Once again, there will be no Newcastle United this weekend but there is still plenty of great football on our door-steps to get us out of the house and along to a good game on a crisp February afternoon in the North East of England.

So, ring a few mates, get your match coat on and do something a bit more interesting with your time than a depressing, spirit-sapping trip to the ‘kin Metrocentre, B&Q, IKEA etc.

For me the pick of the bunch is Blyth Spartans who are currently 8 points clear at the top of the EVO-STIK LEAGUE and fresh from defeating Frickley Athletic 3-2 on Tuesday night now face Colwyn Bay this coming Saturday.

Tom Wade’s side are definitely on a roll and there is no better place to watch non-league football in the region than Croft Park in my opinion. I’m a real sucker for the Spartans’ home not to mention that Green and White striped shirt, black shorts et al. For those football traditionalists out there, there is nothing more old school about Croft Park, based in a resolutely working class port town, with a chippy on the corner of the street outside the ground amongst terraced houses and a couple of boozers in walking distance (not to mention a good club house) and a good partisan, local fan-base.

Its a smashing place to watch football. Howay Blyth!

Just up the road however in Northumberland there is the Wansbeck Classico – Bedlington Terriers v Ashington AFC. Not to be missed as a briliant local derby that is sure to be fully contested between two excellent clubs from salt of the earth Geordie communities. You could do a lot worse than take this one in.

Also in Northumberland (just) Berwick Rangers are at home to Montrose at Shieldfield Park. I’ve not been to a Berwick game and its definitely on my own personal list – Berwick’s a great wee toon and an afternoon, early evening sampling its tinctures and football has its massive attractions.

For those south of the Tyne, the Birtley Town v Darlington RA has a nice look about it but there is a also good-looking fixtures at South Shields v Chester-le-Street, which is sure to attract another bumper turn-out as locals get behind The Mariners.

Our good friends North Shields are at home at The Morgue and I’m sure there will be a good atmosphere as The Robins take on that old, historic Durham club and former World Cup winners West Auckland who travel to the mouth of the Tyne for this fixture.

Good ol’ Heaton Stann are away at Willington and Whitley Bay cross the Tyne for a decent looking fixture with Jarrow Roofing.

But for this gobshite the best non-league games of the weekend are in Northumberland at Blyth and Bedlington.

For all that, if you have any suggestions where off-duty Mags could get a football-fix this weekend, please feel free to jot some details down in the comments boxes below.

All games featured KO at 3pm, Saturday 27/Feb/2016.

You could though, just stay in the house and get stuck into reading Newcastle United’s number one fanzine, true faith, Issue 124 – also the most widely read independent supporters’ led publication in the UK. We are a traditional fanzine but with the bells and whistles you’d expect from the digital age. 

Just click on the image as below and you’ll be instantly transported to 100+ pages of the best fanzine writing you can shake a stick at. And its all absolutely and completely FREE.