By Dom Brown
Newest members of the Northern League, Stockton Town FC, have won local Teesside paper the Evening Gazette’s Team of the Year award.
The side, founded in 1987, had been nominated for this award many times in previous years.
Football development officer Paul Midgely said: “It is great. With the new Stadium being built there is a good feeling around the club. This award just adds to that and it gives the kids something to look up to.”
Stockton Town FC is known for its production of youth talent, with youth teams stretching back to ages six and seven. Midgely is proud of that fact.
“We have lots of our players that came from the youth teams. 13 or 14 of the 20 players we have came from the junior section.”
Along with their success in the previous season, Stockton Town FC are currently 2nd in the EBAC Northern Second Division after 16 games.
The side is also in the FA Vase, and having beaten Holker Old Boys last weekend, the side has been drawn against Sunderland RCA in Round 2 of the cup competition.
Midgely was speaking before the draw for the second round. “It will be tough whoever we play but as the players keep telling me we’re only six games from Wembley.”
Chairman Martin Hillerby said: “We feel if we get a home tie on our new 3G surface we could have an advantage.”
The Anchors had the new artificial pitch installed at local Stockton Sixth Form College in March 2016.