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Pitching In Northern Premier League - Season 2021-22
A昀琀er two incomplete seasons 2021-22 began with hope, Covid protocols, the League Cup in abeyance, and
20 new clubs (6 East, 2 West and 12 new Midlands Division). All involved hoped that Covid19 had progressed
far enough that it wouldn’t curtail the season - and so, it turned out, with only 10 Covid postponements. The
NPL now boasted 4 Divisions with 81 clubs; equal in size to the two other partner Trident Leagues. Thanks
to sympathe琀椀c weather condi琀椀ons, plus e昀昀ec琀椀ve 昀椀xture management, 1923 games in all compe琀椀琀椀ons saw
records broken and the season completed on 琀椀me.
From the start it was obvious that supporters had missed football so much in lockdowns that they would
make up for lost 琀椀me. Indeed, the League’s a琀琀endances soared to over 700,000 with Premier gates up 28%,
when compared to the last full season (2018-19), East 44% and West 59%. The small number of Midlands
clubs members in 2018-19 showed a 86% rise!
The thought of live football again with 20 new clubs in the mix, brought great excitement. South Shields
began as a full-琀椀me professional out昀椀t in an a琀琀empt to redress the early termina琀椀on of the previous season.
By New Year Matlock had taken over at their lead and Bamber Bridge had forced up to 2nd, whilst Buxton
and Shields trailed. By season’s end Buxton had maintained a tremendous charge to win the Championship
with Scarborough moving up on the rails to win the play-o昀昀 ba琀琀le. Whitby’s Jacob Hazel was top goalscorer
on 26.
East Division new club Liversedge powered to the top by October with Marske, Osse琀琀 and Shildon chasing.
Sedge s琀椀ll lay in control by the end of 2021, with Stockton replacing Osse琀琀 in the top 4. A close-run season
saw the Clayborn side hold o昀昀 Marske to take the 琀椀tle, but proli昀椀c top-scorer Adam Boyes’ 28 goals helped
the Seasiders go up via the play-o昀昀s.
The new clubs in the Midlands Division meant that there was more uncertainty in that con琀椀ngent. Halesowen
were the early front-runners but Carlton, Coleshill and Ilkeston chased hard. New Year saw posi琀椀ons change
and ‘Ilson’ moved top, where they stayed for most of the season gaining the Divisional Trophy. Golden Boot
winner Jonathan Marge琀琀s’ 31 goals powered Stamford into the play-o昀昀s, but former club, Belper, for whom
he scored 18 of those goals, that li昀琀ed the play-o昀昀 prize.
The West had a familiar look to it, especially when Marine took an early lead, with Mossley, Workington and
Clitheroe chasing. As 2021 bowed out Warrington Rylands 1906 had entered the fray, running out eventual
winners, and Runcorn’s Ryan Brookes’ 25 goals couldn’t stop Marine winning the play-o昀昀s.
Champions Buxton fought through to the FA Cup 2nd Round Proper before bowing out to a single 昀椀rst-half
goal from League Two Morecambe before 3642 Silverlands’ fans. Morpeth held NPL hopes in the FA Trophy
to the 5th Round where York City beat them 3-2 at the LNER Stadium.
Marske’s Adam Boyes had the honour of leading out the 150 Anniversary FA Cup Final teams at Wembley, his
11 goals making him the compe琀椀琀椀on’s top goalscorer, gaining him the FA’s Golden Ball Trophy presenta琀椀on
a昀琀er the match.
Lancaster won the held-over 2019-20 Lancashire FA Trophy Final, whilst other County Cup winners
were Scarborough (North Riding Senior Cup), Liversedge (West Riding County Cup), Ashton (Manchester
Premier Cup), Sta昀昀ord (Sta昀昀ordshire Senior Cup), Worksop (She昀케eld & Hallamshire Senior Cup) and Carlton
(No琀�nghamshire Senior Cup). Among the 13 clubs leaving the League, Soham Town Rangers create history
by being the only club ever to have had full seasons in all three Trident Leagues.
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