2019–20 North West Counties Football League

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

[edit]
North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2019–20

The Premier Division consists of 20 clubs.

The following 4 clubs left the Premier Division before the season -

The following 4 clubs joined the Premier Division before the season -

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
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. 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 [9]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Skelmerdale v Bootle match on 29 Feb was declared void, and its outcome has been removed from the table.[8]
  2. ^ Charnock Richard were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in a match won on 12 November.

Premier Division Results

[edit]
Home \ Away 18N ASH AVR BWT BTL BUR CHR CON HAN IRL LIT LON NWV PAD RNT RYL SKE SQG WHI WIN
1874 Northwich 0–0 0–0 2–0 5–0 2–1 2–1 2–4 1–0 3–2 4–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 24 Mar 31 Mar 3–1
Ashton Athletic 0–1 2–1 2–3 3–1 2–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 4–1 1–3 2–2 3–2 3–3 24 Mar
Avro 1–1 1–2 3–4 5–2 1–0 3–1 0–1 1–2 1–2 0–2 2–2 0–1 3–2 3–2 1–2 2–2
Barnoldswick Town 4–8 1–0 4–2 21 Mar 3–3 3–1 0–3 2–0 3–1 17 Mar 1–2 2–2 2–4 2–1
Bootle 1–4 0–4 7–2 3–1 4–1 21 Mar 1–1 3–0 1–0 3–2 27 Mar 4–0 0–3 1–1 7–3 1–0 1–0
Burscough 0–2 1–1 0–1 3–2 0–5 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–3
Charnock Richard 0–5 3–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–3 4–0 2–0 4–3 2–2 2–0 24 Mar 3–1 4–0 4–0 4–1
Congleton Town 0–0 1–5 5–0 0–3 1–1 3–1 4–3 1–3 2–4 4–0 4–2 3–1 2–3 0–1 4–3
Hanley Town 0–4 2–6 0–2 3–0 0–4 0–1 4–3 24 Mar 0–0 1–3 2–2 28 Mar 0–3 2–1 1–3 21 Mar
Irlam 2–4 0–2 3–2 31 Mar 21 Mar 2–4 1–0 1–0 2–2 4–2 17 Mar 1–2 1–2 4–0 4–2 1–0
Litherland REMYCA 0–9 1–7 0–2 1–0 2–5 3–0 4–1 28 Mar 0–5 21 Mar 0–2 0–3 0–3 0–0 0–3 1–3
Longridge Town 2–1 2–3 28 Mar 25 Mar 3–2 4–3 4–2 3–2 2–1 2–1 21 Mar 4–1 1–0 5–3
Northwich Victoria 3–3 1–0 2–0 1–2 6–1 2–3 1–0 1–1 3–3 8–0 1–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 0–1 1–1
Padiham 0–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–4 1–2 1–4
Runcorn Town 2–3 0–1 4–1 3–0 2–0 5–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–3 0–0 2–1 18 Mar 2–2
Rylands 21 Mar 2–1 5–0 0–1 2–3 2–2 4–2 1–0 1–1 31 Mar 1–2 5–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–1
Skelmersdale United 2–3 21 Mar 28 Mar 3–0 2–1 † 4–0 2–4 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–4 2–4 3–2 2–3 3–3 2–3 0–1
Squires Gate 0–4 0–4 2–1 3–1 2–4 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–5 1–0 2–1 21 Mar 2–0 0–3 3–1 0–0 3–1
Whitchurch Alport 0–1 21 Mar 1–1 0–1 4–0 0–3 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 23 Mar 0–1 0–2 1–1 3–2
Winsford United 0–2 3–2 3–1 28 Mar 6–0 0–2 2–2 1–2 4–1 0–0 4–1 0–1 0–2 0–5 5–4 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. Source: results and fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Skelmersdale v Bootle, 29 Feb: match declared void.[8]

Stadia and locations

[edit]
Team 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

[edit]
North West Counties
Football League
Division One North
Season2019–20

Division One North consists of 20 clubs.

