Week 1: Preview
Sat 1st August 2026 | Match Previews | By Ben Wilkinson
The wait is over. After a summer of preparation, the NWCFL returns this Saturday with a full programme across the Premier Division, First Division North and First Division South. The opening day of the season is notoriously difficult to predict, particularly in a league as competitive as ours, but it offers plenty of intrigue as new signings, promoted sides and fresh ambitions look to get off to a dream start to the new campaign.
There are a number of fresh faces in this year's competition as no fewer than eleven clubs join us who weren't here last time out; some familiar faces and some brand new to the fold.
Premier Division
One of the standout fixtures of the day comes from Crilly Park. Atherton LR were among the Premier Division's strongest sides last season, making an instant impact following promotion last summer and plenty will be expecting them to challenge again. Their first opposition this term is in the form of newly promoted Nelson, who face a stern test immediately upon their own return to Step 5 and a positive result would send a message to the rest of the league that they aren’t just here to make up the numbers.
Droylsden's first bout at this level since the club re-activated after the pandemic is a home tie against Macron Cup winners AFC Liverpool at the Butchers' Arms. It's been a summer of change for the visiting Non-League Reds following their cup triumph and the Bloods will pose stiff opposition in their first league encounter since. Chadderton enter the campaign with hopes of another strong season after a 5th-placed finish in 2025/26 and their first fixture is away at stalwarts Charnock Richard, who didn't build on a strong season in 2024/25 and will be looking to right the wrongs of last season from the very start.
Things are looking bright at Burscough with many tipping the Linnets to do even better than their 10th place of last season. Standing in the way of them first up is a Prestwich Heys outfit who fell just short of the play-off places; expect a tight game at the Community Ground this afternoon.
Ramsbottom United begin the season as one of the promotion favourites after finishing runners-up last term, although Steve Wilkes' retirement from the dugout marks the dawn of a new era at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. First up for them is a trip to Litherland Sports Park to take on Litherland REMYCA. The Remy were repreived from relegation by the FA after finishing 23rd last season, a slight uptick in form towards the end of the campaign seeing them finish on 27 points from 46 games. They will be looking to put last season firmly in the rear-view mirror and hope to make maximum use of their good fortune in the close-season.
Trafford return to the NWCFL fold after 18 years in the NPL and Longridge Town are the first visitors to Shawe View. The Ridge have developed a bit of a reputation in recent seasons for being partial to a goal-fest, often with some huge margins of victory and defeat, so once again will be ones to watch for the neutrals.
The late kick off sees FC St Helens visit The Bowl in Douglas where they come up against FC Isle of Man at 6pm. The Ravens had a disappointing season in 2025/25, finishing 20th and recording their worst finish since promotion from the First Division South in 2021/22.
Other fixtures:
- Abbey Hey vs. Barnoldswick Town
- Glossop North End vs. Euxton Villa
- South Liverpool vs. Irlam
First Division North
It's a new-look First Division North for 2026/27 - the 18-team division of recent years being expanded to 22 clubs and as a result there are SIX new clubs in this division. Three of those have been promoted from County Feeder Leagues over the summer after successfully applying for and being granted promotion into the National League System.
All three of those clubs have been handed away fixtures on the opening day. AFC Knowsley get their longest trek of the season out of the way early doors as they head up to the Handmark Engineering Stadium where Holker Old Boys provide the opposition for their first game in the NWCFL. Holker are experienced heads at this level of the game and will provide an early yardstick for AFC Knowsley.
Uppermill make the journey east to Birkenhead to take on Ashville with both clubs being new to this division. Ashville have been laterally moved from the South division whilst Uppermill finished as runners-up in the Manchester League and play at this level for the very first time.
Also transferred in from the First Division South are another Wirral-based outfit in Cammell Laird 1907. Lairds had been in the Southern section since the First Division was split back in 2018 so will come up against plenty of new opposition, the first of which being Thornton Cleveleys, who are now in their third season at this level and after missing out on the play-offs by just two points last time out they will be coming out of the blocks firing.
Woolton, recently dropping their 'MSB' prefix for their first team, finished in an impressive 3rd position in their Counties debut last term and a trip to Colne provides their first opportunity to build on that strong foundation and aim for promotion in their sophomore year, whilst Colne will be looking to turn themselves around after a turbulent few years, tumbling from the NPL to 15th place in the North in 2025/26.
Halewood Apollo are another brand new side for the League and join us following a 5th-placed finish in the Liverpool County Premier League, a setup that has provided us with a number of success stories down the years. Apollo will be hoping to join that particular list in the coming years but first up for them is a trip to Garstang. The Stang have struggled in recent years and were handed a repreive for the third year in succession over the summer. Time will tell whether they can push back up the league table and leave fate in their own hands by the time the final whistle of the season blows.
Along with the promotions and lateral movements, there is one direct entrant to the division from outside of the pyramid and the name may well ring a few bells for those who have been in the game for a short while: Flixton. The original club were in the NWCFL between 1986 and 2012, barring a four-year stint in the NPL in the late 90s. They left the League following the conclusion of the 2011/12 season following a period of decline but have been revived under new ownership and were accepted into Step 6 for the 2026/27 season. Their first competitive fixture in 14 years comes in the form of an away trip to Squires Gate, who will not stand for just being part of the occasion.
