Blyth Spartans: the famous non-league club keeping Croft Park buzzing

Ask almost any football fan in the North East about Blyth Spartans and you will hear about 1978. That season the Northumberland club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, beating Chesterfield, Enfield and Stoke City before drawing 1-1 away at Wrexham. The replay was moved to St James' Park, where a crowd of 42,167 watched Blyth narrowly lose 2-1, missing out on a home tie with Arsenal.

It is a story that still gives the club its proud claim to be the most famous non-league football team in the world. But there is far more to Blyth Spartans than one cup run.

The club was founded in September 1899 by Fred Stoker, its first secretary, who later became a distinguished physician on Harley Street. He named the team after the Spartan army in the hope that the players would give their all on the pitch. In 29 years in the Northern League from 1964, Blyth won the championship ten times, and the cup magic returned in 2008-09 when Croft Park hosted Premier League Blackburn Rovers in the third round.

The club's history includes a remarkable chapter in the women's game too. During the First World War, the Blyth Spartans Munitionettes played in the club's colours and on its ground, with Bella Reay as their star player, and went 30 matches unbeaten.

That legacy feels very current. In September 2026, Blyth Spartans Women welcomed Morpeth Town to Croft Park in the Women's FA Cup, after a win over West Allotment Celtic that marked the return of the competition to the ground for the first time in 18 years. Coach Andrew Humphreys said: "It's a huge game for the club and the lasses have trained well in the build-up."

The club is also working hard to keep football affordable. For the 2026/27 season in the Northern Premier League East, adult admission has been frozen after a 20 per cent cut the year before, the under-16 price has dropped to attract younger supporters, and under-10s go free. A discount for veteran card holders has been added as well.

Supporters can also join the 1899 Club from £5 a month. Fixtures, tickets and hospitality in the Tom Hedley Suite are on the Blyth Spartans website.