The 1996–97 Courage League Division 4 North was the tenth full season of rugby union within the fourth tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 2 North, and the last using the name Division 4 North. Changes to the league structure by the RFU at the start of the season saw Courage League 4 revert to two regional divisions (Courage League Division 4 North and Courage League Division 4 South), while the regional leagues below (Courage League Division 5) was split back into regional leagues - North 1, Midlands 1, London 1 and South West 1[a 1]. This meant that National Division 4 North increased from 10 to 14 teams (28 overall) with multiple teams coming up from the discontinued Division 5.[1]
Worcester were deserving champions, going undefeated in the league to take the title and only promotion spot to the 1997–98 National Division 1 (formerly Courage Division 3), 11 points clear of runners up Birmingham & Solihull. While Worcester were deserving champions, Stoke-on-Trent and Hereford were easily the worst teams in the division and as a consequence were the two sides to go down, well short of safety. Both sides would drop to Midlands 1.[2] The reason Division 4 North had less relegation places compared to Division 4 North (2 to 4) was that 3 out of 4 of the teams relegated from the division above were based in the south of the country, requiring more places to accommodate for their arrival the following season.
Each team played home and away matches against each of the other teams, playing a total of twenty-six matches each. The league champions were promoted to the new-look National League 1 while the bottom four sides dropped to either North 1 or Midlands 1 depending on locality.
Courage League Division 4 North is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery. This was their tenth and final season of sponsorship.
Notesedit
^These regional divisions had previously been tier 6 leagues during the days of Courage Division 5 but would revert to being level 5 leagues for the 1996-97 season.
Referencesedit
^"Courage League - Division 5 1995/96". The Rugby Archive. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
^ ab. The Rugby Archive. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
January 01, 1970
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The 1996 97 Courage League Division 4 North was the tenth full season of rugby union within the fourth tier of the English league system currently known as National League 2 North and the last using the name Division 4 North Changes to the league structure by the RFU at the start of the season saw Courage League 4 revert to two regional divisions Courage League Division 4 North and Courage League Division 4 South while the regional leagues below Courage League Division 5 was split back into regional leagues North 1 Midlands 1 London 1 and South West 1 a 1 This meant that National Division 4 North increased from 10 to 14 teams 28 overall with multiple teams coming up from the discontinued Division 5 1 1996 97 Courage League Division 4 NorthCountries EnglandChampionsWorcester 1st title Runners upBirmingham amp Solihull not promoted RelegatedStoke on Trent HerefordMatches played182 1995 961997 98 Worcester were deserving champions going undefeated in the league to take the title and only promotion spot to the 1997 98 National Division 1 formerly Courage Division 3 11 points clear of runners up Birmingham amp Solihull While Worcester were deserving champions Stoke on Trent and Hereford were easily the worst teams in the division and as a consequence were the two sides to go down well short of safety Both sides would drop to Midlands 1 2 The reason Division 4 North had less relegation places compared to Division 4 North 2 to 4 was that 3 out of 4 of the teams relegated from the division above were based in the south of the country requiring more places to accommodate for their arrival the following season Contents 1 Structure 2 Participating teams and locations 3 League table 4 Sponsorship 5 Notes 6 ReferencesStructure editEach team played home and away matches against each of the other teams playing a total of twenty six matches each The league champions were promoted to the new look National League 1 while the bottom four sides dropped to either North 1 or Midlands 1 depending on locality Participating teams and locations editTeam Ground Capacity City Area Previous season Aspatria Bower Park Aspatria Cumbria 9th Birmingham amp Solihull Sharmans Cross 2 500 Solihull West Midlands Promoted from Division 5 North 3rd Hereford Wyeside Hereford Herefordshire Promoted from regional leagues Kendal Mint Bridge 3 000 Kendal Cumbria Promoted from Division 5 North 9th Lichfield Cooke Fields Lichfield Staffordshire Promoted from Division 5 North 12th Manchester Grove Park 4 000 Cheadle Hulme Greater Manchester Promoted from regional leagues Nuneaton Harry Cleaver Ground Nuneaton Warwickshire Promoted from Division 5 North 10th Preston Grasshoppers Lightfoot Green 5 000 Preston Lancashire Promoted from Division 5 North 8th Sandal Milnthorpe Green Sandal Magna Wakefield West Yorkshire Promoted from Division 5 North 6th Sheffield Abbeydale Park 3 200 Dore Sheffield South Yorkshire Promoted from Division 5 North 5th Stoke on Trent Hartwell Lane Barlaston Staffordshire Promoted from Division 5 North 11th Stourbridge Stourton Park 3 500 Stourbridge West Midlands Promoted from Division 5 North 7th Winnington Park Burrows Hill Northwich Cheshire Promoted from Division 5 North 4th Worcester Sixways 8 477 Worcester Worcestershire Promoted from Division 5 North runners up nbsp nbsp Aspatria nbsp B ham amp Solihull nbsp Hereford nbsp Kendal nbsp Lichfield nbsp Manchester nbsp Nuneaton nbsp Preston nbsp Sandal nbsp Sheffield nbsp Stoke on Trent nbsp Stourbridge nbsp Winnington P nbsp Worcesterclass notpageimage 1996 97 Courage League Division 4 North teams in EnglandLeague table edit1996 97 Courage League Division 4 North Table Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Points 1 Worcester C 26 23 3 0 833 378 455 49 2 Birmingham amp Solihull 26 19 0 7 746 391 355 38 3 Preston Grasshoppers 26 17 2 7 568 394 174 36 4 Manchester 26 16 1 9 763 514 249 33 5 Sandal 26 15 1 10 618 572 46 31 6 Stourbridge 26 14 1 11 704 579 125 29 7 Winnington Park 26 14 1 11 641 565 76 29 8 Sheffield 26 12 2 12 496 451 45 26 9 Kendal 26 11 1 14 541 451 90 23 10 Aspatria 26 10 1 15 616 713 97 21 11 Lichfield 26 10 0 16 544 713 169 20 12 Nuneaton 26 8 1 17 457 670 213 17 13 Hereford R 26 4 0 22 287 970 683 8 14 Stoke on Trent R 26 2 0 24 391 854 463 4 Points are awarded as follows 2 pts for a win 1 pt for a draw 0 pts for a loss If teams are level at any stage difference between points for and against applies Green background are promotion places Pink background are relegation places Updated 22 January 2018 2 Sponsorship editCourage League Division 4 North is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery This was their tenth and final season of sponsorship Notes edit These regional divisions had previously been tier 6 leagues during the days of Courage Division 5 but would revert to being level 5 leagues for the 1996 97 season References edit Courage League Division 5 1995 96 The Rugby Archive Retrieved 18 December 2017 a b Courage League Division 4 1996 97 The Rugby Archive Archived from the original on 30 December 2017 Retrieved 18 December 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1996 97 Courage League Division 4 North amp oldid 1120435714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
