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2020–21 North West Counties Football League

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The 2020–21 North West Counties Football League season was the 39th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the third 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 for season 2020–21 were announced by the Football Association on 21 July,[1] and were subject to appeal. On 6 August, it was announced by the League that the season would start no earlier than Saturday 3 October.[2] The season was later suspended in December as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. It was subsequently abandoned on 24 February 2021.[3]

Premier Division

[edit]
North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2020–21

The Premier Division comprised 20 teams, the same set of teams which competed in the previous season's aborted competition.

Rylands changed its name to Warrington Rylands 1906.[4]

Premier Division table

[edit]

Prior to the first match(es) being played the Pos column shows alphanumeric sequence of teams rather than league position.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Avro 8 5 1 2 23 9 +14 16
2 Warrington Rylands (P) 5 4 1 0 15 4 +11 13 Promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One West
3 Northwich Victoria 7 4 1 2 12 9 +3 13
4 Irlam 9 4 0 5 13 20 −7 12
5 Runcorn Town 6 3 2 1 14 7 +7 11
6 Hanley Town 7 3 2 2 12 9 +3 11 Transfer to the Midland League
7 Winsford United 5 3 1 1 18 7 +11 10
8 Congleton Town 5 3 1 1 9 8 +1 10
9 Bootle (P) 3 3 0 0 14 5 +9 9 Promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One West
10 1874 Northwich (P) 5 3 0 2 12 8 +4 9
11 Burscough 2 2 0 0 6 3 +3 6
12 Padiham 6 2 1 3 12 16 −4 7
13 Longridge Town 4 2 0 2 9 5 +4 6
14 Ashton Athletic 5 2 0 3 10 16 −6 6
15 Whitchurch Alport 7 1 3 3 10 19 −9 6 Transfer to the Midland League
16 Barnoldswick Town 8 2 0 6 11 26 −15 6
17 Charnock Richard 4 1 1 2 7 9 −2 4
18 Skelmersdale United 4 1 0 3 5 9 −4 3
19 Squires Gate 9 1 0 8 15 29 −14 3
20 Litherland REMYCA 4 0 1 3 7 16 −9 1
Source: NWCFL, 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[5]
(P) Promoted

Premier Division results

[edit]
Home \ Away 18N ASH AVR BWT BTL BUR CHR CON HAN IRL LIT LON NWV PAD RNT SKE SQG WRY WHI WIN
1874 Northwich 2–3 3–1
Ashton Athletic 1–5 1–2 4–0
Avro 1–3 1–1 5–0 2–1 3–1
Barnoldswick Town 0–3 1–2 2–3 3–2
Bootle 3–2 7–2
Burscough
Charnock Richard 1–4 2–2 3–1
Congleton Town 1–0 2–2 3–2 0–3
Hanley Town 2–4 3–0 2–0 1–1
Irlam 2–1 2–1 5–2 0–2
Litherland REMYCA
Longridge Town 4–0
Northwich Victoria 2–1 2–2 2–0 2–3
Padiham 0–2 1–6 0–2 5–1 4–4
Runcorn Town 7–0 2–0 0–3
Skelmersdale United
Squires Gate 4–2 2–4 0–3 1–2
Warrington Rylands 1–0 7–1
Whitchurch Alport 0–2 1–1 2–1
Winsford United 10–2 4–2 1–2 1–1
Source: results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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
Skelmersdale United Valerie Park
Squires Gate School Road
Warrington Rylands Gorsey Lane
Whitchurch Alport Yockings Park
Winsford United Barton Stadium

Division One North

[edit]
North West Counties
Football League
Division One North
Season2020–21

Division One North comprised 19 clubs, 18 of which were in the division the previous season.

Division One North table

[edit]

Prior to the first match(es) being played the Pos column shows alphabetic sequence of teams rather than league position.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1 Bury AFC 7 5 1 1 22 11 +11 16
2 Lower Breck (P) 4 4 0 0 15 3 +12 12 Promotion to the Premier Division
3 AFC Darwen 7 4 0 3 20 16 +4 12
4 Cleator Moor Celtic 9 3 3 3 21 20 +1 12
5 AFC Liverpool (P) 4 3 1 0 15 7 +8 10 Promotion to the Premier Division
6 Prestwich Heys (P) 5 3 1 1 13 9 +4 10
7 Steeton 7 3 1 3 13 11 +2 10
8 Golcar United 8 3 1 4 14 15 −1 10
9 Ashton Town 8 3 1 4 14 18 −4 10
10 Bacup Borough 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 9
11 Garstang 7 3 0 4 14 19 −5 9
12 Pilkington 5 2 2 1 11 11 0 8
13 AFC Blackpool 5 2 0 3 12 16 −4 6
14 Chadderton 7 1 2 4 12 19 −7 5
15 Holker Old Boys 3 1 0 2 8 10 −2 3
16 Atherton LR 3 1 0 2 3 5 −2 3
17 Nelson 6 1 0 5 11 19 −8 3
18 Daisy Hill 5 1 0 4 7 18 −11 3
19 St Helens Town 3 0 1 2 5 10 −5 1
Source: NWCFL, 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[5]
(P) Promoted

