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This Saturday's home game against Tow Law Town will see skilltrainingltd Northern League chairman Mike Amos present the Club with a plaque to mark the Terriers passing through the landmark of 1000 Northern League games away at Northallerton in November.
Taken from the Feb 2009 issue of Northern Ventures Northern Gains:
'Bedlington Terriers have become the first founder member of the long-sought second division to play their 1,000th Northern League game - an achievement unnoticed by both club and League until after the November 22 match at Northallerton, who were also among the pioneers. Bedlington won 3-0.
No club has had more highs and lows than the Terriers. "Coming through has been down to the passion and enthusiasm of everyone involved. I'm sure we'll be here for many years to come," says club chairman David Holmes.
Having tripped over the milestone, the League now plans a presentation - a grand gesture, as it were - to all six surviving clubs who joined the 11-strong division in 1982-83. The others are Billingham Town, Esh Winning, Norton and Stockton Ancients and Sunderland RCA - originally Ryhope CA.
Billingham Town's 1,000th game - by happy coincidence - was the Boxing Day derby at home to neighbours Synthonia, in which they recorded a sixth successive win. The League chairman presented an inscribed salver to Town president Tommy Donnelly, on crutches after a knee replacement operation but as indomitable as ever.
Northallerton will reach the total in the spring. Because they've spent more time in the second division, however, the others won't achieve four figures until next season - by which time they'll have been overtaken by Chester-le-Street, who joined a year later. Chester will receive a memento, too.
The other founding members were Alnwick Town, Gretna, Peterlee Newtown and the reserve teams of Darlington and Hartlepool United. Throughout their 27 Northern League seasons - and long before Esh Winning have been guided by Allan Morton and Charlie Ryan. Their 1,000th game will be the second of next season – “We very much hope we can celebrate it in the first division," says Charlie, the club chairman.'
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