Second Season Syndrome: The Lowdown on Birtley Town

A deep dive into the history of tonight’s opposition, Birtley Town.

Redcar Athletic are tonight offered the opportunity to take a positional advantage into Saturday’s clash with Boro Rangers, the lone hurdle standing being the Hoops of Birtley Town.

This is an old photo, isn’t it! Can anyone name the year, the date, and the score?

WHO ARE YA?

Birtley Town

A club whose Northern League roots date back to its very inception, Birtley Town boast a deep history not too dissimilar from that of the division’s giants.

The Hoops featured in the league’s very first season all the way back in 1889, tasting victory in its inaugural match against Elswick Rangers (Birtley Town 4-1 Elswick Rangers).

A move to the North Eastern League in 1926 reaped little success, the club soon opting to join the Wearside League, in advance of what became the Second World War.

Having withdrawn from the league sometime after the global conflict, the Birtley Town that exists today was reformed in 1993.

The ‘Hoops’ have featured at Birtley Sports Complex since m, with regular work and development carried out on the grounds facilitating promotion back to the Northern League in 2018.

Since, a startling season in Division Two paved the way for promotion. Birtley sank Billingham Town in a tight play-off final affair, earning a first taste of Step Five football in their long, illustrious history.

DID YOU KNOW: Birtley Town FC was formed as simply Birtley FC, remaining as such until after the Second World War, and then retaining the suffix when reformed in 1993.

CURRENT FORM

For Birtley Town, the success of last season has taken a much unexpected hiatus.

The Hoops have lost each of their last three, winning just twice in Northern League play, ironically, against Kendal Town and Marske United.

Three from three in the Northern League, and given an away tie with Prudhoe Youth in the Isuzu FA Vase, Redcar’s fortunes are much improved since Birtley Town last paid a visit to Green Lane.

A win this evening would see the Steelmen to the top of the table, ever-so important with the looming threat of Boro Rangers on Saturday.