Jarrow are hoping to secure a historic promotion into Northern League Division One this season.

Jarrow manager Kennie Malia believes his side will not feel the pressure of a third consecutive push for promotion into the Northern League’s top tier.

The former Prudhoe YC boss has guided the Perth Green outfit into the Division Two play-off final during the last two seasons - but any thoughts of a historic promotion into the fifth tier of the non-league game have been dashed in agonising circumstances.

Stephen Siyanbola celebrates after scoring his first goal of three in Jarrow's FA Vase second qualifying round win against Marske United (photo Kieran Gough) | Kieran Gough

placeholder image — Stephen Siyanbola celebrates after scoring his first goal of three in Jarrow's FA Vase second qualifying round win against Marske United (photo Kieran Gough) | Kieran Gough

After battling to a goalless draw with Thornaby in the 2025 final, Malia’s side came out on the wrong end of a penalty shoot-out as the Teesside outfit landed a return to Division One with a 4-2 win from the spot. That same scenario played out once again in last season’s play-off final as Yarm and Eaglescliffe earned a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win after the two sides failed to break the deadlock over 120 minutes.

However, there are positive signs for Malia and his players after they embarked on a 15-game unbeaten run in the league during the first two and half months of the season - and the Jarrow boss has insisted there is a different feel about his side this year.

He told The Gazette: “There is a bit more talk of us being in and around it again - and that’s maybe a little different to how it has been in previous seasons. I think over the last two years we were brushed off a bit by other people - but this year, they know it’s the third time we have been in and around it so they think it could be third-time lucky.

“They ask if there is pressure on us because of that but there isn’t. We’ve been there and done it, we’ve tried the last two seasons but we have narrowly failed. We know where we need to improve and we have done that with the signings we have made during the summer and since the start of the season and we think they have given us something we needed.”

Malia and his players will focus their attention on next weekend’s visit to Grangetown Boys Club once Saturday’s game against Ryton is consigned to the history books.

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