No games have been played in the League since December 15, resulting in all the first round cup ties, both divisional and in the Kenny Ball Cup, still to be played.

In order to facilitate matters, the fixtures that were to have been played on January 5 will now be played on January 26 instead of those already planned. The fixtures for January 12 and 19 and February 2 and 9 will go ahead on those dates.

As three teams are relegated and three teams promoted in all the divisions, the issues are never decided until usually the last games of the season, a factor which keeps the interest alive until the final whistle is blown. The Premier League Championship is still wide open whereas the relegation situation is beginning to take shape. Last seasons runners up Marden inexplicably are bottom and are struggling to find their previous form and must have a winning run if they are to escape being relegated. The Police have games in hand and should draw clear as they are a good solid side. Usworth are an enigma, brilliant one week and abysmal the next. Owton Manor are in a false position and should fight clear. Blackhall although fifth from bottom could be caught in the net if the lower club win their games and they lose, but that is pure conjecture and the issue is not clear cut yet.

In Division One, promotion can be any three from six teams with the Masons Arms well in as leaders. Relegation candidates appear to be the Rams Head, Gateshead Ex-Servicemen, Board Inn and Brit Telecom. However a winning run for any of these teams could see those above them being involved and all is far from over at the present moment.

In Division Two, the Barnes Hotel and Newton Aycliffe are well clear and look almost home. So it is a question of who will occupy third spot North Shields Spring Gardens and Cleveland Bridge Darlington, are likely candidates, although there are other teams who could cause surprises. Relegation looks difficult, Darsley Park trail and are in dire straits, but who will be the other two, it all depends on the results, winning games is vital, a draw means two points dropped and a loss will see you in serious trouble, the next two months should answer the question.

In Division Three, Consett are odds on favourites to be promoted, with any two from five for the remaining places, the contenders being Hebburn, Marsden Inn, Hylton Castle, Touchdown Hotel and Steels FC, each one of these teams having a definite chance.

In Division Four, Wingate have already won promotion and two more winning results will give them the championship. It is therefore a question of which two teams will accompany them. Billingham Town, Darlington Railway and Hartlepool RNC all have the same number of points but Hartlepool have played two more games. Halfway House, North Shields Vets also have an outside chance and cannot be written off as could be the Dagmar who would have to win most of their games in order to achieve promotion. A winning run of three or more games can completely change everything and as all these teams still have to play each other anything can happen and an unlikely candidate can suddenly become a probable one.

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Billingham Wand 13 7 4 2 30 15 25

Killingworth A 12 7 2 3 24 19 23

Seaton Delaval 14 6 3 5 20 14 21

Ferryhill Grey 14 6 3 5 20 18 21

Penshaw CC 14 6 2 6 17 18 20

Steels SC 11 6 1 4 23 16 19

Lord Seaham 11 5 3 3 17 16 18

Blackhall Hardw 15 5 3 7 19 29 18

Owton Manor 12 5 2 5 28 26 17

Usworth WMC 14 4 2 8 16 21 14

N Police 10 3 3 4 14 17 12

Marden 14 3 0 11 22 34 9

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Masons Arms 17 11 3 3 50 21

Wallsend RAOB 15 9 4 2 43 18

Grindon Broad 15 10 0 5 47 26

S'land Catholic 16 9 3 4 47 32

Sedgefield 14 7 3 4 27 21

Wardley Green 16 6 6 4 26 24

Wearmouth 14 6 2 6 17 23

Wallsend RS 16 6 2 8 25 38

Rams Head 16 2 6 8 20 40

Gateshead Ex S 14 1 6 6 25 37

Board Inn 12 1 4 7 17 39

Brit Telecom 14 1 3 10 16 42

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Barnes Hotel 13 13 0 0 43 11 39

Newton Aycliffe 16 11 2 3 42 20 35

Spring Gardens 15 8 2 5 34 29 26

Cleveland Bridge 16 8 1 7 40 37 25

Houghton CC 16 7 0 9 29 33 21

Millstone Wand 15 5 5 5 37 37 20

Boldon BB 16 5 3 8 32 35 18

Barnard CG 14 5 2 7 24 25 17

Red House WMC 12 4 3 5 15 20 15

Hartlepool Cath 15 4 3 8 28 38 15

Roker Q'n Vic 15 4 3 8 28 47 15

Darsley Park 15 2 2 11 22 51 8

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts

Consett CC 14 14 0 0 50 8 42

Hebburn DT 18 10 4 4 57 37 34

Marsden Inn 16 9 3 4 42 30 30

Hylton Castle 16 7 7 2 35 28 28

Touchdown H 14 8 1 5 42 31 25

Steels FC 15 6 5 4 30 24 23

Durham CS 17 6 2 9 34 44 20

Rockcliffe A 16 5 4 7 25 28 19

West Cornforth 18 5 4 9 25 35 19

Wynyard Vets 16 5 3 8 24 33 18

Regency Wind 16 5 3 9 29 43 18

Willow Pond 15 5 2 8 25 33 17

Taylors 17 4 3 10 30 37 15

Oddies 17 3 1 13 28 61 10

Divison Five

P W D L F A Pts

Wingate 16 16 0 0 58 14 48

Billingham Town 15 8 2 5 51 28 26

Darlington Rail 15 8 2 5 46 38 26

Hartlepool RNC 17 8 2 7 38 39 26

Halfway House 16 7 3 6 34 32 24

Dagmar FC 17 6 5 6 34 31 23

North Shields Vets 14 6 4 4 38 39 22

Thornley Celtic 15 6 1 8 27 37 19

Sportsmans A 16 4 6 6 31 31 18

Houghton Mill 16 4 3 9 35 44 15

Winstons 16 3 6 7 25 35 15

White Horse Inn 17 3 4 10 35 45 13

Trimdon Vets 16 3 4 9 18 45 13

T & M Disco Crook and District League

All games were postponed and following on from the voluntary Christmas break most sides will have had at least a month without a match.

Fortunately cup competitions are through to the later stages and a fixture pileup seems unlikely.