard work has gone in to add a changing room for female officials, more turnstiles and a new clubhouse to replace the one that was burnt down in 2003. Ainsley adds: “By the end of next season, it’ll be a four-sided ground, which will take it to Football League standards. We’re fortunate enough to have an academy right next to the ground, with four full-size pitches. It’s an unbelievable facility that puts a lot of league clubs to shame. Everything’s in place for the foreseeable future.”
In the Northern League, The Moors’ opponents were mostly concentrated around Durham and Northumberland, with sporadic trips to Cumbria. By accepting promotion, they’re often travelling to the North West to visit Warrington, Northwich and Birkenhead. Go up another tier and poor Blyth Spartans travel to Lancashire on a good day – their trip to Norfolk’s King’s Lynn Town (bizarrely classed as a Northern team) is a 450-mile round trip. Spennymoor have prepared for the additional travelling expenses and extra motorway trawling by replacing those who prefer the lifestyle of rolling out of bed and playing on their doorstep.
“A lot of the players have been with myself and the chairman for years and done well at this level, but a massive chunk of their lives will now be spent on the road, away from home”, Ainsley points out. “Undoubtedly, some players will struggle with the demands of this league. That’s why we’ll be looking to bring fresh faces in who have done that sort of travelling, are used to it and will hopefully take us to the next level.”
Bell maintains: “A club has to know their capabilities because there’s considerably more travel and that costs several thousand pounds. You need players who are willing to travel and are capable of it from a work aspect.” He proposes another reason why clubs would rather stay in the Northern League than risk promotion. “Some believe they’d miss out on revenue from local derbies – the West Auckland and Bishop Auckland rivalry, for example. Crowds might actually be lower by playing in a higher division.”
With so many clubs unwilling to accept promotion, the knock-on effect is that the Northern League is very strong – easily the strongest of the ninth tier leagues. Being a big fish in a small pond increases chances of a trip to Wembley for the FA Vase Final, the highlight of a semi-professional’s career. And the North East teams have an incredible recent record in this. Whitley Bay won the trophy in 2009, 2010 and 2011, whilst Dunston beat West Auckland in an all-North East Final in 2012. West were runners-up again this year.
Ainsley’s Spennymoor went all the way in 2013, which he describes as “a surreal experience”. Won in the only season which prevented five consecutive league titles, The Moors’ glorious Vase victory aided their decision to take promotion. “It would’ve been a lot harder if we’d not won it, otherwise it would’ve been a ‘what if’. It was an ideal scenario. For the semi-final, we chartered a flight from Newcastle to Guernsey, which was unprecedented at this level. The game was shown live in all the Spennymoor pubs and the return leg was unbelievable. To top that off in the Final, in front of 19,000 – 6,000 from Spennymoor – we just had to wake ourselves up and stop dreaming.”
With days like that, it’s easy to see why clubs don’t want to sacrifice a potential trip to Wembley for a league of lower attendances, unaffordable travel and an endless stream of service stations. But, having ticked the Vase off their list, Ainsley and his men are ready for the next step. “I’ve no regrets about moving up. A new challenge is there for the players because sometimes the Northern League becomes monotonous – playing the same teams over and over again, where we’ve got more to lose than gain. Every team raised their game against us, so it’s nice to see new places and develop our abilities as players and coaches.”
Looking as high as the Football League, Ainsley finds inspiration in other teams’ achievements. “Look at Fleetwood Town, who a few years ago were playing at the same level and are now in League One. Crawley Town too. It’s achievable but it’s going to be a long journey. We’re eternally grateful to the fans we’ve gained from the Vase journey, because there’s going to be tough times ahead and we need them to stick with us.”
As for Consett, Frank Bell is also aiming high. “Our ambitions are to win the Northern League and FA Vase within the next two seasons. We will win the Vase, I’ve absolutely no doubt about that”, he declares. “A few have tipped us this year. You have no idea how much Wembley would mean to me, I’d be such a happy man to see the boys dance around the pitch with a cup.”
And now the million dollar question – if Consett win the league, will they apply for promotion? “When the time is right, we will certainly be applying for promotion”, Bell confirms. “If things go well and we have the level of support, I’ll go for it. If it’s not quite right, I’m prepared to wait another year. But the infrastructure is now in place. We’re not spending as much as other Northern League teams and it’s our choice to put all money back into the club, so we can generate funds on a long-term basis.”
The club encourages professionalism and quality. They look after the players but, in return, demand professionalism by enforcing a code of conduct that forbids the drinking of alcohol on the eve of matches. Players talk amongst each other and word has spread that Consett is a good club to play for. Bell hopes this will eventually pay dividends. “We have a five-year rolling plan that covers all aspects of the club. We’re going to develop a reserve team and want our junior side to have a run in the FA Youth Cup, which will generate players for the first team. We’ve got some fantastic lads here.”
