Non-league football

[Paully]

Hebburn 0-1 Leek Town

 

Should have been 3 up half-time but were poor 2nd half!

[Scoreboard82]

11 hours ago, Chris L said:

Spenny won 2-0 away at Sutton today to move into the semi final of the FA trophy. Huge win for Spenny that.  
 

Will play either aldershot, Woking or Rochdale.  

 

 

 

Some win that considering Sutton were a league club last season.

[Big Geordie]

2 hours ago, jack j said:

What happened with the Blyth takeover earlier in the season?

 

I seen a few comments saying the new bloke promised the world ? I thought they were just fucked from the previous owners still

 

 

 

Tony Y. I've known him a long time and whilst he also supports Sunderland, he's dyed in the wool Blyth Spartans and a good lad. He's also worked for the club in various capacities down the years (inc stadium announcer)

 

Spartans are in real trouble - it would seem the previous owner took out debt on the club, lined his own pockets and left it for the CIC to deal with when they took over. Wouldn't be surprised if the club goes into administration at some point and may well end up back in the Northern League.

[SteV]

On 02/03/2025 at 08:17, jack j said:

What happened with the Blyth takeover earlier in the season?

 

I seen a few comments saying the new bloke promised the world ? I thought they were just fucked from the previous owners still

 

 

No real idea on the situation at Blyth, but  you have to commend that bloke for the way he manages to stay respectful towards the players, whilst still passionately getting point across to them. That kind of thing is far more likely to get people to listen to you than just ranting and raving.

 

What’s his/the issue with the manager and coaching staff @Big Geordie?

[Wallsendmag]

On 01/03/2025 at 22:02, Chris L said:

Spenny won 2-0 away at Sutton today to move into the semi final of the FA trophy. Huge win for Spenny that.  
 

Will play either aldershot, Woking or Rochdale.  

 

 

 

 

Got Rochdale. 2nd leg at home.

[Paullow]

6 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

Got Rochdale. 2nd leg at home.

Pretty sure it's just a one off match.

[Wallsendmag]

1 minute ago, Paullow said:

Pretty sure it's just a one off match.

 

Ah that's right man! I should know that I was at the Gateshead Semi Final last year 

[Big Geordie]

3 hours ago, SteV said:

No real idea on the situation at Blyth, but  you have to commend that bloke for the way he manages to stay respectful towards the players, whilst still passionately getting point across to them. That kind of thing is far more likely to get people to listen to you than just ranting and raving.

 

What’s his/the issue with the manager and coaching staff @Big Geordie?

 

I think it's the fact that the new manager hasn't had much of an effect and some of the players that have been brought in simply aren't bothered. Some are saying 'jobs for the boys'.

[SteV]

On 02/03/2025 at 08:17, jack j said:

What happened with the Blyth takeover earlier in the season?

 

I seen a few comments saying the new bloke promised the world ? I thought they were just fucked from the previous owners still

 

 

Just watched it again. The exasperation in the “golf, for fuck’s sake” at the end has me buckled 😂

[Paullow]

Another great win for Spenny following their FA Trophy QF win the other day, this time 2-1 at home to Darlington in the league in front of 2,088 (433 away). Sounds like Darlington will be kicking themselves for chances they missed, especially in the first half. Spenny have won 5 of their last 6 league matches and could be making a late charge for the playoffs like they did last season (ultimately unsuccessfully), but probably too much ground to make up.

[Big Geordie]

With regards to Spennymoor - I sometimes wonder how the likes of they and Gateshead can maintain their status, but Blyth Spartans couldn't or no longer wanted to? Are the afor-mentioned clubs owned by wealthy benefactors?

[Paullow]

1 hour ago, Big Geordie said:

With regards to Spennymoor - I sometimes wonder how the likes of they and Gateshead can maintain their status, but Blyth Spartans couldn't or no longer wanted to? Are the afor-mentioned clubs owned by wealthy benefactors?

 

Spennymoor have a relatively wealthy owner in Brad Groves allowing them to maintain their current status. He was apparently looking at Blyth and Bishop Auckland as well 15 or so years ago when he took over.

[Benwell Lad]

Watched as good a game of "non league" football as I've seen all season yesterday. Newcastle University versus an excellent Nottingham University side in the semi final of the British Universities Cup.

