Wythenshawe win the 2026 NWCFL Champions Cup!
Mon 27th July 2026 | Announcements | By Jay Cooper
The NWCFL Premier Division Champions for 2025/26, Wythenshawe, won the league's annual Champions Cup 3-0 in a cagey game against defending Macron Cup champions AFC Liverpool on Saturday.
James Kinsey's men have been hard at work throughout pre-season, preparing for a return to the Northern Premier League in 2026/27, but their business in the NWCFL had not yet finished before last weekend's meeting with a new-look AFC Liverpool side.
The visitors to the Avensure Community Stadium have undergone a radical transformation since lifting the Macron Cup in early May. Long-time manager Phil Stafford departed for league rivals Burscough, and several players have also left for newer pastures. Regardless, new gaffer Jack Edwards led a determined side into this curtain-jerker.
The game itself started exactly the way that the Ammies wanted, with George Sankey rising the highest to turn home an Eoin Charles cross from close range after just eight minutes.
Being forced onto the back foot so early seemed to wake something up inside AFC Liverpool, who began to find answers to everything the hosts were throwing at them for the next half hour of play. On top of that, they were able to work a few chances of their own into the mix and scared the Wythenshawe back line a handful of times.
AFC would be undone again, however, with eight minutes to go before half time. Prince Chidera danced into the penalty area from the left before falling over an outstretched leg, and the referee wasted no time pointing to the spot. Aaron Dwyer stepped up from 12 yards and made no mistake, firing high down the middle as AFC goalkeeper and skipper Harry Campbell dived to his right.
The second half was not one for the history books from a neutral perspective, but it was exactly what the hosts, leading 2-0, were hoping for. There was very little for either side to cheer about in the first 25 minutes of the second period, but on 72 minutes, Wythy put the ball in the AFC net for a third time from close range, only for the assistant referee's flag to curtail the celebrations.
Another 20 minutes of half chances and solid defensive work from both teams came and went, before the fourth official's board went up to indicate stoppage time. Before the full-time whistle, there would be one more pivotal moment.
AFC Liverpool failed to conclusively clear their lines after a long ball over the top for Wythenshawe, and it looked for all the world like goalkeeper Campbell had handled outside of the box. The referee let Wythy have the advantage, since they still held possession, and Joel Ankers found Sandro Da Costa on the edge of the box who rifled a strike in off the crossbar to seal a 3-0 win.
Following the game, and the trophy lift, victorious manager James Kinsey said, "I thought they (AFC Liverpool) were the better team in the first 10-15 minutes. They had more energy and they were on the front foot. But once we got going and got onto the front foot, it became a possession based game and I thought we gained full control. At half time, we spoke about retaining the ball when we had it, and the spectators might not have enjoyed it because we killed the game a bit, but as a manager, I'm buzzing that we were so dominant. Another trophy for the cabinet, and we're really happy."
Looking back on what had been an excellent league season in the NWCFL in 2025/26, James said, "the first four of five months weren't great, but after that point, we started to really enjoy ourselves. We've got a really good, young, hungry group of lads at this club. They're determined; they have a point to prove every time they play, and that mentality was important for our recruitment this summer - we didn't need to reinvent the wheel.
"Our group from last season is more than capable of competing at the level above, and we've kept 99% of that group together. So, we're really, really excited for the new season. We know it will be really difficult, but when you look around the ground and at the facilities? This club is going places.
Looking ahead to the NPL in 2026/27, James said, "We're wanting to stay up next season. Personally, I'd love to say, 'we're going to win the league', but as a club, we need to solidify ourselves as an NPL club. We'll be going out to win every game, and internally, we want to compete for something come the end of the season. But if we stay up, it will be a remarkable season for us - the club has never had more than one season at that level. We need to get there so we can become established.
"We've got to respect the level we're going into - some of the other clubs have more finances, more infrastructure than we have, but we are catching up. Hospitality upgrades, a new stand - it's really exciting to be at this club at this time. We've just got to be patient on the pitch and enjoy these times we're having."
Congratulations to everyone at Wythenshawe, and we wish them the best of luck in the NPL. We also wish the best of luck to runners-up AFC Liverpool, in the NWCFL Premier Division.
