Mark Carruthers: Teesside’s Non-League renaissance – who could follow Redcar Athletic’s remarkable rise?

A huge month lies ahead for Non-League football on Teesside and one that could end with several historic promotions and almost unparalleled success.

Redcar Athletic put the seal on what always seemed an inevitable Northern Premier League East Division title win last week when they saw off Matlock Town.

It should not be forgotten that this is the Steelmen’s first ever season in Step 4 and they have produced what can only be described as a stunning campaign by racking up some incredible statistics.

Following Saturday’s 5-0 hammering of Bishop Auckland, it now means Carl Jarrett’s men are on 94 points and are all but certain to surpass the century over the final weeks of the season.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Non-League news you need, subscribe to The Non-League Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

Record-breaking Steelmen

Their goalscoring exploits are bordering on record-breaking with over 131 goals scored in the league campaign and it seems likely their goal difference will surpass a century before the curtain comes down on an outstanding season this month.

They have also lost just three of their 37 league games and have conceded just 33 goals during that time.

The usual stance for a newly-promoted side is to survive at a new level; however, it seems likely Jarrett’s men will thrive when they officially take their place in the NPL Premier Division next season.

As it stands, they will join Teesside neighbours Stockton Town in Step 3 and their two meetings will evoke memories of Marske United’s epic FA Vase semi-final tie with the Anchors back in 2018 as Jarrett goes head-to-head with Michael Dunwell once again.

However, the latter will hope those clashes do not take place as Stockton push for a play-off place over the coming weeks.

New highs on the horizon?

Their almost unprecedented rise from Teesside League to pushing for the National League North has been the story of North East Non-League football over the last decade – and there is a genuine prospect that could hit a new high over the coming weeks.

Saturday’s defeat at Hyde United may well have damaged the Anchors’ play-off prospects – but they remain firmly in the mix for a top five spot ahead of a Bank Holiday weekend that will see them face North East neighbours Hebburn Town and Gainsborough Trinity.

The Northern League is also providing hope for clubs on Teesside, with Guisborough Town currently sitting at the top of the Division One table and Nathan Haslam’s side holds a five-point advantage on second-placed Shildon with the final weeks of the season approaching.

The Priorymen were tipped as title favourites by many ahead of the season (this writer included…honest!) and they have lived up to that billing by losing just two of their 33 league games to move within touching distance of a first-ever promotion into the NPL East Division.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that they could be joined by Boro Rangers, who currently occupy one of the four play-off positions and will hope to make up for falling short last year when a semi-final defeat against Newcastle Blue Star ended their own hopes of making club history.

Success looming all round for Teesside

Moving into Step 6 provides almost guaranteed success for Teesside, with only South Tyneside-based Jarrow looking to gatecrash a two-horse Northern League Division Two title race between Redcar Town and Yarm & Eaglescliffe.

Yarm hold the upper hand with a one-point advantage on Town – although the latter also possess two games in hand as another pre-season title favourite looks to live up to the hype in some style – although it would be safe to assume the side that falls short will be favourites to secure promotion via the play-offs.

That all means there is a genuine opportunity for Teesside to enjoy as many as six promotions this season and three of them could come as league champions.

However, perhaps the most remarkable statistic and one that shows just how special this season could be for the area is the fact that each and every club are hoping to secure a promotion that would take them into their highest ever level in the Non-League pyramid.

If Teesside has been a sleeping giant in recent years, it would appear the alarm clock is set to sound off in spectacular fashion. 

READ MORE: England international Jermain Defoe ‘thrilled’ to take charge of Woking