2021–22 Northern Football League

Football league season
Northern Football League
Season2021–22

The 2021–22 season was the 124th in the history of the Northern Football League, a football competition in England. The league operated 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 (The FA) on 18 May 2021,[1] and were subject to appeal.

After the abandonment of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, numerous promotions were decided on a points per game basis over the previous two seasons.[2][3][4]

Division One

Football league season
Northern Football League
Division One
Season2021–22
ChampionsNorth Shields
PromotedConsett
North Shields
RelegatedBillingham Town
Matches played380
Goals scored1,256 (3.31 per match)

Division One featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs, promoted from Division Two:

Division One table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 North Shields 38 25 9 4 86 30 +56 84 Promoted to the Northern Premier League
2 Consett 38 23 6 9 83 45 +38 75 Qualified for an inter-step play-off, then promoted to the Northern Premier League[a]
3 Thornaby 38 20 8 10 79 49 +30 68
4 Newton Aycliffe 38 21 4 13 72 47 +25 67
5 Ryhope Colliery Welfare 38 19 8 11 72 48 +24 65 Resigned from the league[b]
6 West Auckland Town 38 19 6 13 78 50 +28 63
7 Whickham 38 18 7 13 62 46 +16 61
8 Ashington 38 17 7 14 90 77 +13 58
9 Sunderland RCA 38 17 6 15 55 54 +1 57
10 Seaham Red Star 38 15 9 14 55 55 0 54
11 West Allotment Celtic 38 14 10 14 67 80 −13 52
12 Newcastle Benfield 38 15 6 17 65 75 −10 51
13 Guisborough Town 38 13 9 16 52 54 −2 48
14 Redcar Athletic 38 15 2 21 56 83 −27 47
15 Crook Town 38 13 7 18 52 70 −18 46
16 Northallerton Town 38 10 9 19 52 69 −17 39
17 Whitley Bay 38 11 6 21 51 87 −36 39
18 Bishop Auckland 38 9 8 21 42 69 −27 35
19 Penrith 38 10 5 23 47 89 −42 35 Reprieved from relegation[c]
20 Billingham Town 38 5 10 23 40 79 −39 25 Relegated to Division Two
Source: NL website
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[8]
Notes:
  1. ^ Contested an inter-step play-off match as one of the bottom six runners-up from Step 5 with the most points per game (PPG) against a third-from-bottom club out of six from Step 4 with the fewest PPG. The winner rose to Step 4 for the 2022–23 season, while the loser dropped to Step 5.[5]
  2. ^ Ryhope Colliery Welfare resigned from the Northern League post-allocations[6]
  3. ^ Reprieved as one of twelve clubs with the most PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom in Step 5.[7]

Inter-step play-off

Histon v Consett
30 April Histon1–2 Consett Impington
Lindsay 73' Heslop 44'
Marriott 52'		 Stadium: Bridge Road
Attendance: 410

