Shankhouse FC play in the Northern Alliance League Premier Division. They were established in 1883 when the Scottish Highland Black Watch Regiment camped in Shankhouse (Cramlington) and arranged a game of football against the local community who later named their team Shankhouse Black Watch FC. The Northern Alliance League was formed in the season of 1890-1891 and Shankhouse Black Watch FC joined the league the year after in the 1891-1892 season. Shankhouse went on to win the Northern Alliance at only their 2nd attempt beating the likes of Newcastle ‘A’ and Sunderland ‘A’ who later went on to form what we know today as Newcastle Utd and Sunderland. Shankhouse never won the title again until the 2004-2005 season which is 122 years since 1893. We have also won the Challenge Cup twice (2001 + 2002) and the League Cup once (2005).

Shankhouse are therefore the oldest existing member of the Northern Alliance and are one of the few amateur clubs in England to still have a full affiliation to the English Football Association.