North West Counties Football League

History

The league was formed in 1982 by the merger of the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination. Originally consisting of three divisions, this was reduced to two in 1987 due to 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.

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 ground grading requirements.

The league's first title sponsor was Bass Brewery, who remained sponsors until 1995. In 1998, the train operating company First North Western became the new sponsor in a two-year deal. Hallmark Security were title sponsors between 2015 and 2018.

In 2008, Division One and Two were renamed the Premier and First divisions respectively. As part of the Football Association's ongoing restructure of the National League System, the First Division was regionalised in 2018. The vacant positions in the new North and South divisions were filled by 15 clubs from feeder leagues.

Four clubs have won a Premier Division/Division One and League Challenge Cup double, Ashton United in 1992, Kidsgrove Athletic in 1998, F.C. United of Manchester in 2007 and Glossop North End in 2015. Atherton Laburnum Rovers are the only club to have won the same division consecutively, winning Division One in 1993 and 1994. Clitheroe have won three different divisions consecutively, winning Division Three in 1984, Division Two in 1985 and Division One in 1986.

Two former Football League clubs, Northwich Victoria and Nelson, are currently members of the league, as well as Darwen F.C., a continuation of Darwen. Former members Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town and Salford City currently play in the English Football League, being promoted from the league in 1987, 2005 and 2008 respectively.

For sixteen years the league's record attendance was 1,353 for a Division One championship decider between Radcliffe Borough and Caernarfon Town in 1983. In 1999, a crowd of 2,281 saw Workington's championship-deciding match with Mossley at Borough Park. In 2006, 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. The following season saw a record 4,058 for an evening match, at Salford City's Division One home game against FC United of Manchester.

The league has two cup competitions – the League Challenge Cup, which is open to all clubs and is sponsored by Macron, and the First Division Challenge Cup called the Edward Case Cup. A tertiary competition, the Floodlit Trophy, operated on weeknights from 1990 to 2000, as well a reserve league and cup which were disbanded in 2014.

Member clubs (2025–26)

Premier Division

Division One North

Division One South

Previous divisional champions

1982–87

The league was formed with three divisions.

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.

2008–18

In the 2008–09 season, the league renamed their divisions to the Premier Division and First Division.

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.

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
• 2020–21 – Not held
• 2021–22 – Charnock Richard
• 2022–23 – Congleton Town
• 2023–24 – Barnoldswick Town

Results by team

Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence, teams in bold are members of the NWCFL as of 2023–24.

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
• 2022–23 – Bacup Borough
• 2023–24 – Bacup Borough

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
• 2023–24 – FC St Helens

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

References

References

1. "LEAGUE HISTORY – A Brief History of the North West Counties Football League". North West Counties Football League.
2. "League History 1982-2022".
3. (19 June 2018). "National League System: FA chiefs restructure non-league game". BBC Sport.
4. (8 October 2017). "FA Announcement: New Step 6 Divisions allocated". NWCFL.
5. (18 July 2017). "FA National League System Restructure – season 2018/19". NWCFL.
6. (7 June 2016). "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL.
7. "News from the League AGM". NWCFL.
8. "Ramsbottom Are Champions". Non League Daily.
9. (December 2023). "Double Celebration For Wigan Robin Park". NWCFL.
10. "League Tables".
11. (8 May 2023). "Congleton Town - Macron Cup Winners 2022–23". NWCFL.com.
12. "Barnoldswick cruise to Macron Cup victory against ten-man Chadderton". Craven Herald & Pioneer.
13. "Rylands win the First Division Champions Cup".
14. "NWCFL First Division South 2022/23 - Reviewed".
15. "NWCFL | Brocton v FC St Helens Lineup".