It is the beginning of August and for many people that means one thing; the new football season is just around the corner. Heaton Stannington, begin the second Northern Premier League East campaign at home to Lincoln United on Saturday 9 August. Before that Stan’s season begins in earnest with an interesting FA Cup tie away at Whitley Bay with an interesting FA Cup tie away at Whitley Bay on Saturday 2 August.
Close season changes
There have been many changes over the summer to help prepare the Stan for another season in Northern Premier League East, hoping to build upon the very creditable 12th position last season and of course the heroic Northumberland Senior Cup victory at St James’ Park in May.
Jay Hornsby has left. Jay was an excellent left back with a thunderous tackle who could also be very effective attacking down the left hand side. Jay joined the club in the summer of 2021 and over the four subsequent years made a great contribution to Heaton Stannington’s rise through the leagues from Northern League Division Two to Northern Premier League East.
There have also been a number of notable new signings. Heaton Stannington was delighted to be able to announce that Dale Pearson had agreed to join the club, after having made over 100 appearances for Dunston, for whom he scored thirteen goals last season. Both Dale and manager Dean Nicholson are said to be delighted at the signing.
Heaton Stannington have also signed another attacking player Alfie Livermore who has joined from West Allotment Celtic where he scored thirteen goals last season, while the Stan have also signed attacking midfielder Luke Carr, who has plenty of experience having played from Morpeth Town for whom he scored in the 2016 FA Vase Final at Wembley. Also Ben Milburn has returned and the Stan has signed Max Storey from Hartlepool United.
Heaton Stannington have also arranged a sponsorship scheme with the Willow fish and chip shop next to the ground, which has been renamed Willow Park in their honour.
The season ahead
So the season ahead is full of promise for Heaton Stan and after four great seasons of progress following the appointment of Dean Nicholson, I hope to see the Stan in the top half of Northern Premier League East and perhaps even challenging for a promotion playoff place. We shall see! It would also be great to see Heaton go on one or more really good cup runs, especially in the prestigious FA Cup and FA Vase.
Meanwhile, Heaton Stannington has been joined by a number of other North East teams in the Northern Premier League East, including Redcar Athletic, promoted from Northern League One and Blyth Spartans, who just a couple of years ago were in the National League North. After being knocked out of the promotion play-offs twice in the last two seasons, Dunston will be looking to make it third time lucky and get promoted this time around.
Elsewhere
Followers of Northern League Division One can look forward to another highly competitive season as well. It will be interesting to see if the well-supported Newcastle Blue Star can build on the great progress they made last season and whether Shildon can finally make it back into the Northern Premier League East after playoff heartbreak two seasons in a row.
It will also no doubt be an interesting season in Northern League Division Two, while higher up in the National League it remains to be seen if Gateshead’s collapse towards the end of last season, which cost them a place in the playoffs to regain a place in the Football League, will have an effect on the performances this season.
All in all, there is an awful lot to play for and to look forward to in the North East non-league football season and whatever happens, local non-League football will continue to be great value for money for about a tenner, with good, honest football and clubs run to provide football and support for their communities and no other reasons.
If you love football and have a non-League club near you, why not get along to watch them? You could do a lot worse.
For details of Heaton Stannington’s fixtures, please see here.
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