The North West Counties Football League was founded in 1982 following the amalgamation of two of the most historic leagues in the North West, the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination, whose own history stretched back to 1919 and 1891 respectively. This season sees the League celebrate its 40th anniversary since formation.
Initially the North West Counties League operated with three divisions and 58 clubs, but at the end of 1986-87 season, this was reduced to two as a result of ongoing ground grading and the formation of a First Division of the Northern Premier League. The League continued with two leagues until 2018/19, when it expanded to three divisions consisting of 60 clubs.
The NWCFL covers a geographical area stretching from Cumbria in the North, through Lancashire, Cheshire, Liverpool, Manchester, Shropshire and parts of Derbyshire, down to Staffordshire in the South, and goes East into West Yorkshire. The League also see representation from the Isle of Man. Previously the League has also welcomed clubs from North Wales prior to the formation of the Welsh Premier League in 1991 (now the Cymru Premier). Altogether, 164 clubs have enjoyed membership of the NWCFL, with 15 of our current constitution being founder members. Of these, only four founder members have continuous membership of the competition, namely, AFC Blackpool, Bacup Borough, Chadderton and Daisy Hill.
The League is at Steps 5 & 6 of the National League System and operates one of the 16 divisions at Step 5 and two of the 32 divisions at Step 6 across England. The League operates a Premier, First Division North and First Division South division plus the League Challenge Cup (The Macron Challenge Cup) open to all clubs and a First Division Challenge Cup, which is open to the 38 sides playing at Step 6.
The League is a Limited Company (The North West Counties League Limited) although administered by a Board of Directors and a Management committee of unpaid officers, drawing on a wealth of experience and skills.
Many of our clubs have excelled in our own, and national, competitions, particularly the FA Vase where we have provided a host of finalists and five winners; St Helens Town, Colne Dynamoes, Nantwich Town, Kirkham & Wesham and Warrington Rylands claiming the prestigious silverware. Fleetwood Town was our first finalist in 1985, losing to Halesowen Town, before the all-North West Counties Final between St Helens Town and Warrington Town in 1987. Next were Colne Dynamoes who beat Emley in 1988 and then Clitheroe, who were beaten by Brigg Town in 1996. The league waited ten years before producing their next winner in 2006, when Nantwich Town lifted the trophy after beating Hillingdon Borough 3-1 in the final at Birmingham City's St Andrews ground.
The league has continued to deliver a steady stream of teams in the final rounds of the Vase competition over recent years, with member clubs reaching the final in 2008, 2009, 2015 and 2021. Kirkham & Wesham (now AFC Fylde) became the first of our clubs to grace the hallowed turf at the New Wembley when they defeated Lowestoft Town 2-1 in front of 19,537 spectators. In 2009 Glossop North End reached the final only to lose 2-0 against Northern League opponents Whitley Bay in front of a crowd of 12,212, and they returned to Wembley in 2015, only to lose 2-1 after extra time against North Shields in front of 9,674 spectators.
In 2021, Warrington Rylands became the first side since Kirkham & Wesham to lift the FA Vase when they defeated Binfield 3-2 at Wembley Stadium.
In the FA Cup, the League is regularly represented in the latter qualifying rounds, and in 2020, Skelmersdale United became the first side since 1997 to reach the First Round Proper, bowing out to Harrogate Town at Wetherby Road infront of a national TV audience, but ex-member clubs Horwich RMI, Penrith, Colwyn Bay, Newcastle Town and Stalybridge Celtic have also reached this stage.
In county cup competitions, our clubs figure prominently in the various county cups across the whole region, regularly accounting for clubs from higher leagues.
In domestic action, the fiercely competitive nature of the League is reflected in the fact that only four clubs have ever completed a League Championship and Challenge Cup double, Ashton United in 1992, Kidsgrove Athletic in 1998, FC United of Manchester in 2007, and Glossop North End in 2015. Atherton LR are the only club to claim consecutive Championships, in 1992 and 1993, whilst Workington became the first club to regain NPL status at the first attempt in 1999.
The outstanding achievement of Clitheroe in the 1980's when they collected each divisional Championship in successive seasons between 1984 and 1986 was matched by FC United of Manchester in 2006-07.
