Sunderland RCA are now the only Northern League club within the city of Sunderland.
Sunderland’s upturn in fortunes has brought a wave of positivity and enthusiasm across Wearside as the Black Cats have established themselves in the Premier League and have firmly moved on from their painfully long stay in League One.
After suffering Championship play-off semi-final heartache under Tony Mowbray three years ago, a return to Premier League football after a nine-year absence was confirmed when Regis Le Bris rounded off a magical first season in charge by leading Sunderland to last season’s play-off final win against Sheffield United. The momentum gained by their Wembley win was increased by an ambitious summer recruitment plan and the arrival of the likes of Granit Xhaka, Robin Roefs and Brian Brobbey have paid off handsomely as Le Bris’ side have racked up some stunning wins against the likes of Chelsea and Brentford and completed a league double over arch rivals Newcastle United.
With sell-out crowds now a regular feature at the Stadium of Light and the demand for tickets growing with every passing week, Wearside is buzzing once again as the red and whites continue on their upward trajectory. Yet for clubs at the other end of the football food chain, life continues to be a fragile existence. Only three years have passed since Northern League club Ryhope CW folded just weeks after winning the Durham Challenge Cup for only the second time in their history. Over the last fortnight, Farringdon Detached have confirmed their resignation from the Wearside League and they have been followed by Sunderland West End, who will resign from the Northern League at the end of the season.
Pitfalls
Action from Sunderland RCA v Ryton and Crawcrook Albion (photo Colin Robertshaw)placeholder image
Action from Sunderland RCA v Ryton and Crawcrook Albion (photo Colin Robertshaw) | Colin Robertshaw
That means only Sunderland RCA can provide Northern League football within the city and they are now Wearside’s highest-ranked non-league team despite sitting in the second division of the Northern League - although the famous name of Seaham Red Star is still shining brightly at the same level and, heading further towards the East Durham coast, Easington Colliery and Horden CW are performing above expectations in Division One.
RCA are now strangers to the pitfalls provided by competing within the non-league game and they submitted their own provisional resignation from the Northern League as recently as February 2023 and citing ‘finding it increasingly difficult in terms of finance, support and active committee involvement’ as their reasons for doing so. Nevertheless, the resignation was withdrawn and things are looking positive as a rebuild is underway.
Through no fault of their own, Sunderland’s progress has provided some unique challenges for non-league clubs in the area and ones that RCA manager Mark Forrest believes may well require ‘out of the box’ solutions that can boost attendances and interest.
He told The Echo: “Sunderland have been out of the Premier League for a few years and it’s great to see what they’ve done. They’ve had a fantastic season and everyone has bought into. It’s been amazing and even transformational for the area. I know Middlesbrough have backed initiatives to get their fans to go to non-league clubs in the area like Boro Rangers, for example. For me, it’s all about getting more bodies in the ground because that’s what gets much-needed revenue into the clubs. I love seeing what Sunderland are doing, we are fully behind it and love seeing it happen.
“Maybe we need to move some fixtures to a Friday night, maybe we need to work our fixtures around Sunderland a little bit better to try and get some more bodies through the gates because we need more in. That’s not just in Sunderland, every team are saying the same thing in the Northern League”
Disappointment
Ryhope CW players, coaches and supporters celebrate their Durham Challenge Cup Final win after they came through a penalty shoot-out to see off Northern League rivals Crook Townplaceholder image
Ryhope CW players, coaches and supporters celebrate their Durham Challenge Cup Final win after they came through a penalty shoot-out to see off Northern League rivals Crook Town | Ryhope CW
Forrest also expressed his ‘sadness and disappointment’ over Sunderland West End and Farringdon Detached’s decision to resign from the Northern League and Wearside League respectively - and he believes the new shows just how crucial committee members, volunteers and supporters are non-league clubs at every level.
He said: “It’s tough for all of us and the first thing I think of with West End and Farringdon resigning is sadness and disappointment because nobody likes to see teams in the area having to resign. They are always games we look forward to and we are looking forward to playing West End in a couple of weeks. It shows how tough it is. Committee members, volunteers, supporters, they are all crucial and as crucial as what goes on on the pitch. I know first-hand, I’ve been a chairman of a football club, I’m now manager of a football club, I know what it takes to run one. It’s disappointing seeing teams go.”
Non-League Day fixtures
Non-League Day (photo Non-League Day UK)placeholder image
Non-League Day (photo Non-League Day UK) | Non-League Day UK
National League: Gateshead v Yeovil Town - NE10 0EF
National League North: AFC Fylde v Darlington - PR4 3JZ, King’s Lynn Town v Spennymoor Town - PE30 5PB, South Shields v Alfreton Town - NE32 3UP
Northern Premier League Premier Division: Hebburn Town v Lancaster City - NE31 1UN, Hyde United v Stockton Town - SK14 5PL, Morpeth Town v Leek Town - NE61 2YX
Northern Premier League East Division: Blyth Town v Heaton Stannington - NE24 3PS, Consett v Pontefract Collieries - DH8 7BF, Newton Aycliffe v Blyth Spartans - DL5 5AG, Redcar Athletic v Bishop Auckland - TS10 3RW
Northern League Division One: Newcastle Blue Star v Penrith - NE15 7HB, Carlisle City v Crook Town - CA1 3AF, North Shields v Thornaby - NE29 0SS, Marske United v West Auckland Town - TS11 7BW, Northallerton Town v Boro Rangers - DL7 8HA, Birtley Town v Easington Colliery - DH3 2QW, Newcastle Benfield v Guisborough Town - NE6 4NU, Whitley Bay v Horden CW - NE25 8HR
Northern League Division Two: Yarm & Eaglescliffe v Durham United - TS23 4AG, FC Hartlepool v Redcar Town - TS24 8PJ, Park View AFC v Tow Law Town - DH3 3SH, Esh Winning v Sunderland RCA - DH7 9BQ, Chester-le-Street Town v Jarrow - DH2 3BX, Prudhoe YC Seniors v AFC Newbiggin - NE42 5EH, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Boldon CA - NE40 3SN, Seaham Red Star v Alnwick Town - SR7 0BH, Billingham Synthonia v Newcastle University - TS19 0QD
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