The following 3 clubs left Division One North before the season -

The following 3 clubs joined Division One North before the season -

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
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. 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 [9]
Notes:
  1. ^ AFC Darwen were penalised eleven points for use of an ineligible player in a number of games.[8]

Division One North Results

[edit]
Home \ Away BLP DAR LVP ASH ALR BAC CHA CLE DSH EML GAR GOL HOL LOW NEL PIL PRE SHE STH STE
AFC Blackpool 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–3 3–2 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–2 1–1 2–1 1–5 4–1 4–1 3–1 28 Mar 1–2
AFC Darwen 2–1 1–0 21 4–1 3–1 4–3 0–3 3–3 2–3 3–2 3–0 0–4 1–1 1–5 2–1 0–2 21 Mar
AFC Liverpool 4–2 8–0 25 Mar 4–1 1–0 4–1 4–2 7–1 4–4 2–1 2–2 8–2 3–3 3–0 1–2 6–2 8–0
Ashton Town 2–0 5–1 28 Mar 5–3 2–3 3–0 2–2 1–2 1–6 1–0 5–0 3–2 5–0 4–1 1–1
Atherton LR 1–0 2–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–3 2–2 0–2 1–2 2–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 3–2 3–1
Bacup Borough 1–2 0–0 2–0 1–3 5–1 2–2 4–2 1–2 2–3 1–0 0–1 4–0 27 Mar
Chadderton 2–3 4–3 31 Mar 0–2 3–4 7–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–3 1–1 1–1 3–2 5–3
Cleator Moor Celtic 1–3 1–3 0–3 21 Mar 3–2 4–1 3–1 2–3 3–4 4–4 3–3 2–2 3–5 3–1 24 Mar
Daisy Hill 1–2 4–1 1–4 3–1 21 Mar 2–4 3–0 1–0 1–3 0–6 2–3 3–1 3–2 1–3 2–1 0–0
Emley AFC 4–1 3–1 2–3 1–0 1–1 4–2 2–1 1–4 3–2 28 Mar 2–1 4–1 1–3 5–1
Garstang 2–5 0–2 4–2 4–4 7–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 2–0 0–8 2–3 1–2 3–1
Golcar United 1–3 3–1 17 Mar 5–3 3–3 1–1 2–1 21 Mar 5–3 28 Mar 2–1 1–0 5–0 2–3
Holker Old Boys 2–6 1–6 3–3 1–0 2–0 1–3 8–0 21 Mar 0–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–3
Lower Breck 4–3 1–0 3–3 4–3 6–1 5–1 4–3 3–1 5–1 5–2 4–1 4–1 3–0 2–2 5–1
Nelson 1–2 1–4 3–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–6 31 Mar 21 Mar 3–2 28 Mar 2–3 1–3 0–0 1–1 0–1
Pilkington 1–2 0–2 3–1 4–1 1–2 0–3 5–1 3–2 2–1 1–5 3–2 3–1 3–2 21 Mar 3–2 2–0
Prestwich Heys 2–1 1–0 3–1 2–0 31 Mar 0–3 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–2 0–4 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–1
Shelley 21 Mar 4–1 1–1 3–0 5–0 3–2 1–1 2–1 2–3 2–0 5–3 4–1 1–2 0–2 5–2
St Helens Town 4–2 3–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–2 6–0 3–8 2–3 1–5 0–2 0–0 0–8 0–1 1–3 2–3 3–1
Steeton 18 Mar 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 21 Mar 1–4 0–1 0–5 1–4 2–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–3 3–3 5–1
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. Source: results and fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

[edit]
Team 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

[edit]
North West Counties
Football League
Division One South
Season2019–20

Division One South consists of 20 clubs.

The following 2 clubs left Division One South before the season -

The following 2 clubs joined Division One South before the season -

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
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. 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 [9]
Notes:
  1. ^ Stockport Town were deducted three points for transgression of league rules.

