Northern Premier League

Last updated

Northern Premier League
Founded1968;56 years ago (1968)
CountryEngland
Number of teams82
  • Premier Division: 22
  • Division One East: 20
  • Division One West: 20
  • Division One Midlands: 20
Level on pyramid 7 and 8
Promotion to National League North
Relegation to
Domestic cup(s)National
FA Cup
FA Trophy
League
League Challenge Cup
Current champions Radcliffe (Premier Division)
Leek Town (Division One West 2023-24)
Hebburn Town (Division One East 2023-24)
Spalding United (Division One Midlands 2023-24)
Website thenpl.co.uk
Current: 2023–24

The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.

Contents

Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England and the northern, central areas of the Midlands, and western parts of East Anglia. Originally a single-division competition, a second division was added in 1987: Division One, and in 2007 a third was added when Division One split into two geographic sections - Division One North and Division One South. In 2018 Division One was re-aligned as East and West Divisions, then North West and South East in 2019. In 2021, the FA restructured the non-League football pyramid and created Division One East, West, and Midlands.

Successful teams at the top of the NPL Premier Division are promoted to level 6 of the pyramid (either National League North or National League South), and at the bottom end of the competition, teams are relegated down to level 9, where several regional feeder leagues promote clubs into the league.

History

The Northern Premier League (NPL) was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, decades after the other two leagues at what is now the seventh tier of the English football league system, the Isthmian League and the Southern League. At that time they were the highest level non-League division below the English Football League, the same level as the other league in Northern England, the Northern League. [1]

Over the next two decades, the NPL successfully displaced its older rival to become the pre-eminent regional competition in Northern England, with the Northern League eventually forced to accept status as feeder league to the NPL. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League (which later became the Conference and is now the National League), the NPL became a feeder league and fell down one level in the English football league system, and with the then-Conference's addition of regional divisions in 2004 the NPL was demoted by a further tier and there are now two levels between it and the English Football League.

From 1992–93 to 1994–95 the league's Division One included two non-English clubs, Caernarfon Town from Wales and Gretna from Scotland, who later joined their countries' league systems. Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Newtown, and Rhyl have also played in the league.

In 2018, the NPL's member clubs voted 37–27, with one abstention and three clubs' absence, to split Step 4 (level 8) divisions from east to west starting from the 2018–19 season, [2] and one year later, the league published its successful bid to add another division at Step 4 initially in 2020, further altering Division One into northwest and southeast for travel reasons. [3] [4] After the Football Association (FA) deferred its implementation of changes to the NLS, the NPL's additional division was created in 2021 instead. [5]

Sponsorship

Owing to title sponsorship deals, the league has been billed under various names, including a sixteen-year spell as the Unibond League, the longest such deal in world football. [6] When this deal ended in 2010, a new deal was announced which saw the competition billed as the Evo-Stik League [7] [8] [9] until the 2017–18 season. [10] The League announced on 8 July 2019 that a two-year deal for seasons 2019-20 and 2020-21 had been agreed with new sponsor BetVictor. [11] This sponsorship agreement with BetVictor was subsequently terminated early in April 2020 with a replacement, Entain's Pitching In, announced as the next sponsor for 2020–21. At the time of announcement, Entain went by its former name GVC Holdings. Under this partnership, the NPL is marketed as one of the three Trident Leagues, alongside its Isthmian and Southern counterparts. [12]

Structure

Since 2021, the NPL has had four divisions: the Premier Division, Division One Midlands, Division One West and Division One East. Prior to 2007 there was just a single Division One, [1] and from 2018 to 2021 Division One was arranged on a north-south, then east-west basis.

The Premier Division has 22 clubs, with the champions promoted to the National League along with the winners of a playoff between the second to fifth place clubs. Theoretically, clubs from the NPL could be promoted into either of the National League's two regional divisions, but the geographical footprint of the NPL has never overlapped with that of the National League South, so (as of 2015) all promoted NPL clubs have been placed in the National League North. The bottom three teams are usually relegated to Division One North West or South East, but NPL Premier Division clubs in the most southerly locales could be relegated to the Southern League Division One Central.

