August Fixtures Released
Fri 10th July 2026 | Announcements | By Martin Fallon
The North West Counties Football League can today release the opening month's fixtures of the 2026/27 season.
Fixtures for August have been released for all three divisions in the League. As per recent seasons, we have to wait until leagues higher up the pyramid have published their calendars. A small number of games may be subject to change due to logistical arrangements, FA competitions and groundshare considerations.
You will note several clubs - AFC Liverpool, AFC Knowsley, Halewood Apollo, Widnes Town - do not have any home fixtures scheduled for August. This is down to problems with their grounds.
In the North and South divisions, the second Saturday of the season is the First Round of the Edward Case Cup. For teams who have a bye to the next round, a league fixture from a later date has been brought forward.
There is a similar occurance on the third Saturday of the season which is the FA Vase Extra Preliminary Round. Teams who have received a bye or an exception are given a league fixture where possible by bringing forward a fixture from a later date.
The remainder of the fixtures for the season will be announced towards the end of July. Unfortunately due to groundshares we have to wait for the Step 3/4 Leagues to announce their fixtures first before we can confirm ours.
Premier Division
Trafford return to life in the Counties with a home fixture on the opening day of the season against Longridge Town, swiftly followed by what could be a superb game as they travel to last season's runners up Ramsbottom United.
Nelson's first fixture as a Premier Division after winning the First Division North last season is away tie at Atherton LR, whilst fellow promoted side Droylsden return to Step 5 with a home clash against AFC Liverpool. The first visitors to FC Isle of Man are FC Isle of Man who make the journey over the Irish Sea on the opening day of the season, with the Ravens first trip to the mainland being to Glossop North End in midweek.
A reduced Premier Division of 20 teams means that the midweek games that were so prevelant over the last few seasons are lacking somewhat. There is a full fixture list in the opening midweek of the season, with the first local derby being Chadderton against Abbey Hey, just nine miles separating those two teams.
There is then a ten day break for league matches, with clubs in the Emirates FA Cup and no fixtures scheduled for the midweek in case of replays. The third Saturday sees just four league games with most teams in the FA Vase, before another full fixture list in the third midweek. Highlights here include Ramsbottom United travelling to Barnoldswick Town, whilst there is a mini Merseyside Derby as South Liverpool host AFC Liverpool.
Another blank Saturday is then reserved for FA Cup, although those knocked out will likely see a league game brought forward. The next set of fixtures is Saturday 29th August, with Trafford hosting FC Isle of Man for the first time.
The final released fixtures are on the next midweek, although these games may be brought forward to the Bank Holiday Monday afternoon if both clubs agree. There are quite a lot of local derbies in this set of fixtures with six of the ties seeing journey's of 15 miles of less.
First Division North
The opening weekend of the season sees Flixton return to the NWCFL with a trip to Squires Gate. Promoted Uppermill travel to Ashville, whilst Halewood Apollo are at Garstang and AFC Knowsley are at Holker Old Boys. Flixton then get their home campaign started as they host Cammell Laird 1907 in the first midweek fixtures, with Colne hosting Darwen in what could be a cracker.
With no Step 6 sides in the FA Cup, the Edward Case Cup starts with league action in five games, the pick of the ties being Bacup Borough hosting Ashville for the very first time after Ashville were laterally moved in the summer.
With the First Division North increasing to 22 teams, there are more midweeks than we would usually see this season. The second midweek sees Uppermill make their home debut as they host Darwen, whilst there is the first battle of the new clubs as Flixton host Halewood Apollo.
The third Saturday is FA Vase with a handful of league fixtures for those not involved, with four of the five ties being teams who are playing each other for the first time!
A third midweek follows with another derby match as Maine Road host Flixton, just seven miles separating those two teams. The fourth Saturday sees one of our longest trips of the season as Halewood Apollo face a 212-mile round trip to Holker Old Boys. Woolton host Squires Gate on this date also, both those sides doing well last season.
The final midweek games sees our closest game of the released fixtures so far with Halewood Apollo travelling the TWO MILES to Woolton. There are plenty of other derbies in this set of fixtures, including Colne v Bacup Borough, Maghull v AFC Knowsley and Thornton Cleveleys v Squires Gate.
First Division South
Three of the new clubs in the First Division South begin the season at home. AFC Bridgnorth host Foley Meir with Bilston Town welcoming Shawbury United. Crewe's first game at Step 6 sees them play Wolverhampton Casuals. The others are away with Dawley Town travelling to Alsager Town and Brereton Social at Market Drayton Town. Widnes Town get one their longest trips out of the way as they visit Eccleshall, with Wednesfield Community travelling to Sandbach United.
The first midweek sees two battles of the new teams, with Wednesfield making their bow at home as they welcome Dawley Town. The other sees Bilston Town host AFC Bridgnorth. And two of last seasons Play-Off teams meet as Stafford Town host New Mills.
The second Saturday is Edward Case Cup action with six league games for those not involved. The highlight here is Sandbach United hosting Stafford Town, a chance for both two get early points on the board as others are in cup action.
The next midweek sees Allscott Heath entertain Shawbury United in a Shropshire Derby, just nine miles separating those two teams. And there's another new clubs meeting as AFC Bridgnorth travel to Wednesfield Community.
FA Vase weekend sees four league games for clubs not involved, with all four being first time meetings between the clubs. And in the midweek that follows, there's a derby match between Telford Town and Allscott Heath.
The fourth Saturday sees a full fixture list with Cheadle Heath Nomads making the long journey to Wednesfueld Community. There are no midweek games with the next games the following Saturday with some good looking games, including Crewe hosting Telford Town and New Mills travelling almost 100 miles each way to face AFC Bridgnorth.
All fixtures are copyright of The North West Counties Football League Limited.
