Week 24: Preview
Sat 3rd January 2026 | Match Previews | By Jay Cooper
We’re back for the New Year, and we hope everybody reading had a fantastic holiday season! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend, with almost a full house of NWCFL fixtures coming your way tomorrow.
Saturday:
Premier Division:
Top of the table as 2025 becomes 2026 are Padiham, and they have an almighty challenge on their hands to retain their spot this weekend. The first visitors to the Ruby Civil Arena this year will be fourth-placed West Didsbury & Chorlton, who would close the gap between themselves and top to four points with an upset win.
Hoping to immediately usurp the Storks at the top of the pile this new year are Wythenshawe, who are just a point behind their title rivals, and will travel to Jericho Lane to face South Liverpool on this weekend. The hosts’ five-game unbeaten run peaked in the run-up to Christmas with a 1-0 victory over the league leaders.
Ramsbottom United and FC St Helens round out the play-off places at the time of writing, and they will both be in action this weekend against teams in the bottom two – the Rams will host bottom side Litherland REMYCA, whereas FC will welcome City of Liverpool, scheduled to play their first game since December 16th.
Should FC St Helens fall short on Saturday, both Chadderton and Irlam will be waiting in the wings to pounce on the top five places. They’re both within touching distance of the play-off spots going into 2026, and they will both be on the field on Saturday, taking on FC Isle of Man away in the late kick off; and Barnoldswick Town away at 3pm, respectively.
Glossop North End are proving very difficult to beat right now, having won four of their last six in all competitions, and they will be determined to make it five in seven and continue their ascent into the top half of the table when they go away at Charnock Richard on Saturday.
There’s quite a gap between the bottom three and the rest of the table, with fourth-bottom Euxton Villa currently holding an eight-point cushion on the relegation zone. They will hope to extend that margin to double figures when they visit Cheadle Town this weekend. Another team that are towards the bottom of the division, yet in no immediate danger of the drop, are 19th placed AFC Liverpool, who will play hosts to 10th placed Stockport Town on Saturday.
Three places and three points currently separate 11th placed Longridge Town and their hosts this weekend, 14th placed Prestwich Heys, with the latter side having a superior goal difference at the time of writing – a Heys win would see them leapfrog Longridge entirely, but a Town win would do a lot for their quest to finish in the top half of the table.
Finally, there’s a battle from the PSD Stadium, where Pilkington will entertain Burscough. The visitors, who won the reverse fixture 3-1, could narrow the gap between themselves and the top five to just three points with a win and the right results elsewhere this weekend.
First Division North:
It has been a BUSY two weeks in the First Division North!
Nelson, who were sixth in the table going into the weekend before Christmas, have shot to the top of division in the time since, despite the fact that they have played FIVE fewer games than third-placed Squires Gate. Both teams will be in action on Saturday hoping to continue their meteoric ascendency up the division against MSB Woolton at home, and Steeton away, respectively.
Even more incredibly, Woolton, currently eighth, are just one win and the right set of results away from TOPPING THE TABLE! The teams between them and the pinnacle of the division are second-placed Thornton Cleveleys, who meet Maine Road at home on Saturday; fourth placed Ashton Town (who were top at Christmas), who will visit the Ginge Power Stadium to battle Daisy Hill this weekend; and, completing the play-offs, Droylsden, who will welcome bottom side Garstang to the Butchers Arms at 3pm.
Continuing the list, outside of the top five are Darwen FC, who will be on the road to face Fulwood Amateurs on Saturday; and finally, seventh-placed Bacup Borough, who will also be away from home this weekend, with a trip to AFC Blackpool on the cards for Brent Peters’ men.
All of the above is to say that the right set of results for ANY of the top eight teams in the table could see them make one giant leap right the way to first place – madness!
There are just two games that, as of right now, have no bearing on first-placed Nelson (not this weekend, anyway – next weekend, who knows?!). Firstly, ninth-placed Maghull, winless in five league fixtures, will welcome fourth-bottom side Colne; and second-bottom Ashton Athletic, who will completely wipe the points total between themselves and the safety places with a win and Colne defeat, will go toe to toe with tenth-placed Holker Old Boys in a home fixture.
First Division South:
League leaders Runcorn Town will be over the moon that their position is not as nearly as precarious as that of their northern neighbours in the First Division South – doubly so when you consider that they aren’t playing this weekend, but second placed Eccleshall are! They will host Shawbury United knowing maximum points will reduce the gap between themselves and the table-toppers to six.
Two sides currently in the top five, Telford Town and Stafford Town, will meet this weekend at the former’s DRM Aggregate Arena. Telford are hoping to continue their impressive start to life in the NWCFL into 2026, whereas Stafford will be wanting revenge for their 3-1 defeat from the reverse fixture in September.
Just four goals and a dotted line come between Sandbach United, in fifth, and Stockport Georgians, in sixth, with both sides making their NWCFL bow for the new year this weekend – Sandbach against Market Drayton Town away from home, and Georgians against Cammell Laird 1907, also away from home.
There’s a cluster of teams within a whisker of one another in mid-table as the new year arrives, with just three points separating eighth from 11th right now. The four teams in this mix are all in action on Saturday, with the two teams at either end of the list going toe to toe with one another – Foley Meir will host Allscott Heath in a league rematch from a 3-2 win for the former in the Edward Case Cup in August.
The other two games will see ninth-placed New Mills meet bottom side Wolves Sporting at home, and 10th placed Ashville go on the road to face 16th placed Alsager Town. Finally, 14th faces 15th in a battle to see which side can outdo the other and add to their shared 21 point total, with lower side Wolves Casuals welcoming higher side Cheadle Heath Nomads to the Brinsford Stadium.