From the 2019–20 season, Division One North West and South East have 20 clubs each. In each division, the champions are promoted to the Premier Division, along with the winners of a divisional playoff. The bottom two clubs in each division are relegated to one of the feeder leagues below provided there are enough suitable promotion candidates from those leagues. The champions of the three feeder leagues covering the NPL area are promoted each season. These are the Northern League, the Northern Counties East League, and the North West Counties League. Clubs in the northern extremities of the Midland League and the United Counties League may also be promoted to the Northern Premier League.

Should there be an unusually large or small number of clubs relegated to and/or promoted to the level of the NPL from Northern England, the National League System (NLS) Committee can order one or more of the NPL's southernmost clubs to transfer to the Southern League (or vice versa) to maintain numerical balance between the leagues.

Division One North West and South East teams receive a bye to the preliminary round of FA Cup Qualification. Premier Division teams receive a bye to the first round of Qualification.

The league currently runs one cup competition, with all member clubs competing in the League Challenge Cup. In the past, the league has run other competitions, such as the Chairman's Cup, the President's Cup and the Peter Swales Shield.

Current members

Premier Division

Northern England location map.PNG
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Ashton United
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Atherton Collieries
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Bamber Bridge
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Bradford (Park Avenue)
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FC United of Manchester
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Gainsborough Trinity
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Guiseley
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Hyde United
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Ilkeston Town
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Lancaster City
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Macclesfield
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Marine
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Marske United
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Matlock Town
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Radcliffe
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Morpeth Town
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Stafford Rangers
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Warrington Rylands
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Basford United
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Whitby Town
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Workington
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Worksop Town
Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
Dark Red 800000 pog.svg – Premier Division
ClubHome groundGround capacity
Ashton United Hurst Cross4,250 (250 seated)
Atherton Collieries Skuna Stadium2,200
Bamber Bridge Sir Tom Finney Stadium3,000 (554 seated)
Basford United Greenwich Avenue1,950 (300 seated)
Bradford (Park Avenue) Horsfall Stadium 3,500
FC United of Manchester Broadhurst Park 4,400
Gainsborough Trinity The Northolme 4,340 (504 seated)
Guiseley Nethermoor Park 4,200
Hyde United Ewen Fields 4,250 (530 seated)
Ilkeston Town New Manor Ground3,029
Lancaster City Giant Axe3,513 (513 seated)
Macclesfield Leasing.com Stadium 5,300 (2,095 seated)
Marine Rossett Park 2,200 (400 seated)
Marske United Mount Pleasant2,150
Matlock Town Causeway Lane2,214
Morpeth Town Craik Park1,950 (300 seated)
Radcliffe Neuven Stadium4,080 (430 seated)
Stafford Rangers Marston Road 4,000 (530 seated)
Warrington Rylands 1906 Gorsey Lane1,345
Whitby Town Turnbull Ground3,500 (505 seated)
Workington Borough Park 3,100 (500 seated)
Worksop Town Sandy Lane2,200 (200 seated)

Division One West

Northern England location map.PNG
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1874 Northwich
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Avro
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Bootle
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Chasetown
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City of Liverpool
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Clitheroe
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Hanley Town
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Hednesford Town
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Kidsgrove Athletic
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Leek Town
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Mossley
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Newcastle Town
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Nantwich Town
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Stalybridge Celtic
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Prescot Cables
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Runcorn Linnets
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Vauxhall Motors
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Trafford
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Widnes
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Witton Albion
Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
Blue 000080 pog.svg – Division One West
ClubHome groundGround capacity
1874 Northwich Townfield1,300
Avro Whitebank Stadium1,500
Belper Town Christchurch Meadow2,000 (500 seated)
Bootle New Bucks Park2,000
Chasetown The Scholars Ground2,000
City of Liverpool New Bucks Park2,000
Clitheroe Shawbridge2,000
Hanley Town Potteries Park1,300
Hednesford Town Keys Park6,039
Kidsgrove Athletic Hollinwood Road2,000
Leek Town Harrison Park3,600 (625 seated)
Liversedge Clayborn2,000
Mossley Seel Park3,000 (200 seated)
Nantwich Town Swansway Stadium3,500 (300 seated)
Newcastle Town Lyme Valley Stadium4,000 (300 seated)
Prescot Cables Valerie Park 2,070
Runcorn Linnets APEC Taxis Stadium1,600
Stalybridge Celtic Bower Fold 6,500 (1,300 seated)
Trafford Shawe View1,500
Vauxhall Motors vanEupen Arena3,300
Widnes Halton Stadium 13,350 (all seater stadium)
Witton Albion Wincham Park 2,300 (600 seated)

