Alnwick will always be the team at ‘the other St James’s Park’ and are the most northernly team in the FA Cup and Vase. Alnwick United Services was formed in 1879, the only ‘association football’ side between Newcastle and Dunbar. Before the Northumberland FA’s formation, the club played in the Northumberland and Durham Cup and in 1900 as Alnwick United Juniors moved to St James’ Park, leased – then as now – from the Duke of Northumberland.

United became Town, then United again before World War One when playing in the North Northumberland League, winning the League in 1898/99. Entry to the East Northumberland League followed in 1923 and United became Town for the last time in 1936. A move to the Northern Alliance League followed with Alnwick where crowned as Alliance champions in 1937/38. The glory days at St James’s Park were from 1960 to 1972, when silver polish was needed for more than 20 trophies including the 1964/65 Durham Central League Cup in the season the Alliance didn’t operate. Other trophies included the Northern Alliance Title, Alliance Challenge Cup winners and Northumberland Amateur Cup winners 1971/72.

Alnwick achieved a crowd of over 600 for the home match against Bedlington Terriers in one of Alnwick’s title winning seasons, the best home attendance in the clubs history. Alnwick won the Northern Alliance Subsidiary Cup in 1980/81 before joining the newly formed Northern League Second Division in 1982. In 1986/87 the side won another cup, this time the Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl with the club also finishing 6th in the league.

Floodlights were switched on in 1987/88 with Newcastle United providing the opposition and Promotion to the Northern League First Division was secured the season after. The stay at the top was brief, difficult times both on and off the pitch, despite the high profile appearance of the Leagues first female chairman, Judith Draycott.

The club remain in the Second Division with the club usually maintaining mid-table finishes. In recent years Alnwick town have also been defeated in the Northern League second Divisions Craven Cup competition, losing heavily to Shotton comrades in the 1996 final by a scoreline of 5-0 and losing narrowly in 2000, 2-1 to Hebburn Town.

The turn of the century saw an infusion of new faces and fresh enthusiasm to rekindle hopes of a return to first division football in the far North.

Former players include Burnley’s 1960s full-back John Angus, who won England honours, plus goalkeeper Chris Guthrie, released after one reserve game and later sold by Weymouth to Tottenham Hotspur for £100,000.

Alnwick still play their home games at St James’ Park despite recent prosals for a new ground and play in black and white striped shirts, just like the North’s other side that play at St James’ Park.

_________Club Honours_________
Northern League Division 2: Runners-Up: 1988-89
Craven Cup: Runners-Up: 1995-96, 99-2000
Northern Alliance: 1937-38, 62-63, 63-64, 65-66, 67-68, 68-69, 69-70, 70-71,71-72
Runners-Up: 1959-60, 61-62, 66-67, 72-73
League Cup: 1961-62, 65-66, 67-68,68-69, 70-71
Subsidiary Cup: 1980-81
Durham Central League Cup: 1964-65
Northumberland Benevolent Bowl: 1986-87
Northumberland Senior Cup : Runners-Up 1961-62
Northumberland Amateur Cup: 1971-72
Northumberland League: 1898-99