August Fixtures Released
Fri 10th July 2026 | Announcements
By Martin Fallon
The North West Counties Football League can today release the opening month's fixtures of the 2026/27 season.
Fixtures for August have been released for all three divisions in the League. As per recent seasons, we have to wait until leagues higher up the pyramid have published their calendars. A small number of games may be subject to change due to logistical arrangements, FA competitions and groundshare considerations.
You will note several clubs - AFC Liverpool, AFC Knowsley, Halewood Apollo, Widnes Town - do not have any home fixtures scheduled for August. This is down to problems with their grounds.
In the North and South divisions, the second Saturday of the season is the First Round of the Edward Case Cup. For teams who have a bye to the next round, a league fixture from a later date has been brought forward.
There is a similar occurance on the third Saturday of the season which is the FA Vase Extra Preliminary Round. Teams who have received a bye or an exception are given a league fixture where possible by bringing forward a fixture from a later date.
The remainder of the fixtures for the season will be announced towards the end of July. Unfortunately due to groundshares we have to wait for the Step 3/4 Leagues to announce their fixtures first before we can confirm ours.
Premier Division
Trafford return to life in the Counties with a home fixture on the opening day of the season against Longridge Town, swiftly followed by what could be a superb game as they travel to last season's runners up Ramsbottom United.
Nelson's first fixture as a Premier Division after winning the First Division North last season is away tie at Atherton LR, whilst fellow promoted side Droylsden return to Step 5 with a home clash against AFC Liverpool. The first visitors to FC Isle of Man are FC Isle of Man who make the journey over the Irish Sea on the opening day of the season, with the Ravens first trip to the mainland being to Glossop North End in midweek.
A reduced Premier Division of 20 teams means that the midweek games that were so prevelant over the last few seasons are lacking somewhat. There is a full fixture list in the opening midweek of the season, with the first local derby being Chadderton against Abbey Hey, just nine miles separating those two teams.
There is then a ten day break for league matches, with clubs in the Emirates FA Cup and no fixtures scheduled for the midweek in case of replays. The third Saturday sees just four league games with most teams in the FA Vase, before another full fixture list in the third midweek. Highlights here include Ramsbottom United travelling to Barnoldswick Town, whilst there is a mini Merseyside Derby as South Liverpool host AFC Liverpool.
Another blank Saturday is then reserved for FA Cup, although those knocked out will likely see a league game brought forward. The next set of fixtures is Saturday 29th August, with Trafford hosting FC Isle of Man for the first time.
The final released fixtures are on the next midweek, although these games may be brought forward to the Bank Holiday Monday afternoon if both clubs agree. There are quite a lot of local derbies in this set of fixtures with six of the ties seeing journey's of 15 miles of less.
First Division North
The opening weekend of the season sees Flixton return to the NWCFL with a trip to Squires Gate. Promoted Uppermill travel to Ashville, whilst Halewood Apollo are at Garstang and AFC Knowsley are at Holker Old Boys. Flixton then get their home campaign started as they host Cammell Laird 1907 in the first midweek fixtures, with Colne hosting Darwen in what could be a cracker.
With no Step 6 sides in the FA Cup, the Edward Case Cup starts with league action in five games, the pick of the ties being Bacup Borough hosting Ashville for the very first time after Ashville were laterally moved in the summer.
With the First Division North increasing to 22 teams, there are more midweeks than we would usually see this season. The second midweek sees Uppermill make their home debut as they host Darwen, whilst there is the first battle of the new clubs as Flixton host Halewood Apollo.
The third Saturday is FA Vase with a handful of league fixtures for those not involved, with four of the five ties being teams who are playing each other for the first time!
A third midweek follows with another derby match as Maine Road host Flixton, just seven miles separating those two teams. The fourth Saturday sees one of our longest trips of the season as Halewood Apollo face a 212-mile round trip to Holker Old Boys. Woolton host Squires Gate on this date also, both those sides doing well last season.
The final midweek games sees our closest game of the released fixtures so far with Halewood Apollo travelling the TWO MILES to Woolton. There are plenty of other derbies in this set of fixtures, including Colne v Bacup Borough, Maghull v AFC Knowsley and Thornton Cleveleys v Squires Gate.
First Division South
Three of the new clubs in the First Division South begin the season at home. AFC Bridgnorth host Foley Meir with Bilston Town welcoming Shawbury United. Crewe's first game at Step 6 sees them play Wolverhampton Casuals. The others are away with Dawley Town travelling to Alsager Town and Brereton Social at Market Drayton Town. Widnes Town get one their longest trips out of the way as they visit Eccleshall, with Wednesfield Community travelling to Sandbach United.
The first midweek sees two battles of the new teams, with Wednesfield making their bow at home as they welcome Dawley Town. The other sees Bilston Town host AFC Bridgnorth. And two of last seasons Play-Off teams meet as Stafford Town host New Mills.
The second Saturday is Edward Case Cup action with six league games for those not involved. The highlight here is Sandbach United hosting Stafford Town, a chance for both two get early points on the board as others are in cup action.
The next midweek sees Allscott Heath entertain Shawbury United in a Shropshire Derby, just nine miles separating those two teams. And there's another new clubs meeting as AFC Bridgnorth travel to Wednesfield Community.
FA Vase weekend sees four league games for clubs not involved, with all four being first time meetings between the clubs. And in the midweek that follows, there's a derby match between Telford Town and Allscott Heath.
The fourth Saturday sees a full fixture list with Cheadle Heath Nomads making the long journey to Wednesfueld Community. There are no midweek games with the next games the following Saturday with some good looking games, including Crewe hosting Telford Town and New Mills travelling almost 100 miles each way to face AFC Bridgnorth.
All fixtures are copyright of The North West Counties Football League Limited.