Division One East

Northern England location map.PNG
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Ashington
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Belper Town
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Bridlington Town
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Brighouse Town
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Carlton Town
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Cleethorpes Town & Grimsby Borough
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Consett
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Dunston UTS
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Grantham Town
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Hebburn Town
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Liversedge
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Newton Aycliffe
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North Ferriby
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Ossett United
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Pontefract Collieries
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Sheffield
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Stocksbridge Park Steels
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Stockton Town
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Winterton Rangers
Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
Green 008000 pog.svg – Division One East
ClubHome groundGround capacity
Ashington Woodhorn Lane2,000 (250 seated)
Bridlington Town Queensgate3,000 (542 seated)
Brighouse Town St Giles Road1,350 (150 seated)
Carlton Town Bill Stokeld Stadium1,968 (150 seated)
Cleethorpes Town Linden Club1,300 (180 seated)
Consett Belle View Stadium3,770 (250 seated)
Dunston UTS Wellington Road2,500 (150 seated)
Grantham Town South Kesteven Sports Stadium7,500 (750 seated)
Grimsby Borough Bradley Football Centre1,300 (180 seated)
Hebburn Town Hebburn Sports & Social Ground2,000 (500 seated)
Newton Aycliffe Securicorp Stadium1300 (100 seated)
North Ferriby The Dransfield Stadium3,000 (504 seated)
Ossett United Ingfield1,950 (360 seated)
Pontefract Collieries Beechnut Lane1,500 (300 seated)
Sheffield Home of Football Ground2,089 (250 seated)
Stocksbridge Park Steels Bracken Moor3,500 (450 seated)
Stockton Town Bishopton Road West1,800 (200 seated)
Winterton Rangers West Street Stadium3,000 (300 seated)

Division One Midlands

England Midlands location map.svg
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AFC Rushden & Diamonds
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Anstey Nomads
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Bedworth
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Boldmere St. Michaels
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Cambridge City
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Coleshill Town
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Corby Town
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Coventry Sphinx
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Gresley Rovers
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Harborough Town
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Hinckley LRFC
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Loughborough Dynamo
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Lye Town
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Quorn
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Rugby Town
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Shepshed Dynamo
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Spalding United
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Sporting Khalsa
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Sutton Coldfield Town
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Walsall Wood
Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
Purple 8000ff pog.svg – Division One Midlands
ClubHome groundGround capacity
AFC Rushden & Diamonds Hayden Road2,000 (257 seated)
Anstey Nomads Cropston Road1,500 (seated 150)
Bedworth United The Oval3,000 (300 seated)
Boldmere St Michaels Trevor Brown Memorial Ground2,000 (230 seated)
Cambridge City Westwood Road2,000
Coleshill Town Pack Meadow2,000
Corby Town Steel Park3,893 (577 seated)
Coventry Sphinx Sphinx Drive
Gresley Rovers Moat Ground2,400
Harborough Town Bowden Park2,000 (200 seated)
Hinckley LRFC Leicester Road Stadium4,329 (732 seayed)
Loughborough Dynamo Nanpantan Sports Ground1,500 (250 seated)
Lye Town Lye Sports Ground1,000
Quorn Farley Way Stadium1,400 (400 seated)
Rugby Town Butlin Road6,000 (740 seated)
Shepshed Dynamo The Dovecote Stadium2,500 (500 seated)
Spalding United Sir Halley Stewart Field3,500 (1,000 seated)
Sporting Khalsa Noose Lane2,250
Sutton Coldfield Town Central Ground2,000
Walsall Wood Oak Park1,000 (272 seated)

