Regular readers will know that my favourite league is the Northern League. There’s nothing like a north-east welcome and the fish and chips are usually the best in the world.
Breakwell passed away following a long battle with illness over the weekend and the four-time FA Vase winners paid an emotional tribute in a statement released on Sunday afternoon.
An impressive crowd of 619 were on hand to watch the Tyneside outfit fall to a 5-2 defeat against the Northern Counties East League Premier Division promotion challengers.
For three years, the Northumberland club battled their way back from the Step 11 Northern Alliance’s third tier and finally landed a place back in the Northern League as part of the Football Association’s recent restructure of the Non-League system.
It has been a challenging 18 months for Non-League clubs around the country as the financial and practical pressures have been intensified by the impact of the pandemic
The South Tyneside outfit appealed against the decision to not promote them into Step 6 as part of the Football Association’s restructure of the Non-League system.
Blyth Town, Horden CW and Redcar Town were all promoted from Step 7 feeder leagues this summer as part of the Football Association’s restructure of the Non-League system.
Blyth Town manager Michael Connor was “lost for words” after his side were handed a visit to Northumberland rivals Bedlington Terriers on the opening day of the Northern League season.
Last month brought the long-awaited confirmation that the Wearside League outfit were one of three clubs to be elevated into the Northern League Second Division ahead of the 2021-22 season.
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.