End of an era for Heaton Stannington as stalwart Derek Thompson departs

By Mark Carruthers

HEATON Stannington are looking for a new manager after Derek Thompson brought an end to over two decades in charge at the Northern League Division Two club.

The former Stan player was named as manager of the then-Northern Alliance club in 1998 and has overseen a whole host of changes on and off the pitch at Grounsell Park.

An over-60 year wait to return to the Northern League was finally ended in 2013 when the Stan finished six points clear of Blyth Town in the Alliance Premier Division.

More history followed over the coming seasons, including a 4-2 triumph at Eccleshill United in the FA Vase first qualifying round in 2015 which gave the club their first win in the competition in over 34 years.

Thompson has established the Stan as one of Northern League Division Two’s most consistent sides as they have finished in the top six in each season since they returned to Step 6 of the Non-League pyramid.

However, there will be a new man in charge at Grounsell Park when the Stan players return to pre-season training next month following an announcement made on Monday evening.

Chairman Bill Colwill released a statement praising Thompson for his sterling work.

It read: “It is disappointing to inform you that our football manager Derek Thompson has made his decision to call it a day. Derek has been with the club as both a player and manager for almost 20 years.

“During that time, he has had a great deal of success both on and off the pitch and was instrumental in our club achieving Northern League status.

“On behalf of myself, the committee and our supporters, I would like to thank him for the tremendous work he has done during all those years.”