The 2022–23 North West Counties Football League season was the 41st in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the fifth 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 5 and 6 this season were announced by The Football Association on 12 May 2022,[1] and were subject to appeals and FA ratification.
Premier Division
The Premier Division comprises 22 teams, 18 of which competed in the previous season.
The following three clubs left the Premier Division before the season:
- Macclesfield – promoted to the Northern Premier League
- Runcorn Town – relegated to Division One North
- Skelmersdale United – promoted to the Northern Premier League
The following four clubs joined the Premier Division before the season:
- Bury AFC – promoted from Division One North
- FC Isle of Man – promoted from Division One South
- Kendal Town – relegated from the Northern Premier League
- West Didsbury & Chorlton – promoted from Division One South
Premier Division table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vauxhall Motors (C, P) | 42 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 85 | 35 | +50 | 95 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
2 | Avro (O, P) | 42 | 27 | 6 | 9 | 75 | 31 | +44 | 87 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Wythenshawe Town | 42 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 109 | 56 | +53 | 83 | |
4 | Bury AFC | 42 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 74 | 42 | +32 | 83 | |
5 | Northwich Victoria | 42 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 77 | 50 | +27 | 81 | Transfer to the Midland League |
6 | AFC Liverpool | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 83 | 63 | +20 | 67 | |
7 | Prestwich Heys | 42 | 22 | 3 | 17 | 65 | 56 | +9 | 66 | |
8 | Congleton Town | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 65 | Transfer to the Midland League |
9 | West Didsbury & Chorlton | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 81 | 66 | +15 | 64 | |
10 | Litherland REMYCA | 42 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 61 | 62 | −1 | 62 | |
11 | Charnock Richard | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 86 | 82 | +4 | 56 | |
12 | Kendal Town | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 72 | 84 | −12 | 55 | |
13 | FC Isle of Man | 42 | 16 | 4 | 22 | 67 | 90 | −23 | 52 | |
14 | Padiham | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 66 | 69 | −3 | 51 | |
15 | Longridge Town | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 74 | 94 | −20 | 51 | |
16 | Lower Breck | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 54 | 62 | −8 | 50 | |
17 | Irlam | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 59 | 68 | −9 | 46 | |
18 | Winsford United (R) | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 56 | 78 | −22 | 46 | Relegation to Division One South |
19 | Barnoldswick Town | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 59 | 86 | −27 | 43 | |
20 | Squires Gate | 42 | 12 | 5 | 25 | 61 | 96 | −35 | 41 | |
21 | Burscough | 42 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 63 | 99 | −36 | 36 | Reprieve from relegation |
22 | Ashton Athletic (R) | 42 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 43 | 109 | −66 | 18 | Relegation to Division One North |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Play-off
Inter-step play-off
29 April 2023 | Lincoln United | 1-2 | Avro | Lincoln |
15:00 | Report | Stadium: Ashby Avenue Attendance: 410 Referee: Sam Wesson |
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium |
---|---|
AFC Liverpool | Rossett Park, Crosby (groundshare with Marine) |
Ashton Athletic | Brockstedes Park |
Avro | Whitebank Stadium, Oldham |
Barnoldswick Town | Greenberfield Lane |
Burscough | Victoria Park |
Bury AFC | Stainton Park, Radcliffe (groundshare with Radcliffe) |
Charnock Richard | Mossie Park |
Congleton Town | Ivy Gardens |
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 |
Northwich Victoria | Wincham Park (groundshare with Witton Albion) |
Padiham | Arbories Memorial Sports Ground |
Prestwich Heys | Adie Moran Park |
Squires Gate | School Road |
Vauxhall Motors | Rivacre Park, Ellesmere Port |
West Didsbury & Chorlton | Brookburn Road, Chorlton |
Winsford United | Barton Stadium |
Wythenshawe Town | Ericstan Stadium |
Division One North
Division One North comprises 18 clubs, 15 of which were in the division the previous season.