Champions

1968–87
SeasonNorthern Premier League
1968–69 Macclesfield Town
1969–70 Macclesfield Town
1970–71 Wigan Athletic
1971–72 Stafford Rangers
1972–73 Boston United
1973–74 Boston United
1974–75 Wigan Athletic
1975–76 Runcorn
1976–77 Boston United
1977–78 Boston United
1978–79 Mossley
1979–80 Mossley
1980–81 Runcorn
1981–82 Bangor City
1982–83 Gateshead
1983–84 Barrow
1984–85 Stafford Rangers
1985–86 Gateshead
1986–87 Macclesfield Town
1987–2007
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
1987–88 Chorley Fleetwood Town
1988–89 Barrow Colne Dynamoes
1989–90 Colne Dynamoes Leek Town
1990–91 Witton Albion Whitley Bay
1991–92 Stalybridge Celtic Colwyn Bay
1992–93 Southport Bridlington Town
1993–94 Marine Guiseley
1994–95 Marine Blyth Spartans
1995–96 Bamber Bridge Lancaster City
1996–97 Leek Town Radcliffe Borough
1997–98 Barrow Whitby Town
1998–99 Altrincham Droylsden
1999–00 Leigh RMI Accrington Stanley
2000–01 Stalybridge Celtic Bradford Park Avenue
2001–02 Burton Albion Harrogate Town
2002–03 Accrington Stanley Alfreton Town
2003–04 Hucknall Town Hyde United
2004–05 Hyde United North Ferriby United
2005–06 Blyth Spartans Mossley
2006–07 Burscough Buxton
2007–18
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
NorthSouth
2007–08 Fleetwood Town Bradford Park Avenue Retford United
2008–09 Eastwood Town Durham City Retford United
2009–10 Guiseley FC Halifax Town Mickleover Sports
2010–11 FC Halifax Town Chester Barwell
2011–12 Chester AFC Fylde Grantham Town
2012–13 North Ferriby United Skelmersdale United King's Lynn Town
2013–14 Chorley Curzon Ashton Halesowen Town
2014–15 FC United of Manchester Salford City Mickleover Sports
2015–16 Darlington 1883 Warrington Town Stafford Rangers
2016–17 Blyth Spartans Lancaster City Shaw Lane
2017–18 Altrincham South Shields Basford United
2018–Present
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
WestEastMidlands (2021–present)
2018–19 Farsley Celtic Morpeth Town Atherton Collieries
2019–20 1 South Shields Leek Town Workington
2020–21 2 Mickleover Colne Leek Town
2021–22 Buxton Warrington Rylands 1906 Liversedge Ilkeston Town
2022–23 South Shields Macclesfield Worksop Town Stamford
2023–24 Radcliffe Leek Town Hebburn Town Spalding United

1 The 2019–20 season was terminated on 26 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic; the teams listed here were in first place in the standings at the time of the termination, but were not recognised as champions.

2 The 2020–21 season was also terminated on 24 February 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic; the teams listed here were in first place in the standings at the time of the termination, but were not recognised as champions.

Since the league's formation in 1968, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system -

SeasonsPromoted to
19581979 Football League Fourth Division
19791986 Alliance Premier League
19862003 Football Conference
20032005 Football Conference National
20042015 Football Conference North
2015Present National League North
SeasonPromotedTo
1977–78 Wigan Athletic (2nd) Football League Fourth Division
1978–79 Altrincham (2nd)
Scarborough (4th)
Boston United (6th)
Stafford Rangers (8th)
Northwich Victoria (10th)
Bangor City (12th)
Barrow (16th)
All 7 clubs split to form the new Alliance Premier League above the division
1979–80 Frickley Athletic (3rd) Alliance Premier League
1980–81 Runcorn Alliance Premier League
1981–82 Bangor City Alliance Premier League
1982–83 Gateshead Alliance Premier League
1983–84 Barrow Alliance Premier League
1984–85 Stafford Rangers Alliance Premier League
1985–86 Gateshead Football Conference
1986–87 Macclesfield Town Football Conference
1987–88 Chorley Football Conference
1988–89 Barrow Football Conference
1989–90 Gateshead (2nd) Football Conference
1990–91 Witton Albion Football Conference
1991–92 Stalybridge Celtic Football Conference
1992–93 Southport Football Conference
1994–95 Morecambe (2nd) Football Conference
1996–97 Leek Town Football Conference
1997–98 Barrow Football Conference
1998–99 Altrincham Football Conference
1999–00 Leigh RMI Football Conference
2000–01 Stalybridge Celtic Football Conference
2001–02 Burton Albion Football Conference
2002–03 Accrington Stanley Football Conference National
Play-offs introduced (2003–present)
SeasonPromotedPlay-off winnerTo
2003–04 Hucknall Town (1st)
Droylsden (2nd)
Barrow (3rd)
Alfreton Town (4th)
Harrogate Town (5th)
Southport (6th)
Worksop Town (7th)
Lancaster City (8th)
Vauxhall Motors (9th)
Gainsborough Trinity (10th)
Stalybridge Celtic (11th)
Altrincham (12th)
Runcorn (13th)
Ashton United (14th)
Bradford Park Avenue (17th) Football Conference North created above the division
2004–05 Hyde United Workington (2nd) Football Conference North
2005–06 Blyth Spartans Farsley Celtic (4th) Football Conference North
2006–07 Burscough AFC Telford United (4th) Football Conference North
2007–08 Fleetwood Town Gateshead (3rd) Football Conference North
2008–09 Eastwood Town Ilkeston Town (2nd) Football Conference North
2009–10 Guiseley Boston United (3rd) Football Conference North
2010–11 FC Halifax Town Colwyn Bay (2nd) Football Conference North
2011–12 Chester Bradford Park Avenue (4th) Football Conference North
2012–13 North Ferriby United Hednesford Town (2nd) Football Conference North
2013–14 Chorley AFC Fylde (3rd) Football Conference North
2014–15 FC United of Manchester Curzon Ashton (4th) National League North
2015–16 Darlington 1883 Salford City (3rd) National League North
2016–17 Blyth Spartans Spennymoor Town (2nd) National League North
2017–18 Altrincham Ashton United (2nd) National League North
2018–19 Farsley Celtic National League North
2019–20 No promotion to National League North
2020–21 Step 3 promotion cancelled
2021–22 Buxton Scarborough Athletic (3rd) National League North
2022–23 South Shields Warrington Town (2nd)National League North
2023–24 Radcliffe Harborough Town (3rd)National League North

