The original Newcastle Blue Star side played up near the airport and were famed for having won the FA Vase in 1978 when they defeated Barton Rovers 2-1 in the Wembley showpiece. Sadly, in 2009, however, despite having just been promoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the club folded due to unpaid debts.
It was some 9 years later before a new club was formed using the Blue Star name. In 2018, a local businessman named Stephen Best decided to take on the Blue Star title and created a new club that would run teams from u8's right through to senior level. The senior team completed two successive promotions between 2022-23 and 2023-24, taking them from the Northern Alliance Premier Division, which sits at step 7 in the non-league pyramid (the 11th tier overall), to step 5’s Northern League Division One. A third successive promotion was denied at the end of last season when they lost the league play-off final at home to Blyth Town, who secured what was for themselves a second successive promotion.
That play-off final drew a record crowd of 2151 to the KD stadium, which was interestingly 44 more than were in attendance a year earlier when cross-town rivals Heaton Stannington also hosted the league’s play-off final, again a club record attendance. All the more interesting as ‘The Stan’, as they are often referred to, were the opposition for a big West End versus East End Newcastle derby when I last visited Blue Star just recently.
The game in question was an FA Cup first qualifying round tie, and having, unlike Blue Star, won their play-off final and then managed to stay clear of relegation in Northern Premeir League East last season, the Stan sat one division higher than their opponents. Blue Star would be looking for an upset. Also, the timing of their promotions means, I believe, this would be the first ever competitive meeting between the two Newcastle-based sides, at least since Blue Star’s 2018 reformation anyway. All that, and local pride was also at stake, so definitely a game of interest across the city and surrounding environs.
I arrived for the big game about 45 minutes before kick-off and admired the fairly new terracing behind one goal, which on an earlier visit had not had its roof added yet. Having eaten earlier, I ignored the burger van and also dodged the large queue at the bar as I didn’t fancy a long wait. Mind, they don’t serve any real ale here, so I wasn’t overly bothered anyway.
There is also a hut selling cans of beer, but the main bar is inside a big marquee that sits along one side of the pitch. It has a seated stand next to it at the far end, whilst the other side of the pitch has both covered seating and covered terracing. Of course, there is also that new covered terracing at one end. To round things off, there are two small toilet blocks (not a great place to be when a goal is scored – more on that later) and, overall, the facilities are far better than what you’d find at most step 5 grounds, even if the bar does feel a little temporary. In fact, I can emphasise the overall quality by telling you that during the visit of eventual champions Redcar Athletic last season, I overheard one visiting fan exclaim in amazement, “Imagine playing in a ground as good as this every other week!”
The KD stadium can easily be reached from Newcastle city centre by getting the number 1 bus towards Slatyford, which takes about 20 minutes. As the aforementioned match in question was a cup game, if a replay were needed, then away fans wouldn’t have to travel far with it also being a derby. In fact, the number 37 or 38 buses would take you from the centre of town to Heaton Stan’s Willow Park home in a similar timeframe, probably slightly quicker. The two stadiums are just under 4.5 miles apart as the crow flies.
I couldn’t tell you exactly how many Stan fans were in attendance for the game, but there were a fair few. That number included my friend, and Heaton Stan car park attendant, Imran, who demanded to know who I would be supporting. As a Tyneside local, I have watched both clubs on numerous occasions and I informed him I would be strictly neutral for the occasion.
As for the overall total, the official attendance was 813. Although that may seem rather low compared the 2000+ here at the end of last season for the play-off final, it was still comfortably higher than the 441 Blue Star averaged for regular season league games in 2024-25 or the 449 they’d averaged so far this campaign. Heaton Stan averaged a little under 400 when at home, and in terms of numbers, both teams did very well for the levels they played at.
The game itself was hard fought, with chances few and far between. 0-0 at the break, as the second-half wore on, a replay seemed more and more likely. But then something big happened - with barely three minutes left on the clock, I went to the toilet.
There I was stood in the toilet block doing my thing when huge cheers ripped through my ears. The Blue Star ultras behind the goal, mostly young kids, were evidently in pandemonium mode. They’d been banging their drum and making noise for much of the game, but this was another level. I came back outside just as things were calming down, and my fears were true - I had missed a Blue Star goal.
Eventually, many hours later, I would be able to watch a replay of the goal online, having already had it described to me. An angled drive from the right by pacey forward Leon Burke had flown into the net. 1-0 to the hosts.
The goal briefly brought the visitors to life, but it was too little too late and the upset was complete. The home side, currently sat a division lower, had caused an upset and beaten their city rivals to gain a place in the next round of the cup.
At full-time, I headed back to the bus stop. My mate and his Stan contingent looked miserable, but the home support definitely had huge grins on their faces.
There are many reasons to come to the city of Newcastle. I could tell you all about its famed nightlife or give you all the tourist office spiel, but another thing that attracts many is the football. Yet whilst football fans instantly think of Newcastle United, and yes Newcastle may be a one-club city in terms of professional football, delve a little further and there are plenty more footballing delights available to you.
Blue Star are a brilliant alternative to the professional game and a cracking day out for any footballing groundhopper. However, the Tyneside area is also littered with various other clubs at differing levels in the main non-league pyramid down to step 6, or the national league system as not many realise it’s officially called. There are also plenty more options below that for those who really are keen. In Newcastle specifically, you can also add Newcastle Benfield to the list in steps 6 and above. Playing in the same division as Blue Star, their ground situated in the east end of the city is roughly a 35-minute walk from Heaton Stannington.
Also, with it being so difficult to get United tickets these days, you may find non-league is your only option when trying to catch the beautiful game in this fine city - and if you do, you will not be disappointed!
