From Sussex to The Wear

Hebburn v Southport in the league today, the opening round of fixtures in the sixth tier, the National League North.

Hebburn achieved automatic promotion by winning the seventh tier last season, this will be the highest level they've ever competed at.

Southport finshed 14/22 in this division last season, they are old hats at this level with this being their ninth season in a row, since relegation from the National League (Conference) in 2017. Up until the late 70s Southport were in the football league.

🗓 Saturday 8th August 2026
🏆 National League North
🏟 Hebburn Sports Ground
👨‍👦‍👦 1,211

Hebburn Town 3 - 1 Southport

⚽️ Cornish 8'
⚽️ Charles 42'
⚽️ Ogwuru 60'
⚽️ Donaldson 88'

A fantastic win for Hebburn on a glorious day for the club, with well over a thousand through the gates.
Truth be told Southport might have had more of the ball, but couldn't create much, with Hebburn having the clinical edge.

It took less than ten minutes for Hebburn to open the scoring, Matt Cornish sweeping home from close range following an excellent cross by Jake Charles.
Charles added a second just before half time, a goal and an assist on his debut.

In between Southport did much of the running, racking up several corners, but not creating any real chances.

The second half was much the same, until eventually Southport scored on the hour mark.

For a few minutes afterwards I felt like Southport might be able to get back level, but Hebburn freshened things up with some subsitutions that ultimately decided the game.

The extra impetus up front for Hebburn created two excellent chances with around ten to go, substitutes Josh Donaldson and then Tom Allan just after both coming really close.
With only minutes to go Donaldson did score, finishing off a delightful team move, a real class spell of play.

Sunderland RCA v Tow Law Town in the league today.

Last weekend RCA started their season with a convincing 3-0 away win at Durham University, but during the week they lost 2-1 at home to Boldon, despite taking the lead.

Tow Law Town have maximum points, starting with wins over Ryton & Crawcrook Albion and Chester Le Street Town. They finished 18/22 in the division last season.

🗓 Saturday 1st August 2026
🏆 The Northern League Division Two
🏟 Meadow Park
👨‍👦‍👦 145

Sunderland RCA 1-4 Tow Law Town

⚽️ 17' Walsh
⚽️ ⚽️20' 55' Brown
⚽️ Richards 26'
⚽️ 66' Thexton

A really tough afternoon for RCA, but what a start to the season for Tow Law. Tow Law looked physically strong and organised at the back, and some clever fluid play by their attackers created chances RCA's keeper had no chance with.

A really contentious disallowed goal for RCA near the end of the first half though, which would have made it 2-2.

Tow Law went in at half time 2-1 up, two close range goals in quick succession around the twenty minutes mark from Harvey Walsh and Reece Brown.
I couldn't really see RCA getting back into it, but on 26' a long cross field ball unlocked right back Luke Richards who smashed it into the net, with what was RCA's first on target effort.

RCA were probably the better side from then on, and they thought they'd equalised with about five to go, only to be flagged offside. RCA's players were not happy with the decision

It was all Tow Law from the start of the second half, and after about ten minutes a clever flicked pass into the six yard box brought them another goal, knocked beyond the keeper for another close range finish by Brown.

RCA had another good spell in response, without really creating a real chance or testing Tow Law's keeper, and about ten minutes after Tow Law's third goal they had a fourth, a defence splitting pass saw their number 9 Dean Thexton clean through to knock it past the keeper. Thexton deserved a goal for his contributions to Tow Law's other strikes.

Sunderland RCA v Boldon tonight in the league.

Last season RCA finished an encouraging 14/22 in division two of the Northern League, and they've made a great start to this season, winning 3-0 away to Durham United at the weekend.
RCA had a busy summer of recruitment, the highlight for me was defender Brad Forster, formerly of Sunderland West End, who I felt was one of the players of the divison.

Both teams won their opening games of the season, I saw Boldon beat Grangetown 2-1 on Saturday.

🗓 Wednesday 29th July 2026
🏆 The Northern League Division Two
🏟 Meadow Park
👨‍👦‍👦

Sunderland RCA 1-2 Boldon

⚽️ Imeson 23'
⚽️ Thear 45'
⚽️ Larmouth 76'

Six points out of six for Boldon, with two 2-1 wins. I thought they just about edged it on Saturday, but tonight RCA will be wondering how they've ended up losing a match they took the lead in and could have finished off in the first half. Ultimately a last gasp first half equaliser for Boldon proved hugely significant.