Results table

Home \ Away ASH BIL BIS CON CRO GUI NWB NAY NSH NLT PEN RED RCW SEA SUN THO WAC WAT WHC WHB
Ashington 4–0 2–1 3–3 4–0 1–6 3–1 1–2 1–2 2–1 3–1 1–3 2–3 1–2 4–2 0–1 4–2 4–0 4–0 1–1
Billingham Town 3–3 1–0 1–1 1–3 0–0 0–1 2–5 1–4 2–1 0–0 1–3 0–3 1–2 1–2 2–3 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–2
Bishop Auckland 2–5 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–7 0–1 1–5 2–4 2–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 0–1
Consett 4–4 1–0 5–0 1–2 3–0 0–0 2–3 0–3 0–1 4–0 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 5–0 1–0 2–1 3–0
Crook Town 4–0 2–1 0–2 0–5 1–3 0–1 3–2 1–4 1–0 2–1 2–3 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–2 0–2 1–2
Guisborough Town 0–2 2–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 4–1 0–0 0–4 2–2 1–2 4–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–4 3–0 0–1 3–2 1–1
Newcastle Benfield 0–3 3–2 0–0 2–4 3–2 0–2 1–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–5 3–2 2–0 1–0 2–3 1–1 2–1 4–2
Newton Aycliffe 2–4 2–0 0–1 0–2 2–3 1–0 3–1 2–0 0–1 2–2 3–1 1–4 3–2 0–3 3–1 0–1 0–2 0–0 8–0
North Shields 1–1 2–0 4–1 0–0 4–0 4–2 2–1 2–3 2–1 5–0 7–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0
Northallerton Town 4–2 2–0 2–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 3–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–2 1–3 3–2
Penrith 2–2 4–3 1–3 2–1 0–4 2–3 1–4 2–5 0–3 1–0 0–2 1–2 1–4 3–2 2–1 3–1 1–4 0–1 0–2
Redcar Athletic 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 1–4 0–4 0–1 2–1 3–0 0–2 1–0 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–3
Ryhope Colliery Welfare 2–1 2–2 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–0 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 5–1 2–2 1–4 3–1
Seaham Red Star 2–1 1–2 3–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 3–0 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–0 0–3 1–0 4–2
Sunderland RCA 0–1 4–3 0–2 1–2 1–3 1–0 3–2 2–1 0–0 2–3 2–0 3–4 1–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 2–0 1–0 3–0
Thornaby 5–0 5–0 3–2 3–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 0–2 0–1 2–0 6–2 4–0 1–2 4–1 3–2 2–2 0–5 2–1 1–0
West Allotment Celtic 3–3 2–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–1 1–1 2–4 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–5 3–3 1–0 3–5 2–4 1–2 1–1
West Auckland Town 5–0 3–0 0–1 3–1 5–1 1–1 3–4 1–2 1–1 3–4 1–0 3–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 3–5 1–2 6–0
Whickham 5–3 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–0 3–0 6–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–0
Whitley Bay 1–6 4–2 1–1 2–3 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–3 1–3 2–0 2–3 5–2 1–4 0–2 2–0 0–0 3–4 1–2 2–1
Source: NL website
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Club Stadium Capacity
Ashington Woodhorn Lane
Billingham Town Bedford Terrace 3,000
Bishop Auckland Heritage Park 1,950
Consett Belle View Stadium
Crook Town The Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground 1,500
Guisborough Town King George V Ground
Newcastle Benfield Sam Smith’s Park 2,000
Newton Aycliffe Moore Lane Park
Northallerton Town Calvert Stadium
North Shields Ralph Gardner Park 1,500
Penrith Frenchfield Stadium 1,500
Redcar Athletic Green Lane
Ryhope Colliery Welfare Ryhope Recreation Ground
Seaham Red Star Seaham Town Park
Sunderland RCA Meadow Park 1,500
Thornaby Teesdale Park 5,000
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

Division Two

Football league season
Northern Football League
Division Two
Season2021–22
ChampionsCarlisle City
PromotedCarlisle City
Heaton Stannington
Tow Law Town
RelegatedDurham City
Matches played420
Goals scored1,640 (3.9 per match)

Division Two featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with for new clubs:

Division Two table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Carlisle City 40 26 4 10 115 49 +66 82 Promoted to Division One
2 Heaton Stannington 40 25 7 8 103 47 +56 82 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to Division One[a]
3 Boldon Community Association 40 23 8 9 123 79 +44 77 Qualified for the play-offs
4 Tow Law Town 40 23 8 9 71 41 +30 77 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to Division One[a]
5 Easington Colliery 40 23 7 10 88 54 +34 76 Qualified for the play-offs
6 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 40 23 5 12 87 60 +27 74
7 Horden Community Welfare 40 22 6 12 94 65 +29 72
8 Billingham Synthonia 40 21 7 12 87 54 +33 70
9 Sunderland West End 40 22 3 15 84 69 +15 69
10 Redcar Town 40 20 8 12 76 54 +22 68
11 Newcastle University 40 20 6 14 97 71 +26 66
12 Jarrow 40 16 8 16 89 74 +15 56
13 Birtley Town 40 15 5 20 76 83 −7 50
14 Willington 40 14 4 22 74 78 −4 46
15 Blyth Town 40 14 3 23 65 83 −18 45
16 Brandon United 40 13 6 21 63 84 −21 45
17 Chester-le-Street Town 40 12 4 24 60 78 −18 40
18 Bedlington Terriers 40 9 9 22 62 95 −33 36
19 Washington 40 11 2 27 55 113 −58 35 Reprieved from relegation[b]
20 Esh Winning 40 10 2 28 48 113 −65 32
21 Durham City 40 1 2 37 23 196 −173 5 Relegated to the Wearside League
Source: NL website
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[8]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Both play-off finalists were promoted after Ryhope Colliery Welfare's resignation from Division One.
  2. ^ All third-from-bottom clubs at Step 6 were reprieved from relegation. The top 12 second-from-bottom sides were also reprieved on a PPG basis.[9]

Play-offs

Semifinals Final
      
2 Heaton Stannington 2
5 Easington Colliery 0
2 Heaton Stannington 2
4 Tow Law Town 1
3 Boldon Community Association 0
4 Tow Law Town 2

