North West Counties Football League

The North West Counties Football League is a football league in the North West of England. Since 2019–20, the league has covered the Isle of Man, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria, northern Staffordshire, northern Shropshire, the far west of West Yorkshire, and the High Peak area of Derbyshire. In the past, the league has also hosted clubs from North Wales such as Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay and Rhyl. As from season 2018–19 the league increased from two, to three divisions: the Premier Division, at level nine (Step 5 in the NLS) in the English football league system, and two geographically separate Division Ones, North and South, at level ten (Step 6 in the NLS). The league is a member of the Joint Liaison Council which administers the Northern arm of the National Football System in England.^[1]

North West Counties Football League

Founded	1982
Country	England
Other club(s) from	Isle of Man
Divisions	Premier Division Division One North Division One South
Number of teams	60 22 (Premier Division) 18 (Division One North) 20 (Division One South)
Level on pyramid	9–10 (Steps 5 & 6 in the National League System)
Feeder to	Northern Premier League Division One West
Domestic cup(s)	League Challenge Cup First Division Challenge Cup First Division Champions Cup FA Cup FA Vase
Current champions	Macclesfield (Premier Division) Bury AFC (Division One North) West Didsbury & Chorlton (Division One South) (2021–22)
Website	nwcfl.com
Current: 2022–23 season

History

The league was formed in 1982 by the merger of the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination. It originally consisted of three divisions, but this was reduced to two in 1987, partly because of the creation of an extra division in the Northern Premier League (NPL). At the same time, promotion and relegation between the two leagues was introduced, with either the first or second placed club in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) being entitled to a place in the NPL, subject to their ground meeting that league's requirements.^[1]

The NWCFL has six feeder leagues of its own with eligibility for promotion to the First Division being accorded to champions of the Cheshire Association Football League, Liverpool County Premier League, West Cheshire Amateur Football League, Staffordshire County Senior League, West Lancashire Football League, and Manchester Football League, subject to their grounds meeting the NWCFL's requirements.^[1]

The first sponsorship of the NWCFL came in with Bass who remained the league sponsors until 1995. In 1998, the regional train operating company, First North Western became the new sponsor in a two-year deal.^[1] Hallmark Security were a commercial Partner to the League for three years between 2015 and 2018.

In the 2008–09 season, Division One was renamed the Premier Division and Division Two became the First Division. A new division at level ten was announced for the 2018–19 season,^[2] therefore the First Division was recreated as North and South divisions.^[3]

Four clubs have won a league and cup double, Ashton United in 1991–92, Kidsgrove Athletic in 1997–98, F.C. United of Manchester in 2006–07 and Glossop North End in 2014–15, while Atherton Laburnum Rovers are the only club to have won consecutive championships in 1992–93 and 1993–94. For three consecutive seasons in the 1980s Clitheroe won each of the NWCFL divisions. In 1983–84 they were Division Three champions, the following season they won the Division Two championship and then in 1985–86 they were crowned Division One champions.^[1]

The league is currently home to two former Football League clubs, Northwich Victoria, who were founder members of Division 2 of the English Football League in 1892 but they resigned two seasons later (they joined along with Newton Heath FC, who later went on to become Manchester United), and Nelson, while Darwen F.C. are a continuation of Darwen.

Going in the other direction, former NWCFL members Accrington Stanley have risen to play in the Football League as have Fleetwood Town and more recently Salford City, who were last in the league in 2008, were promoted into the EFL at the end of the 2018-19 Season via the promotion play-off at Wembley.

For sixteen years the record attendance for a NWCFL match was 1,353 for a First Division championship decider between Radcliffe Borough and Caernarfon Town in the 1982–83 season. In the 1998–99 season a crowd of 2,281 saw Workington's championship deciding match with Mossley at Borough Park. In the 2005–06 season a new record was set, with 6,023 at Gigg Lane for a Division Two match between FC United of Manchester and Great Harwood Town on 23 April 2006. The following season, due mainly to the relatively large support for FC United of Manchester, saw attendances rise and included a record 4,058 for an evening match, with Salford City's Division One home game against FC United of Manchester.^[1]

The league has two cup competitions – the League Challenge Cup, which is open to all clubs, and the First Division Challenge Cup. For sponsorship reasons the League Challenge Cup is known as The Macron Challenge Cup.^[4] Until it was disbanded in 2014, the league also ran a reserve league together with its own dedicated League Cup.^[5] From 1990–1991 to 1999–2000 the league also ran a Floodlit Trophy competition.^[1]