Division One North results

[edit]
Home \ Away BLP DAR LVP ASH ALR BAC BUY CHA CLE DSH GAR GOL HOL LOW NEL PIL PRE STH STE
AFC Blackpool 2–4 3–1 3–1 1–3
AFC Darwen 7–1 2–0 3–1 2–3 0–1
AFC Liverpool 2–2 5–2 5–1
Ashton Town 4–2 3–1 1–3 3–1
Atherton LR 0–3
Bacup Borough 6–2 1–0
Bury AFC 6–2 3–2 3–1 1–1 1–2 3–2
Chadderton 2–0 1–1 2–2
Cleator Moor Celtic 2–2 2–3 1–2 4–2 4–3 2–2 2–2
Daisy Hill 2–5
Garstang 2–1 1–5 1–3
Golcar United 2–3 0–2 3–4 0–2
Holker Old Boys 3–4 3–2
Lower Breck 5–0
Nelson 0–3 5–0 3–4 0–5
Pilkington 0–3
Prestwich Heys 3–2
St Helens Town
Steeton 3–0
Source: results
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
St Helens Town Ruskin Drive Sportsground
Steeton Cougar Park

Division One South

[edit]
North West Counties
Football League
Division One South
Season2020–21

Division One South comprised 20 clubs, 19 of which were in the division the previous season.

Division One South table

[edit]

Prior to the first match(es) being played the Pos column shows alphabetic sequence of teams rather than league position.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1 Vauxhall Motors (P) 8 7 1 0 19 6 +13 22 Promotion to the Premier Division
2 Wythenshawe Town (P) 7 7 0 0 29 3 +26 21
3 Sandbach United 8 5 1 2 23 16 +7 16
4 Stockport Town 8 4 2 2 20 6 +14 14
5 West Didsbury & Chorlton 6 4 1 1 18 11 +7 13
6 Cheadle Heath Nomads 9 3 3 3 20 17 +3 12
7 New Mills 6 3 2 1 6 5 +1 11
8 Stone Old Alleynians (P) 6 3 1 2 13 9 +4 10 Promotion to the Midland League
9 Barnton 6 3 1 2 10 7 +3 10
10 Abbey Hey 7 3 1 3 13 11 +2 10
11 Cheadle Town 7 2 2 3 12 10 +2 8
12 Alsager Town 7 2 1 4 8 14 −6 7
13 Cammell Laird 7 2 0 5 6 10 −4 6
14 Maine Road 7 2 0 5 9 16 −7 6
15 St Martins 9 1 2 6 9 29 −20 5
16 Ellesmere Rangers 4 1 0 3 4 12 −8 3
17 Abbey Hulton United 7 0 3 4 9 22 −13 3
18 Wythenshawe Amateurs 5 0 2 3 4 8 −4 2
19 Eccleshall 4 0 1 3 4 24 −20 1
20 FC Isle of Man 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Suspension from the league[8]
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[5]
(P) Promoted

Division One South results

[edit]
Home \ Away AHY AHU ALS BNT CAM CHN CHT ECC ELL IOM MNR NWM SAN STM STK SOA VAU WDC WYA WYT
Abbey Hey 4–4 2–3 1–0 2–1
Abbey Hulton United 2–2 0–5
Alsager Town 4–0 0–3 0–1
Barnton 0–4 3–0
Cammell Laird 3–0 1–0 0–1 1–3
Cheadle Heath Nomads 1–1 2–4 1–4
Cheadle Town 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–2
Eccleshall 1–8 1–10
Ellesmere Rangers 1–3
FC Isle of Man
Maine Road 1–0 1–3 0–1 4–2 0–2
New Mills 2–1 1–3
Sandbach United 1–0 5–1
St Martins 0–3 2–2 0–0 2–3 1–1 0–8
Stockport Town 1–1 1–0 3–0
Stone Old Alleynians 3–0 5–2 2–0
Vauxhall Motors 4–1 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 4–1
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3–1 7–0 4–4 2–1
Wythenshawe Amateurs 1–1 0–1 1–2
Wythenshawe Town 2–0 5–1
Source: results
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 Isle of Man The Bowl, Douglas
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

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Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[9]
Sources for this section: fixtures and results

This competition is open to all teams in the league. However, due to irregularities in the previous season, AFC Darwen forfeited a place in the competition this season[10]

The competition was suspended for this season and eventually cancelled in February 2021.[3][11]

Division One Trophy

[edit]

The competition was also suspended for this season and later cancelled in February 2021.[3][11]

Division One Champions Cup

[edit]

This would have been played at the end of the season between the winners of Division One North and Division One South. It too was cancelled in February 2021.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "National League System club allocations – Steps 5–6, Season 2020–21" (PDF). The FA. 21 July 2020 – via The Non-League Paper.
  2. ^ "League Statement – re: Start of Season 2020/21". NWCFL. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3-6". The FA. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  4. ^ "RYLANDS ANNOUNCE LANDMARK NAME CHANGE". Warrington Rylands (1906) F.C. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Shelley FC Resign from the NWCFL". NWCFL. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Resignation of FC Oswestry Town". NWCFL. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Playing membership of NWCFL suspended for the remainder of the season". FC Isle of Man. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  9. ^ "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Alterations To League Tables". NWCFL. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Season Start date confirmed and Cup Competition update". NWCFL. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
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