Boldon had a postive moment very early on when number 7 Larmouth got forward and the ball clipped the outside of the post on the way to a corner.

RCA had a cracking effort at goal on 15' that Boldon keeper Dan Gladstone did well to tip over.

Boldon came very close to taking the kead very soon after, a last ditch goal line clearance by RCA after a scramble.

RCA took the lead not too long after following good work by their number 7, Guy, who laid the ball off for number 2, Luke Richards. Gladstone did well again to stop that but the ball spilled to striker Owen Imeson to knock home.

A key moment came soon after when Gladstone was again called into action, saving from Guy.

Imeson got the better of the keeper in a race for the ball with about ten to go, but there was still several defenders to get past and his shot was blocked.

Boldon hadn't really responded to the goal, not really getting forward again, so it looked like RCA would go in in the lead, but right at the end striker Liam Thear equalised from close range.

There wasn't really much to report in the second half, RCA seemed in control, but never got anything on target and Boldon nabbed a goal with about fifteen to go through Callum Larmouth. Full disclosure, I was coming back from the john so I missed it, but I believe it was a free kick that went in via the post.

RCA were racking up dangerous looking free kicks that came to nothing, but still couldn't test Gladstone again, and if anything Boldon might have sneaked another one.

Boldon v Grangetown in the league today, the opening round of fixtures in the Northern League for the 2026/27 season.

Boldon finished 20/22 in the Northern League division two last season, ostensibly in the relegation spots, but the inevitable restructuring in the summer of league placements has kept them in the Northern League.
Boldon have had a busy summer, bringing in players such as Garon Garside, Liam Lowery and picking up two of my favourite players from Sunderland West End, Adam Anderson and Luke McCabe.
In a big announcement yesterday they have a fancy new kit for this season, and they will come into today in great confidence having stuffed South Shields 5-1 on Wednesday in the annual Sam Bartram trophy.

Grangetown finished 17th in the same divison last season. During pre season they recorded a big win away to Willington, but lost to Yarm & Eaglescliffe last time out. In a busy summer of recruitment their big signing was former Middlesbrough academy striker Lewis Lambert.

🗓 Saturday July 25th 2026
🏆 Northern League Divison Two
🏟 The Villa
👨‍👦‍👦 173

Boldon CA 2 - 1 Grangetown Boys Club

⚽️ Robinson 16'
⚽️ Gateshill 82'
⚽️ Jatta 83'

A just about deserved win for Boldon, in what was ultimately a scrappy game.

Boldon took a while to settle, and, trying to play out from a goalkick, presented Grangetown no 9, Kieran Stares, a sight of goal early on, but his effort was off target.

That miss looked worse a couple of minutes later when Boldon got forward meaningfully for the first time and racked up a couple of corners. From the second Grangetown's keeper could only push a strong delivery into the danger zone and Boldon's Mark Robinson cleverly volleyed it into the net.

Not long after Stares had a header from a corner hit the side netting, to a couple of cheers thinking it had gone in. Sadly, that would be the last of Stares' chances as he went off injured shortly after.

It's easy to say, but losing lead striker and club captain Stares really seemed to neuter Grangetown's attack, though left winger Jake Williams-Muthana brought a solid save from Gladstone in the Boldon goal.

Boldon might have a second right at the end of the half, Grangetown clearing an effort off the line, though the defender was always comfortable.

Not too many chances in the second half, with Boldon adamant they should have had a penalty and Williams-Muthana working the keeper again for Grangetown.

A bizarre, and unsavoury, incident in rhe second half saw Grangetown's physio on rhe pitch and involved in an altercation with a Boldon player. After lots of shoving and more people on the pitch, the physio was red carded.

With a little under ten minutes regulation time left Boldon added a second, Grangetown gave the ball away and it found its way to Robbie Gateshill who nicely slipped it under the keeper.

Almost immediately Grangetown got one back, Boldon couldn't clear a free kick, the ball might have already gone over the line but Famara Jatta made sure, lashing it home.

Neither side looked convincing defending corners, and deep in stoppage time Grangetown came very close to levelling, hitting the bar from one. It wasn't really a four goal game, but a draw would have been fair enough.

Hebburn v Heaton Stannington in a pre season friendly tonight, the first blog of the 2026-27 season.

Last season Hebburn remarkably won the Northern Premier Divison to gain promotion to the sixth tier for the first time in their history.
Tonight is their second pre season friendly, they've warmed up nicely with a 5-0 win over Warrington Rylands at the weekend.

