Non-league north-east sides in the FA Cup

[Darlo_Pete]

I believe that the only survivor from the north-east after the second qualifying round this weekend is Blyth Spartans. Every Northern League side have already been illiminated after this weekends round. I used to remember when you'd always have two or three Northern League sides in the first round proper of the FA Cup in November. Has the Northern League standard dropped at the expense of other leagues in the country? I don't know as I don't very often watch non-league football. Of course I do realise that Gateshead & York haven't played yet in the qualifying rounds.

[quakersam]

I've been following our north-east teams in the FA Cup this year to see how they did. I even went to see Norton play FC Halifax Town a fortnight ago when we didn't have a game. Jarrow Roofing, Horden and Spennymoor were the only NL clubs left in yesterday, but all were knocked out to higher league sides. They have done well to get through 3 rounds and add a bit of money to their kitty.
Blyth won 7-1 yesterday so they are through to the 3rd Qualifying round. Gateshead and York come in at the 4th Qual, one stage before we enter and hopefully get through this year At least we won't be playing Droylsden as they were on the end of a 2-0 defeat by Halifax who are 2 divisions below them yesterday

[Darlo_Pete]

So Sam why are Northern League clubs not making the first round proper like they used too? I may be wrong but I don't think any NL clubs made it last season either. Obviously there is the potential to make a lot of money the further a team progresses.

[PJPoolie]

So Sam why are Northern League clubs not making the first round proper like they used too? I may be wrong but I don't think any NL clubs made it last season either. Obviously there is the potential to make a lot of money the further a team progresses.

Blyth knocked out two league clubs and played Blackburn in the third round only last season.

[TKOA]

So Sam why are Northern League clubs not making the first round proper like they used too? I may be wrong but I don't think any NL clubs made it last season either. Obviously there is the potential to make a lot of money the further a team progresses.

Blyth knocked out two league clubs and played Blackburn in the third round only last season.

Blyth aren't in the northern league. The last NL team i remember getting to the first round proper was shildon about 5 years ago who got a good thrashing off notts county. I don't think the leagues as good as it used to be. I've watched Aycliffe a few times this season and quite a few NL teams are utter gash, including aycliffe of late but they've suffered alot of injuries/suspensions so ill let them off, not that i'm biased or anything.

[wylam_rangers]

I've been following our north-east teams in the FA Cup this year to see how they did. I even went to see Norton play FC Halifax Town a fortnight ago when we didn't have a game. Jarrow Roofing, Horden and Spennymoor were the only NL clubs left in yesterday, but all were knocked out to higher league sides. They have done well to get through 3 rounds and add a bit of money to their kitty.
Blyth won 7-1 yesterday so they are through to the 3rd Qualifying round. Gateshead and York come in at the 4th Qual, one stage before we enter and hopefully get through this year At least we won't be playing Droylsden as they were on the end of a 2-0 defeat by Halifax who are 2 divisions below them yesterday

So Droylsden have already decided that the FA Cup will distract from their attempts to get into the Conference. Scary stuff.

Penney did the same for us last year and look what happened when we lost the cup money and the chance of a big tie.

[willphil]

I think Shildon were the last Northern league side to make the 1st round proper, away to Notts Co, about 7 years ago ?

[Redcar_Quaker]

I used to remember when you'd always have two or three Northern League sides in the first round proper of the FA Cup in November.

Not sure when you're thinking of Pete, but like WillPhil says a Northern League team hasn't got through to the first round proper for quite a few years. Don't forget that the two divisions are the 5th and 6th steps of the non league ladder so for a Northern League team to make it to the first round proper would be a massive achievement. Often they have to get through 5 or 6 rounds of football to get to the first round.

[Juan_kosoff]

The above two poster are pretty much correct. Me and a fellow Darlo idiot/supporter racked our brains in the bar tonight to think of the last NL team to get to the first round,and we couldnt think of anyone after Shildon(and we are both more than regular NL attenders)
And you saying why dont Northern League teams progress in the FA Cup because theres money to be made? Ridiculous,thats like saying why dont Darlo win the FA Cup because they get some money.Ooh that will be easy wont it !
As an aside,i thought i recognized a fellow Darlo fan at Norton at the Halifax game,was that you quakersam to the very left at the back of the stand as you look at the pitch ?

[quakersam]

I don't think so bud, I was near the cafe hut just as you walk in, but on the dugout side of the pitch. I was with 2 other lads I no who came along, they were both wearing Darlo tops but I wasn't

[ShrewsX]

I think Shildon were the last Northern league side to make the 1st round proper, away to Notts Co, about 7 years ago ?

Shildon were the last Northern League side to be shown live on television I think, and you are right it was Notts County. though since then I think theres been a few. Billingham Synthonia rings a bell for some reason

[The Tees Mouth]

Harrogate Railway were on BBC a couple of years ago against Mansfield in the second round. They beat harrogate town in the first round so surely they must be the last northern league side.

[dickdarlington]

My knowledge of non-league football in the north east is a bit sketchy these days. Time was I could rant on and on about it.

Anyway, during one of the many pyramid shake ups some years back, the Northern League powers that be, chose to not be a part of the pyramid system, and run as equals along side the unibond...but with no automatic promotion at the time to the conference. This was done at the time to save money as away days to Birmingham and Staffordshire was not sustainable. Unfortunately this meant that most clubs could not attract the players as there was greater incentive to play in the unibond. Therefore the league got weaker and the member clubs stiffled themself of progression. This is why you see clubs like Whitby and Whitley Bay playing in the unibond because they have chosen to attempt to better themselves. Durham have been the most recent to try. But have been hampered and look like the only way they can survive is to go back to the Northern league.

