2023–24 North West Counties Football League

The 2023–24 North West Counties Football League season was the 42nd in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.

The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 this season were announced by The Football Association on 15 May 2023,[1] and were subject to appeals and FA ratification. Starting this season, the Premier Division (Step 5) in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from the division.[2]

Premier Division

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North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2023–24
ChampionsWythenshawe
PromotedWythenshawe
Wythenshawe Town
RelegatedSkelmersdale United

The Premier Division comprises 24 teams.

The following seven clubs left the Premier Division before the season:

The following nine clubs joined the Premier Division before the season:

Premier Division table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Wythenshawe (C, P) 46 30 5 11 111 45 +66 95 Promotion to the Northern Premier League
2 Wythenshawe Town (O, P) 46 29 8 9 95 44 +51 95 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Bury 46 29 8 9 108 50 +58 92[a]
4 Charnock Richard 46 22 15 9 107 74 +33 81
5 Padiham 46 24 8 14 93 63 +30 80
6 Kendal Town 46 24 8 14 105 77 +28 80 Transfer to the Northern League
7 Chadderton 46 23 11 12 95 75 +20 80
8 Prestwich Heys 46 24 8 14 95 77 +18 80
9 FC Isle of Man 46 22 6 18 74 77 −3 72
10 Lower Breck 46 20 11 15 83 73 +10 71
11 Colne 46 21 8 17 97 67 +30 71
12 Litherland REMYCA 46 18 8 20 78 96 −18 62
13 Irlam 46 15 16 15 71 68 +3 61
14 AFC Liverpool 46 18 5 23 87 114 −27 59
15 Cheadle Town 46 18 6 22 75 92 −17 57[b]
16 West Didsbury & Chorlton 46 14 12 20 73 84 −11 54
17 Barnoldswick Town 46 14 12 20 88 113 −25 54
18 Ramsbottom United 46 13 11 22 84 97 −13 50
19 Longridge Town 46 12 8 26 82 107 −25 44
20 Burscough 46 11 11 24 74 100 −26 44
21 Glossop North End 46 11 10 25 64 83 −19 43
22 Pilkington 46 11 10 25 56 97 −41 43
23 Squires Gate 46 12 6 28 74 119 −45 42
24 Skelmersdale United (R) 46 9 5 32 54 131 −77 32 Relegation to Division One North
Source: NWCFL Tables Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Bury were deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player on 29 July 2023.[3]
  2. ^ Cheadle Town were deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player on 16 September 2023.

Play-offs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 Wythenshawe Town 1
5 Padiham 0
2 Wythenshawe Town 1 (3)
3 Bury 1 (2)
3 Bury 1
4 Charnock Richard 0

Semifinals

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30 April Wythenshawe Town 1–0 Padiham Wythenshawe
19:45
  • Bentham   72'
Report Stadium: Ericstan Stadium
Attendance: 658
30 April Bury 1–0 Charnock Richard Bury
19:45
Report Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 4,099

Final

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4 May Wythenshawe Town 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
BuryWythenshawe
15:00
Report
Stadium: Ericstan Stadium
Attendance: 1,320

Stadiums and locations

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Locations of 2023–24 North West Counties Premier Division teams (Greater Manchester)
Locations of 2023–24 North West Counties Premier Division team (Isle of Man)
Team Stadium
AFC Liverpool Rossett Park, Crosby (groundshare with Marine)
Barnoldswick Town Greenberfield Lane
Burscough Victoria Park
Bury Gigg Lane
Chadderton MCA Stadium
Charnock Richard Mossie Park
Cheadle Town Park Road Stadium
Colne Holt House
Glossop North End Surrey Street
FC Isle of Man The Bowl, Douglas
Irlam Silver Street
Kendal Town Parkside Road
Litherland REMYCA Litherland Sports Park
Longridge Town Mike Riding Ground
Lower Breck Anfield Sports and Community Centre
Padiham Arbories Memorial Sports Ground
Pilkington Ruskin Drive Sportsground
Prestwich Heys Adie Moran Park
Ramsbottom United Harry Williams Riverside Stadium
Skelmersdale United The Community Ground, Burscough
Squires Gate School Road
West Didsbury & Chorlton Brookburn Road, Chorlton
Wythenshawe Hollyhedge Park
Wythenshawe Town Ericstan Stadium

Division One North

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North West Counties
Football League
Division One North
Season2023–24
ChampionsFC St Helens
PromotedFC St Helens
South Liverpool

Division One North comprises 18 clubs.

The following three clubs left Division One North before the season:

The following three clubs joined Division One North before the season:

Division One North table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 FC St Helens (C, P) 34 24 5 5 81 36 +45 77 Promotion to the Premier Division
2 Atherton LR 34 21 5 8 75 44 +31 68 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Ashton Town 34 20 5 9 84 51 +33 65
4 Euxton Villa 34 20 3 11 74 44 +30 63
5 South Liverpool (O, P) 34 19 6 9 69 49 +20 63
6 Ilkley Town 34 18 8 8 67 53 +14 62 Transfer to the Northern Counties East League
7 Holker Old Boys 34 19 4 11 78 53 +25 61
8 Route One Rovers 34 19 1 14 91 81 +10 58
9 Darwen 34 14 8 12 76 71 +5 50
10 Bacup Borough 34 13 6 15 66 60 +6 45
11 Ashton Athletic 34 12 7 15 62 63 −1 43
12 Daisy Hill 34 10 5 19 42 59 −17 35
13 Runcorn Town 34 10 5 19 48 78 −30 34[a] Transfer to Division One South
14 Steeton 34 9 5 20 40 68 −28 32
15 AFC Blackpool 34 9 3 22 51 78 −27 30
16 Garstang 34 7 7 20 57 95 −38 28
17 Shelley 34 8 4 22 38 81 −43 28 Transfer to the Northern Counties East League
18 Nelson 34 8 5 21 44 79 −35 26[b] Reprieve from relegation
Source: NWCFL Tables, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ Runcorn Town were deducted 1 point.
  2. ^ Nelson were deducted 3 points.