Heaton play in the Northern Division One, the 8th tier. They finished seventh, two places outside the play offs, but fourteen points away.

🗓 Tuesday 7th July 2026
🏆 Friendly
🏟 Hebburn Sports Ground
👨‍👦‍👦

Hebburn Town 2 - 4 Heaton Stannington

⚽️ Allan 9'
⚽️ 21'
⚽️ 40'

⚽️ 55'
⚽️ 70'
⚽️ 89'

Pre season friendlies are all about getting minutes in and bedding new players, but nevertheless Hebburn will be disappointed to lose and concede four goals at home.

Hebburn started brightly, and had three chances to score on five minutes, the first chance going for a corner and then they came close to scoring twice from that.
It only took another five or so to score, new signing Tom Allan heading home from close range.
Hebburn missed a further great chance, a shot went wide with the player Gildo Da Silva in acres of space.

Heaton caught Hebburn out on about twenty, a header from a corner, and added a second towards the end of the half.

Hebburn had a great spell in the second half and it included a goal, a lovely curling finish from just inside the box from no 20, an unidentified trialist.

A bit of trouble at the back allowed Heaton to retake the lead with about twenty to go, and they added a fourth just before the end.

Sunderland v Chelsea in the league today, the last game of the season! A superb win away at Everton last time out and some favourable results elsewhere have, all of a sudden, left Sunderland firmly in European qualification contention.

Today's opponents Chelsea have had a dreadful second half of the season since manager Enzo Maresca left in the winter. Time ran out for replacement Leory Rosenior and they've stumbled to the last game with a chance at Europe via the Conference League, rather than their desired Champion's League spot.

A chance for Sunderland to do the double on their opponents today, they won 2-1 at Chelsea earlier in the season, a remarkably clever bit of hold up play by striker Brian Brobbey set up Chemsdine Talbi for a late winner.

🗓 Sunday 24th May 2026
🏆 Premier League
🏟 Stadium of Light
👨‍👦‍👦 47, 155

Sunderland 2 - 1 Chelsea

⚽️ Hume 25'
⚽️ Gusto (og) 50'
⚽️ Palmer 56'
🟥 Fofana 62'

An amazing Sunderland win sees them achieve European qualification, and, remarkably, at the higher tier Europa League level. A guaranteed eight games in the group stage, and likely further, English sides have only lost to each other in the competition for two seasons now, something far beyond the wildest dreams of most fans at the start of the season.

The opening goal came through the versatile Trai Hume, his low shot finding the corner of the goal, following a flick on from defender Luke O'Nien. That the goal that could put Sunderland into Europe wss created by two players who were there when the club was in League One four seasons ago felt significant.

Early in the second half striker Brian Brobbey looked set to score, instead his wayward attempt was knocked into the goal by Chelsea defender Malo Gusto.

That looked like it would be clean sailing for Sunderland, but it didn't take long for Cole Palmer to nab one back for Chelsea. Unfortunately for Chelsea any comeback momentum was swiftly lost, as Wesley Fofana received two bookings in quick succession to be sent off. Chelsea have picked up the most red cards in the league this season, which has undermined their campaign as much as anything else.

Sunderland u21 v Burnley u21 tonight in the final of the Premier League Cup. The last game of the season for the u21s, who squeaked into the play offs in the regular league campaign but were swiftly eliminated by Manchester United. In this competition, after the group stage, Sunderland moved past Nottingham Forest, Watford and this blog was there for a 4-2 win over Blackburn in the semi-final.

Burnley knocked out Brentford, Colchester and West Brom to reach thos stage. They finished significantly lower in the league campaign than Sunderland.

Unfortunately for Sunderland star u21 player, striker Fin Geragusian, is out injured tonight.

No first team ringers for Sunderland tonight, but further runs outs for Milan Aleksic and Ahmed Abdullahi, and a possible last appearance for Harrison Jones, rumoured to be moving on in the summer.

🗓 Wednesday 14th May 2026
🏆 Premier League Cup
🏟 Stadium of Light
👨‍👦‍👦

Sunderland 1 - 2 Burnley

⚽️ Clark 44'
⚽️ McMahon-Brown 49'
⚽️ Scott 72'

Sadly Sunderland ended up the losers, ending a decent campaign on a bit of a downer, but with the positives of reaching their first final in this competition.

Abdullahi and Aleksic had really positive first halves, and they traded good chances on around twenty minutes, Burnley keeper Oisin Cooney equal to both.

