This Saturday we make our longest journey of the season with a 420-mile round for our first ever visit to Morpeth Town. Only a few years ago Morpeth were a Northern League side within a league that appeared not to keen on the football pyramid. However, boosted by the success of sides like Spennymoor and South Shields, the progressive Northern League sides have seen the benefit of the pyramid system. Morpeth joined the pyramid last season, and in their first season at step 4 they walked division one gaining 88 points, 12 points clear of the runners up. Their home record was won 16, drew 1 and lost only 2. They have taken that impetus into step 3 and currently lie 12th with, 9 points from 5 games and a 100% home record from their 2 games played.

Morpeth have had a bit of an up and down season so far. They started the season with a fine away win at Warrington but have lost their other 2 away games at Whitby and FC United. Their 2 home wins were against Lancaster and Buxton. They are still in the FA Cup with home wins over Brighouse and Hyde and on Saturday had a 4-2 win at National League North side Bradford P A. Their league form makes it look like a banker home win, but we travel to Craik Park in the knowledge that we can pull off a surprise win.

As we have never met before we need some historic background on our opponents. Morpeth Town Football Club was established in 1894, and for more than a century they have played in amber and black. Looks like we will be in red then. The club spent half a century in the Northern Football Alliance before stepping up to the Northern League on their one hundredth anniversary. The club moved to a purpose-built stadium in 1994, which was named Craik Park after the father and son, W and R Craik who had served as secretary between 1920 and 1985.

Their big day in history came in 2015/16 winning the FA Vase, beating Hereford 4-1 in the Wembley final. More recent times have been hugely successful with promotion secured to NPL East at the start of the 2018/19 season and a further step last summer into step 3 of the non-league pyramid. Let’s hope our long journey is not a wasted one.

Games played 28th September this century

2003 Shepshed                        A                2-0                     F A Cup 2nd qualifying round
2010 Eastwood Town             A               1-3                      F A Cup 2nd qualifying round replay
2013 Boston United                H               0-4                      F A Cup 2nd qualifying round