After the drama of Heaton Stannington’s promotion play-off triumph at the beginning of May, the anticipation on the east side of Newcastle is building as the new season approaches, Stan’s first season in the Northern Premier League East. After two promotions in three seasons, can Heaton Stannington do well in this higher league? We will soon find out. What should be certain is that they will be one of the best supported clubs in the league. The average crowd at Grounsell Park last season would have put Heaton Stannington sixth in the average attendances of the Northern Premier League East.
And that was without including the tremendous record crowd of 2,107 in the promotion play-off final on 6 May against West Auckland Town.
In the close season, work has been done both on and off the pitch, with all pre season games having to be played away from Grounsell Park, as work has been done on the pitch and new players have been brought in. A new travel club has also been set up as the Stan will now be required to travel further afield in away games.
Indeed, although the league has the word northern before it, some of the other teams will be sited as far away as the East Midlands. These include Belper Town just north of Derby and Sherwood Collieries in Mansfield. Stan are used to playing with the Durham Dales in the background, but are now going to have to get used to a backdrop of the Peak District National Park. No matter how far the Stan Army will have to travel to watch the team, it will be another chapter in the great adventure that is supporting Heaton Stannington.
Coming up
That adventure begins again with a home tie in FA Cup Qualifying against old rivals Easington Colliery on Friday evening 2 August. The first home league match is on Saturday afternoon 10 August, against Belper Town.
Also playing in the Northern Premier League East next season will be last season’s Northern League Division One Champions, Bishop Auckland. Other North East teams in the league include, Dunston UTS, Consett, Newton Aycliffe, and Ashington. All will be looking to do well and perhaps even emulate Hebburn Town’s achievement last season, by being promoted as champions.
In the Northern League, it will be interesting to see if Shildon can overcome the disappointment of not getting promoted last season to mount another challenge to gain promotion form Division One and if West Auckland and Birtley Town can also be as strong as they were in 2023-4. And how will newly promoted Blyth Town and Easington Colliery fare?
Meanwhile in Northern League Division Two it remains to be seen if the well supported Newcastle Blue Star can overcome their disappointment at narrowly losing out in last season’s play-offs to mount another challenge. As ever, there will be teams who will surprise us and do well in both Northern League divisions.
Whatever happens in the season ahead, local non-League football will continue to be great value for money for less than 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 more information on the Northern League please see here.
For more information on the Northern Premier League East see here.
For more information on Heaton Stannington please see here.
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