Birtley Town F.C.

The original Birtley Football Club were founder members of the Northern League in 1889. However, they left after finishing second-from-bottom of the league in its inaugural season.[1] The club then joined the Northern Alliance, again leaving after a single season.[2] They rejoined the alliance in 1895 and finished bottom of the league in 1897–98, before leaving again in 1900. The club returned for a third spell in the league in 1909, and were runners-up in 1913–14.[2] After World War I, they were champions in 1923–24,[3]

In 1926 the Northern Alliance merged into the North Eastern League, with Birtley becoming members of Division Two.[4] They remained in the North Eastern League until transferring to the Wearside League in 1935.[5] Following World War II the club was renamed Birtley Town, and went on to win the Wearside League in 1945–46.[6] However, after finishing bottom of the league in 1949–50, 1950–51 and 1951–52, the club dropped out of the league.[6]

A new Birtley Town was established in the early 1990s and joined Division Two of the Wearside League in 1992.[7] They were Division Two champions in 1994–95, earning promotion to Division One.[7] In 1997–98 the club won the League Cup,[8] and in 2001–02 they won both the League Cup and the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup.[9] The following season saw the club win the Wearside League title.[7] After finishing as runners-up in 2003–04 and 2004–05 and winning the League Cup for a third time in 2005–06, they were champions again in 2006–07, resulting in promotion to Division Two of the Northern League.[7]

In 2009–10 Birtley finished bottom of Division Two, but were not relegated. However, in 2015–16 the club finished second-from-bottom of the division and were relegated to the Premier Division of the Northern Alliance. They were Premier Division runners-up and League Cup winners in 2017–18,[10] and were promoted back to Division Two of the Northern League.[7] The 2022–23 season saw the club finish fifth in Division One, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After defeating Horden Community Welfare 5–4 on penalties (after a 2–2 draw) in the semi-finals, they won the final against Billingham Town on penalties after another 2–2 draw, earning promotion to Division One.[11]

• Wearside League
  • Champions 2002–03, 2006–07
  • Division Two champions 1994–95
  • League Cup winners 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06
• Northern Alliance
  • League Cup winners 2017–18
• Monkwearmouth Cup
  • Winners 2001–02
• Shipowners' Cup Finalists – 2001–02

• Best FA Cup performance: Preliminary round, 2012–13[7]
• Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2021–22[7]

• Birtley Town F.C. players

• Official website

54°53′16.3″N 1°34′50.6″W