Division One South Results

[edit]
Home \ Away AHY AHU ALS BNT CAM CHN CHT ECC ELL OSW MNR NWM SAN STM STK SOA VAU WDC WYA WYT
Abbey Hey 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–1 1–4 21 Mar 24 Mar 1–1 2–1 3–0 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–4 1–3 3–3 1–1
Abbey Hulton United 28 Mar 1–0 1–1 1–3 1–3 3–2 0–2 0–4 2–1 2–6 5–3 1–4 2–0 14 Mar 2–5 0–1 0–9
Alsager Town 0–3 3–2 24 Mar 0–3 1–4 21 Mar 0–3 2–2 0–3 1–2 0–2 2–0 1–0 1–2 2–3 1–2 0–0
Barnton 2–3 0–2 1–1 2–3 0–2 1–0 0–2 0–2 4 Mar 2–3 3–2 1–0 11 Mar 1–6 1–4 0–1 2–1
Cammell Laird 31 Mar 3–1 2–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–1 4–5 4–2 2–3 21 Mar 2–3 1–2 24 Mar 3–3
Cheadle Heath Nomads 0–1 5–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–0 3–0 2–4 2–0 1–4 3–2 1–5 1–1 0–5 1–1
Cheadle Town 0–1 4–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 1–5 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–1 0–7
Eccleshall 4–1 2–0 8–1 2–4 2–0 0–4 9–0 0–5 1–0 1–2 3–2 2–0 0–1 0–4 0–4 25 Mar
Ellesmere Rangers 2–3 0–2 0–3 2–2 28 Mar 0–1 1–6 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–5 1–2 3–2 7 Mar 1–2
FC Oswestry Town 2–1 1û0 5–1 2–1 4–1 4–0 1–3 3–3 2–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–3 2–1
Maine Road 2–2 1–2 1–1 3–0 3–0 4–1 2–2 6–1 3–1 1–2 1–2 28 Mar 0–3 1–3 1–1 30 Mar
New Mills 6–1 1–1 1–0 4–4 1–1 1–2 0–3 21 Mar 2–3 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–3 3–3 2–4
Sandbach United 0–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 0–3 24 Mar 1–2 4–0 0–2 5–2 0–1 1–2 28 Mar 1–3
St Martins 2–2 1–2 2–0 21 Mar 1–6 0–2 4–2 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–3 1–4 0–4 2–2 0–3 0–0
Stockport Town 2–1 1–5 4–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–2 8–2 4–1 30 Mar 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–1 1–2 1~2
Stone Old Alleynians 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 4–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 0–1 0–2 3–0 5–0 1–3 0–1 2–1
Vauxhall Motors 2–1 21 Mar 2–0 4–0 2–1 4–2 2–4 24 Mar 3–1 8–0 5–0 2–0 3–0 1–2
West Didsbury & Chorlton 5–0 4–1 21 Mar 2–1 0–0 2–1 4–0 17 Mar 0–3 31 Mar 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–1
Wythenshawe Amateurs 2–5 0–1 3–0 1–0 28 Mar 0–1 0–2 17 Mar 0–1 0–2 0–2 5–0 21 Mar 2–4 1–2 1–0
Wythenshawe Town 3–2 5–0 28 Mar 5–0 2–0 3–0 3–0 1–2 3–1 4–0 1–2 2–0 3–1 0–1 2–2 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2020. Source: results and fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

[edit]
Team 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

[edit]

Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[11]

Sources for this section: fixtures and results

First round

[edit]

Second round

[edit]

Third round

[edit]

Quarter-finals

[edit]

Semi-finals

[edit]

Final

[edit]

Played on 24 July 2021, at the start of the 2021–22 season.[12][13]

Score
Runcorn Town 3–6 1874 Northwich

Division One Trophy

[edit]

Also 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]

Third round

[edit]

Quarter-finals

[edit]

Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

[edit]

Second leg

[edit]

Final

[edit]
Home 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

[edit]

Not contested this season due to the abandonment of the league programme.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "REVEALED: The provisional Step 1 to 6 Club Allocations for 2019-20". The Non League Football Paper. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. ^ "League Allocations for Season 2019/20 Announced". NWCFL. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  3. ^ "News From The AGM". NWCFL. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Carlisle City's lateral move confirmed after appeal hearing". nwcfl.com. NWCFL. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  5. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". The Non League Paper. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Sixty-six non-league clubs send open letter to FA over expunging season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d "Alterations To league tables". NWCFL. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2019/20 (part 30 Standardised Rules section 12.2)". The FA. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  10. ^ FC Oswestry resigned and folded at the conclusion of the season "Resignation of FC Oswestry Town". NWCFL. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  11. ^ "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Macron Cup Final rescheduled for July". Northwich Guardian. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Macron Cup Final Postponed". NWCFL. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Announcement: PlayerMatch.com becomes Official Partner of The North West Counties Football League". NWCFL. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
[edit]