The North West County Football League is an integral component of English football’s non-league system, offering a distinctive blend of competition and community spirit that acts as an invaluable stepping stone for clubs looking for higher glory.
At Step 5, the Premier Division stands. At Step 6 are Division One North and South. In addition, a League Cup competition and Floodlit Trophy competitions are run.
History
The North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) is more than a competition; it is a community, an incubator for talent, and an expression of one’s love of the game. Over its history, the NWCFL has undergone various changes as it adapts to meet ever-evolving football landscape. From promotions and relegations back down into League Three; from excitement of victory all the way to heartache. The League has seen it all!
The National Women’s County Football League was formed following a merger between Cheshire County League and Lancashire Combination in 1982. Since then, several changes have occurred including restructuring divisions and introduction of promotion/relegation system; along with strict ground criteria that ensure both safety and comfort for both players and spectators.
This year the NWCFL will feature three divisions: Premier Division at Step 5, and Division One North and South at Step 6. Each division will consist of 24 teams; their rankings will be determined based on an average points per game basis and will see promotion to higher tiers while bottom two clubs from each step will be relegated back down one rung.
Wythenshawe Amateurs FC led all teams with 111 goals scored across 46 matches played, an average home score of 6.5 and away score of 2.5. Charnock Richard FC, Bury FC and Prestwich Heys FC came next in terms of goals scored.
The NWCFL is overseen by the Football Association and forms part of its National League system, feeding into Northern Premier League. Additionally, it participates in FA Charter Standard Club scheme. Over its history, BASS brewery in Yorkshire sponsored it until 1995 before First North Western Railway took over for two years until Hallmark Security came onboard for three. Local businesses and charities also give support.
Divisions
The 2021-22 season marks the 42nd year of the North West Counties Football League and fourth since it was divided geographically into divisions. It includes three levels – Premier Division at Step 5, Division One North and Division One South at Step 6 as well as Division Three between Steps 3-6.
The North West Counties Football League features two cup competitions, the League Cup and First Division Trophy. While both competitions are open to any club in Divisions 1 and 2, respectively, only those located within Divisions 1-2 qualify to take part in these special cups. In addition, NWCFL provides a reserve league for its member clubs.
English football league system comprises five steps and each step contains its own set of regulations and requirements, such as having at least eight teams compete within each division and that the top two finishers in each are promoted to the next level – this process repeats itself every season until reaching Football League.
Promotion and relegation in the North West Counties Football League is determined by points per game, goal difference, and goals scored. Division winners in each Step 5 division are promoted; runners-up with the best points-per-game average across all sixteen Step 5 divisions may also be considered eligible. Relegation occurs for clubs at the bottom of their respective Step 5 divisions along with any four second-bottom clubs who had the worst average of points-per-game across all sixteen divisions.
In addition to its two tiers, the National Women’s Cricket Football League also hosts a feeder league composed of amateur clubs from throughout Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and Southern Cumbria – it also featured Welsh clubs Caernarfon Town and Rhyl at various points during its history.
The NWCL offers its member clubs an optional reserve league, and offers the NWCFL Challenge Cup to all its participants. In past seasons, additional competitions such as League Trophy and Floodlit Trophy for higher division clubs were run as part of this league competition. Furthermore, an Annual Awards Ceremony takes place annually as well.
Participating clubs
The North West Counties Football League is a regional division of the National League system. Its teams come from the Isle of Man, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire Cumbria and Shropshire with some clubs from Derbyshire’s High Peak area as well. Established in 1982 by merging Cheshire County League with Lancashire Combination; Bass Brewery were its initial title sponsors until 1995 before First North Western took over two-year sponsorship before Hallmark Security took on that responsibility from 2015-2018.
The league includes six feeder leagues that are affiliated with it, with their clubs eligible for promotion to the First Division based on certain criteria such as meeting minimum grading requirements and providing match reports. Furthermore, there is an automatic promotion scheme to Northern Premier League for clubs which finish in either of the top two places of their feeder leagues.
As part of their regular season competitions, the NWCFL also holds several cup competitions throughout the year, such as Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, FA Vase and Challenge Cup tournaments. Johnstone’s Paint Trophy remains the league’s most beloved competition with nearly half of participating clubs entering it annually; FA Vase tournament is another perennial favorite that sees over one third enter this tournament each season.
Even as a smaller league, the NWCFL has seen impressive crowds over its history. A record attendance of 1,353 was witnessed for a Division One championship decider between Radcliffe Borough and Caernarfon Town in 1983 while in 1999 over 2,281 witnessed Workington play Mossley for Division Two championship glory.
The North West Counties Premier Division at Step 5 of the National League System will enter its 42nd season during 2021-22. There will be three divisions; Premier, Divisions One North and South which both operate at Step 6, as well as Divisions Three West which operates as Step 6. 21 clubs will participate this season; 15 of those competed during last season’s aborted competition.
Sponsorship
The North West Counties Football League is one of six regional leagues comprising England’s national non-league football system. Its membership spans across Isle of Man, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside Cumbria (north of High Peak area in Derbyshire and west West Yorkshire), Cumbria as well as north of High Peak area of Derbyshire (north of High Peak area of Derbyshire and west West Yorkshire). Furthermore, this League hosts its single cup competition called “Challenge Cup”, in which all member clubs participate; winners include Warrington Town Burscough Vauxhall Motors Bacup Borough 1874 Northwich
The NWCFL has several feeder leagues, such as Cheshire Association Football League, Liverpool County Premier League, Manchester Football League West Lancashire Football League and Staffordshire County Senior League. Clubs from these leagues must meet certain ground regulations in order to join the NWCFL; both Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood Town made the jump directly from NWCFL into Football League in recent years.
If you’re in search of non-league football team sponsorship opportunities, the NWCFL offers several cost-effective packages to make that possible. Their packages offer maximum reach while other promotional opportunities such as matchday advertising and website sponsorship also exist. Their website contains extensive details regarding how to participate as well as applications forms; plus their team will always be there if there are any questions!
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