Blyth Spartans Association Football Club is an association football club based in Blyth, Northumberland. They are currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, and play at Croft Park.
Early history
In the beginning, the club played only friendly matches before joining the East Northumberland League in 1901. The first recorded honour was a league success in 1901 followed by further victories in 1905–06 and 1906–07. The club then joined the Northern Football Alliance, remaining there for six seasons winning the league in 1908–09 and 1912–13. In 1913 the club moved upward joining the ranks of the semi professionals in the North Eastern League and remained there until this league folded in 1958.
Key
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Key to league record
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Key to cup records
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Seasons
| Year | League | Cup competitions | Manager | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Lvl | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Position | Leading league scorer | Average attendance |
FA Cup | FA Trophy | |||||
| Name | Goals | Res | Rec | Res | Rec | ||||||||||||||
| 1913–14 | North Eastern League | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 71 | 51 | +20 | 45 | 6th of 20 | — | ||||||||
| 1914–15 | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 49 | 75 | -26 | 29 | 15th of 20 | — | — | ||||||||
| No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the World War I | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1919–20 | North Eastern League | 34 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 64 | 42 | +22 | 44 | 4th of 18 | — | ||||||||
| 1920–21 | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 69 | 34 | +35 | 49 | 5th of 20 | QR6 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1921–22 | 38 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 55 | 31 | +24 | 48 | 3rd of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1922–23 | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 78 | 43 | +35 | 53 | 2nd of 20 | R1 | 2-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1923–24 | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 35 | +33 | 49 | 6th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1924–25 | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 69 | 46 | +23 | 43 | 8th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1925–26 | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 77 | 106 | -29 | 32 | 14th of 20 | R2 | 3-1-1 | ||||||||
| 1926–27 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 78 | 72 | +6 | 40 | 9th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1927–28 | 38 | 14 | 4 | 20 | 56 | 77 | -21 | 32 | 13th of 20 | QR4 | ? | ||||||||
| 1928–29 | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 66 | 75 | -9 | 36 | 11th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1929–30 | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 58 | 95 | -37 | 26 | 19th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1930–31 | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 95 | 78 | +17 | 50 | 7th of 22 | — | |||||||||
| 1931–32 | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 129 | 75 | +54 | 57 | 5th of 22 | R2 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1932–33 | 38 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 79 | 84 | -5 | 34 | 10th of 20 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1933–34 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 10 | 81 | 58 | +23 | 51 | 4th of 20 | QR4 | 0-1-1 | ||||||||
| 1934–35 | 38 | 23 | 4 | 11 | 95 | 55 | +40 | 50 | 5th of 20 | R1 | 1-1-1 | ||||||||
| 1935–36 | 38 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 104 | 60 | +44 | 56 | 1st of 20 | R1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1936–37 | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 103 | 68 | +35 | 49 | 5th of 20 | R1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1937–38 | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 113 | 70 | +43 | 48 | 4th of 20 | R1 | 1-1-1 | ||||||||
| 1938–39 | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 82 | 97 | -15 | 39 | 9th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| 1939–40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 9th of 20 | — | |||||||||
| No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the World War II | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1947–48 | North Eastern League | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 62 | 60 | +2 | 40 | 8th of 20 | QR3 | 3-0-1 | Mark Lawton | ||||||
