The 2020–21 season was the 123rd in the history of the Northern Football League, a football competition in England. The league has operated two divisions in the English football league system, Division One at step 5, and Division Two at step 6.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 for season 2020–21 were announced by the FA on 21 July,[1] and were subject to appeal.
Due to the restrictions on clubs' ability to play matches in the COVID-19 lockdowns, competitions at Steps 3–6 were curtailed on 24 February 2021.[2] The scheduled restructuring of non-league took place at the end of the season, with a new division added to the Northern Premier League at Step 4 for 2021–22,[3] resulting in three Northern League clubs' promotions to that league.
| Competition: | Northern Football League Division One |
| Season: | 2020–21 |
| Promoted: | Hebburn Town Shildon Stockton Town |
| Matches: | 118 |
| Total Goals: | 457 |
| Prevseason: | 2019–20 |
| Nextseason: | 2021–22 |
Division One comprised 20 teams, the same number of teams which competed in the previous season's aborted competition.
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashington | Woodhorn Lane | ||
| Billingham Town | Bedford Terrace | 3,000 | |
| Bishop Auckland | Heritage Park | 1,950 | |
| Consett | Belle View Stadium | ||
| Guisborough Town | King George V Ground | ||
| Hebburn Town | Hebburn Sports & Social Ground | ||
| Newcastle Benfield | Sam Smith’s Park | 2,000 | |
| Newton Aycliffe | Moore Lane Park | ||
| Northallerton Town | Calvert Stadium | ||
| North Shields | Ralph Gardner Park | 1,500 | |
| Penrith | Frenchfield Stadium | 1,500 | |
| Ryhope Colliery Welfare | Ryhope Recreation Ground | ||
| Seaham Red Star | Seaham Town Park | ||
| Shildon | Dean Street | 2,000 | |
| Stockton Town | Bishopton Road West | 1,800 | |
| Sunderland RCA | Meadow Park | 1,500 | |
| Thornaby | Teesdale Park | 5,000 | |
| West Auckland Town | Darlington Road | 2,000 | |
| Whickham | Glebe Sports Ground | 4,000 | |
| Whitley Bay | Hillheads Park | 4,500 |
| Competition: | Northern Football League Division Two |
| Season: | 2020–21 |
| Promoted: | Crook Town Redcar Athletic West Allotment Celtic |
| Matches: | 118 |
| Total Goals: | 447 |
| Prevseason: | 2019–20 |
| Nextseason: | 2021–22 |
Division Two comprised the same 20 teams which competed in the previous season's aborted competition.
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Bedlington Terriers | Welfare Park | 3,000 |
| Billingham Synthonia | Norton Sports Complex | 1,970 |
| Birtley Town | Birtley Sports Complex | |
| Brandon United | Welfare Ground | |
| Carlisle City | Gillford Park | |
| Chester-le-Street Town | Moor Park | |
| Crook Town | The Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground | 1,500 |
| Easington Colliery | Welfare Park | |
| Esh Winning | West Terrace | 3,500 |
| Heaton Stannington | Grounsell Park | |
| Jarrow | Perth Green | |
| Newcastle University | Kimberley Park | |
| Redcar Athletic | Green Lane | |
| Ryton & Crawcrook Albion | Kingsley Park | 1,500 |
| Sunderland West End | Nissan Sports Complex | 1,000 |
| Tow Law Town | Ironworks Road | 3,000 |
| Washington | New Ferens Park | |
| West Allotment Celtic | Sam Smith’s Park (groundshare with Newcastle Benfield) | 2,000 |
| Willington | Hall Lane | |
| Durham City |