Other fixtures:
- Ashton Athletic vs. AFC Blackpool
- Bacup Borough vs. Ashton Town
- Daisy Hill vs. Steeton
- Darwen vs. Maghull
- Maine Road vs. Fulwood Amateurs
First Division South
It's all change too in the First Division South, with five clubs waving their goodbyes and SEVEN coming in to replace them! Like in the North, there are three clubs joining us from County Feeder Leagues, with a couple of what now appears to be usual transfers in from the Midland League and another new club.
We'll start with the brand new club to the system: Widnes Town, formed out of the ashes of the old Widnes FC (NWCFL members from 2013-2018) carry significant expectations into the campaign and are likely to be viewed as one of the strongest teams in the league. Their very first competitive fixture comes against Eccleshall, who came within a whisker of promotion to Step 5 last term and will harbour aspirations of their own to finish top of the pile come April.
AFC Bridgnorth, transferred from the Midland League, begin life in the NWCFL looking to make an immediate statement at their Crown Meadow home. However, Foley Meir are unlikely to make things easy for them as they build on a solid 11th place finish last term.
We welcome Dawley Town into the National League System after their superb season in the Shropshire County League, culminating in the championship and a successful promotion application. Their first task in the NWCFL is to get the better of a stubborn Alsager Town side at Wood Park on Saturday afternoon.
Market Drayton Town were granted a reprieve from relegation and their stay of execution begins with a home game against new boys Brereton Social, champions of the Staffordshire County League in the spring and arriving into the Counties with bags of momentum and will therefore provide Market Drayton with a very tough test as the hosts look to put some points on the board at the first opportunity.
Also coming to us from the Midland League Division One are Bilston Town, who come up against a familiar face in gameweek 1 as they face off against Shawbury United for the first time in the league since they were both in the Midland League back in 2023/24.
The third side to be given the sidways move is Wednesfield Community, who arrive into the NWCFL fold off the back of two successive second-bottom finishes in the Midland League Division One. They will be hoping that a change of scenery equates to a change of results on the pitch but they will need to be at their very best to get the victory over Sandbach United, who are now in their 11th season at this level and impressively have never finished below 8th!
Other fixtures:
- Allscott Heath vs. Cheadle Heath Nomads
- Barnton vs. Stafford Town
- New Mills vs. Stafford Town
Week 1: Preview
Sat 1st August 2026 | Match Previews
By Ben Wilkinson
The wait is over. After a summer of preparation, the NWCFL returns this Saturday with a full programme across the Premier Division, First Division North and First Division South. The opening day of the season is notoriously difficult to predict, particularly in a league as competitive as ours, but it offers plenty of intrigue as new signings, promoted sides and fresh ambitions look to get off to a dream start to the new campaign.
There are a number of fresh faces in this year's competition as no fewer than eleven clubs join us who weren't here last time out; some familiar faces and some brand new to the fold.
Premier Division
One of the standout fixtures of the day comes from Crilly Park. Atherton LR were among the Premier Division's strongest sides last season, making an instant impact following promotion last summer and plenty will be expecting them to challenge again. Their first opposition this term is in the form of newly promoted Nelson, who face a stern test immediately upon their own return to Step 5 and a positive result would send a message to the rest of the league that they aren’t just here to make up the numbers.
Droylsden's first bout at this level since the club re-activated after the pandemic is a home tie against Macron Cup winners AFC Liverpool at the Butchers' Arms. It's been a summer of change for the visiting Non-League Reds following their cup triumph and the Bloods will pose stiff opposition in their first league encounter since. Chadderton enter the campaign with hopes of another strong season after a 5th-placed finish in 2025/26 and their first fixture is away at stalwarts Charnock Richard, who didn't build on a strong season in 2024/25 and will be looking to right the wrongs of last season from the very start.
Things are looking bright at Burscough with many tipping the Linnets to do even better than their 10th place of last season. Standing in the way of them first up is a Prestwich Heys outfit who fell just short of the play-off places; expect a tight game at the Community Ground this afternoon.
Ramsbottom United begin the season as one of the promotion favourites after finishing runners-up last term, although Steve Wilkes' retirement from the dugout marks the dawn of a new era at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. First up for them is a trip to Litherland Sports Park to take on Litherland REMYCA. The Remy were repreived from relegation by the FA after finishing 23rd last season, a slight uptick in form towards the end of the campaign seeing them finish on 27 points from 46 games. They will be looking to put last season firmly in the rear-view mirror and hope to make maximum use of their good fortune in the close-season.
Trafford return to the NWCFL fold after 18 years in the NPL and Longridge Town are the first visitors to Shawe View. The Ridge have developed a bit of a reputation in recent seasons for being partial to a goal-fest, often with some huge margins of victory and defeat, so once again will be ones to watch for the neutrals.
