Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 4
Thu 27th August 2026 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. And then there were three in the FA Cup
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round was the key feature of the weekend for a total of nine NWCFL sides. Of those nine, three now remain in English Football’s Oldest Cup Competition.
South Liverpool slipped past fellow NWCFL outfit Longridge Town 3-2 away from home; Prestwich Heys overcame stiff resistance from last season’s First Division South runaway champions Runcorn Town on the road, winning 3-1; and Trafford survived a late fightback by Runcorn Linnets to win 3-2, and complete a hat-trick of away victories for the remaining NWCFL sides in the competition.
2. Burscough the team to beat in the Prem?
On Saturday, the Linnets became the first team in the Premier Division this season to record a double-digit points tally - albeit, they have played the joint most league games at this time. To say that they don’t deserve to top the table as we approach September, however, might be blasphemous.
After slowing down over the course of the prior week, Saturday saw Phil Stafford’s team return to their best as they emerged victorious over Abbey Hey in a 6-3 barnstormer of a game, which featured a hat-trick of penalty goals for Callum Laird. You’ve got to win ‘em to score ‘em, and Burscough certainly did that this past weekend.
3. The wait goes on for AFC Liverpool
At the other end of the Premier Division table right now are AFC Liverpool. Last season’s Macron Cup winners knew that 2026/27 would come with an adjustment period after the departure of their long-time gaffer and core squad in the summer, but few could’ve foreseen seven straight defeats in all competitions to begin the campaign.
And yet, here we are. AFC Liverpool are currently propping up the Prem, and they are the only remaining team across the NWCFL who are yet to score a point. They face promotion-battle veterans Ramsbottom United on bank holiday weekend, who were shellshocked by a late Atherton LR comeback last time out – maybe AFC can catch them off guard this Saturday.
4. Maghull lay down the baton
At the time of writing, there are three points separating first from seventh in the Prem, with a fluctuating number of games played by all teams involved – expected early-season uncertainty, then. In the South, just one point separates table-toppers AFC Bridgnorth from sixth placed Sandbach United, with the leaders currently holding a single game in hand on the chasing pack.
Maghull – top of the tree in the First Division North – have no such worries. Seven games into the new campaign, Joe Burns’ side have been nearly perfect, save for an opening day defeat by Darwen FC. They have a three-point headstart on second-placed Thornton Cleveleys at this stage, and a further two points on the next three teams down. It’s early days, but Maghull look like the NWCFL’s most prominent pacesetters right now.
5. GTF In at Widnes Town
A poor start to their maiden season as an NWCFL side has hopefully dropped to its lowest point for Widnes Town after their 7-0 defeat to Allscott Heath on Saturday. In order to turn their fortunes around, the First Division South’s bottom side have opted for a managerial change.
Paul McNally has left the club, and his replacement brings quite a bit of name value with him. This week, the club have appointed local cult hero Gary Taylor-Fletcher as manager. Taylor-Fletcher played for Blackpool and Leicester City in his pro career, and he scored the Seasiders’ first ever Premier League goal. He will hope to bring the same attacking threat he possessed as a player to the Chemics.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 4
Thu 27th August 2026 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. And then there were three in the FA Cup
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round was the key feature of the weekend for a total of nine NWCFL sides. Of those nine, three now remain in English Football’s Oldest Cup Competition.
South Liverpool slipped past fellow NWCFL outfit Longridge Town 3-2 away from home; Prestwich Heys overcame stiff resistance from last season’s First Division South runaway champions Runcorn Town on the road, winning 3-1; and Trafford survived a late fightback by Runcorn Linnets to win 3-2, and complete a hat-trick of away victories for the remaining NWCFL sides in the competition.
2. Burscough the team to beat in the Prem?
On Saturday, the Linnets became the first team in the Premier Division this season to record a double-digit points tally - albeit, they have played the joint most league games at this time. To say that they don’t deserve to top the table as we approach September, however, might be blasphemous.
After slowing down over the course of the prior week, Saturday saw Phil Stafford’s team return to their best as they emerged victorious over Abbey Hey in a 6-3 barnstormer of a game, which featured a hat-trick of penalty goals for Callum Laird. You’ve got to win ‘em to score ‘em, and Burscough certainly did that this past weekend.
3. The wait goes on for AFC Liverpool
At the other end of the Premier Division table right now are AFC Liverpool. Last season’s Macron Cup winners knew that 2026/27 would come with an adjustment period after the departure of their long-time gaffer and core squad in the summer, but few could’ve foreseen seven straight defeats in all competitions to begin the campaign.
And yet, here we are. AFC Liverpool are currently propping up the Prem, and they are the only remaining team across the NWCFL who are yet to score a point. They face promotion-battle veterans Ramsbottom United on bank holiday weekend, who were shellshocked by a late Atherton LR comeback last time out – maybe AFC can catch them off guard this Saturday.
4. Maghull lay down the baton
At the time of writing, there are three points separating first from seventh in the Prem, with a fluctuating number of games played by all teams involved – expected early-season uncertainty, then. In the South, just one point separates table-toppers AFC Bridgnorth from sixth placed Sandbach United, with the leaders currently holding a single game in hand on the chasing pack.
Maghull – top of the tree in the First Division North – have no such worries. Seven games into the new campaign, Joe Burns’ side have been nearly perfect, save for an opening day defeat by Darwen FC. They have a three-point headstart on second-placed Thornton Cleveleys at this stage, and a further two points on the next three teams down. It’s early days, but Maghull look like the NWCFL’s most prominent pacesetters right now.
5. GTF In at Widnes Town
A poor start to their maiden season as an NWCFL side has hopefully dropped to its lowest point for Widnes Town after their 7-0 defeat to Allscott Heath on Saturday. In order to turn their fortunes around, the First Division South’s bottom side have opted for a managerial change.
Paul McNally has left the club, and his replacement brings quite a bit of name value with him. This week, the club have appointed local cult hero Gary Taylor-Fletcher as manager. Taylor-Fletcher played for Blackpool and Leicester City in his pro career, and he scored the Seasiders’ first ever Premier League goal. He will hope to bring the same attacking threat he possessed as a player to the Chemics.
