About Newton Aycliffe FC
Newton Aycliffe FC is an Unincorporated Association based at Newton Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane, Newton Aycliffe DL5 5AG.
Chairman: Allan Oliver
Secretary: Yvonne Wood
Treasurer: Alan Nelson
Contact: [email protected]
It is difficult to find the definitive date when Newton Aycliffe Football Club was formed. There is evidence of a Newton Aycliffe Rangers in 1951 playing in the Darlington and District League. In 1954-57 there was a NAFC playing in the Auckland and District League, firstly at Sugar Hill sports ground and then Burn Lane sports ground. There then appears to be a gap. There is a report in the Newtonian in 1965 setting out the Newton Rangers Club was formed in 1961/2 and playing home games in Darlington. A further team, Newton Aycliffe AFC was formed in 1964 as a soccer section of the NA sports club, playing its first season in 1964/5 in the Darlington Weekend League, playing home matches at Simpasture playing fields.
Newton Aycliffe Rangers later played on a pitch near Aycliffe Stock Car Stadium. In 1967/68 The Rangers won the Auckland and District League Div 2 Championship (playing home games at Croxdale Welfare). By 1968-69 they had moved to Moore Lane as part of Newton Aycliffe Sports Club and had a reserve team in the Auckland and District league Division 2. 1969 saw Aycliffe Rangers reach the Semi Final of the Durham Challenge Cup, losing to Ferryhill Athletic after beating another Northern League side Stanley United on a very heavy Moore Lane pitch!
In 1969-70 a team named Newton Aycliffe SC played in the Auckland and District League Div 1 and a reserve team played in Div 2. This team won the League Challenge Cup in both 1969-70 and 70-71.
As Newton Aycliffe FC the team later moved to the Teesside League and joined the Wearside League in 1984 before folding from it during the 1993-94 season. And although the current club was re-formed a number of years ago, competing successfully in the Darlington & District League its re-emergence from 2007-08 was nothing short of phenomenal.
Having smashed their way into the Start To Learn Northern League in emphatic fashion – winning back-to-back league titles; Durham Alliance (2007-08) and the Wearside League (2008-09) – Allan Oliver’s side built on their inaugural campaign at Northern League level by topping the table for a huge eight months as they finished seven points clear of their nearest rivals in the 2010-11 title race.
The club’s development off the field has been as rapid as that on it, as Moore Lane Park gradually transformed into a ground befitting a club at Step 5 of the National League “pyramid” System – the club averaged 191 attendance in 2009-10, the fifth highest average crowd in the Northern League and 222 in 2010-11, again bettered by just four teams!
Of course, the club owes a lot to Sedgefield Council’s Local Improvement Programme and the Football Foundation for providing grants to afford the facilities but the football club are also indebted to the support received from Newton Aycliffe Sports Club who continue to be a massive backer and supporter of the club’s transformation.
Seated accommodation was delivered in the spring of 2010 and after the assistance from local firm Finlay Structures and a team of volunteers dedicated to the club, standing accommodation for over 100 persons was installed in February 2011, ready for the club’s transition into a top-flight outfit.
Under the management of Peter Dixon the highlight of 2015/2016 was winning the Durham Challenge Cup, but added to that we had our best ever runs in the FA Cup (2nd Qualifying Round Replay) & FA Vase (5th Round-last 16). We also had our highest finish (at the time) in the Ebac Northern League (6th).
In December 2016 Deano Browne & a returning Danny Mellanby joined as joint manager, steering the Club 9th in Division One, following that with a 14th place finish in 2017/2018. For 2018/2019 Danny elected to move to a new role on the club’s committee concentrating on youth development. Andrew Jinks & former skipper Sean Tarling came in as Assistant Managers.
A poor start to the 2018/2019 season brought a change of management with former Team Northumbria manager Colin Stromsoy joining in early 2019. His input led to an improvement in form which resulted in a 12th place finish in the league. This was developed further with the team sitting 5th in Division One when Covid-19 brought the season to a premature end.
Further works to the ground took place over the summer of 2020. New drains were laid to help reduce the number of postponements due to waterlogging. At the same time a grant from the Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership allowed for the resurfacing of the path leading to the ground & the construction of a turnstile. A further grant from GAMP in 2021 allowed the floodlights to be replaced with LED lanterns.
Colin Stromsoy left the club late in 2021 with former Sunderland player Brian Atkinson returning to manage his hometown club. Under Brian’s leadership the Club finished the season in 4th place in Division One, its highest ever league position at that time.
Season 2022-2023 was the best in the Club’s history as Atkinson produced a team which won the Ebac Northern League Division One. In the process the team went unbeaten at home, dropping just two points at the SecuriCorp Stadium.
The first season in the Northern Premier League Division One East saw a seventh place finish, with the club challenging for a play-off place until late in the season. It had been a difficult start to the season but once the team settled into its new level the results improved. The move to Step 4 necessitated further improvements to the ground. During Summer 2023 new dugouts & a pitch perimeter barrier were installed. As soon as season 2023/2024 ended construction commenced on a new seated stand with new ladies toilets & a second turnstile being installed. The work was completed in May ensuring that Grade 4 was achieved.
Season 2024/2025 was the fourth in succession where the team finished in its highest ever position in the National League System. Brian Atkinson’s side finished a creditable sixth, just missing out on a playoff place on the last day of the season.