Cup competitions

League Challenge Cup

The league currently runs one cup competition, the League Challenge Cup, which is contested by every club in the league. [13]

Finals

SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upVenueAttendance
1968–69 Bangor City 5–2
(agg.)
Runcorn 1L:
2L:
1L:
2L:
1969–70 Altrincham 4–3
(agg.)
Macclesfield Town 1L:
2L: Moss Rose
1L: 4,400
2L: 6,833
1970–71 Fleetwood 1–1
(agg.)
1–0 ( rep.)
Macclesfield Town 1L:
2L: Moss Rose
rep. Springfield Park
1L: 1,374
2L: 2,457
rep.
1971–72 Wigan Athletic 4–2
(agg.)
Gainsborough Trinity 1L:
2L:
1L:
2L:
1972–73 Northwich Victoria 3–2
(agg.)
Wigan Athletic 1L:
2L:
1L:
2L:
1973–74 Boston United 4–3
(agg.)
Altrincham 1L:
2L:
1L:
2L:
1974–75 Runcorn 2–1
(agg.)
Stafford Rangers 1L:
2L:
1L:
2L:
1975–76 Boston United 4–3
(agg.)
Mossley 1L: York Street
2L: Seel Park
1L: 2,212
2L: 711
1976–77 Scarborough 1–0 Runcorn Maine Road
1977–78 Matlock Town 3–0 Boston United Maine Road
1978–79 Mossley 4–1 Northwich Victoria Maine Road 5,054
1979–80 Runcorn 2–0 Lancaster City Maine Road
1980–81 Runcorn 4–3 Marine Maine Road
1981–82 Gainsborough Trinity 1–0 Mossley Maine Road 1,658
1982–83 Burton Albion 2–1 Macclesfield Town Maine Road 2,538
1983–84 South Liverpool 1–1 (wp) Hyde United Maine Road
1984–85 Marine 3–2 Goole Town Maine Road
1985–86 Hyde United 1–0 Marine Maine Road
1986–87 Macclesfield Town 2–0 Burton Albion Maine Road 2,037
1987–88 Goole Town 2–2 (wp) Barrow Maine Road 1,579
1988–89 Mossley 2–1 Fleetwood Maine Road 2,110
1989–90 Hyde United 1–0 Gateshead Maine Road
1990–91 Southport 4–1 Buxton Maine Road 1,700
1991–92 Marine 1–0 Frickley Athletic Maine Road
1992–93 Winsford United 1–1 (wp) Warrington Town Maine Road
1993–94 Spennymoor United 3–1 Hyde United Wetherby Road 585
1994–95 Bamber Bridge 2–1 Bishop Auckland Burnden Park
1995–96 Hyde United 1–1 (wp) Leek Town Burnden Park 501
1996–97 Gainsborough Trinity 1–0 Boston United Sincil Bank
1997–98 Altrincham 2–1 Gainsborough Trinity Saltergate
1998–99 Stalybridge Celtic 2–1 Guiseley
1999–00 Lancaster City 1–0 Worksop Town Bower Fold 669
2000–01 Lancaster City 2–2 (wp) Bishop Auckland Giant Axe 530
2001–02 Accrington Stanley 1–1(wp)
(0-1; 1-0; pens 5-4)
Bradford Park Avenue 1L: Horsfall Stadium
2L: Crown Ground
1L: 471
2L: 1,107
2002–03 Marine 3–0
(agg.)
Gateshead 1L: Filtrona Park
2L: Rossett Park
1L: 184
2L: 425
2003–04 Droylsden 4–1
(agg.)
Hucknall Town 1L: Butcher's Arms Ground
2L: Watnall Road
1L: 424
2L: 597
2004–05 Matlock Town 5–3
(agg.)
Whitby Town 1L: Causeway Lane
2L: Turnbull Ground
1L: 547
2L: 490
2005–06 Farsley Celtic 1–0 Stocksbridge Park Steels Throstle Nest 507
2006–07 Fleetwood 1–0 Matlock Town Wincham Park 426
2007–08 Eastwood Town 3–0 Skelmersdale United Tameside Stadium 372
2008–09 Guiseley 3–2 Ilkeston Town Tameside Stadium 227
2009–10 Boston United 2–0 Retford United Ashby Avenue 503
2010–11 Ashton United 1–0 Northwich Victoria Wincham Park 489
2011–12 North Ferriby United 4–1 Rushall Olympic Coronation Park 256
2012–13 North Ferriby United 1–1 (wp) Curzon Ashton Throstle Nest 179
2013–14 AFC Fylde 1–0 Skelmersdale United Edgeley Park 358
2014–15 Warrington Town 0–0 (wp) Farsley Edgeley Park 731
2015–16 Marine 2–1 Scarborough Athletic Throstle Nest 690
2016–17 Bamber Bridge 2–1 Grantham Town Harrison Park 474
2017–18 Atherton Collieries 2–1 Coalville Town North Street 374
2018–19 Trafford 2–1 Farsley Celtic Broadhurst Park 374
2019–20 Competition abandoned due to COVID-19
2020–23Not contested