The late kick off sees FC St Helens visit The Bowl in Douglas where they come up against FC Isle of Man at 6pm. The Ravens had a disappointing season in 2025/25, finishing 20th and recording their worst finish since promotion from the First Division South in 2021/22.
Other fixtures:
- Abbey Hey vs. Barnoldswick Town
- Glossop North End vs. Euxton Villa
- South Liverpool vs. Irlam
First Division North
It's a new-look First Division North for 2026/27 - the 18-team division of recent years being expanded to 22 clubs and as a result there are SIX new clubs in this division. Three of those have been promoted from County Feeder Leagues over the summer after successfully applying for and being granted promotion into the National League System.
All three of those clubs have been handed away fixtures on the opening day. AFC Knowsley get their longest trek of the season out of the way early doors as they head up to the Handmark Engineering Stadium where Holker Old Boys provide the opposition for their first game in the NWCFL. Holker are experienced heads at this level of the game and will provide an early yardstick for AFC Knowsley.
Uppermill make the journey east to Birkenhead to take on Ashville with both clubs being new to this division. Ashville have been laterally moved from the South division whilst Uppermill finished as runners-up in the Manchester League and play at this level for the very first time.
Also transferred in from the First Division South are another Wirral-based outfit in Cammell Laird 1907. Lairds had been in the Southern section since the First Division was split back in 2018 so will come up against plenty of new opposition, the first of which being Thornton Cleveleys, who are now in their third season at this level and after missing out on the play-offs by just two points last time out they will be coming out of the blocks firing.
Woolton, recently dropping their 'MSB' prefix for their first team, finished in an impressive 3rd position in their Counties debut last term and a trip to Colne provides their first opportunity to build on that strong foundation and aim for promotion in their sophomore year, whilst Colne will be looking to turn themselves around after a turbulent few years, tumbling from the NPL to 15th place in the North in 2025/26.
Halewood Apollo are another brand new side for the League and join us following a 5th-placed finish in the Liverpool County Premier League, a setup that has provided us with a number of success stories down the years. Apollo will be hoping to join that particular list in the coming years but first up for them is a trip to Garstang. The Stang have struggled in recent years and were handed a repreive for the third year in succession over the summer. Time will tell whether they can push back up the league table and leave fate in their own hands by the time the final whistle of the season blows.
Along with the promotions and lateral movements, there is one direct entrant to the division from outside of the pyramid and the name may well ring a few bells for those who have been in the game for a short while: Flixton. The original club were in the NWCFL between 1986 and 2012, barring a four-year stint in the NPL in the late 90s. They left the League following the conclusion of the 2011/12 season following a period of decline but have been revived under new ownership and were accepted into Step 6 for the 2026/27 season. Their first competitive fixture in 14 years comes in the form of an away trip to Squires Gate, who will not stand for just being part of the occasion.
Other fixtures:
- Ashton Athletic vs. AFC Blackpool
- Bacup Borough vs. Ashton Town
- Daisy Hill vs. Steeton
- Darwen vs. Maghull
- Maine Road vs. Fulwood Amateurs
First Division South
It's all change too in the First Division South, with five clubs waving their goodbyes and SEVEN coming in to replace them! Like in the North, there are three clubs joining us from County Feeder Leagues, with a couple of what now appears to be usual transfers in from the Midland League and another new club.
We'll start with the brand new club to the system: Widnes Town, formed out of the ashes of the old Widnes FC (NWCFL members from 2013-2018) carry significant expectations into the campaign and are likely to be viewed as one of the strongest teams in the league. Their very first competitive fixture comes against Eccleshall, who came within a whisker of promotion to Step 5 last term and will harbour aspirations of their own to finish top of the pile come April.
AFC Bridgnorth, transferred from the Midland League, begin life in the NWCFL looking to make an immediate statement at their Crown Meadow home. However, Foley Meir are unlikely to make things easy for them as they build on a solid 11th place finish last term.
We welcome Dawley Town into the National League System after their superb season in the Shropshire County League, culminating in the championship and a successful promotion application. Their first task in the NWCFL is to get the better of a stubborn Alsager Town side at Wood Park on Saturday afternoon.
Market Drayton Town were granted a reprieve from relegation and their stay of execution begins with a home game against new boys Brereton Social, champions of the Staffordshire County League in the spring and arriving into the Counties with bags of momentum and will therefore provide Market Drayton with a very tough test as the hosts look to put some points on the board at the first opportunity.
Also coming to us from the Midland League Division One are Bilston Town, who come up against a familiar face in gameweek 1 as they face off against Shawbury United for the first time in the league since they were both in the Midland League back in 2023/24.
The third side to be given the sidways move is Wednesfield Community, who arrive into the NWCFL fold off the back of two successive second-bottom finishes in the Midland League Division One. They will be hoping that a change of scenery equates to a change of results on the pitch but they will need to be at their very best to get the victory over Sandbach United, who are now in their 11th season at this level and impressively have never finished below 8th!
Other fixtures:
- Allscott Heath vs. Cheadle Heath Nomads
- Barnton vs. Stafford Town
- New Mills vs. Stafford Town
