Shildon AFC fell at the playoff semi-finals stage for the second season in a row, confirming that they will play a third season in the Northern League since their relegation in 2022-23.
Having fought back from a poor start to the season, the Railwaymen only just failed to catch title winners, Redcar Athletic in the final weeks of the season.
But they were ultimately left to rue that early season form when Blyth Town left Dean Street on Saturday with a 1-2 victory to advance to the playoff finals.
An incredible second half of the season saw the Railwaymen reach both the League Cup and Durham Challenge Cup finals, as well as almost catch the one-time runaway leaders.
But in the end, the effort proved too much to maintain and the club will have to content itself with a County Cup to display in the trophy room while they battle for a third time to regain promotion.
The new season will pose its own unique challenge, however, as the club digs up the turf at Dean Street in the close season and replaces it with a synthetic surface.
It is a positive move for community football in the town, helping the club to support a significant increase in teams at every level, age and gender using its facilities.
For the first team, the priority will be to adapt quickly to the new conditions so as to be leading instead of chasing the pack.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
