The 2019–20 North West Counties Football League season was the 38th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the second season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The allocations for Steps 1 to 6 for season 2019–20 were announced by the FA on 19 May.[1] These were subject to appeal, and the North West Counties' constitution was subject to ratification at the league's AGM on 15 June.[2] As one appeal was not yet heard until after the AGM, ratification of the constitution had to be delayed until after the hearing was held.[3] The FA confirmed Carlisle City's transfer to the Northern League at its hearing, thereby rejecting the club's appeal against it[4] and ratifying the constitution.
As three new divisions (one at Step 4 and two at Step 5) were to be introduced to the English football pyramid for the 2020–21 season, at the end of this season, three teams were to be promoted from the Premier Division and four from each Division One.[5]
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to, from, or within the competition.[6] On 30 March 2020, sixty-six non-league clubs sent an open letter to the Football Association requesting that they reconsider their decision.[7] Consequently, the addition of three divisions in the football pyramid was fulfilled in 2021–22 instead.
Premier Division
editSeason | 2019–20 |
---|---|
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
The Premier Division consists of 20 clubs.
The following 4 clubs left the Premier Division before the season -
- Abbey Hey – relegated to Division One South
- City of Liverpool – promoted to the Northern Premier League
- Silsden – transferred to the Northern Counties East League
- West Didsbury & Chorlton – relegated to Division One South
The following 4 clubs joined the Premier Division before the season -
- Avro – promoted from Division One North
- Longridge Town – promoted from Division One North
- Rylands – promoted from Division One South
- Skelmersdale United – relegated from the Northern Premier League
Premier Division table at the time of abandonment
edit
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1874 Northwich | 29 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 79 | 27 | +52 | 71 |
2 | Rylands | 30 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 62 | 32 | +30 | 63 |
3 | Bootle | 27 | 19 | 2 | 6 | 66 | 37 | +29 | 59[a] |
4 | Charnock Richard | 31 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 73 | 50 | +23 | 59[b] |
5 | Ashton Athletic | 29 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 64 | 38 | +26 | 53 |
6 | Longridge Town | 26 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 53 |
7 | Runcorn Town | 31 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 55 | 41 | +14 | 51 |
8 | Irlam | 27 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 43 |
9 | Squires Gate | 32 | 13 | 4 | 15 | 56 | 68 | −12 | 43 |
10 | Northwich Victoria | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 57 | 43 | +14 | 40 |
11 | Whitchurch Alport | 29 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 43 | 44 | −1 | 38 |
12 | Avro | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 37 |
13 | Winsford United | 29 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 51 | 57 | −6 | 32 |
14 | Congleton Town | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 54 | 60 | −6 | 31 |
15 | Barnoldswick Town | 27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 28 |
16 | Skelmersdale United | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 48 | 60 | −12 | 27[a] |
17 | Padiham | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 31 | 55 | −24 | 26 |
18 | Burscough | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 25 | 67 | −42 | 26 |
19 | Litherland REMYCA | 31 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 30 | 77 | −47 | 22 |
20 | Hanley Town | 30 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 34 | 70 | −36 | 21 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [9]
Notes:
Premier Division Results
edit† Skelmersdale v Bootle, 29 Feb: match declared void.[8]
Stadia and locations
editTeam | Stadium |
---|---|
1874 Northwich | Townfield (groundshare with Barnton) |
Ashton Athletic | Brockstedes Park |
Avro | Whitebank Stadium, Oldham |
Barnoldswick Town | Greenberfield Lane |
Bootle | New Bucks Park |
Burscough | Victoria Park |
Charnock Richard | Mossie Park |
Congleton Town | Ivy Gardens |
Hanley Town | Abbey Lane |
Irlam | Silver Street |
Litherland REMYCA | Litherland Sports Park |
Longridge Town | Mike Riding Ground |
Northwich Victoria | Wincham Park (groundshare with Witton Albion) |
Padiham | Arbories Memorial Sports Ground |
Runcorn Town | Pavilions Sports Complex |
Rylands | Gorsey Lane |
Skelmersdale United | Valerie Park |
Squires Gate | School Road |
Whitchurch Alport | Yockings Park |
Winsford United | Barton Stadium |
Division One North
editSeason | 2019–20 |
---|---|
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
Division One North consists of 20 clubs.