| 1948–49 | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 71 | 56 | +15 | 43 | 8th of 20 | QR3 | 3-0-1 | Joe Wilson | |||||||
| 1949–50 | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 87 | 69 | +18 | 44 | 6th of 20 | QR3 | 3-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1950–51 | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 67 | 76 | -9 | 39 | 10th of 20 | QR2 | 2-0-1 | committee | |||||||
| 1951–52 | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 68 | -15 | 32 | 10th of 18 | R2 | 5-4-1 | ||||||||
| 1952–53 | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 93 | 61 | +32 | 45 | 4th of 18 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1953–54 | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 48 | 82 | -34 | 28 | 14th of 18 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Tom Blenkinsopp | |||||||
| 1954–55 | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 64 | 78 | -14 | 33 | 9th of 18 | R2 | 2-1-1 | Doug Wright | |||||||
| 1955–56 | 34 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 68 | 80 | -12 | 37 | 7th of 18 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1956–57 | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 90 | 71 | +19 | 39 | 8th of 18 | R2 | 2-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1957–58 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 65 | 66 | -1 | 35 | 9th of 18 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | Jim Turney | |||||||
| The North Eastern League folded. Club joined the Midland Football League | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1958–59 | Midland Football League | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 79 | 52 | +27 | 46 | 5th of 19 | R2 | 2-0-1 | Jim Turney | ||||||
| 1959–60 | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 51 | +23 | 36 | 5th of 17 | R1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1960–61 | Northern Counties League | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 22 | +7 | 22 | 3rd of 10 | R1 | 1-0-1 | |||||||
| 1961–62 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 61 | -9 | 20 | 9th of 13 | R1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| The league changed name | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1962–63 | North Eastern League | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 49 | 39 | +10 | 25 | 4th of 12 | R2 | 2-0-1 | Jim Turney | ||||||
| 1963–64 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 16 | 4th of 8 | R1 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| The North Eastern League folded. Club joined the Northern Football League | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1964–65 | Northern Football League | 34 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 38 | 105 | -67 | 10 | 18th of 18 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | Jim Turney | ||||||
| 1965–66 | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 87 | 81 | +6 | 33 | 10th of 18 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | ||||||||
| 1966–67 | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 69 | 63 | +6 | 36 | 9th of 18 | QR1 | 4-4-1 | ||||||||
| 1967–68 | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 80 | 71 | +9 | 35 | 8th of 18 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | Tony Knox | |||||||
| 1968–69 | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 76 | 36 | +40 | 45 | 5th of 18 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | Jackie Marks | |||||||
| 1969–70 | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 92 | 34 | +58 | 52 | 3rd of 18 | QR2 | 1-2-1 | — | |||||||
| 1970–71 | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 74 | 49 | +25 | 45 | 5th of 20 | QR4 | 3-1-1 | — | Allan Jones | ||||||
| 1971–72 | 38 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 85 | 42 | +43 | 55 | 2nd of 20 | R3 | 6-2-1 | — | |||||||
| 1972–73 | 38 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 102 | 39 | +63 | 59 | 1st of 20 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | — | Billy Bell | ||||||
| 1973–74 | 38 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 87 | 37 | +50 | 64 | 2nd of 20 | QR2 | 2-2-1 | — | Eddie Alder & Billy Fenwick | ||||||
| 1974–75 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 105 | 38 | +67 | 96 | 1st of 19 | R1 | 1-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Alan O’Neill | |||||
| 1975–76 | 38 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 88 | 36 | +52 | 88 | 1st of 20 | QR4 | 0-1-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | ||||||
