Until very recently, there wasn't a local team participating amongst the six steps of our National League System and then, suddenly, two Redcar clubs triumphantly emerged together, as if by magic!
Redcar Athletic gained promotion to the Northern League Division Two from the Wearside League in 2018 and Redcar Town FC followed suit three years later via the North Riding League.
Athletic then won promotion again, reaching Northern League Division One status at Step 5 in 2021.
So I duly groundhopped both Redcar outfits this season to discover how they are adapting to life in senior Non-League circles.
My first port of call was Redcar Town where I enjoyed a 1-0 Friday night victory against Sunderland West End. An attendance of 193 watched the Northern League Division Two encounter at Mo Mowlam Memorial Park.
I subsequently chatted to Town chairman Gary Wheatley. He told me: "After the COVID disrupted seasons, we secured promotion to this level two years ago based on our favourable points per game record.
Yet truthfully, the side was certainly not ready for the step up and our structure off the field was thin to non-existent.
"Nevertheless, a committee was formed - at last bringing vital club stability. Rather than 'boom and bust', we are focusing upon sustainability by targeting younger home produced players.
Denne historien er fra December 03, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 03, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CUT ABOVE THE REST!
ALAN JULIAN is fully on board with Hampton & Richmond Borough's serious message Movember even if he can't stop laughing at his players!
JOE IS SPECIAL GUEST STAR!
YATE TOWN 1 Guest EVESHAM UTD 0
GOAL ACE ROSS HAS PLENTY OF SHELF LIFE
It's 300 up for Allen but Green Lion marches on
TOWN ARE READY TO GO AGAIN!
Witham boss Kimble is eyeing a repeat
DAWS SHUTS DOWN TOWN BUT MAGPIES DRAW AGAIN
DORCHESTER TOWN boss Tom Killick called for unity to help the Magpies shake off their mini slump after a fourth league draw on the spin.
ARCHIE ANSWERS CHURCH PRAYERS IN FLOWERS BOW
TEN-man Alvechurch fought their way to a first league victory since mid-September to kick off the Tim Flowers era with a precious three points.
HORNETS HAVE THE BUZZ FOR VICTORY!
THE CLASH between Wingate & Finchley and Horsham was a tight and fiercely contested affair, with Horsham emerging as narrow victors thanks to a second-half strike.
MACCA'S THE HERO IN 'NICK' OF TIME!
SUBSTITUTE Nick McCoootie grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Weston-superMare battled back from 3-2 down with five minutes left to clinch victory in this top-of-the-table thriller at the Woodspring.
SHOTS LAUD HERO HENRY
FRUSTRATED Phil Parkinson bemoaned the rigours of life on the road as Altrincham were blown away by Storm Bert and a resurgent Aldershot Town in a fruitless tenhour round-trip though the wind and rain.
GRAHAM GIVES UNITED BOUNCE
NEW Boston United manager Graham Coughlan ended the Pilgrims’ 11-match winless run with his first attempt, at the expense of fellow survival fighters Braintree Town.