The following 3 clubs left Division One North before the season -
- Avro – promoted to the Premier Division
- Carlisle City – transferred to the Northern League
- Longridge Town – promoted to the Premier Division
The following 3 clubs joined Division One North before the season -
- Emley – transferred from the Northern Counties East League
- Golcar United – promoted from the West Riding Amateur League
- Pilkington – promoted from the Cheshire League
Division One North table at the time of abandonment
edit
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lower Breck | 29 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 95 | 38 | +57 | 67 |
2 | AFC Liverpool | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 91 | 43 | +48 | 57 |
3 | Shelley | 31 | 17 | 6 | 8 | 67 | 47 | +20 | 57 |
4 | Emley AFC | 27 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 68 | 43 | +25 | 56 |
5 | Golcar United | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 71 | 49 | +22 | 46 |
6 | Ashton Town | 29 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 68 | 54 | +14 | 46 |
7 | Prestwich Heys | 29 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 46 |
8 | Pilkington | 30 | 14 | 2 | 14 | 62 | 61 | +1 | 44 |
9 | AFC Blackpool | 29 | 13 | 2 | 14 | 58 | 60 | −2 | 41 |
10 | Holker Old Boys | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 55 | 63 | −8 | 40 |
11 | Daisy Hill | 31 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 63 | 86 | −23 | 38 |
12 | Chadderton | 29 | 11 | 3 | 15 | 56 | 66 | −10 | 36 |
13 | AFC Darwen | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 65 | 74 | −9 | 35[a] |
14 | Nelson | 28 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 47 | 57 | −10 | 35 |
15 | Garstang | 29 | 11 | 1 | 17 | 57 | 69 | −12 | 34 |
16 | Cleator Moor Celtic | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 31 |
17 | Atherton LR | 29 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 36 | 58 | −22 | 31 |
18 | Bacup Borough | 27 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 27 |
19 | Steeton | 29 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 75 | −35 | 26 |
20 | St Helens Town | 31 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 53 | 90 | −37 | 25 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [9]
Notes:
Division One North Results
editStadia and locations
editTeam | Stadium |
---|---|
AFC Blackpool | The Mechanics |
AFC Darwen | The Anchor Ground |
AFC Liverpool | Rossett Park, Crosby (groundshare with Marine) |
Ashton Town | Edge Green Street |
Atherton Laburnum Rovers | Crilly Park |
Bacup Borough | West View |
Chadderton | MCA Stadium |
Cleator Moor Celtic | McGrath Park |
Daisy Hill | New Sirs, Westhoughton |
Emley | Welfare Ground |
Garstang | The Riverside |
Golcar United | Longfield Avenue |
Holker Old Boys | Rakesmoor Lane, Barrow-in-Furness |
Lower Breck | Anfield Sports and Community Centre |
Nelson | Victoria Park |
Pilkington | Ruskin Drive Sportsground |
Prestwich Heys | Adie Moran Park |
Shelley Community | Storthes Hall Park |
St Helens Town | Ruskin Drive Sportsground |
Steeton | Cougar Park |
Division One South
editSeason | 2019–20 |
---|---|
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
Division One South consists of 20 clubs.
The following 2 clubs left Division One South before the season -
- Rylands – promoted to the Premier Division
- Stone Dominoes – relegated to the Staffordshire County Senior League
The following 2 clubs joined Division One South before the season -
- Abbey Hey – relegated from the Premier Division
- West Didsbury & Chorlton – relegated from the Premier Division
Division One South table at the time of abandonment
edit
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vauxhall Motors | 31 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 83 | 28 | +55 | 82 | |
2 | FC Oswestry Town | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 68 | 37 | +31 | 66 | Resigned[10] |
3 | Stone Old Alleynians | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 65 | 32 | +33 | 59 | |
4 | Wythenshawe Town | 27 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 71 | 25 | +46 | 56 | |
5 | Abbey Hey | 29 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 53 | |
6 | West Didsbury & Chorlton | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 51 | 34 | +17 | 47 | |
7 | Eccleshall | 29 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 45 | |
8 | Cheadle Town | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 44 | |
9 | Stockport Town | 29 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 40[a] | |
10 | Maine Road | 30 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 57 | 54 | +3 | 38 | |
11 | Cheadle Heath Nomads | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 35 | |
12 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 34 | |
13 | Cammell Laird | 29 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 34 | |
14 | New Mills | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 49 | 63 | −14 | 33 | |
15 | Abbey Hulton United | 31 | 10 | 1 | 20 | 40 | 80 | −40 | 31 | |
16 | Sandbach United | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 30 | |
17 | Barnton | 29 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 30 | 59 | −29 | 28 | |
18 | Ellesmere Rangers | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 37 | 73 | −36 | 26 | |
19 | Alsager Town | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 31 | 63 | −32 | 25 | |
20 | St Martins | 30 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 34 | 75 | −41 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [9]
Notes:
- ^ Stockport Town were deducted three points for transgression of league rules.
