Northern Football League
1980/81 Tables◄ 1981/82 Tables ►1982/83 Tables
Northern League Division 1 1981/82
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Blyth Spartans | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 77 | 31 | +46 | 83 | Champions |
| 2nd | Whitby Town | 38 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 64 | 21 | +43 | 80 | Runners Up |
| 3rd | South Bank | 38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 72 | 44 | +28 | 67 | - |
| 4th | Tow Law Town | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 76 | 58 | +18 | 62 | - |
| 5th | Spennymoor United | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 59 | 37 | +22 | 61 | - |
| 6th | Billingham Synthonia | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 60 | - |
| 7th | Bishop Auckland | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 63 | 51 | +12 | 59 | - |
| 8th | Durham City | 38 | 17 | 5 | 16 | 75 | 67 | +8 | 56 | - |
| 9th | Shildon | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 57 | 53 | +4 | 56 | - |
| 10th | North Shields | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 67 | 61 | +6 | 55 | - |
| 11th | Ferryhill Athletic | 38 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 57 | 59 | -2 | 54 | - |
| 12th | Horden Colliery Welfare | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 55 | 58 | -3 | 51 | - |
| 13th | Crook Town | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 60 | 69 | -9 | 51 | - |
| 14th | Evenwood Town | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 57 | 66 | -9 | 48 | - |
| 15th | Penrith | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 63 | 66 | -3 | 46* | ►NWCL Div 1 |
| 16th | Consett | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 46 | 64 | -18 | 40 | - |
| 17th | West Auckland Town | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 42 | 67 | -25 | 37 | - |
| 18th | Ashington | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 50 | 87 | -37 | 35 | - |
| 19th | Whitley Bay | 38 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 47 | 83 | -36 | 31 | - |
| 20th | Willington | 38 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 46 | 102 | -56 | 19 | - |
Teams Leaving the Northern League
| ►Penrith Transferred to the North West Counties League Division 1 |
Teams Joining the Northern League
| ▲Alnwick Town Joined from the Northern Football Alliance |
| ▲Bedlington Terriers Joined from the Northern Football Alliance |
| ▲Billingham Town Joined from the Teesside Football League |
| ▲Darlington Reserves |
| ▲Esh Winning Joined from the Northern Football Alliance |
| ▲Gretna Joined from the Carlisle & District League |
| ▲Hartlepool United Reserves |
| ▲Northallerton Town Joined from the Harrogate & District League |
| ▲Norton & Stockton Ancients |
| ▲Peterlee Newtown |
| ▲Ryhope Community Association Joined from the Northern Football Alliance |
1980/81 Tables◄ 1981/82 Tables ►1982/83 Tables