Week 24: Preview
Sat 3rd January 2026 | Match Previews
By Jay Cooper
We’re back for the New Year, and we hope everybody reading had a fantastic holiday season! Let’s see who is facing whom this weekend, with almost a full house of NWCFL fixtures coming your way tomorrow.
Saturday:
Premier Division:
Top of the table as 2025 becomes 2026 are Padiham, and they have an almighty challenge on their hands to retain their spot this weekend. The first visitors to the Ruby Civil Arena this year will be fourth-placed West Didsbury & Chorlton, who would close the gap between themselves and top to four points with an upset win.
Hoping to immediately usurp the Storks at the top of the pile this new year are Wythenshawe, who are just a point behind their title rivals, and will travel to Jericho Lane to face South Liverpool on this weekend. The hosts’ five-game unbeaten run peaked in the run-up to Christmas with a 1-0 victory over the league leaders.
Ramsbottom United and FC St Helens round out the play-off places at the time of writing, and they will both be in action this weekend against teams in the bottom two – the Rams will host bottom side Litherland REMYCA, whereas FC will welcome City of Liverpool, scheduled to play their first game since December 16th.
Should FC St Helens fall short on Saturday, both Chadderton and Irlam will be waiting in the wings to pounce on the top five places. They’re both within touching distance of the play-off spots going into 2026, and they will both be on the field on Saturday, taking on FC Isle of Man away in the late kick off; and Barnoldswick Town away at 3pm, respectively.
Glossop North End are proving very difficult to beat right now, having won four of their last six in all competitions, and they will be determined to make it five in seven and continue their ascent into the top half of the table when they go away at Charnock Richard on Saturday.
There’s quite a gap between the bottom three and the rest of the table, with fourth-bottom Euxton Villa currently holding an eight-point cushion on the relegation zone. They will hope to extend that margin to double figures when they visit Cheadle Town this weekend. Another team that are towards the bottom of the division, yet in no immediate danger of the drop, are 19th placed AFC Liverpool, who will play hosts to 10th placed Stockport Town on Saturday.
Three places and three points currently separate 11th placed Longridge Town and their hosts this weekend, 14th placed Prestwich Heys, with the latter side having a superior goal difference at the time of writing – a Heys win would see them leapfrog Longridge entirely, but a Town win would do a lot for their quest to finish in the top half of the table.
Finally, there’s a battle from the PSD Stadium, where Pilkington will entertain Burscough. The visitors, who won the reverse fixture 3-1, could narrow the gap between themselves and the top five to just three points with a win and the right results elsewhere this weekend.
First Division North:
It has been a BUSY two weeks in the First Division North!
Nelson, who were sixth in the table going into the weekend before Christmas, have shot to the top of division in the time since, despite the fact that they have played FIVE fewer games than third-placed Squires Gate. Both teams will be in action on Saturday hoping to continue their meteoric ascendency up the division against MSB Woolton at home, and Steeton away, respectively.
Even more incredibly, Woolton, currently eighth, are just one win and the right set of results away from TOPPING THE TABLE! The teams between them and the pinnacle of the division are second-placed Thornton Cleveleys, who meet Maine Road at home on Saturday; fourth placed Ashton Town (who were top at Christmas), who will visit the Ginge Power Stadium to battle Daisy Hill this weekend; and, completing the play-offs, Droylsden, who will welcome bottom side Garstang to the Butchers Arms at 3pm.
Continuing the list, outside of the top five are Darwen FC, who will be on the road to face Fulwood Amateurs on Saturday; and finally, seventh-placed Bacup Borough, who will also be away from home this weekend, with a trip to AFC Blackpool on the cards for Brent Peters’ men.
All of the above is to say that the right set of results for ANY of the top eight teams in the table could see them make one giant leap right the way to first place – madness!
There are just two games that, as of right now, have no bearing on first-placed Nelson (not this weekend, anyway – next weekend, who knows?!). Firstly, ninth-placed Maghull, winless in five league fixtures, will welcome fourth-bottom side Colne; and second-bottom Ashton Athletic, who will completely wipe the points total between themselves and the safety places with a win and Colne defeat, will go toe to toe with tenth-placed Holker Old Boys in a home fixture.
First Division South:
League leaders Runcorn Town will be over the moon that their position is not as nearly as precarious as that of their northern neighbours in the First Division South – doubly so when you consider that they aren’t playing this weekend, but second placed Eccleshall are! They will host Shawbury United knowing maximum points will reduce the gap between themselves and the table-toppers to six.
Two sides currently in the top five, Telford Town and Stafford Town, will meet this weekend at the former’s DRM Aggregate Arena. Telford are hoping to continue their impressive start to life in the NWCFL into 2026, whereas Stafford will be wanting revenge for their 3-1 defeat from the reverse fixture in September.
Just four goals and a dotted line come between Sandbach United, in fifth, and Stockport Georgians, in sixth, with both sides making their NWCFL bow for the new year this weekend – Sandbach against Market Drayton Town away from home, and Georgians against Cammell Laird 1907, also away from home.
There’s a cluster of teams within a whisker of one another in mid-table as the new year arrives, with just three points separating eighth from 11th right now. The four teams in this mix are all in action on Saturday, with the two teams at either end of the list going toe to toe with one another – Foley Meir will host Allscott Heath in a league rematch from a 3-2 win for the former in the Edward Case Cup in August.
The other two games will see ninth-placed New Mills meet bottom side Wolves Sporting at home, and 10th placed Ashville go on the road to face 16th placed Alsager Town. Finally, 14th faces 15th in a battle to see which side can outdo the other and add to their shared 21 point total, with lower side Wolves Casuals welcoming higher side Cheadle Heath Nomads to the Brinsford Stadium.