If the chairman gets his wishes, Consett will soon have more Clarks, Joyces and Venisons to give the world of football. By that point, more disenchanted Premier League fans will have turned their attentions to The Steelmen and discovered the joys of non-league clubs, where you can socialise with friends and watch good football at an affordable price. With ambition, financial planning and a strong infrastructure, it actually is possible to leave the Northern League without becoming a modern day Icarus. As long as your players are willing to travel.
Sitting on the River Derwent, just 14 miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, lies the County Durham town of Consett. It was a coal town which developed from a small village of less than 200 into a booming iron and steelworks behemoth, boasting some of the finest blast furnaces around. It is home to Rowan Atkinson and Denise Welch, as well as giving Frank Clark, Joe Joyce and Barry Venison to the world of football. With that strong footballing heritage in mind, ambitious Consett AFC chairman Frank Bell is determined to put his Northern League team on the modern football map.
The Steelmen recently moved into an outstanding new home – Belle Vue Stadium – which was officially opened last November with a match against Newcastle United’s reserve team, coached by Peter Beardsley. It boasts state-of-the-art floodlights, seating areas and sheltered dugouts. They even have branded club wheelie bins! But Bell is most excited about the playing surface. “The pitch is certainly our number one key element. It’s 3G, which allows us to use it all through the week, facilitating not only the first team but all the junior teams and community clubs we have. Over 900 kids train here”, he states.
Kick off was delayed by 25 minutes that night, due to the mass turnout of spectators. However, retaining some of those new faces is a huge challenge for the non-league club. The majority came along to see big names but can’t be persuaded to stay local when the likes of Billingham Synthonia come to town. Bell hopes that the social aspect of being a community club will persuade people to return. “We’re the largest community club in the north. The new, 170-metre function room helps with our fund raising activities – we’ve raised £20,000 for local organisations, dance troupes and scout groups. But it isn’t easy [to get fans to look locally] because it’s really tempting to stay home, buy a four-pack and watch Manchester United vs. Barcelona on a rainy Tuesday night.
“The Northern League, though, is a really enjoyable social experience. It’s not just about coming to watch football; you’re coming to see friends at a place where everyone knows each other’s name. Once we get them in, a lot of people become hooked! We now have a facility with comfortable seats, where they can stay warm, get a drink and watch Sky Sports in the bar. We provide quality too. When we butter, it’s with Lurpak, our coffee is Nescafé and our burgers are 90% beef – they don’t shrink when cooked!”
It’s working too, with many Newcastle supporters replacing their season tickets with Consett ones after becoming disillusioned with the Mike Ashley regime. “That’s why I chose to get involved with local football”, admits Toon fan Bell. “I have to say, I’ve absolutely loved it.” There’s been a slight increase in attendances since last year’s move but the chairman knows that, to get where they want to be, this rise must continue. “Realistically, we can go all the way to the Conference and the level of support we could gain would sustain us. But we need the supporters to go with us; we need them to want that as much as we do.”
Not that reaching the Conference is easy. The Northern League Division One is four levels below but, fascinatingly, is about more than simply winning the division. In fact, only one champion between 2006 and 2012 accepted promotion from the world’s second oldest surviving league. Durham City were that exception but swiftly returned, after their main sponsors ditched them due to an insufficient pitch blocking further promotions. The progression criteria is problematic – any team finishing in the top two needs a certain standard of facilities – but many clubs aren’t willing to pay the extra travel costs that come with it.
Darlington 1883 chose promotion in 2013 - only the failings of predecessors Darlington FC forced them that low down the league pyramid, so a club of their size can support the rise. This summer, Spennymoor Town took the brave decision to join them after winning the Northern League for the fourth time in five seasons. Manager Jason Ainsley called it “a fantastic achievement”, before paying tribute to chairman Bradley Groves. “To see the team where it is now brings great pride. The amount of work the chairman has put in is testament to where the club is at. If it wasn’t for him, the club wouldn’t exist.”
Hard work has gone in to add a changing room for female officials, more turnstiles and a new clubhouse to replace the one that was burnt down in 2003. Ainsley adds: “By the end of next season, it’ll be a four-sided ground, which will take it to Football League standards. We’re fortunate enough to have an academy right next to the ground, with four full-size pitches. It’s an unbelievable facility that puts a lot of league clubs to shame. Everything’s in place for the foreseeable future.”