Wythenshawe win the 2026 NWCFL Champions Cup!
Mon 27th July 2026 | Announcements
By Jay Cooper
The NWCFL Premier Division Champions for 2025/26, Wythenshawe, won the league's annual Champions Cup 3-0 in a cagey game against defending Macron Cup champions AFC Liverpool on Saturday.
James Kinsey's men have been hard at work throughout pre-season, preparing for a return to the Northern Premier League in 2026/27, but their business in the NWCFL had not yet finished before last weekend's meeting with a new-look AFC Liverpool side.
The visitors to the Avensure Community Stadium have undergone a radical transformation since lifting the Macron Cup in early May. Long-time manager Phil Stafford departed for league rivals Burscough, and several players have also left for newer pastures. Regardless, new gaffer Jack Edwards led a determined side into this curtain-jerker.
The game itself started exactly the way that the Ammies wanted, with George Sankey rising the highest to turn home an Eoin Charles cross from close range after just eight minutes.
Being forced onto the back foot so early seemed to wake something up inside AFC Liverpool, who began to find answers to everything the hosts were throwing at them for the next half hour of play. On top of that, they were able to work a few chances of their own into the mix and scared the Wythenshawe back line a handful of times.
AFC would be undone again, however, with eight minutes to go before half time. Prince Chidera danced into the penalty area from the left before falling over an outstretched leg, and the referee wasted no time pointing to the spot. Aaron Dwyer stepped up from 12 yards and made no mistake, firing high down the middle as AFC goalkeeper and skipper Harry Campbell dived to his right.
The second half was not one for the history books from a neutral perspective, but it was exactly what the hosts, leading 2-0, were hoping for. There was very little for either side to cheer about in the first 25 minutes of the second period, but on 72 minutes, Wythy put the ball in the AFC net for a third time from close range, only for the assistant referee's flag to curtail the celebrations.
Another 20 minutes of half chances and solid defensive work from both teams came and went, before the fourth official's board went up to indicate stoppage time. Before the full-time whistle, there would be one more pivotal moment.
AFC Liverpool failed to conclusively clear their lines after a long ball over the top for Wythenshawe, and it looked for all the world like goalkeeper Campbell had handled outside of the box. The referee let Wythy have the advantage, since they still held possession, and Joel Ankers found Sandro Da Costa on the edge of the box who rifled a strike in off the crossbar to seal a 3-0 win.
Following the game, and the trophy lift, victorious manager James Kinsey said, "I thought they (AFC Liverpool) were the better team in the first 10-15 minutes. They had more energy and they were on the front foot. But once we got going and got onto the front foot, it became a possession based game and I thought we gained full control. At half time, we spoke about retaining the ball when we had it, and the spectators might not have enjoyed it because we killed the game a bit, but as a manager, I'm buzzing that we were so dominant. Another trophy for the cabinet, and we're really happy."
Looking back on what had been an excellent league season in the NWCFL in 2025/26, James said, "the first four of five months weren't great, but after that point, we started to really enjoy ourselves. We've got a really good, young, hungry group of lads at this club. They're determined; they have a point to prove every time they play, and that mentality was important for our recruitment this summer - we didn't need to reinvent the wheel.
"Our group from last season is more than capable of competing at the level above, and we've kept 99% of that group together. So, we're really, really excited for the new season. We know it will be really difficult, but when you look around the ground and at the facilities? This club is going places.
Looking ahead to the NPL in 2026/27, James said, "We're wanting to stay up next season. Personally, I'd love to say, 'we're going to win the league', but as a club, we need to solidify ourselves as an NPL club. We'll be going out to win every game, and internally, we want to compete for something come the end of the season. But if we stay up, it will be a remarkable season for us - the club has never had more than one season at that level. We need to get there so we can become established.
"We've got to respect the level we're going into - some of the other clubs have more finances, more infrastructure than we have, but we are catching up. Hospitality upgrades, a new stand - it's really exciting to be at this club at this time. We've just got to be patient on the pitch and enjoy these times we're having."
Congratulations to everyone at Wythenshawe, and we wish them the best of luck in the NPL. We also wish the best of luck to runners-up AFC Liverpool, in the NWCFL Premier Division.
