Amid such dark times, there remains a ray of light in non-league football
It is safe to say that the North East’s ‘big three’ have vastly different targets for the remainder of the 2020/21 season and the mood could hardly be different across Wearside, Teesside and Tyneside.
Momentum is building on and off the pitch at the Stadium of Light following Kyril LouisDreyfus’ takeover of Sunderland and the Black Cats look well set to challenge for a return to the Championship under Lee Johnson.
Middlesbrough are looking to mount a successful promotion bid of their own in the second tier and secure a first season back in the Premier League since 2017 – although Tuesday night’s home defeat against Bristol City left them three points shy of a playoff place.
Newcastle United’s sole focus will be preserving their Premier League status after a run of eight defeats in their last 10 games left them just three points clear of the drop zone and contemplating the possibility of a third demotion under Mike Ashley’s ownership.
No matter what happens between now and May, the rest of the campaign will provide a whole spectrum of emotions for supporters on Wearside, Teesside and Tyneside – but the excitement and anticipation are not limited to the region’s top three clubs as our non-league scene looks to play a significant role in providing success between now and the end of the season.
It is just under ten years since Whitley Bay completed one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of North East football.
After experiencing the highs of a Wembley triumph with their FA Vase Finals wins in 2009 and 2010, Ian Chandler’s side returned to the home of football and scrapped their way to an unprecedented third consecutive win in the competition.
Whereas their previous wins over Glossop North End and Wroxham had been relatively straightforward, the 2011 final victory owed much to an outstanding display from goalkeeper Terry Burke.
Renowned strike partnership Paul Chow and Lee Kerr were on target – of course – but it was the performance of their number one that essentially helped Whitley see off a lively Coalville Town side to secure their place in the history books.
The likes of Newcastle Blue Star and Whickham had brought the Vase back to the North East with Wembley wins in 1978 and 1981 – and Whitby Town added their name to the list of Northern League Vase winners when they saw off North Ferriby United in 1997.
But Whitley Bay left an indelible mark on the competition as their unique treble added to a narrow final win against Tiptree United in the sun at Villa Park in 2002 and made them the most successful side in the history of the Vase.
Since their last final triumph, the North East has almost monopolised their hold on the competition with Dunston
UTS, Spennymoor Town, North Shields, Morpeth Town and South Shields all bringing the Vase back to the region.
Two of our clubs have also experienced the downside of a final during that time as Stockton
Town and West Auckland Town (twice) experienced Wembley heartache.
There are high hopes that Hebburn Town and Consett will be able to fight it out to add their name to the ever-growing list of North East winners, with speculation that their 2020 Vase final could finally be played on the first weekend of May.
Their meeting could provide the launchpad for what could be a memorable week for the North East game, as the FA are believed to be looking at the possibility of playing this season’s Vase final seven days later – if they are able to allow the competition to continue with Covid-19 restrictions still in place.
That would offer Hebburn, Shildon, West Auckland Town and Seaham Red Star a chance to follow in the footsteps of those Bay legends and write their names into North East nonleague history.
There could even be another North East triumph at Wembley before the end of the season as Darlington continue their quest to become two-time FA Trophy winners.
Just 24 hours before Whitley Bay completed their Vase Final treble in 2011, the Quakers were preparing for their Trophy final against Mansfield Town.
In front of just under 25,000 supporters, Mark Cooper’s side claimed a dramatic win as substitute Chris Senior headed the only goal of the game with just a minute left in extra-time.
Much has changed over the last decade at Darlington, but the memories of that win remain clear in the memory as they look to move into the semi-final this weekend.
Alun Armstrong’s men will be favourites to battle their way beyond Isthmian League side AFC Hornchurch at Blackwell Meadows on Saturday and reach the last four of the competition for the first time in a decade.
Excitement in the North East non-league game is not limited to cup competitions either.
Hartlepool United may have come away from Wrexham feeling underwhelmed with a point after creating a whole host of chances to take all three – but the result did help them solidify their position as genuine challengers for a promotion place in the National League.
It is just under 16 months since Dave Challinor took over at Victoria Park and he has moulded Pools into one of the most functional sides in nonleague’s top tier. The former AFC Fylde boss has boxed clever in the transfer market and his side fully deserve their place in amongst the challengers for one of the two promotion places on offer.
The announcement that the Vic could even host supporters before the season is over will only fuel their desire to return to the Football League for the first time since their heartbreaking relegation in 2017.
The North East’s big three may well be experiencing difficulty throughout one of the most unique seasons in history – but the region’s other clubs are still providing supporters with a ray of light even in the darkest of times.
The likes of Ryhope CW, Sunderland RCA and Seaham Red Star have played their final league game of the 2020/21 season after the Football Association confirmed that the campaign was being brought to a premature end.