Nottingham won 4-1 after extra time but in fairness they could have won 4-1 in the ninety minutes. They had five players who play at step 3 in the side.

An illustration of the standard is that Loughborough won the other semi against Hartpury College and Hartpury are in the semi final of the FA Vase,

[Boo Boy]

On 05/03/2025 at 18:26, Big Geordie said:

With regards to Spennymoor - I sometimes wonder how the likes of they and Gateshead can maintain their status, but Blyth Spartans couldn't or no longer wanted to? Are the afor-mentioned clubs owned by wealthy benefactors?

Blyth are the text book example of how to run a club appallingly. They will return to the Northern League in the next couple of years and have derby games with Blyth Town.

[Stifler]

Last minute decision to go and watch North Shields play today.

[SiLvOR]

Went to Brentwood today, cracking game finished 3-2, last minute winner. But then  should have been 3-3 right at the death, but the lino spotted an offside somehow in a mad scramble inside the box after a long throw . Feels so nice to watch football with literally zero interest in who wins

[Matt]

Major issue at Blyth is that sponsorships and season ticket money- proceeds which are usually spent over a season- were pissed away / redirected by the former owner from the outset.

 

That said, the club has gone out with scratch sides plenty of time over the last 20 years and has not suffered a similar miserable run. Next season will be their lowest pyramid position since the 1994-95 season.

[Big Geordie]

On 08/03/2025 at 20:40, Matt said:

Major issue at Blyth is that sponsorships and season ticket money- proceeds which are usually spent over a season- were pissed away / redirected by the former owner from the outset.

 

That said, the club has gone out with scratch sides plenty of time over the last 20 years and has not suffered a similar miserable run. Next season will be their lowest pyramid position since the 1994-95 season.

 

I can see Blyth dropping back to the Northern League sadly and having to rebuild from there.

 

They were battered 5-1 at Workington, on Sat. Relegation apparently can be confirmed next weekend depending on results.  

[Matt]

They can rebuild just the same in the next division down. There will be a whole clutch of NE sides in there, depending on what happens with Stan and the ground grading of those at the top of the NL.

[CoreOfNUFC]

Victor Anichebe fronting a consortium to buy Gateshead FC.

[Big Geordie]

On 09/03/2025 at 23:52, Matt said:

They can rebuild just the same in the next division down. There will be a whole clutch of NE sides in there, depending on what happens with Stan and the ground grading of those at the top of the NL.

 

That's what was supposed to happen this season, but it's been a clusterfuck from the start.

[Pilko]

On 08/03/2025 at 14:55, Stifler said:

Last minute decision to go and watch North Shields play today.

 

I went on Saturday too, thought Shields were definitely the lesser of the two sides and did well to dig a point out in the end.

 

You weren't amongst the Benfield Ultras and their flares perchance were you?

[Stifler]

30 minutes ago, Pilko said:

I went on Saturday too, thought Shields were definitely the lesser of the two sides and did well to dig a point out in the end.

 

You weren't amongst the Benfield Ultras and their flares perchance were you?

Haha, certainly not, although it is good to see a younger generation supporting non-league football.

 

The number 9 for North Shields seems to have potential, although North Shields have no idea to make the most of him, especially in the second half where he appeared to be playing on the left wing.

 

 

Edited March 12 by Stifler

[Pilko]

16 minutes ago, Stifler said:

Haha, certainly not, although it is good to see a younger generation supporting non-league football.

 

The number 9 for North Shields seems to have potential, although North Shields have no idea to make the most of him, especially in the second half where he appeared to ne playing on the left wing.

 

Yeah I thought he showed some good glimpses too, Shields just didn't create enough for him. Two goals from corners and I can't remember them troubling the keeper otherwise.

[Paullow]

Huge win for the Stan away at Ossett (1-3).

 

Bit of a gap with the bottom 3, Liversedge and Sherwood are in awful form (plus there was talk of the latter's ground not meeting standards for next season), but Sheffield have won back to back matches, or 9 points from their last 4, so they could maybe close the gap, especially with games in hand, but it is really tight for that 4th and final relegation spot - 3 points separating 6 sides.

 

I was debating going to Consett vs Bishop Auckland on Easter Monday, but Ashington vs Heaton looks the biggest match that day - in theory you could do both as the Northumberland match kicks off at 12pm.