This is why you don't see Northern League clubs in the FA Cup proper rounds. They just aren't good enough any more.

[Makka Pakka]

Harrogate Railway were on BBC a couple of years ago against Mansfield in the second round. They beat harrogate town in the first round so surely they must be the last northern league side.

Neither Harrogate Town or Railway play in the Northern League

[BUSHEAD]

Alot less Northern League teams are in this years competiton as the FA wanted to reduce the number of teams in it.

Only the teams in NL 1 and the top 8 teams from last seasons div2 were entered this year.

Crook Town made the 4th Qualifying round a few years ago before going out against Doncaster.

West Auckland made the 1st rd proper when Paul Adamson was playing for them.

Also alot of Northern league clubs were drawn against each other in the earlier qualifers therefore knocking each other out.

[Darlo_Pete]

Have Darlington RA ever been entered into the FA Cup?

[Redcar_Quaker]

Only the teams in NL 1 and the top 8 teams from last seasons div2 were entered this year.

Don't think that's right, Bushead. I think only the bottom 4 of NL2 weren't allowed entry this year (sadly, this included RA). You're right about the FA wanting to reduce the number of entrants - they had too many this year and the lowest ranked from the previous season from Step 6 weren't allowed entry.

I've checked and Shildon were the last NL team to reach the 1st round in 2003 - they got beat 7-2 by Notts County. Before that it was 1998/9 when both West Auckland and Bedlington got to the 1st round and I think Bedlington beat Colchester to reach the 2nd round.

[BUSHEAD]

Have Darlington RA ever been entered into the FA Cup?
Have Darlington RA ever been entered into the FA Cup?

Yes, 3 or 4 times.

Onthe subject of the Northern Leagues strength , i'd like to point out that they do have quite a good record in the FA Vase.

[Darlo_Pete]

But surely the FA Vase is a poor man's FA Cup isn't it? And there's nowhere near as much potential cash for having a good run.

[BUSHEAD]

First Round Qualifying winners (116) £800
Second Round Qualifying winners (168) £900
First Round Proper winners (103) £1,000
Second Round Proper winners (64) £1,200
Third Round Proper winners (32) £1,300
Fourth Round Proper winners (16) £1,500
Fifth Round Proper winners (8) £2,000
Sixth Round Proper winners (4) £5,000
Semi Final winners (2) £7,000
Final runners-up (1) £10,000
Final winners (1) £20,000

And its culminates , so if you wont 1st and 2nd round qualifying you'd get £1700


The Northern League is said to be of a high standard (at step 6) as not many clubs move up the football leagues ladder , unlike teams of similar standing, NECL teams etc.

[Redcar_Quaker]

But surely the FA Vase is a poor man's FA Cup isn't it? And there's nowhere near as much potential cash for having a good run.
But surely the FA Vase is a poor man's FA Cup isn't it? And there's nowhere near as much potential cash for having a good run.

Pete, your missing the point totally. The FA Vase IS the FA Cup for lower ranked non-league teams - Step 5 and lower. The vast majority of teams that enter it will fancy their chances of a decent run and Northern League teams have an excellent record in the competition. Like Bushead shows, there is excellent money to be made from a decent run in the Vase. For example, Marske United, who are in the same league as RA got the Quarters last year and earned nearly 10k for that.

[Darlo_Pete]

No its you that is missing my point. Years ago there were NL teams in the FA Cup first round proper on a regular basis, now there hasn't been one in it for 10 years. The standard of the NL in comparison with other non-league divisions has clearly slipped.

[wylam_rangers]

No its you that is missing my point. Years ago there were NL teams in the FA Cup first round proper on a regular basis, now there hasn't been one in it for 10 years. The standard of the NL in comparison with other non-league divisions has clearly slipped.

Isn't it that the Northern League, Unibond, etc have been pushed down the pyramid with the Conference North/South squeezing in.

I remember Northwich Vics coming out of the Cheshire League to be founder members of the (then) Northern Premier League (now Unibond) which used to directly feed the FA Conference.

Northern League teams are now starting from lower down and that's why they get knocked out sooner.

[Redcar_Quaker]

[quote="Darlo_Pete"]No its you that is missing my point. Years ago there were NL teams in the FA Cup first round proper on a regular basis, now there hasn't been one in it for 10 years. The standard of the NL in comparison with other non-league divisions has clearly slipped.

Pete, try reading the posts rather than just counting them. To start off with, the last Northern League team to reach the first round was 6 years ago, not 10.

Secondly, I want actual proof that "years ago" NL teams got to the first round on a regular basis.

The Northern League has always been a fair way down the pyramid so it's not a case of the standards slipping at all - there's just a lot of teams who are rated higher in pyramid terms.

[RA1919]

Have Darlington RA ever been entered into the FA Cup?

The furthest we've been is the Preliminary Round.

No its you that is missing my point. Years ago there were NL teams in the FA Cup first round proper on a regular basis, now there hasn't been one in it for 10 years. The standard of the NL in comparison with other non-league divisions has clearly slipped.

The NL is now further down the pyramid than it used to be. Add to this the fact that not all of the Division 2 clubs were allowed in this year it is no suprise that none of them have got close the the First Round this season.