The record attendance for a North West Counties League fixture stood at 1,353 for sixteen years, Radcliffe Borough's First Division Championship decider with Caernarfon Town attracting this gate in 1982-83 season. Workington's pulling power saw them exceed this in their 1998-99 Championship season, the deciding fixture with Mossley seeing 2,281 spectators through the turnstiles at Borough Park.
However in season 2005-06 the phenomenal popularity of new club FC United of Manchester's Division Two championship winning team set a new record with 6,023 spectators attending their last home game of the season versus Great Harwood Town. Ironically, Great Harwood won 1-0 on the day and it turned out to be the Lancashire club's last ever game in the league, as they folded a few weeks later.
FC United's successful side of season 2006-07 continued to cause attendances to soar, both in the Challenge Cup and League competitions, with 4,058 spectators at Salford City for their NWCFL Premier Division fixture - the best ever attendance for a "night match". That season saw them become the first club since the league's inception to win all four league competitions they competed in during one season - First Division Championship, Reserve Division Championship, League Challenge Cup, and Reserve Division Cup.
The Premier Division attendance record was broken last season when Macclesfield FC regularly saw attendances of 3,000 plus during the season, but the record saw 4,720 spectators attend their home game against AFC Liverpool, which was followed by the trophy lift. Attendances post-COVID continued to soar with no fewer than 73 games attracting attendances over 1,000 in Season 2021/21, an amazing achievement for a Step 5/6 League.
Another side who experienced considerable trophy success in their short stay with the League is City of Liverpool FC. Having won a ‘treble’ in their inaugural season, lifting the League Challenge Cup, the First Division Cup and the First Division Play Off trophy, they went on to lift the Champions Cup (League Champions v Cup Winners Cup) in 2017/18, the Premier Division Championship last season and the Champions Cup for a second time at the start of the current campaign.
Newcastle Town's record breaking Premier Division championship campaign of 2009/10 still remains one of the best ever in league history. The records they achieved were:
Given the reduction in the number of clubs in our Premier Division it seems almost inconceivable that these records will be broken any time soon.
The League has consistently provided the launch pad for new clubs looking to enter the National League System, with many going on to grace the higher echelons of football. Three former clubs have achieved Football League status, with Accrington Stanley (1982-1987), Fleetwood Town (1997-2005) and Salford City (1982-2008). No fewer than 35 former member clubs currently playing at a high level of football.
Season 2018/19 was historic for the League as we were given the green light to expand the competition back to three divisions consisting of 60 clubs.
Season 2019/20 was historic for the wrong reasons, when the Coronavirus pandemic curtailed the season in the March, leaving the competition unfinished. The Football Association declaring the season null & void as a result, much to the disappointment of everyone concerned. The following season was little better with the start of the season being delayed due to the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus, and then an early curtailment in November meant that only a handful of games were played my most clubs. Despite the lack of football, The FA pressed ahead with the restructure of the NLS which created the 'perfect' pyramid.
Despite the ongoing threat from COVID-19, last season turned into a successful one as we managed to complete the full campaign for the first time in three years. In the Premier Division, Macclesfield FC won the Championship title by 15 points to gain promotion to the Northern Premier League after a one season stay in our League. They were joined by runners-up Skelmersdale United who gained promotion thanks to victory in the newly introduced Inter League Step 4/5 Play offs. In the First Division North, another reformed clubs, Bury AFC won the Championship title, with Golcar United winning the second promotion spot courtesy of the play-offs. In the First Division South, West Didsbury & Chorlton finished as Champions with FC Isle of Man taking their place in Step 5 through the Play Offs.
Once again this season, the League operates with 60 clubs across the three divisions - 22 in the Step 5 Premier Division, 18 teams in the Step 6 First Division North, and 20 team in the First Division South. In the Premier Division we welcome Kendal Town, who were relegated from Step 4 and return to the League after a 35 year absence (Previously known as Netherfield). In the First Division North we welcome two new sides from the County Feeder Leagues- Euxton Villa and FC St Helens. In the First Division South, we welcome three new sides for season 2022/23 - Ashville, Foley Meir & Stockport Georgians
Despite many changes in clubs and personnel over the years, and on-going challenges presented by the economic climate the League's competitions continue to thrive and attract interest both locally and further afield.
Most important of all, the League's competitions continue to provide excellent entertainment on the field, and foster friendship and camaraderie between clubs and their supporters off the field and long may that continue.
