FA ANNOUNCES MAKE-UP OF EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE

Following the promotion play-offs and applications to join the National League System (NLS), the Football Association has announced the teams that will play in the league in the 2024/25 season.

Both of our divisions will run with 22 teams in the forthcoming season.

(Division One is Step 5 and Division Two is Step 6 in the NLS.)

Division One:

Birtley Town, Blyth Town, Boro Rangers, Carlisle City, Crook Town, Easington Colliery, Guisborough Town, Kendal Town, Marske United, Newcastle Benfield, Newcastle Blue Star, North Shields, Northallerton Town, Penrith, Redcar Athletic, Seaham Red Star, Shildon, Tow Law Town, West Allotment Celtic, West Auckland Town, Whickham, and Whitley Bay.

Kendal Town has been moved laterally from the Northern Counties West Premier Division (the equivalent of Division One).

Blyth Town and Easington Colliery are promoted from Division Two.

Newcastle Blue Star has also been promoted to Division One.  The club was one of several clubs across the NLS who have been promoted as a losing play-off finalist based on a national points per game basis.  (Clubs finishing bottom at Step 5 could not be reprieved.)

Marske United resigned during the season from the Northern Premier League (Step 3 in the NLS) and have been placed in Division One by the FA.

Division Two:

Alnwick Town, Bedlington Terriers, Billingham Synthonia, Billingham Town, Boldon CA, Chester-le-Street Town, Chester-le-Street United, Darlington Town, Esh Winning, FC Hartlepool, Grangetown Boys Club, Horden CW, Jarrow, Newcastle University, Prudhoe YC Seniors, Redcar Town, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, Sunderland RCA, Sunderland West End, Thornaby, Washington and Yarm & Eaglescliffe.

Sunderland RCA is relegated from Division One.  Alnwick Town, Darlington Town and Grangetown Boys Club are promoted from the Northern Alliance, the Wearside League and the North Riding League respectively.

Brandon United is relegated out of the league.  Sunderland West End and Washington were reprieved from relegation.

League chairman Glenn Youngman said: “We’re delighted to welcome the new teams to our league and I’m sure they’ll be given a warm welcome by our current clubs.

“Having 22 teams in each division will make for a busy, competitive season ahead of us. A date for the start of the new season will be announced in due course.”