By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
In this new series of features, we’ll be analysing our opposition for the new Northern League season, and we start with newly-promoted Stockton Town.
Club: Stockton Town
Nickname: The Anchors
Founded: 1978
Ground: Bishopton Road West, Stockton-on-Tees, Stokesley, North Yorks, TS19 0QD
Craik Park to Stockton: 53 miles
Last Season: 1st (Division Two)
Twitter: @stockton_townfc
Morpeth Town’s first game of the new Northern League Division One season also happens to be their first away game too.
Nick Gray and Dave Malone will take their side to Stockton on Wednesday, 12 August looking to start their season off with a win.
The sides have never met in a competitive fixture before, and with big things happening off the field at both clubs, it promises to be a great contest on the opening day.
Michael Dunwell’s side took Division Two by storm last season, winning the league at the first time of asking with 93 points and 111 goals to their name. They pipped Team Northumbria and Billingham Synthonia to the title, and have been busy this summer.
Stockton brought in a trio of signings a couple of weeks ago. Jamie Owens returned to the club, while Nathan Mulligan and Jamie Poole also signed on the dotted line.
The Anchors were last beaten in the league last November, 5-4 against Bedlington Terriers, and then went on a 23-game unbeaten streak till the end of the season – in Division Two. Morpeth will be looking to put an end to the run on August 12.
