Hebburn Town manager Kevin Bolam has this message after FA Vase quarter-final defeat

The Hornets have applied for one of the three promotion places on offer in Ebac Northern League Division One and look set to spend next season in the new look Northern Premier League North Division.

The promotion – Hebburn’s second in four seasons – will see the club plying their trade at step four of the non-league system for the first time in their history.

That promotion could be confirmed within the next 10 days when the Football Association confirm their league constitutions following a restructure of the non-league pyramid.

Hebburn will be promoted with their 2019/20 FA Vase Final triumph against Consett fresh in the mind after securing a dramatic 3-2 win against the Steelmen at Wembley last Monday.

All focus now turns towards making another piece of club history next season and Bolam has already set his sights on continuing the progress made during his two years in charge of the club.

“The message is simple really, as a management team we want to kick on.

“The players want to kick on, the club wants to kick on.

“It would be nice if we could get another few in the ground for next season and sell some more season tickets.

“I’d like to think the people of Hebburn have enjoyed what they have seen since me and Mick come into the club and enjoyed the Vase run from last season.

“Credit to the lads, I hope they go away and have a good rest, I know I will.”

Bolam reflected on the defeat against Rylands and admitted that he could have no complaints about his side’s performance as their hopes of a Wembley return were ended.

“To a man, the effort was fantastic, but that doesn’t surprise me.

“If you’re being a perfectionist, we probably weren’t at it in the final third and that could have been better.

“We’ve come up against a dogged and determined side that have players that can hurt you.

“But we can’t have any complaints about the effort and commitment our players showed.”