Clubs across steps three to six of the non-league system have been without a league game since November after tighter Covid-19 restrictions brought a halt to the season.
Since that decision was taken, the FA have sought advice from clubs across the country to get their opinions on how or if the campaign should proceed.
A statement released confirmed that 76% of clubs in steps three to six of the non-league system had indicated that they would prefer to curtail the season.
After considering those views and the financial implications of restarting behind closed doors, the FA’s Alliance and Leagues committee have now recommended that the season be brought to an end – although the move will still have to be ratified by an FA council before it is finalised.
The statement read: “The FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees have now considered the large amount of data and information submitted by clubs across the National League System (NLS) Steps 3-6 as part of a survey to gather views on the continuation or conclusion
of the 2020-21 league season, in addition to the information set out in the Government’s roadmap this week.
“Submissions were made by 99.1% of clubs at Steps 3 and 4, and 95.8% of clubs at Steps 5 and 6. We would like to thank the clubs for submitting their views and the time taken in providing responses during what we appreciate is an incredibly challenging period
for everyone.
“The results of the survey showed that over 76% of all clubs across Steps 3-6 indicated a preference to curtail the 2020-21 league season if it could not be restarted with limited spectator numbers and hospitality before April 1.
“During this process, taking into account views of clubs and leagues it was
decided that extending the 2020-21 league season beyond the end of May 2021 would not be a viable option.
“This was due to various considerations, including the financial implications for many clubs, player contracts and the extent of the fixture scheduling issues caused by the national lockdown and various postponements which had resulted in there being 81% of matches left to complete for Steps 3 and 4, and 75% at Steps 5 and 6.
“Taking into account the survey results and the ongoing impact of Covid-19, which continues to adversely affect incomes for clubs due to restrictions on both spectators and hospitality, The FA’s Alliance and Leagues Committees have reached a consensus that subject to the approval of FA Council, the 2020-21 league season for Steps 3-6 of the NLS should be curtailed with immediate effect, with no further league matches taking place this season.”
The FA also revealed that they will “revisit” discussions over a potential restructure of the non-league system which was scheduled to take place at the end of last season.
It’s on old adage that a week is a long time in football - but you won’t have heard Sunderland fans complaining about that of late.
The last seven days have brought confirmation of a changeinownershipandwhat has felt like a never-ending wave of positivity ever since. It’s a week few wanted to end.
Of course, results have helped matters with the Black Cats’ two league wins since the takeover was confirmed vital ones in the context of the promotionrace.Butit’stheimpact of Louis-Dreyfus and the behind the scenes changes that have accompanied his arrival thathavereallyresonatedwith supporters.
Much of this change came prior to the formal confirmation of the change in ownership. The 23-year-old himself referenced the appointments of Lee Johnson, Kristjaan Speakman and Steve Davison as key for implementing his vision, and all of these moves were made before Louis-Dreyfus was officially handed the keys to the building.
But since that point, the change has continued. We’ve seen an academy restructure, new appointments on the board and a firm line drawn in the sand in terms of the Madrox era.
The removal of Stewart Donald and Juan Sartori as directors of the club only served toemphasisethatitisnowLouis-Dreyfus calling the shots at the Academy of Light. And in amongallthesechanges,there
is one element that should please supporters over and above everything else. It’s the use of a phrase, one which the chairmanhimselfusedseveral timesduringhisfirstinterview with the club, too.
‘Long-term’. It’s something that hasn’t generally been associatedwithSunderland’sactions in recent years.
We’ve seen plenty of promises-suchasthoseof100-point
seasons and the gravy train being halted - that may have curried some favour in the short-term, but were not followed by meaningful actions.
Such comments only servedtoemphasisetheshorttermism which had plagued the club since their drop into League One. There was little evidence of a coherent plan being implemented with the clubseeminglystumblingfrom
season-to-season, while sticking plasters in a bid to fend off any immediate issues.
Issues are now being overcome with a longer-term and more holistic view in mind. Thereisafocusonthehereand now,naturally,butit’sallabout the long-term - both for Sunderland,andforLouis-Dreyfus himself.
Let’s be frank, two of the big-hitters of the Louis-Dreyfus
Group, in Igor Levin and Patrick Treuer, wouldn’t have joined the club’s board if the new chairman wasn’t in this for the long haul - and all of his actionsthusfarhavesuggested that he is here to stay.
Now, fans can finally look forward with some hope for the future.
We’ve been here before, of course, but this new-found hopeisalreadywell-grounded.
Louis-Dreyfus has made a point of not talking the talk, but instead walking the walk, alreadydeliveringtangibleimprovements during his opening week in charge.
And those seven days have allowed fans to dream again ofweekslikethisbecomingthe norm, of promotion, and of a brighter long-term future. Afterrecentyears,that’stheleast they deserve.