| 1976–77 | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 80 | 49 | +31 | 66 | 5th of 20 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | Alan O’Neill Brian Slane | |||||
| 1977–78 | 38 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 107 | 37 | +70 | 89 | 2nd of 20 | R5 | 8-2-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Brian Slane Jackie Marks | |||||
| 1978–79 | 38 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 81 | 39 | +42 | 69 | 5th of 20 | R1 | 1-1-1 | R2 | 1-2-1 | Jackie Marks | |||||
| 1979–80 | 38 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 93 | 28 | +65 | 92 | 1st of 20 | R1 | 1-1-1 | QF | 3-2-1 | ||||||
| 1980–81 | 38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 89 | 35 | +54 | 86 | 1st of 20 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | R3 | 2-0-1 | ||||||
| 1981–82 | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 77 | 31 | +46 | 83 | 1st of 20 | R1 | 1-0-1 | R2 | 1-0-1 | Bob Elwell | |||||
| Northern Football League expanded up to two divisions | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–83 | Northern Football League Division One |
36 | 23 | 11 | 2 | 92 | 31 | +61 | 80 | 1st of 19 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | QF | 3-1-1 | Bob Elwell John Connolly | ||||
| 1983–84 | 34 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 74 | 22 | +52 | 78 | 1st of 18 | QR4 | 0-1-1 | R1 | 0-1-1 | John Connolly Mick Dagless | |||||
| 1984–85 | 34 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 86 | 36 | +50 | 75 | 2nd of 18 | QR1 | 0-1-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | Peter Feenan | |||||
| 1985–86 | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 79 | 52 | +27 | 66 | 4th of 20 | QR3 | 2-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Peter Feenan Jim Pearson | |||||
| 1986–87 | 38 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 87 | 36 | +51 | 94 | 1st of 20 | QR3 | 2-1-1 | R3 | 3-4-1 | Jim Pearson | |||||
| 1987–88 | 38 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 106 | 36 | +70 | 92 | 1st of 20 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | R1 | 0-2-1 | ||||||
| 1988–89 | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 52 | 9th of 20 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | R1 | 0-0-1 | Dave Clarke Tommy Dixon | |||||
| 1989–90 | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 53 | 9th of 20 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Tommy Dixon | |||||
| 1990–91 | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 80 | 50 | +30 | 68 | 3rd of 20 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | QR3 | 0-2-1 | Ronnie Walton | |||||
| 1991–92 | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 63 | 44 | +19 | 65 | 6th of 20 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 1-1-1 | ||||||
| 1992–93 | 38 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 83 | 35 | +48 | 82 | 4th of 20 | R1 | 4-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Ronnie Walton Peter Feenan | |||||
| 1993–94 | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 81 | 37 | +44 | 73 | 2nd of 20 Promoted |
QR1 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | Peter Feenan | |||||
| 1994–95 | Northern Premier League Division One |
7 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 95 | 55 | +40 | 87 | 1st of 22 Promoted |
QR4 | 3-0-1 | R1 | 1-2-1 | Harry Dunn | |||
| 1995–96 | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
6 | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 75 | 61 | +14 | 64 | 6th of 22 | R2 | 5-0-1 | R2 | 2-0-1 | Harry Dunn Peter Harrison | |||
| 1996–97 | 44 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 74 | 49 | +25 | 77 | 7th of 23 | QR4 | 0-0-1 | R1 | 1-2-1 | Peter Harrison John Burridge | |||||
| 1997–98 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 52 | 63 | -11 | 39 | 18th of 22 | R1 | 4-1-1 | R1 | 1-0-1 | John Burridge | |||||
| 1998–99 | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 51 | 14th of 22 | QR2 | 0-1-1 | R1 | 0-1-1 | Alan Shoulder John Gamble | |||||
| 1999–2000 | 44 | 15 | 9 | 20 | 62 | 67 | -5 | 54 | 14th of 23 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R3 | 2-0-1 | John Gamble Mick Tait | |||||
| 2000–01 | 44 | 15 | 9 | 20 | 61 | 64 | -3 | 54 | 14th of 23 | 328 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R5 | 4-1-1 | John Charlton | ||||
| 2001–02 | 44 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 59 | 62 | -3 | 58 | 12th of 23 | 432 | QR3 | 1-0-1 | R3 | 2-0-1 | |||||