In the Northern League, The Moors’ opponents were mostly concentrated around Durham and Northumberland, with sporadic trips to Cumbria. By accepting promotion, they’re often travelling to the North West to visit Warrington, Northwich and Birkenhead. Go up another tier and poor Blyth Spartans travel to Lancashire on a good day – their trip to Norfolk’s King’s Lynn Town (bizarrely classed as a Northern team) is a 450-mile round trip. Spennymoor have prepared for the additional travelling expenses and extra motorway trawling by replacing those who prefer the lifestyle of rolling out of bed and playing on their doorstep.
“A lot of the players have been with myself and the chairman for years and done well at this level, but a massive chunk of their lives will now be spent on the road, away from home”, Ainsley points out. “Undoubtedly, some players will struggle with the demands of this league. That’s why we’ll be looking to bring fresh faces in who have done that sort of travelling, are used to it and will hopefully take us to the next level.”
Bell maintains: “A club has to know their capabilities because there’s considerably more travel and that costs several thousand pounds. You need players who are willing to travel and are capable of it from a work aspect.” He proposes another reason why clubs would rather stay in the Northern League than risk promotion. “Some believe they’d miss out on revenue from local derbies – the West Auckland and Bishop Auckland rivalry, for example. Crowds might actually be lower by playing in a higher division.”
With so many clubs unwilling to accept promotion, the knock-on effect is that the Northern League is very strong – easily the strongest of the ninth tier leagues. Being a big fish in a small pond increases chances of a trip to Wembley for the FA Vase Final, the highlight of a semi-professional’s career. And the North East teams have an incredible recent record in this. Whitley Bay won the trophy in 2009, 2010 and 2011, whilst Dunston beat West Auckland in an all-North East Final in 2012. West were runners-up again this year.
Ainsley’s Spennymoor went all the way in 2013, which he describes as “a surreal experience”. Won in the only season which prevented five consecutive league titles, The Moors’ glorious Vase victory aided their decision to take promotion. “It would’ve been a lot harder if we’d not won it, otherwise it would’ve been a ‘what if’. It was an ideal scenario. For the semi-final, we chartered a flight from Newcastle to Guernsey, which was unprecedented at this level. The game was shown live in all the Spennymoor pubs and the return leg was unbelievable. To top that off in the Final, in front of 19,000 – 6,000 from Spennymoor – we just had to wake ourselves up and stop dreaming.”
With days like that, it’s easy to see why clubs don’t want to sacrifice a potential trip to Wembley for a league of lower attendances, unaffordable travel and an endless stream of service stations. But, having ticked the Vase off their list, Ainsley and his men are ready for the next step. “I’ve no regrets about moving up. A new challenge is there for the players because sometimes the Northern League becomes monotonous – playing the same teams over and over again, where we’ve got more to lose than gain. Every team raised their game against us, so it’s nice to see new places and develop our abilities as players and coaches.”
Looking as high as the Football League, Ainsley finds inspiration in other teams’ achievements. “Look at Fleetwood Town, who a few years ago were playing at the same level and are now in League One. Crawley Town too. It’s achievable but it’s going to be a long journey. We’re eternally grateful to the fans we’ve gained from the Vase journey, because there’s going to be tough times ahead and we need them to stick with us.”
As for Consett, Frank Bell is also aiming high. “Our ambitions are to win the Northern League and FA Vase within the next two seasons. We will win the Vase, I’ve absolutely no doubt about that”, he declares. “A few have tipped us this year. You have no idea how much Wembley would mean to me, I’d be such a happy man to see the boys dance around the pitch with a cup.”
And now the million dollar question – if Consett win the league, will they apply for promotion? “When the time is right, we will certainly be applying for promotion”, Bell confirms. “If things go well and we have the level of support, I’ll go for it. If it’s not quite right, I’m prepared to wait another year. But the infrastructure is now in place. We’re not spending as much as other Northern League teams and it’s our choice to put all money back into the club, so we can generate funds on a long-term basis.”
The club encourages professionalism and quality. They look after the players but, in return, demand professionalism by enforcing a code of conduct that forbids the drinking of alcohol on the eve of matches. Players talk amongst each other and word has spread that Consett is a good club to play for. Bell hopes this will eventually pay dividends. “We have a five-year rolling plan that covers all aspects of the club. We’re going to develop a reserve team and want our junior side to have a run in the FA Youth Cup, which will generate players for the first team. We’ve got some fantastic lads here.”
If the chairman gets his wishes, Consett will soon have more Clarks, Joyces and Venisons to give the world of football. By that point, more disenchanted Premier League fans will have turned their attentions to The Steelmen and discovered the joys of non-league clubs, where you can socialise with friends and watch good football at an affordable price. With ambition, financial planning and a strong infrastructure, it actually is possible to leave the Northern League without becoming a modern day Icarus. As long as your players are willing to travel.