At that point it looked like Sunderland would surely score soon, but Burnley struck just before half time when Ellis Clark headed home a cross.

Shortly after the reset Burnley extended their lead through a delightful goal, Kian McMahon-Brown cleverly back heeling over Sunderland's keeper, Joe Cowan.

Burnley missed a great chance with about twenty to go, and soon after Sunderland managed to get one back, subsitute Felix Scott making an immediate impact. Abdullahi and Aleksic remained at the front of anything positive from Sunderland, and both managed to hit the post within a couple of minutes of one another, but that would be it.

Hebburn Women v Boldon Ladies in the league tonight.

With two games to go Hebburn are 7/10 in the Durham County Women's Premier Divison, with the potential to come 6th. They lost 5-2 away to second placed Gateshead Leam Rangers at the weekend, but had won three in a row prior to that.

This is first placed Boldon's last league match of the season and a win tonight would see them take the title. Boldon are on a run of five straight league victories, including a vital win over Leam Rangers, but they surprisingly were hammered 10-2 in the divisional cup final at the weekend by Durham Cestria Reserves. Earlier in the season Boldon had a better time in the County Cup, winning the competition.

Boldon have already beaten Hebburn three times this season, a 4-0 league win I attended back in September and in both cups.

🗓 Wednesday 13th May
🏆 Women's Premier Divison
🏟 Hebburn Sports Ground

Hebburn Town 2 - 7 Boldon CA

⚽️⚽️⚽️ Emmonds 1', 32', 85'
⚽️⚽️ Allison 8', 23'
⚽️ Clarke 22'
⚽️ Scammel 46'
⚽️ Pedersen 52'
⚽️ Ingram 90'
🟥 Gibson 75'

Hebburn did provide some resistance, equalising each of Boldon's first two goals in a cracking first quarter of the match, but ultimately Boldon's top of the table class took hold and they took their deserved place as league champions. A wonderful season for Boldon, champions, cup finalists and cup winners and, I believe, a promotion into the North East Regional Women's Football League proper.

Decent crowd tonight, must have been getting on for three figures, with lots of kids from Boldon there for the party, with even a mini pitch invasion at the end.

I'm not sure there had even been a minute played when Boldon took the lead, Lola Emmonds curling a corner straight in despite a Hebburn defender's attempts to clear.
It only took seven minutes or so for Hebburn to equalise, a lovely through ball by Kate Jackson left Sophie Allison clean through for a nice finish.

Next Boldon captain Katie Scammell, a former Hebburn player, and then Hebburn's captain Makenzie Gibson traded free kicks that hit the crossbar, before Boldon's Daisy Clarke restored their lead.
Pretty much immediately another perfect pass forward by Jackson released Shannon Bunce on the wing and her cross was knocked down by either Hebburn forward Freya Peel or a Boldon defender for Allison to score again.

It was a pretty breath taking first half of the half, it settled down a bit from then on, with Boldon going back in front with a second goal for Emmonds. Hebburn did get an effort on target in response through Jackson but it was a comfortable save for Boldon's Lily Hodgkinson.

Right at the start of the second half Scammell tried again with a free kick, this time successfully.

It was hard for Hebburn to get back into the game now, and a further Boldon goal came from Gabi Pedersen shortly after.

With about a quarter of a hour to go a Boldon corner led to a shot at goal that was blocked on the line by Gibson, unfortunately with her hand, leading to a straight red and a penalty, but Boldon missed the kick, the ball going over.
It was a bit of a surprise that Boldon's Connie Raine, a superb goal scorer who could definitely play at a higher level, didn't score tonight, but in my notes it was her shot that was handled. Nonetheless it was another top class display by Raine, always threatening and a great work rate.

With ten players it was even more all hands to the pump for Hebburn, with keeper Kya Stewart having a strong second half of solid saves and Bunce and Peel being forced to act as defenders, doing a good job of blocking several Boldon attacks.

They couldn't keep everything out though, and another Emmonds corner with five to go came back out to her for her to curl it into the top corner delightfully for her hat trick.

Right at the death Boldon added a final flourish, Abi Ingram blasting home inside the box.

Sunderland v Man United in the league today, the last round of, increasingly rare it feels, 3pm Saturday games for the Premier League.

Back to the scene of the crime for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the first time back here since being mauled 5-0 by Nottingham Forest two weeks ago. Since then they've restored some credibility by drawing 1-1 away at Wolves, down to ten men for much of the match with defender Dan Ballard the latest victim of football's deeply unpopular accidental hair touch is a straight red and three game ban rule. With only three games left, Ballard's season is over.