The following four clubs left Division One North before the season:
- Bury AFC – promoted to the Premier Division
- Campion – transferred back to the Northern Counties East League
- Golcar United – promoted to the Northern Counties East League
- St Helens Town – relegated to the Liverpool County Premier League
The following three clubs joined Division One North before the season:
- Euxton Villa – promoted from the West Lancashire League
- FC St Helens – promoted from the Cheshire League
- Runcorn Town – relegated from the Premier Division
Division One North table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pilkington (C, P) | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 78 | 26 | +52 | 78 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
2 | Chadderton (O, P) | 34 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 76 | 45 | +31 | 76 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | FC St Helens | 34 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 65 | 39 | +26 | 62 | |
4 | Ilkley Town | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 64 | 48 | +16 | 60 | |
5 | Euxton Villa | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 72 | 45 | +27 | 59 | |
6 | Holker Old Boys | 34 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 73 | 57 | +16 | 57 | |
7 | Steeton | 34 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 65 | 52 | +13 | 53 | |
8 | Darwen | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 65 | 58 | +7 | 48 | |
9 | AFC Blackpool | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 63 | 64 | −1 | 48 | |
10 | South Liverpool | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 74 | 63 | +11 | 46 | |
11 | Nelson | 34 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 43 | |
12 | Atherton LR | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 47 | 57 | −10 | 42 | |
13 | Bacup Borough | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 58 | 63 | −5 | 41 | |
14 | Garstang | 34 | 11 | 4 | 19 | 64 | 79 | −15 | 37 | |
15 | Daisy Hill | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 42 | 61 | −19 | 36 | |
16 | Ashton Town | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 35 | 68 | −33 | 35 | |
17 | Runcorn Town | 34 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 38 | 90 | −52 | 29 | Reprieve from relegation |
18 | Cleator Moor Celtic (R) | 34 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 46 | 102 | −56 | 16 | Relegation to the West Lancashire Football League |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Chadderton | 1 (9) | |||||||
5 | Euxton Villa | 1 (8) | |||||||
2 | Chadderton | 1 (6) | |||||||
3 | FC St Helens | 1 (5) | |||||||
3 | FC St Helens | 2 (3) | |||||||
4 | Ilkley Town | 2 (2) |
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium |
---|---|
AFC Blackpool | The Mechanics |
AFC Darwen | The Anchor Ground |
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 |
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 |
Pilkington | Ruskin Drive Sportsground |
Runcorn Town | Pavilions Sports Complex |
South Liverpool | Jericho Lane |
Steeton | Cougar Park |
Division One South
Division One South comprises 20 clubs, 17 of which were in the division the previous season.
The following three clubs left Division One South before the season:
- FC Isle of Man – promoted to the Premier Division
- St Martins – relegated to the Shropshire County Football League
- West Didsbury & Chorlton – promoted to the Premier Division
The following three clubs joined Division One South before the season:
- Ashville – promoted from the West Cheshire League
- Foley Meir – promoted from the Staffordshire County Senior League
- Stockport Georgians – promoted from the Manchester League
Division One South table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wythenshawe Amateurs (C, P) | 38 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 89 | 28 | +61 | 93 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
2 | Stockport Town | 38 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 108 | 32 | +76 | 92 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Sandbach United | 38 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 95 | 59 | +36 | 79 | |
4 | Brocton | 38 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 88 | 57 | +31 | 79 | |
5 | Cheadle Town (O, P) | 38 | 22 | 4 | 12 | 91 | 59 | +32 | 70 | |
6 | Ellesmere Rangers (R) | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 79 | 55 | +24 | 63 | Voluntarily relegated to the Shropshire County League Premier Division |
7 | New Mills | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 83 | 62 | +21 | 63 | |
8 | Cheadle Heath Nomads | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 75 | 57 | +18 | 54 | |
9 | Stockport Georgians | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 55 | 51 | +4 | 54 | |
10 | Eccleshall | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 50 | 59 | −9 | 54 | |
11 | Maine Road | 38 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 58 | 61 | −3 | 53 | |
12 | Ashville | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 51 | |
13 | Barnton | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 57 | 62 | −5 | 51 | |
14 | Abbey Hulton United | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 57 | 53 | +4 | 47 | |
15 | Abbey Hey | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 58 | 72 | −14 | 46 | |
16 | Alsager Town | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 43 | 62 | −19 | 36 | |
17 | Cammell Laird | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 51 | 86 | −35 | 33 | |
18 | Stafford Town | 38 | 8 | 3 | 27 | 46 | 107 | −61 | 27 | |
19 | Foley Meir (R) | 38 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 43 | 111 | −68 | 25 | Relegation to the Staffordshire County Senior League |
20 | Rocester (R) | 38 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 26 | 119 | −93 | 11 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Stockport Town | 0 | |||||||
5 | Cheadle Town | 2 | |||||||
5 | Cheadle Town | 3 | |||||||
3 | Sandbach United | 1 | |||||||
3 | Sandbach United | 3 | |||||||
4 | Brocton | 1 |
Stadia and locations
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 |
Cheadle Town | Park Road Stadium |
Eccleshall | Pershall Park |
Foley Meir | Whitcombe Road |
Ellesmere Rangers | Beech Grove |
Maine Road | Brantingham Road, Chorlton |
New Mills | Church Lane |
Rocester | Hillsfield |
Sandbach United | Sandbach Community Football Centre |
Stafford Town | Evans Park |
Stockport Georgians | Cromley Road |
Stockport Town | Stockport Sports Village |
Wythenshawe Amateurs | Hollyhedge Park |
References
- ^ "Club Allocations 2022/23 Season". nwcfl.com. 12 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.