Northern Football League
1986/87 Tables◄ 1987/88 Tables ►1988/89 Tables
Northern League Division 1 1987/88
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Blyth Spartans | 38 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 106 | 36 | +70 | 92 | Champions |
| 2nd | Newcastle Blue Star | 38 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 79 | 33 | +46 | 87 | Runners Up |
| 3rd | Billingham Synthonia | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 76 | 41 | +35 | 77 | - |
| 4th | Whitley Bay | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 60 | 27 | +33 | 75 | ▲NPL Div 1 |
| 5th | Guisborough Town | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 63 | 41 | +22 | 66 | - |
| 6th | Bishop Auckland | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 70 | 48 | +22 | 64 | ▲NPL Div 1 |
| 7th | Gretna | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 69 | 46 | +23 | 57 | - |
| 8th | Tow Law Town | 38 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 65 | 72 | -7 | 54 | - |
| 9th | North Shields | 38 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 62 | 59 | +3 | 53 | - |
| 10th | Brandon United | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 52 | - |
| 11th | Spennymoor United | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 57 | 57 | 0 | 52 | - |
| 12th | Shildon | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 61 | 59 | +2 | 49 | - |
| 13th | Whitby Town | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 57 | 74 | -17 | 46 | - |
| 14th | Ferryhill Athletic | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 58 | 75 | -17 | 43 | - |
| 15th | Easington Colliery | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 65 | 85 | -20 | 42 | - |
| 16th | South Bank | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 34 | 48 | -14 | 41 | - |
| 17th | Crook Town | 38 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 45 | 84 | -39 | 33 | - |
| 18th | Chester-le-Street Town | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 38 | 73 | -35 | 30 | - |
| 19th | Ryhope Community Association | 38 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 40 | 89 | -49 | 25 | ▼Relegated |
| 20th | Consett | 38 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 44 | 105 | -61 | 24 | ▼Relegated |
Northern League Division 2 1987/88
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Stockton | 34 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 78 | 31 | +47 | 73 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Seaham Red Star | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 63 | 32 | +31 | 71 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Durham City | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 37 | +18 | 63 | ▲Promoted |
| 4th | Billingham Town | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 60 | 43 | +17 | 55 | ▲Promoted |
| 5th | Esh Winning | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 47 | 49 | -2 | 49 | - |
| 6th | Alnwick Town | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 45 | - |
| 7th | Bedlington Terriers | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 44 | - |
| 8th | Peterlee Newtown | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 44 | - |
| 9th | Northallerton Town | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 44 | - |
| 10th | Norton & Stockton Ancients | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 49 | 58 | -9 | 43 | - |
| 11th | Horden Colliery Welfare | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 48 | 65 | -17 | 43 | - |
| 12th | Langley Park | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 52 | 57 | -5 | 42 | - |
| 13th | Willington | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 44 | 53 | -9 | 40 | - |
| 14th | Darlington Cleveland Bridge | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 40 | - |
| 15th | Ashington | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 45 | 62 | -17 | 39 | - |
| 16th | Evenwood Town | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 42 | 56 | -14 | 38 | - |
| 17th | West Auckland Town | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 46 | 62 | -16 | 35 | - |
| 18th | Shotton Comrades | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 33 | 57 | -24 | 30 | - |
Teams Leaving the Northern League
| ▲Bishop Auckland were Promoted to Northern Premier League Division 1 |
| ▲Whitley Bay were Promoted to Northern Premier League Division 1 |
Teams Joining the Northern League
| ▲Murton Joined from the Wearside Football League |
| ▲Prudhoe East End Joined from the Northern Football Alliance |
| ▲Washington Joined from the Wearside Football League |
| ▲Whickham Joined from the Wearside Football League |
1986/87 Tables◄ 1987/88 Tables ►1988/89 Tables