Defunct competitions

In the past the league has run three other cup competitions - the President's Cup, Chairman's Cup and Peter Swales Shield. [14]

Winners

SeasonPresident's CupChairman's CupPeter Swales Shield
1970–71 -- Wigan Athletic
1971–72 -- Wigan Athletic
1972–73 -- Boston United
1973–74 -- Boston United
1974–75 -- Wigan Athletic
1975–76 -- Boston United
1976–77 -- Boston United
1977–78 -- Matlock Town
1978–79 -- Altrincham
1979–80 -- Runcorn
1980–81 -- Runcorn
1981–82 Buxton - Gainsborough Trinity
1982–83 King's Lynn - Burton Albion
1983–84 Workington - Barrow
1984–85 Rhyl - Stafford Rangers
1985–86 Worksop Town - Gateshead
1986–87 Macclesfield Town - Bangor City
1987–88 South Liverpool - Chorley
1988–89 Bangor City - Mossley
1989–90 Fleetwood Town - Leek Town
1990–91 Witton Albion - Witton Albion
1991–92 Morecambe - Stalybridge Celtic
1992–93 Winsford United - Southport
1993–94 Guiseley - Marine
1994–95 Lancaster City - Marine
1995–96 Worksop Town - Hyde United
1996–97 Blyth Spartans - Gainsborough Trinity
1997–98 Runcorn - Altrincham
1998–99 Droylsden - Altrincham
1999–00 Trafford Hyde United Leigh RMI
2000–01 Stalybridge Celtic Barrow Stalybridge Celtic
2001–02 Barrow Worksop Town Accrington Stanley
2002–03 Stalybridge Celtic Hucknall Town Accrington Stanley
2003–04 Barrow Hyde United Droylsden
2004–05 Bamber Bridge Kidsgrove Athletic Hyde United
2005–06 Bradford Park Avenue Blyth Spartans Blyth Spartans
2006–07 Buxton Guiseley Burscough
2007–08 FC United of Manchester Retford United Fleetwood Town
2008–09 Trafford Durham City Eastwood Town
2009–10 Belper Town Mickleover Sports Guiseley
2010–11 Lancaster City - FC Halifax Town
2011–12 -- Chester
2012–13 -- Skelmersdale United
2013–14 -- Halesowen Town

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Football League</span> English football league

The Southern League is a football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from East Anglia, the South and Midlands of England, and South Wales. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.

