MARK CARRUTHERS hops in the car with Blyth Town boss Michael Connor to get a unique perspective on the club’s Northern League return
One long journey has been completed and Blyth Town manager Michael Connor is all set for another one.
For three years, the Northumberland club battled their way back from the Step 11 Northern Alliance’s third tier and finally landed a place back in the Northern League as part of the Football Association’s recent restructure of the Non-League system.
This came five years after a false start in Non-League’s most northerly league when Connor played a part in helping the club seal promotion into Step 5 – but off-field issues and a controversial name change ended their challenge before it had begun.
A heart-breaking last-minute opening day derby defeat to Bedlington Terriers meant a stuttering start on their new road – but now, The NLP are joining Connor as he sets out on an over-100-mile round trip to fellow Step 6 newcomers Redcar Town.
“Our furthest journey last season was to Gateshead Rutherford, that was a case of being back home in under half an hour,” he explained as the engine roars into life, and we hit the road.
“The lads have been in the WhatsApp group saying they didn’t realise how far this was, we will be lucky to be home before 11.30pm.”
Before defiantly adding: “But this is what it’s about, this is the Northern League, and this is where we want to be.”
Naive
His excitement and enthusiasm are all too obvious for their return – but the sting of that opening day defeat still clearly rankles with the Town boss.
“We were so naïve, it’s a young side and we just made too many poor decisions,” he explains.
“But we just need to be patient, as a club, as coaches, we need to be patient.”
The Tyne Tunnel is navigated and the A19 offers a surprising lack of traffic given this is technically rush hour.
Conversation turns to Town’s impressive new clubhouse, the challenges he faced in bringing in new players, his admiration for neighbours Blyth Spartans and a desire to attract the Croft Park faithful when Michael Nelson‘s men are not in National League North action.
Homework on Redcar Town has been done, but offered little in the way of genuine knowledge, with the former North Riding League club securing a solid 2-2 draw at Tow Law Town just three days earlier.
Connor suggests: “They must have something about them because Tow Law is never an easy place to go. We are expecting a challenge, we have to be up for it.”
His prediction proves to be made on solid foundations.
With 210 supporters watching the hosts make their Northern League debut at Mo Mowlam Memorial Park, Connor’s men fall behind on 19 minutes as Sean Mackin’s fine turn and shot finds the far corner of Callum Elliott’s net.
With Connor looking increasingly lively in his technical area, his side set about the task of finding an equaliser and only the impressive goalkeeping of hosts stopper Mike Algie keeps his side in front at half-time.
The hosts number one continues to frustrate Blyth with a stunning one-handed reaction stop to keep out what would have been a quite frankly outstanding own goal.
Learning curve
The hosts continue to frustrate, seeing out time with clever passing and decision-making to run down the clock.
Post-match recriminations are carried out over drinks. Frustrations are obvious.
“What can I say?” said Connor.
“It was always going to be a steep learning curve; we only have two lads with Northern League experience.
“But I have told them, I couldn’t be prouder of them.
“The two games so far, we have been punished for mistakes, it’s been 180 minutes of learning, and we are learning a lot about ourselves.
“But it’s on to Saturday and we will get ready for another test against Horden in our home game.”
For now, it’s time for home, and Connor’s prediction of a 11.30pm return home proves accurate almost to the minute.
One journey is complete, many more lie ahead for Blyth Town on their Northern League return.