Member clubs (2022–23)

Premier Division

Club Location Home ground AFC Liverpool Crosby Rossett Park (Groundshare with Marine AFC) Ashton Athletic Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan Brocstedes Park Avro Limeside, Oldham Whitebank Stadium Barnoldswick Town Barnoldswick Greenberfield Lane Burscough Burscough Victoria Park Bury AFC Radcliffe Stainton Park (Groundshare with Radcliffe F.C. ) Charnock Richard Charnock Richard, Chorley Mossie Park Congleton Town Congleton Booth Street FC Isle of Man   Douglas The Bowl Irlam Irlam, Salford Silver Street Kendal Town Kendal Parkside Road Litherland REMYCA Litherland Litherland Sports Park Longridge Town Longridge Mike Riding Ground Lower Breck Liverpool Anfield Sports and Community Centre Northwich Victoria Wincham, Northwich Wincham Park (Groundshare with Witton Albion) Padiham Padiham, Burnley Arbories Memorial Sports Ground Prestwich Heys Prestwich, Bury Adie Moran Park Squires Gate Squires Gate, Blackpool School Road Vauxhall Motors Ellesmere Port Rivacre Park West Didsbury & Chorlton Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester Brookburn Road Winsford United Winsford St. Luke's Barton Stadium Wythenshawe Town Wythenshawe Ericstan Stadium Division One North Club Location Home ground AFC Blackpool Squires Gate, Blackpool The Mechanics Darwen Darwen WEC Group Anchor Ground Ashton Town Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan Edge Green Street Atherton Laburnum Rovers Atherton Crilly Park Bacup Borough Bacup West View Chadderton Chadderton, Oldham Andrew Street Cleator Moor Celtic Cleator Moor McGrath Park Daisy Hill Westhoughton, Bolton New Sirs Euxton Villa Euxton Jim Fowler Memorial Ground FC St Helens St Helens Windleshaw Sports Garstang Garstang The Riverside Holker Old Boys Barrow-in-Furness Rakesmoor Ilkley Town Ilkley MPM Lane Nelson Nelson Victoria Park Pilkington St Helens Ruskin Drive Sports Ground Runcorn Town Runcorn Viridor Community Stadium South Liverpool Liverpool Jericho Lane Steeton Steeton, Keighley Marley Stadium Division One South Club Location Home ground Abbey Hey Gorton, Manchester Abbey Stadium Abbey Hulton United Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent Birches Head Road Alsager Town Alsager Wood Park Stadium Ashville Wallasey Villa Park Barnton Barnton Townfield Brocton Brocton Silkmore Lane Cammell Laird 1907 Birkenhead Kirklands Cheadle Heath Nomads Cheadle Heath, Stockport The Heath Cheadle Town Cheadle, Stockport Park Road Stadium Eccleshall Eccleshall Pershall Park Ellesmere Rangers Ellesmere Beech Grove Foley Meir Stoke-on-Trent Whitcombe Road Maine Road Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester Brantingham Road New Mills New Mills Church Lane Rocester Rocester Hillsfield Sandbach United Sandbach Sandbach Community Football Centre Stafford Town Stafford Evans Park Stockport Georgians Stockport Cromley Road Stockport Town Woodley, Stockport Stockport Sports Village Wythenshawe Amateurs Wythenshawe Hollyhedge Park     AFC Liverpool   Ashton Athletic   Avro   Barnoldswick Town   Burscough   Bury AFC   Charnock Richard   Congleton Town   FC Isle of Man   Irlam   Kendal Town   Litherland REMYCA   Longridge Town   Lower Breck }   Northwich Victoria   Padiham   Prestwich Heys   Squires Gate   Vauxhall Motors   West Didsbury & Chorlton   Winsford United   Wythenshawe Town   AFC Blackpool   AFC Darwen   Ashton Town   Atherton Labernum Rovers   Bacup Borough   Chadderton   Cleator Moor Celtic   Daisy Hill   Euxton Villa   FC St Helens   Garstang   Holker Old Boys   Ilkley Town   Nelson   Pilkington   Runcorn Town   South Liverpool   Steeton   Abbey Hey   Abbey Hulton United   Alsager Town   Ashville   Barnton   Brocton   Cammell Laird 1907   Cheadle Heath Nomads   Cheadle Town   Eccleshall   Ellesmere Rangers   Foley Meir   Maine Road   New Mills   Rocester   Sandbach United   Stafford Town   Stockport Georgians   Stockport Town   Wythenshawe Amateurs class=notpageimage| Locations of the NWCFL member clubs by division (2022–23).   – Premier Division   – First Division North   – First Division South Previous divisional champions 1982–87 The league was formed with three divisions. Season Division One Division Two Division Three 1982–83 Burscough Radcliffe Borough Colne Dynamoes 1983–84 Stalybridge Celtic Fleetwood Town Clitheroe 1984–85 Radcliffe Borough Clitheroe Kirkby Town 1985–86 Clitheroe Kirkby Town Blackpool Mechanics 1986–87 Stalybridge Celtic Droylsden Atherton Collieries 1987–2008 Due to the expansion of the Northern Premier League, and the withdrawal of clubs who could no longer meet the ground requirements, the third division was disbanded and a two division format was instigated, a format that stayed in place until 2018.   F.C. United were crowned champions of the North West Counties Football League Division Two in 2005–06 Season Division One Division Two 1987–88 Colne Dynamoes Ashton United 1988–89 Rossendale United Vauxhall G M 1989–90 Warrington Town Maine Road 1990–91 Knowsley United Great Harwood Town 1991–92 Ashton United Bamber Bridge 1992–93 Atherton Laburnum Rovers Maghull 1993–94 Atherton Laburnum Rovers Haslingden 1994–95 Bradford Park Avenue Flixton 1995–96 Flixton Vauxhall G M 1996–97 Trafford Ramsbottom United 1997–98 Kidsgrove Athletic Oldham Town 1998–99 Workington Fleetwood Freeport 1999–2000 Vauxhall GM Woodley Sports 2000–01 Rossendale United Warrington Town 2001–02 Kidsgrove Athletic Stand Athletic 2002–03 Prescot Cables Bacup Borough 2003–04 Clitheroe Colne 2004–05 Fleetwood Town^[a] Cammell Laird 2005–06 Cammell Laird FC United of Manchester 2006–07 FC United of Manchester Winsford United 2007–08 Trafford New Mills 2008–18   Glossop North End NWCFL Champions 2015 In the 2008–09 season, the league renamed their divisions to the Premier Division and First Division. Season Premier Division First Division 2008–09 AFC Fylde Bootle 2009–10 Newcastle Town Stone Dominoes 2010–11 New Mills AFC Blackpool 2011–12 Ramsbottom United^[6] Wigan Robin Park^[7] 2012–13 Padiham Formby 2013–14 Norton United Nelson 2014–15 Glossop North End Atherton Collieries 2015–16 Colne Hanley Town 2016–17 Atherton Collieries Widnes 2017–18 Runcorn Linnets Silsden 2018–present As from the 2018–19 the league has operated three divisions, the Premier Division at Step 5 and Division one - the Step 6 division being split geographically into North and South components both with promotional slots to Step 5. This was retained for the 2019-20 season. Season Premier Division Division One North Division One South 2018–19 City of Liverpool Longridge Town Rylands 2019–20 Season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic 2020–21 Season curtailed due to lockdown regulations 2021–22 Macclesfield Bury AFC West Didsbury & Chorlton 2022–23 Vauxhall Motors Pilkington Wythenshawe Amateurs ^[8] NWCFL Challenge Cup winners The NWCFL Challenge Cup is for all members of the league. Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence. 1982–83 – Darwen 1983–84 – Ellesmere Port & Neston 1984–85 – Leek Town 1985–86 – Warrington Town 1986–87 – Colne Dynamoes 1987–88 – Warrington Town 1988–89 – Colwyn Bay 1989–90 – Knowsley United 1990–91 – Vauxhall GM 1991–92 – Ashton United 1992–93 – Burscough 1993–94 – Rossendale United 1994–95 – Nantwich Town 1995–96 – Burscough 1996–97 – Newcastle Town 1997–98 – Kidsgrove Athletic 1998–99 – Vauxhall GM 1999–2000 – Skelmersdale United 2000–01 – Formby 2001–02 – Prescot Cables 2002–03 – Mossley 2003–04 – Bacup Borough 2004–05 – Cammell Laird 2005–06 – Salford City 2006–07 – F.C. United of Manchester 2007–08 – Maine Road 2008–09 – New Mills 2009–10 – Abbey Hey 2010–11 – Winsford United 2011–12 – Bacup Borough 2012–13 – Runcorn Linnets 2013–14 – Ashton Athletic 2014–15 – Glossop North End 2015–16 – Atherton Collieries 2016–17 – City of Liverpool 2017–18 – Widnes 2018–19 – 1874 Northwich 2019–20 – 1874 Northwich^[b] 2020–21 – Not held 2021–22 – Charnock Richard 2022–23 – Results by team Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence. Club Wins Last final won Runners-up Last final lost Warrington Town 2 1988 2 1990 Burscough 2 1996 2 2018 Vauxhall Motors 2 1999 1 1998 Bacup Borough 2 2012 – – 1874 Northwich 2 2020 – – Newcastle Town 1 1997 2 2004 Skelmersdale United 1 2000 2 2005 Maine Road 1 2008 2 2014 Atherton Collieries 1 2016 2 2015 Darwen 1 1983 1 1991 Colwyn Bay 1 1989 1 1988 Nantwich Town 1 1995 1 1993 Formby 1 2001 1 2013 Prescot Cables 1 2002 1 1999 Cammell Laird 1 2005 1 2006 New Mills 1 2009 1 2011 Winsford United 1 2011 1 2010 Runcorn Linnets 1 2013 1 2009 City of Liverpool 1 2017 1 2019 Ellesmere Port & Neston 1 1984 – – Leek Town 1 1985 – – Colne Dynamoes 1 1987 – – Knowsley United 1 1990 – – Ashton United 1 1992 – – Rossendale United 1 1994 – – Kidsgrove Athletic 1 1998 – – Mossley 1 2003 – – Salford City 1 2006 – – F.C. United of Manchester 1 2007 – – Abbey Hey 1 2010 – – Ashton Athletic 1 2014 – – Glossop North End 1 2015 – – Widnes 1 2018 – – Charnock Richard 1 2022 – – First Division Challenge Cup winners The First Division Challenge Cup is for all members of the First Division. It was known as the Second Division Trophy from 1989 to 2008. 1989–90 – Great Harwood Town 1990–91 – Glossop 1991–92 – Newcastle Town 1992–93 – Stantondale 1993–94 – North Trafford 1994–95 – Formby 1995–96 – Ramsbottom United 1996–97 – Nelson 1997–98 – Tetley Walker 1998–99 – Fleetwood Freeport 1999–2000 – Warrington Town 2000–01 – Squires Gate 2001–02 – No competition 2002–03 – Stone Dominoes 2003–04 – Colne 2004–05 – Cammell Laird 2005–06 – Flixton 2006–07 – New Mills 2007–08 – Kirkham & Wesham 2008–09 – AFC Liverpool 2009–10 – AFC Liverpool 2010–11 – Atherton Collieries 2011–12 – Norton United 2012–13 – West Didsbury & Chorlton 2013–14 – Formby 2014–15 – AFC Darwen 2015–16 – Barnton 2016–17 – City of Liverpool 2017–18 – Prestwich Heys 2018–19 – Sandbach United 2019–20 – Sandbach United 2020–21 – Not held 2021–22 – FC Isle of Man First Division Champions Cup winners The First Division Champions Cup is for the winners of the two geographical divisions within Division One. Its inaugural season was 2018–19. 2018–19 – Rylands 2019–20 – No winner 2020–21 – Not held 2021–22 – Not held 2022-23 - Wythenshawe Amateurs Floodlit Trophy winners The NWCFL Floodlit Trophy was for all members of the Premier and First divisions. 1990–91 – Colwyn Bay 1991–92 – Great Harwood Town 1992–93 – Newcastle Town 1993–94 – Bootle 1994–95 – Penrith 1995–96 – Newcastle Town 1996–97 – Colwyn Bay 1997–98 – Burscough 1998–99 – Clitheroe 1999–2000 – Vauxhall GM Notes Note that the Fleetwood Town club that won the Division Two title in 1983–84 is not the same club as the one of the same name who won the Division One Championship in 2004–05. The earlier club folded in 1993, and the new club was not formed until 1997 as Fleetwood Wanderers, then Fleetwood Freeport before taking the Fleetwood Town name in 2002. The 2020 final was delayed to and played in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. References "LEAGUE HISTORY – A Brief History of the North West Counties Football League". North West Counties Football League. Retrieved 15 February 2009. "FA National League System Restructure – season 2018/19". NWCFL. 18 July 2017. "FA Announcement: New Step 6 Divisions allocated". NWCFL. 8 October 2017. "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016. "News from the League AGM". NWCFL. Retrieved 15 June 2014. "Ramsbottom Are Champions". Non League Daily. Retrieved 29 April 2012. "Double Celebration For Wigan Robin Park". NWCFL. Retrieved 29 April 2012. "League Tables". External links Official website Current league tables NWCL at Non League UK