What a season! The fans of Newcastle Town would have raised their eyebrows when they defeated Stoke by two goals to one in the Potters opening pre-season friendly, but even then they wouldn't have expected the season to unfold as it has done.
After slashing the budget last summer the club's chairman asked for a safe season under new manager Greg Clowes. With ex-Manchester City winger Jordan Johnson rejecting offers to sign up at the Lyme Valley the season started with the fans and officials looking forward with mixed expectations.
That first day added to the expectations as Castle beat Ramsbottom 5-0 at HQ, before following that up with four more wins before tasting defeat for the first time when they were defeated 2-1 at home to Westfields in the premlininary round of the FA Cup.
It was November when Castle next tasted defeat as they crashed out of the FA Vase in the 2nd round, losing 3-2 away at Causeway United. It wasn't all gloom though as they continued a 100% record in the league and had four 6-0 wins in six home games.
That 100% record continued right through until February 27th when Colne held the side to a 1-1 draw, ending the run of 27 consecutive league wins. A first defeat followed in game 31, a 4-1 defeat to Bacup Boro, and with the league title in sight a small stumble saw a draw with Glossop followed by a last minute defeat to Congleton and then a 3-2 extra time defeat to Bootle in the quarter finals of the League Cup.
The title was clinched against Silsden in the next game, with four games to spare, and after picking up a record breaking 37th league win of the season, they defeated an experienced Port Vale side 6-1 in the final of the Staffs Senior Cup before finishing the season with a win against second placed New Mills, meaning they finished with a 32 point lead at the top of the table.
Record amount of wins, goals, points and a league and cup double to see Newcastle promoted after so many year of trying will see them playing in the Unibond league next season and with Johnson, who played as a wing back for the majority of the season, netting 40 goals, they are sure to want to hold onto him and the other stars to have developed these past twelve months.
League record: P42 W37 D3 L2 F121 A21 PTS116 (1st)
Top scorers: Jordan Johnson 40, Neville Thompson 28, Alan Naggington 18
Vodcat League Cup: Quarter Final
FA Cup: Preliminary Round
FA Vase: 2nd round
Staffs Senior Cup: Winners