Morpeth Town's incredible resurrection has continued apace this season - and chairman Ken Beattie has ambitions for even more success.
From beating North Shields to lift the Northumberland Senior Cup at St James’ Park, to winning the Evo-Stik East Division on home turf this Saturday, it’s been a few weeks to remember for manager Nick Gray and his side.
Club chairman Beattie has his passion for the club that’s so readily transcending down on to the pitch - and it’s a rise that looks set to continue.
With an eye towards the future, Beattie believes Morpeth can continue their momentum as they progress into the Premier Division - and he has his sights set on the Conference North where local rivals Blyth Spartans currently ply their trade.
“It will be tough, it’s a much more challenging league," he said in the aftermath of his side's promotion and Senior Cup success.
"But I feel with the current crop of players, and with the addition of a few more, we can adapt again.
“There’s no reason why we can’t get into Conference North. The prospect of local derbies would be fantastic for the club and for the area as a whole."
However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing.
Rewind to 2009/10, and the Highwaymen were in the depths of dismay having been ruefully relegated to Division Two of the Northern League.
Hardship continued the following season, as they finished bottom of the second tier with only 15 points from 38 games and an unsatisfactory goal difference of -98.
The club was in dire straits with on-pitch worries becoming literal as their terrain failed to meet Northern League standards - forcing Morpeth to ground share with rivals Bedlington Terriers.
But, just as they looked certain to fold, the arrival of Gray as manager at the end of 2011 sparked a revival.
Moving to Morpeth from Seaton Delaval with a whole host of new players, Gray guided the team to a fourth-place finish in his first season - winning a record 14 consecutive home games in the process.
Craik Park had reemerged as a fortress, and the team went one better in 2012/13 as they earned a dramatic promotion, just edging it over Jarrow Roofing on goal difference.
The subsequent seasons saw the Highwaymen consolidate their status as a Division One side, finishing eighth in 2014/15 and winning the FA Vase in 2015/16.
This momentous 4-1 victory over Hereford at Wembley Stadium, watched on by over 40,000 spectators, was arguably the turning point in Morpeth’s history, as it gave the players, staff and fans alike a taste of what could be achieved.
Subsequently, they ended the 2016/17 season as runners-up and won the Cleator Cup, before gaining promotion to the East Division of the EvoStik Northern Premier League in 2017/18.
Their average attendances bolted from 75 to over 500, and the people of Morpeth now roar on the Highwaymen home and away.
The 18/19 season so far has brought further success, as Morpeth have romped the East Division winning 25 of their 35 games and scoring an impressive 81 goals.
Gray’s side also enjoyed another impressive run in the Northumberland Senior Cup - knocking out holders Newcastle U23’s with a convincing 2-0 win back in March before a well-fought victory over North Shields to lift the trophy last week.
The final of the tournament was contested under the lights at St James’ Park last Tuesday night, with Morpeth coming up against experienced outfit North Shields - who have won the cup 13 times previously.
In true Morpeth style, the cup was won thanks to a dramatic extra-time winner from Jack Foalle - but chairman Beattie hopes the club's 14th piece of silverware since they were formed in 1909 is not their last.
“It’s just about progressing as far as we can," he added.
"We have a great structure here, our junior section has over 32 sides and we’re attracting more and more crowds to Craik Park on a weekly basis.
“Ultimately, we want to involve our youngsters, involve the town and be a community club. We’re on the up!”
Given the turnaround in fortunes over the last few years, few would be against them achieving their goals.