Division One South Results
editStadia and locations
editTeam | Stadium |
---|---|
Abbey Hey | The Abbey Stadium, Gorton |
Abbey Hulton United | Birches Head Road |
Alsager Town | Wood Park Stadium |
Barnton | Townfield |
Cammell Laird 1907 | Kirklands, Birkenhead |
Cheadle Heath Nomads | The Heath |
Cheadle Town | Park Road Stadium |
Eccleshall | Pershall Park |
Ellesmere Rangers | Beech Grove |
FC Oswestry Town | Park Hall Stadium |
Maine Road | Brantingham Road, Chorlton |
New Mills | Church Lane |
Sandbach United | Sandbach Community Football Centre |
St Martins | The Venue, Oswestry |
Stockport Town | Stockport Sports Village |
Stone Alleynians | Yarnfield Lane |
Vauxhall Motors | Rivacre Park, Ellesmere Port |
West Didsbury & Chorlton | Brookburn Road, Chorlton |
Wythenshawe Amateurs | Hollyhedge Park |
Wythenshawe Town | Ericstan Stadium |
League Challenge Cup
editAlso called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[11]
Sources for this section: fixtures and results
First round
editSecond round
edit
* Played at AFC Liverpool's home ground, following postponements
|
|
Third round
edit
* Played at Maine Road's home ground, following postponements |
|
Quarter-finals
edit
|
|
Semi-finals
edit
|
|
Final
editPlayed on 24 July 2021, at the start of the 2021–22 season.[12][13]
Score | ||
---|---|---|
Runcorn Town | 3–6 | 1874 Northwich |
Division One Trophy
editAlso called The PlayerMatch.com Cup for sponsorship reasons.[14]
Sources for this section: fixtures and results
First round
edit
|
|
All the remaining Division One teams received a bye to the second round.
Second round
edit
|
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Third round
edit
|
† Eliminated due to playing ineligible player |
Quarter-finals
edit
|
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Semi-finals
editFirst leg
edit
|
|
Second leg
edit
† AFC Liverpool awarded the tie following the resignation of FC Oswestry Town |
Sandbach United won 3–1 on aggregate |
Final
editHome team | Score | Away team |
---|---|---|
Sandbach United | 2–2 (4–3 p) |
AFC Liverpool |
The semi-final second leg and the final were played at the start of the 2020–21 season, due to the premature conclusion of the 2019–20 season.
Division One Champions Cup
editNot contested this season due to the abandonment of the league programme.
References
edit- ^ "REVEALED: The provisional Step 1 to 6 Club Allocations for 2019-20". The Non League Football Paper. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ "League Allocations for Season 2019/20 Announced". NWCFL. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ "News From The AGM". NWCFL. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Carlisle City's lateral move confirmed after appeal hearing". nwcfl.com. NWCFL. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". The Non League Paper. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Sixty-six non-league clubs send open letter to FA over expunging season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Alterations To league tables". NWCFL. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2019/20 (part 30 Standardised Rules section 12.2)". The FA. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ FC Oswestry resigned and folded at the conclusion of the season "Resignation of FC Oswestry Town". NWCFL. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "Macron Cup Final rescheduled for July". Northwich Guardian. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ "Macron Cup Final Postponed". NWCFL. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Announcement: PlayerMatch.com becomes Official Partner of The North West Counties Football League". NWCFL. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.