Play-offs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 Atherton LR 0
5 South Liverpool 1
3 Ashton Town 0 (1)
5 South Liverpool 0 (3)
3 Ashton Town 4
4 Euxton Villa 3

Semifinals

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20 April Atherton LR0–1 South Liverpool Atherton
15:00 Report
Stadium: Crilly Park
Attendance: 226
20 April Ashton Town 4–3Euxton VillaAshton-in-Makerfield
15:00
Report
Stadium: Edge Green Street
Attendance: 604

Final

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Stadia and locations

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Locations of the 2023–24 North West Counties Football League Division One North teams
Locations of 2023–24 North West Counties Premier Division teams (Greater Manchester)
Locations of 2023–24 North West Counties Premier Division teams (West Yorkshire)
Team Stadium
AFC Blackpool The Mechanics
Ashton Athletic Brockstedes Park
Ashton Town Edge Green Street
Atherton Laburnum Rovers Crilly Park
Bacup Borough West View
Daisy Hill New Sirs, Westhoughton
Darwen The Anchor Ground
Euxton Villa Jim Fowler Memorial Ground
FC St Helens Windleshaw Sports
Garstang The Riverside
Holker Old Boys Rakesmoor Lane, Barrow-in-Furness
Ilkley Town MPM Lane
Nelson Victoria Park
Route One Rovers Marley Stadium
Runcorn Town Pavilions Sports Complex
Shelley Storthes Hall Park
South Liverpool Jericho Lane
Steeton Marley Stadium

Division One South

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North West Counties
Football League
Division One South
Season2023–24
ChampionsBrocton
PromotedBrocton
Abbey Hey

Division One South comprises 18 clubs.

The following five clubs left Division One South before the season:

The following three clubs joined Division One South before the season:

Division One South table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Brocton (C, P) 34 25 3 6 96 30 +66 78 Promotion to the Midland League
2 Stockport Town (P) 34 21 9 4 78 42 +36 72 Qualification for the play-offs,
then promotion to the Premier Division
3 Sandbach United 34 20 5 9 75 51 +24 65 Qualification for the play-offs
4 Abbey Hey (O, P) 34 18 8 8 68 55 +13 62 Promotion to the Premier Division
5 Droylsden 34 18 4 12 75 59 +16 58 Qualification for the play-offs,
then transfer to Division One North
6 Cheadle Heath Nomads 34 14 7 13 60 59 +1 49
7 Barnton 34 14 6 14 46 48 −2 48
8 Abbey Hulton United 34 13 6 15 56 69 −13 45
9 Eccleshall 34 11 11 12 51 60 −9 44
10 Maine Road 34 13 5 16 58 72 −14 44 Transfer to Division One North
11 Stafford Town 34 12 6 16 61 67 −6 42
12 Alsager Town 34 10 11 13 59 53 +6 41
13 Cammell Laird 34 10 11 13 56 66 −10 41
14 Stockport Georgians 34 11 7 16 46 59 −13 40
15 Ashville 34 9 11 14 44 53 −9 38
16 New Mills 34 10 6 18 59 77 −18 36
17 Winsford United 34 9 1 24 53 78 −25 28
18 Market Drayton Town 34 8 3 23 47 90 −43 27
Source: NWCFL Tables, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Play-offs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 Stockport Town 1
5 Droylsden 0
2 Stockport Town 1 (1)
4 Abbey Hey 1 (4)
3 Sandbach United 1
4 Abbey Hey 3

Semifinals

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20 April Sandbach United1–3 Abbey Hey Sandbach
15:00
Report
Stadium: Sandbach Community Football Centre
Attendance: 514

Final

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27 April Stockport Town1–1
(1–4 p)
Abbey Hey Woodley
15:00
Report
Stadium: Stockport Sports Village
Attendance: 904

Stadia and locations

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Locations of the 2023–24 North West Counties Football League Division One South teams in the North West
Locations of 2023–24 North West Counties Division One South teams (Greater Manchester)
Locations of the 2023–24 North West Counties Football League Division One South teams in the West Midlands
Team Stadium
Abbey Hey The Abbey Stadium, Gorton
Abbey Hulton United Birches Head Road
Alsager Town Wood Park Stadium
Ashville Villa Park, Wallasey
Barnton Townfield
Brocton Silkmore Lane
Cammell Laird 1907 Kirklands, Birkenhead
Cheadle Heath Nomads The Heath
Droylsden Butcher's Arms Ground
Eccleshall Pershall Park
Maine Road Brantingham Road, Chorlton
Market Drayton Town Greenfields Sports Ground
New Mills Church Lane
Sandbach United Sandbach Community Football Centre
Stafford Town Evans Park
Stockport Georgians Cromley Road
Stockport Town Stockport Sports Village
Winsford United Barton Stadium

References

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  1. ^ "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 1-6 in 2023-24 term". The FA. 15 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Step 5 to 4 promotion/relegation update". The FA. 16 March 2023.
  3. ^ "League Statement on Bury FC points deduction". nwcfl.com. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
  5. ^ "Ellesmere Rangers to leave the NWCFL". nwcfl.com. NWCFL. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
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