Founded | 1893 |
---|---|
Country | England |
Divisions | Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three (for reserve teams) Division Four (for reserve teams) Division Five (Development Division for U23 teams) |
Number of teams | 81 (for the purposes of the league system) |
Level on pyramid | Level 11 (Premier Division) |
Feeder to | North West Counties League |
Promotion to | North West Counties League First Division |
Domestic cup(s) | Gilgryst Cup Murray Trophy Open Trophy Manchester League Cup |
Current champions | Hindsford (Premier Division) Moorside Rangers (Division One) TBC (Division Two) |
Website | www |
The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Manchester FA, covering a 30-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. Currently it consists of five divisions, with the Premier division being at level 11 of the English football league system.
The League consists of six divisions, from Premier Division to Division five. The Premier Division, Division One and Division Two can incorporate both first teams, and reserve teams of clubs who are playing at a higher level, while Divisions Three and Four and Five usually consist entirely of reserve or lower teams.
However, for the 2018–19 season only, the constitution was amended to allow a small number of reserve teams into the bottom division of the first teams (Division Two) to even up the numbers. This was put in place in the hope of keeping all teams playing regularly as opposed to the old structure which meant teams could go without a fixture for a few weeks at a time.
For the 2023-24 season Division 5 will become a new Development Division for U23's teams.
The Premier Division has a promotion and relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL), placing it at level 11 of the English football league system. However, the NWCFL's ground requirements are considerably higher than those of the Manchester League, so meeting them usually requires expensive improvements, and consequently few teams take up the opportunity of promotion. Ashton Athletic took the step up in 2006, despite only finishing 4th in Division One. Teams such as Salford City, Maine Road and Northern Nomads have all played in the league at some point. The latest teams to make the step up were Prestwich Heys, Avro and most recently Stockport Georgians.
Teams from the Premier Division are relegated to Division One, making Division One the twelfth level of the English league system. However, first teams from Division One could be relegated to Division Two after the realignment of the league structure at the start of the 2017–18 season.
Following the introduction of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) national lockdown restrictions in March 2020, the 2019/20 season was unable to be completed and was therefore declared null and void. The following season suffered the same outcome with only around a third of fixtures being completed.
Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
---|---|---|---|
1982–83 | Maine Road | Mount Pleasant | |
1983–84 | Maine Road | Shell (Carington) | |
1984–85 | Maine Road | Coldhurst United | |
1985–86 | Maine Road | Adswood Amateurs | |
1986–87 | Adswood Amateurs | Castleton Gabriels | |
1987–88 | Stockport Georgians | Prestwich Heys | |
1988–89 | Abbey Hey | Avro | |
1989–90 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Greater Manchester Police | |
1990–91 | Abbey Hey | Ramsbottom United | |
1991–92 | East Manchester | Woodley Sports | |
1992–93 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Atherton Town | |
1993–94 | Abbey Hey | Winton United | |
1994–95 | Abbey Hey | Highfield United | |
1995–96 | Little Hulton United | Stand Athletic | |
1996–97 | Highfield United | Prestwich Heys | |
1997–98 | Springhead | Urmston | |
1998–99 | Stand Athletic | Willows | |
1999–00 | Stand Athletic | Sacred Heart | |
2000–01 | Stand Athletic | Leigh Athletic | |
2001–02 | Stockport Georgians | Royton Town | |
2002–03 | [Wythenshawe Amateurs | Breightmet United | |
2003–04 | Royton Town | Avro | |
2004–05 | Prestwich Heys | AFC Blackley | |
2005–06 | Prestwich Heys | Whitworth Valley | |
2006–07 | Prestwich Heys | Walshaw Sports | |
2007–08 | Wigan Robin Park | Chapel Town | |
2008–09 | Gregorians | Springhead | |
2009–10 | Avro | Bury Amateurs | |
2010–11 | Manchester Gregorians | Avro | |
2011–12 | Hindsford | Wythenshawe Town | |
2012–13 | Hindsford | Rochdale Sacred Heart | |
2013–14 | Hindsford | Chapel Town | |
2014–15 | Stockport Georgians | Old Altrinchamians | |
2015–16 | Prestwich Heys | East Manchester | |
2016–17 | Rochdale Sacred Heart | Prestwich Heys Reserves | |
2017–18 | Avro | Chadderton Reserves | Altrincham Hale |
2018-19 | Hindsford | Heywood St James | Middleton Colts |
2019-20 | Null & Void | Null & Void | Null & Void |
2020-21 | Null & Void | Null & Void | Null & Void |
2021-22 | Hindsford | Moorside Rangers | Bolton United |
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. From season 2018–19 the league increased to three divisions: the Premier Division, at level nine in the English football league system, and two geographically separate Division Ones, North and South, at level ten. The league is a member of the Joint Liaison Council which administers the Northern arm of the National Football System in England.
Stockport Sports F.C. was a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and played at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. The club's name was changed to Woodley Sports in 1980 during its time in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League.
Cheadle Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Cheadle, Greater Manchester. They were established in 1961 and joined the North West Counties Football League in 1983. They are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division. Their home ground is Park Road Stadium.
The Manchester Football Association is the governing body for association football in the centre of the city of Manchester, England. They are responsible for the governance and development of football at all levels in the area.
The 2011–12 North West Counties Football League season was the 30th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: the Premier Division and Division One.
The 2012–13 North West Counties Football League season was the 31st in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: the Premier Division and Division One.
The 2013–14 North West Counties Football League season was the 32nd in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: the Premier Division and Division One.
The 2014–15 North West Counties Football League season was the 33rd in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions; Premier Division and Division One.
The 2015–16 North West Counties Football League season was the 34th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: Premier Division and Division One.
The 2016–17 North West Counties Football League season was the 35th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: Premier Division and First Division.
The 2017–18 North West Counties Football League season was the 36th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. It was also the last season to have a single Division One. Teams were divided into two divisions: Premier Division and Division One.
The 2018–19 North West Counties Football League season was the 37th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the first season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams were divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The 2019–20 North West Counties Football League season was the 38th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the second season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The 2020–21 North West Counties Football League season was the 39th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the third season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The 2021–22 North West Counties Football League season was the 40th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the fourth season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The 2021–22 season was the first in the history of Macclesfield Football Club. Alongside the North West Counties Premier League, they entered the FA Cup, FA Vase, NWCFL Challenge Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup. The season covers the period from July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League is an English association football league founded in 1909. As of the 2023/24 season, the league consists of seven divisions – Premier, One, Two and Three, then A, B and C. Historically the divisions named A-D were for Reserve sides of teams in the top four divisions, but 1st teams can now play at the lower levels. In 2023-24, three divisions now have this style of name. The Premier Division is at level 14 in the English football league system, below the 3rd levels of the top county leagues in the area: Manchester League, Cheshire League and West Lancashire League.
The 2022–23 North West Counties Football League season was the 41st in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the fifth season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The 2023–24 North West Counties Football League season was the 42nd in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.