Results table

Home \ Away BED BIL BIR BLY BOL BRA CAR CST DUR EAS ESH HEA HOR JAR NEW RED RCA SUN TLT WAS WIL
Bedlington Terriers 3–3 1–4 3–2 3–6 0–3 2–2 1–5 5–0 2–1 3–4 0–2 1–1 0–3 2–4 2–2 0–4 3–3 1–4 0–3 5–0
Billingham Synthonia 3–3 2–0 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 7–0 1–2 4–0 0–2 1–1 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–2 6–1 2–0
Birtley Town 1–0 0–3 1–2 3–3 6–1 2–5 3–1 3–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 5–3 2–2 1–4 1–5 1–2 1–3 2–0 2–1 0–4
Blyth Town 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–2 0–5 1–2 9–0 2–4 4–1 0–1 1–4 0–3 2–1 1–6 2–2 3–0 0–1 3–0 0–5
Boldon Community Association 2–1 1–2 4–1 4–0 3–1 3–2 1–2 10–0 1–3 4–2 3–3 3–2 2–3 2–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 6–4
Brandon United 0–4 2–1 2–1 1–4 3–4 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–3 3–4 2–2 1–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 0–3 6–1 1–4
Carlisle City 0–1 4–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 3–1 4–2 16–1 4–1 5–0 0–1 0–2 5–1 4–1 3–1 3–0 2–1 1–0 6–0 5–1
Chester-le-Street Town 0–3 2–4 1–2 0–3 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 2–3 2–1 0–3 1–4 3–4 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–3
Durham City 2–2 2–6 1–4 1–3 2–6 0–4 1–2 0–9 0–0 2–5 1–4 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–3 1–4 1–2 0–3 1–0 0–3
Easington Colliery 2–2 2–1 2–4 4–0 5–1 1–3 3–0 3–0 4–0 5–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–7 0–2 2–1 0–2 0–1 2–1 2–0
Esh Winning 0–1 2–4 0–5 0–4 0–6 1–2 0–4 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–3 1–3 3–3 0–7 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–4 0–1 2–1
Heaton Stannington 7–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 2–3 9–1 2–2 4–1 5–2 3–2 3–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 0–1 3–0 3–1 8–3 4–2
Horden Community Welfare 1–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 3–2 2–6 0–3 8–1 3–3 3–0 3–1 4–2 3–1 1–2 5–1 1–3 0–3 3–1 3–2
Jarrow 3–0 1–0 2–2 3–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 4–0 10–0 0–1 4–1 0–3 2–3 2–2 3–2 0–2 6–3 1–2 1–2 1–6
Newcastle University 3–1 2–3 1–2 2–3 3–5 2–1 1–5 1–2 5–0 0–4 1–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–4 7–2 1–0 3–1 1–1
Redcar Town 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–2 1–0 1–1 1–3 3–0 1–1 3–1 2–3 0–1 1–3 1–1 2–1 6–2
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 1–0 1–4 2–0 1–0 4–2 1–1 4–0 2–3 7–1 0–3 3–3 2–1 3–2 1–1 2–4 1–2 1–0 2–1 3–2 1–4
Sunderland West End 6–1 2–1 1–4 4–0 4–2 2–1 0–3 1–0 10–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–5 2–1 0–2 3–0 7–0 2–1
Tow Law Town 3–1 2–1 3–1 1–0 2–4 1–0 0–1 1–0 7–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 3–0
Washington 2–1 2–1 5–4 1–0 1–7 1–3 1–2 0–1 9–1 0–4 4–2 0–3 0–2 1–6 0–2 0–2 0–7 5–2 0–1 2–1
Willington 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–3 3–4 0–1 0–4 2–0 2–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 2–4 0–0 0–1 0–1 4–2 3–0 2–3 5–2
Source: NL website
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Club Stadium Capacity
Bedlington Terriers Welfare Park 3,000
Billingham Synthonia Norton Sports Complex 1,970
Birtley Town Birtley Sports Complex
Blyth Town South Newsham Playing Fields
Boldon Comm Assn Boldon Colliery Welfare
Brandon United Welfare Ground
Carlisle City Gillford Park
Chester-le-Street Town Moor Park
Durham City Hall Lane (groundshare with Willington)
Easington Colliery Welfare Park
Esh Winning West Terrace 3,500
Heaton Stannington Grounsell Park
Horden Community Welfare Welfare Park
Jarrow Perth Green
Newcastle University Kimberley Park
Redcar Town Mo Mowlam Memorial Park
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion Kingsley Park 1,500
Sunderland West End Nissan Sports Complex 1,000
Tow Law Town Ironworks Road 3,000
Washington New Ferens Park
Willington Hall Lane

References

  1. ^ "FA ANNOUNCES PROMOTION FOR 2021/22 SEASON". Northern Football League. 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ^ "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3-6". The Football Association. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. ^ "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. ^ Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 5 Promotion". Google Docs.
  6. ^ "Ryhope CW announce resignation from Northern League". The Northern Echo. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  7. ^ The FA: "12 clubs across Step 5 to be reprieved. Reprieves are based on those with the highest PPG, starting with 2nd from bottom Clubs first, then bottom. As it stands, this would be 12 of the 16 2nd from bottom Clubs."
  8. ^ a b "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  9. ^ Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 6 Relegation". Google Docs.

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