| 2002–03 | 44 | 14 | 9 | 21 | 67 | 87 | -20 | 51 | 19th of 23 | 366 | QR4 | 2-1-1 | R3 | 2-0-1 | John Charlton Paul Baker | ||||
| 2003–04 | 44 | 10 | 10 | 24 | 54 | 74 | -20 | 40 | 21st of 23 | 398 | QR4 | 2-0-1 | R4 | 3-0-1 | Paul Baker | ||||
| Conference North, a new sixth tier league created, club did not qualified to join it | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–05 | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
7 | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 53 | 55 | -2 | 52 | 12th of 22 | 313 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | R2 | 1-0-1 | Paul Baker Harry Dunn | ||
| 2005–06 | 42 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 79 | 32 | +47 | 89 | 1st of 22 Promoted |
528 | QR4 | 3-1-1 | R2 | 4-0-1 | Harry Dunn | ||||
| 2006–07 | Conference North | 6 | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 57 | 49 | +8 | 66 | 7th of 22 | 659 | QR3 | 1-1-1 | QR3 | 0-2-0 | |||
| 2007–08 | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 52 | 62 | -10 | 46 | 18th of 22 | 489 | QR3 | 1-0-1 | R2 | 1-2-1 | |||||
| 2008–09 | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 50 | 58 | -8 | 49 | 15th of 22 | 566 | R3 | 5-2-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | |||||
| 2009–10 | 40 | 13 | 9 | 18 | 67 | 72 | -5 | 48 | 13th of 21 | 486 | QR4 | 2-2-1 | QR3 | 0-1-1 | Mick Tait | ||||
| 2010–11 | 40 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 61 | 54 | +7 | 58 | 9th of 21 | Paul Brayson | 23 | 449 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | QF | 4-1-1 | |||
| 2011–12 | 42 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 51 | 81 | -30 | 34 | 21st of 22 Relegated |
Graeme Armstrong Glen Taylor |
7 | 422 | R1 | 3-1-1 | QR3 | 0-0-1 | Steve Cuggy Tommy Cassidy | ||
| 2012–13 | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
7 | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 70 | 87 | -17 | 51 | 16th of 22 | 326 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | Tommy Cassidy Paddy Atkinson Tom Wade | ||
| 2013–14 | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 79 | 78 | +1 | 72 | 8th of 24 | 360 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | Tom Wade | ||||
| 2014–15 | 46 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 84 | 54 | +30 | 79 | 6th of 24 | 464 | R3 | 6-1-1 | QR2 | 1-1-1 | |||||
| 2015–16 | 46 | 32 | 3 | 11 | 89 | 41 | +48 | 99 | 2nd of 24 | 688 | QR1 | 0-0-1 | QR3 | 2-0-1 | |||||
| Lost in the play-off semifinal | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–17 | 46 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 114 | 44 | +70 | 101 | 1st of 24 Promoted |
649 | QR2 | 1-0-1 | QR3 | 2-2-1 | Tom Wade Alun Armstrong | ||||
| 2017–18 | National League North | 6 | 42 | 19 | 2 | 21 | 76 | 69 | +7 | 59 | 10th of 22 | Daniel Maguire | 16 | 798 | QR2 | 0-0-1 | R2 | 2-0-1 | Alun Armstrong |
| 2018–19 | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 74 | 62 | +12 | 69 | 6th of 22 | Daniel Maguire | 20 | 816 | QR4 | 2-1-1 | R3 | 3-0-1 | |||
| Lost in the play-off semifinal | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–20 | 33 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 32 | 78 | -46 | 23 | 21st of 22 | Callum Roberts | 11 | 839 | QR3 | 1-1-1 | R1 | 1-1-1 | Lee Clark Michael Nelson | ||
| The regular season was cut short due to COVID-19, final league positions decided by points-per-game | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–21 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 36 | -26 | 6 | 22nd of 22 | Paul Blackett | 5 | – | QR3 | 1-0-1 | R2 | 0-0-0 | Michael Nelson | ||
| The season was declared null and void due to COVID-19 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 41 | 76 | -35 | 43 | 19th of 22 | JJ O'Donnell | 14 | 926 | QR3 | 1-1-1 | R2 | 0-0-1 | Michael Nelson Terry Mitchell | ||
| 2022–23 | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 49 | 62 | -13 | 50 | 19th of 24 | Nicky Deverdics | 7 | 786 | QR4 | 2-1-1 | R3 | 1-0-1 | Graham Fenton | ||
| 2023–24 | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 66 | 82 | -16 | 50 | 21st of 24 Relegated |
Nicky Deverdics JJ Hooper |
11 | 893 | QR3 | 1-2-1 | R3 | 1-0-1 | Graham Fenton Jon Shaw | ||
| 2024–25 | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
7 | Nolberto Solano | ||||||||||||||||
Notes
- Source: Blyth Spartans at the Football Club History Database
- COVID-19 prevented fans from attending games
References
- "English attendances archive". EFS. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- "FA Cup past results". The FA. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