Man United are going great guns under interim manager Michael Carrick and confirmed Champion's League qualification with a 3-2 win over rivals Liverpool last time out, and this week midfielder Bruno Fernandes won the football writer's player of the season award.

🗓 Saturday 9th May 2026 🌧
🏆 Premier League
🏟 Stadium of Light
👨‍👦‍👦 47,233

Sunderland 0 - 0 Manchester United

All Sunderland this afternoon, United not managing a shot on target until injury time, but once more a lack of cutting edge stopped Sunderland achieving the right result.
With Sunderland safe from relegation and increasingly unlikely to trouble the European spots, and United officially confirmed in the Champion's League spots there was definitely a vibe of end season friendly about the match. If it hadn't have been raining all day in Sunderland it would have been quite a pleasant summer watch.

Sunderland nearly scored twice in the opening ten minutes, winger Chemsdine Talbi checking in and curling a shot just wide, and then, only a couple of minutes later, midfielder Noah Sadiki was suddenly clean through, but his blasted shot was well saved by United keeper Senne Lammens.

About ten minutes later United avoided a penalty when a handball by former Sunderland loan hero Amad Diallo survived a VAR check. To the Sunderland fans fury this incident would be completely absent from the BBC's Match of the Day's footage later.

The best action of the second half saw Geertrudia hit the post with Lammens stranded.

Finally for United Matheus Cunha registered an effort on target in stoppage time, I thought he was going to score, but he fired straight at keeper Robin Roefs. There was even time left for Cunha to rather ignomoniously get booked for diving.

Something that Match of the Day did pick up on that I, and I think most, missed was a potential elbow on Fernandes by substitute Angulo. The referee was buying into the end season friendly vibe and letting a lot flow, Fernandes and Sunderland's captain Granit Xhaka both spending much of the second half in deep conversation with the ref. I was amazed Fernandes didn't get booked for several fouls and persistent complaining, and I thought Xhaka was pushing it.

South Shields v Buxton today, in the National League North play offs.

With two games to go in the regular campaign Shields were neck and neck with Flyde on 94 points and were in a straight shoot out for the only automatic promotion spot. Sadly a home draw with much lower in the table Bedford shifted the momentuym to Flyde and then one of the hardest futures of the season, away to third placed Kidderminster, did for Shields, leaving them in the play offs, despite a magnificent 95 points, 99 goals and only seven defeats.

Buxton finished 5th with two big wins, and have already despatched Scarborough in the play offs, winning 4-2 on Tuesday.

When I moved to the North East, in January 2023, Shields were already quite high profile, playing at Mariner's Park, Kevin Phillips was the manager, they'd just been on the BBC in the FA Cup, but even then them now being two games, again, from the Conference (National League) is incredible. In the context that I've learned being up here that's it's not that long since they were struggling in the Northern League divisions what they've achieved is miraculous.

🗓 Saturday May 2nd 2026
🏆National League North (play offs)
🏟 Mariner's Park
👨‍👦‍👦 2,329

South Shields 1 - 0 Buxton

⚽️ Blackett 40' (pen)

Shields win 1-0 with a Paul Blackett goal, his 30th and their 100th in the league, and will now play Kidderminster in the final, because, of course, what other outcome could there possibly have been?

A tight, cagey first half came to life with about five minutes to go when left winger Sean McGuirk was brought down in the box, lead striker Paul Blackett smashing home the penalty.
A couple of minutes later Sonny Finch found himself through, but his effort went just wide.

Prior to that the best action was a chance for McGuirk when a cross from Finch was absolutely leathered across the box which he couldn't direct into the goal.

Neither side could really get forward in the second half until Shields struggled to clear with about fifteen to go and Buxton's Bardell struck the post.

That was a huge let off, and with three minutes to go there was an almighty scare when a long, looping Buxton cross was missed by Shields' keeper Watson and was knocked into the net. It was a clear foul on Watson, but for a brief nano second it looked like the ref hadn't given it and the goal would stand.

Nine minutes injury time brought a couple of Buxton chances, Olly Bainbridge, on loan from Sunderland made a particularly important block, but finally the whistle went.

Half time for promotion then, the exertions of a long season and the pressure of today clearly evident, McGuirk ran himself into the ground and Blackett and Finch were substituted. Hopefully all will be right for the final.