PRUDHOE Youth Club FC has joined The Official Northern League.

The senior squad has been promoted to Northern League 2 for the 2022/23 season after finishing second in The Northern Football Alliance Premier Division and meeting ground criteria.

The last time the town was represented at Northern League level was 2009, when Prudhoe Town ended its 25-year stay in the divisions.

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“We’ve achieved rapid progress; we entered in the Northern Alliance Saturday League seven years ago, and in that period of seven years, we’ve managed to go up three tiers”, said Duncan Graham, secretary and chairman of Prudhoe YC.

“The team has been fantastic and it’s due reward. The management team of Joe Kendrick, supported by coaches Jack Moore and Phil Hubbard, have done a great job in helping the lads get where they are.

“The core of the team is local lads – some have actually been with the youth club from seven or eight-years-old. It’s fantastic to see them achieve that level of football and they’re all looking forward to trying to establish ourselves in that division.

“Team spirit has been absolutely fantastic. The lads are a very tightly knit group, partly one of the reasons they’ve been so successful.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and everybody’s played their part in getting us to where we are.”

The move means the quality and competition will be tougher for the team, who will also play more games, meaning a larger squad will be required.

Duncan added: “It will be challenging but hopefully, we can strengthen the squad to improve the team so that we can compete readily at that level.”

The club is now seeking new sponsorship and hopes to see larger shows of support from the local community now it’s playing at a higher level from its Kimberly Park ground.

New management team Stephen Durrant, Bill Harper and John Wilson are all looking forward to the new season.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the team can contact: pycfc@hotmail.co.uk