Delight for West End as promotion is confirmed

Sunderland West End manager Anthony Nelson insisted that his side won’t be making up the numbers when they take their place in Northern League Division Two next season.

The Wearside League runners-up had their promotion into step six of the non-league system officially confirmed this weekend and they can look forward to facing the likes of Bedlington Terriers, Chester-le-Street Town and Washington in league fixtures next season.

West End will be one of three new clubs to join the Northern League’s second tier as Northern Alliance runners-up Newcastle University and North West Counties League club Carlisle City also had their place in the division confirmed.

West End will also compete in the FA Vase for the first time in their history, although the FA Cup will have to wait for at least another year and will be dependent on their final league position in their first ever season as a Northern League club.

Nelson praised the club’s hardworking committee for their efforts and revealed that he will look to challenge at the top end of Division Two when the new season gets underway in August.

The West End boss said: “It was our aim when we first got into the Wearside League. We wanted to get into the Northern League, and we knew it would be hard because there are some great sides in there.

“It looked miles away, even two years ago it seemed miles away. But the committee worked hard, and we have to thank them for what they have done.

“People don’t understand how hard they work, and we have 13 or 14 working behind the scenes to get us to where we are. We can’t wait to play in the Vase too and that’s a great moment for us as a club.

“We were a pub side 14 years ago and now we will be playing in the Vase – who would have thought that could happen to us?”

“There is no pressure on us as a squad, or on me as a manager. We won’t go in to make the numbers up, we want to go in and challenge.”

Nelson says the club is looking to put together a squad capable of establishing themselves within the Northern League - but he will be giving a chance to the players who helped the club secure promotion last season.