The double may have been won away from the field of play, but such success will have been celebrated just as much as if it were on it. In case you were unaware, Newcastle Blue Star arenow the Northern Alliance Premier Division champions.
Huge congratulations to all involved, as their league success was confirmed this Wednesday evening. However, they are not done there and although a clean sweep of trophies was foiled by Alnwick in March, the treble is still very much on.
A treble that can be secured in just a few hours and with the Benevolent Bowl final being contested between Blue Star and Newcastle Independent, these regular foes will now square off for a fourth time this season.
Then again, when looking at the previous three encounters, it has been nothing but one-way traffic as far as Brian Smith’s men are concerned. Not only was it a home and away double in terms of league victories, but there was also success in the Challenge Cup’s quarterfinal stage.
While coming into this weekend’s showpiece event, Scotswood’s superiors have gone unbeaten in each of their last eight matches in all competitions. Seven of those eight were successive victories, the streak only ended on Monday when a hardened draw was picked up at home to Burradon.
That may have delayed the championship party, but the expectation was that the league celebrations would finally get to take place this coming Monday. In fairness, they still will but there is no requirement to earn league points for it to get underway.
Maybe Burradon gave it their all in NE15 and had nothing in the tank just 48 hours later at Gateshead Rutherford. Whatever the reason, their failure to pick up maximum points on the road meant the title race had finally been won elsewhere.
Now with the season’s finishing line in sight, it is time for Blue Star to show just why they have been head and shoulders above the rest. The measuring stick’s metric is always going to be success and the club is potentially 90 minutes away from even more.
Something which sets up Friday’s clash rather nicely indeed. A big thanks to the Northumberland FA for hosting the final and laying on the hospitality. For those who will be inattendance from a traveling perspective, a safe journey both there and back.
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