Northern Football Alliance

Last updated

Northern Football Alliance
NFA logo.png
Organising body Flag of Northumberland.svg Northumberland Football Association
Flag of County Durham.svg Durham County Football Association
Founded1890
CountryEngland
Confederation FA
DivisionsPremier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three
Number of teams60
Level on pyramid Level 11 (Premier Division)
Feeder to Northern League Division Two
Domestic cup(s)Challenge Cup
Stan Seymour League Cup
Current champions Wallington FC (Premier Division)
Gosforth Bohemians FC (Division One)
Heaton Stannington FC Reserves (Division Two)
Cramlington Town Independent(Division Three)
(2023-2024)
Current: 2023-24

The Northern Football Alliance is a football league based in the North East, England. It has four divisions headed by the Premier Division, which sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System.

Contents

The top club in the Premier Division is eligible for promotion to the Northern League Division Two. The top clubs in the First, Second and Third Divisions are promoted to the Premier, First, and Second Divisions respectively. The bottom club in the Third Division may be relegated to either the North Northumberland League Division One, or the Tyneside Amateur League, depending on which is more geographically appropriate.

The Northern Football Alliance was founded in 1890 as a single league, with a membership of seven teams. In 1926 it became the Second Division of the North Eastern League, but it split away again in 1935. It disbanded in 1964 due to lack of membership, but reformed just one season later, in 1965–66.

In 1988 the Northern Amateur League and the Northern Combination League combined with the Northern Football Alliance (all under the name Northern Football Alliance) to create a three-division format, which later expanded to four. Under a sponsorship agreement it is billed as the Bay Plastics Northern Football Alliance.

The league's teams chiefly come from Tyneside as well as Northumberland, with teams from further south preferring to play in the Wearside League, but there are exceptions, for example Prudhoe Town F.C. from Northumberland competed in the Wearside League, whilst Coundon and Leeholme from near Bishop Auckland in southern County Durham compete in the Alliance.

Member teams, 2022–23 season

Premier Division

Division One

Division Two

Division Three

Champions (1890–1988)

Divisional Champions (Since 1988)

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
1988–89Seaton Delaval Seaton TerraceAshington PremierBlyth Kitty Brewster
1989–90Seaton Delaval AmateursWesterhope HillheadsHeaton Corner House
1990–91 West Allotment Celtic Blyth Kitty Brewster Procter & Gamble
1991–92 West Allotment Celtic Carlisle City St Columbas
1992–93Seaton Delaval AmateursLongbentonAmble Town
1993–94 Morpeth Town Amble TownAshington Hirst Progressive
1994–95 Newcastle Benfield Park Amble TownWalker Ledwood
1995–96Seaton DelavalGosforth BohemiansWalbottle Masons
1996–97Lemington SocialRytonNorthbank
1997–98 West Allotment Celtic Shankhouse Coxlodge S C
1998–99 West Allotment Celtic Percy Main AmateursAmble Vikings
1999–2000 West Allotment Celtic Coxlodge S CHarraby Catholic Club
2000–01Walker CentralAmble VikingsWallington
2001–02 West Allotment Celtic Bedlington Terriers "A"Haydon Bridge
2002–03 Newcastle Benfield Saints Chopwell Top Club Blyth Town
2003–04 West Allotment Celtic HeddonAlnmouth
2004–05 Shankhouse AlnmouthAshington Colliers
2005–06 Team Northumbria Wallsend Whitley Bay "A"
2006–07Harraby Catholic ClubGillford Park SpartansWesterhope
2007–08Walker CentralWarkKillingworth Y P C
2008–09Walker CentralKillingworth Y P CAmble United
2009–10Harraby Catholic ClubGateshead RutherfordNorth Shields Athletic
2010–11 Ponteland United Hebburn ReyrolleNewcastle Chemfica Independent
2011–12 Heaton Stannington Amble UnitedHexham
2012–13 Heaton Stannington WallingtonNorth Shields Athletic
2013-14 Blyth Town North Shields AthleticBlyth Isabella
2014–15 Blyth Town Percy Main AmateursShilbottle Colliery Welfare
2015–16 Blyth Town Shilbottle Colliery Welfare Gateshead FC A
2016-17Killingworth Town Gateshead FC AKillingworth YPC
2017-18 Newcastle University Killingworth YPC Blyth Spartans Reserves
2018-19 Newcastle University Blyth Town Rothbury
2019-20 & 2020-21Not awarded due to Covid-19 PandemicNot awarded due to Covid-19 PandemicNot awarded due to Covid-19 Pandemic

Divisional Champions (4 Divisions since 2021)

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
2021-22KillingworthNewcastle IndependentStobswood WelfareBlaydon Community
2022-23 Newcastle Blue Star Stobswood Welfare Ponteland United ReservesHazelrigg Victory
2023-24Wallington

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