The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in England, with five teams from Wales, one from Guernsey, one from Jersey and one from the Isle of Man also competing. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the theoretical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system, the Premier League. Below that are levels 2–4 organised by the English Football League, then the National League System from levels 5–10 administered by the FA, and thereafter Regional feeder leagues run by relevant county FAs on an ad hoc basis. It also often happens that the Premier Division of a Regional Feeder League has its constitution given to it by the FA. They have to accept it or appeal but cannot reject it at an annual general meeting.

For more information on the current structure of the NLS, see the main article.

The 2010–11 season was the 43rd season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the fourth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South.

The 2011–12 season was the 44th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the fifth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South.

The 2012–13 season is the 45th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the sixth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South. The League sponsors for 2012–13 are Evo-Stik.

The 2013–14 season in English football is the 46th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the seventh season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South. The League sponsors for 2013–14 are Evo-Stik.

The 2014–15 season was the 47th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the eighth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South. The league sponsors for 2014–15 were Evo-Stik.

The 2015–16 season was the 113th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales. From the 2014–15 season onwards, the Southern League is known as Evo-Stik League Southern, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.

The 2015–16 season is the 48th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the ninth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South. The League sponsors for 2015–16 are Evo-Stik.

The 2016–17 season was the 49th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the tenth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South. The League sponsors for 2016–17 were Evo-Stik.

The 2016–17 season was the 114th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales. From the 2014–15 season onwards, the Southern League is known as Evo-Stik League Southern, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.

The 2017–18 season was the 50th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the eleventh and last season of the Division One North and South. The league sponsors for 2017–18 were Evo-Stik.

The 2017–18 season was the 115th in the history of the Southern League since its establishment in 1894. It was also the last to have a single Premier Division. From the 2014–15 season onwards, the Southern League is known as Evo-Stik League Southern, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.

The 2018–19 season was the 51st season of the Northern Premier League. After eleven seasons, the two divisions of Division One were re-aligned from North and South to West and East. The League sponsors for the last time were Evo-Stik.

The 2018–19 season was the 116th in the history of the Southern League since its establishment in 1894. The league has two Premier divisions at step 3 of the National League System (NLS) and two Division One divisions at step 4 of the NLS.

The 2019–20 season was the 52nd season of the Northern Premier League. After one season, the two divisions of Division One were re-aligned from West and East to North West and South East.

The 2021–22 season was the 54th season of the Northern Premier League. The league consists of four divisions, the Premier Division at Step 3 of the National League System, and the West, East and Midlands divisions at Step 4. The NPL continued this season with main sponsors Entain's Pitching In.

The 2022–23 season was the 55th season of the Northern Premier League. The league consists of four divisions, the Premier Division at Step 3 of the National League System, and the West, East and Midlands divisions at Step 4. The NPL continued this season with main sponsors Entain's Pitching In.

References

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  3. "NPL to expand with additional division at Step 4". The Evo-Stik League. Pitch Hero Ltd. 24 April 2019.
  4. "2019/20 Club Allocations Confirmed". The Evo-Stik League. Pitch Hero Ltd. 19 May 2019.
  5. "Update on non-League, women's & grassroots football seasons". The Football Association. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  6. Allcock, Alan (2 May 2010). "Evo-Stik New Sponsors From 2010–2011". The Evo-Stik League Website. Pitch Hero Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. Kirkbride, Philip (1 May 2010). "Northern Premier League secures new sponsor". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  8. Watters, David (18 May 2012). "Sponsor commits to three more years on night of national honours and celebration". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  9. Watters, David (22 December 2013). "Christmas comes early for League!". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero Ltd. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  10. "Evo-Stik Continue Northern Premier League Backing". Pitchero.com. 17 June 2017.
  11. "New League sponsor". BetVictor Northern Premier. NPL. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  12. "Introducing 'Pitching In' - the new partner of the Northern Premier League". Whitby Town FC. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  13. "CUP WINNERS CHALLENGE CUP". The UniBond League. Archived from the original on 23 July 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  14. Snee, Tom (22 June 2011). "League Statement: President's Cup". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2014.