The Northern Premier League has always been a closely contested division, with a larger regionalised area and an array of big, historic non-league clubs competing for top spot.
The likes of Hednesford Town and FC United of Manchester, whose average attendances sit at over 1900 and over 1600 respectively, both sit in the play offs below the current leaders.
The current leaders, who can only say they have an average crowd of 388, with just two clubs who having less…
Hebburn Town.
Hebburn is a small town between Gateshead and Jarrow, in the surrounding area of Newcastle, made up of around 20000 people.
The football club, Hebburn Town, were founded back in 1912 and have spent most of their life in the local regional leagues.
This all began to change for the Hornets towards the end of the 2010s.
Following promotion from Step 6 to 5, Hebburn went from strength to strength, making a name for themselves across non-league.
In the 19/20 season, they reached the FA Vase Final at Wembley, which was unfortunately not played until May 2021 due to the pandemic. They faced up against fellow north east rivals Consett and the Hornets prevailed winning 3-2 under the arch, taking the Vase back with them to South Tyneside.
The goals of current South Shields striker Cedwyn Scott were important during their run to the final and his form earned him another chance to go pro, signing for Carlisle United in 2021.
Success had continued for the Hornets and following the curtailing of the 20/21 season, they were promoted into Step 4, the Northern Premier League’s Division One East to be precise.
After a season of consolidation, maintaining their Step 4 status, Hebburn delivered a play off finish in the 2022/23 campaign, but couldn’t get past Long Eaton United in the semi-finals.
That play off heartache gave them the fuel they needed to go again the season after as Hebburn clinched the title on the final day of the season, piping local rivals Stockton Town to the trophy by just a point. Hebburn’s final day heroics coming at the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield FC, with a 2-0 win.
Last season was more of the sensible same from Hebburn, a 12th placed finish with maintaining their Step 3 status at the forefront of their work.
But the Hornets haven’t taken long to adjust to Northern Premier League life, as (at the time of writing) they sit top of the pile, with clubs far bigger than them, breathing down their necks.
As mentioned previously, Hednesford (2nd) and FC United (3rd) are hunting them down but Hebburn refuse to give up the ghost just yet.
Hebburn have lost once in 13 games, winning 12 and sit pretty at the top after a mouthwatering 9 game winning run that took them right up until Christmas. That winning run started with an 8-0 demolition of Warrington Town, who sit just outside the play off places themselves.
Warrington, whose average attendance also doubles that of Hebburn.
Whatever happens this season, Hebburn’s efforts look as if it will earn them, at the very least, a play off spot, with the chance to play National League North football at the very least.
For a club of their size, this is no mean feat — we’re rooting for an underdog here at Non-League Daily!
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