Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League
 | |
| Founded | 1909 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions | 6 |
| Number of clubs | 76 |
| Level on pyramid | 14 to 19 |
| Feeder to | Manchester League Cheshire League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Rhodes Cup Wray Cup Whitehead Cup Hellawell Shield |
| Current champions | Moston Brook (Premier Div) Hazel Grove (Div 1) Bollington Health & Leisure (Div 2) AFC Stockport (Div 3) Mellor Reserves (Div A) Timperley Villa (Div B) Sublime Athletic (Div C) |
| Website | https://landc.org.uk |
The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League is an English association football league founded in 1909. As of the 2024/25 season, the league consists of six divisions – Premier, One, Two and Three, then A and B. Historically the divisions named A-D were for Reserve sides of teams in the top four divisions, but 1st teams can now play at the lower levels. In 2024/25, two divisions now have this style of name. The Premier Division is (as of 2024) at level 14 in the English football league system, below the 3rd levels of the top county leagues in the area: Manchester League, Cheshire League and West Lancashire League.
About the League
[edit]The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League was founded in 1909. The league, as of 2016, is the biggest of the open age Saturday afternoon men's leagues in the region,[1] having eight Saturday divisions in operation, and a few years earlier operated with nine.[2] Clubs are from the Greater Manchester and northern Cheshire areas.[3] The league is overseen by the local Football Association, the Manchester FA.[4]
The league pioneered the Respect Charter in 2002. When the FA later adopted the Respect programme, the league was a pilot League for this. The launch took place at Chorltonians FC’s Police Club ground, Hough End.[5][6]
One of the league’s success stories are Stalybridge Celtic, who started off as an amateur football club in the league before turning professional two years later.[7][8] As of summer 2022, the most recent teams to move up to the next level are Stretford Paddock, who joined the Cheshire League,[9] Chadderton Cott and De La Salle, who joined the Manchester League for 2022/23.
In 2017, it was a record-breaking season for the Mellor club, who collected a record 5 trophies - the first team winning the Premier Division and the Rhodes Cup, the reserve team the Div 2 title and the Wray Cup, with the club also winning the Aggregate Trophy.[10]
Formation of the League
[edit]In 1909, a group of men met and in their own words decided to "Promote an Amateur League of high quality for players who pay to play the genuine sport; also to encourage competition against outside Leagues of similar outlook and standing to the mutual benefit of the amateur game." These "founding fathers" of the league included W. H. Rhodes, A. H. Downes, R. W. Lambert and E. Roscoe.[11]
The first season
[edit]The 1909-10 season saw 11 teams join the league.[12]
| League position | Team | Active in the league | 1909-10 Ground | Current status (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walkden Amateurs | 1909-1915 | Edge Fold, Walkden | Folded |
| 2 | Stalybridge Celtic | 1909-1911 | Bower Fold, Mottram Road, Stalybridge | Northern Premier League |
| 3 | Bolton Wyresdale | 1909-1910 | Bolton[Note 1][13] | Lancashire Amateur League |
| 4 | Droylsden Corinthians | 1909-1911 | Yew Tree Farm, Copperas Lane, Droylsden | Folded |
| 5 | Lymm Amateurs | 1909-1915 | Rush Green, Lymm | Folded |
| 6 | Denton Corinthians | 1909-1910 | Denton[Note 2] | Folded |
| 7 | Xaverian College | 1909-1910 | Victoria Park, Rusholme[Note 3][14] | Folded |
| 8 | Werneth Amateurs | 1909-1925 | Block Lane, Werneth | Folded |
| 9 | Dukinfield Astley | 1909-1911 | Bradley Hurst Farm, Dukinfield Hall, Dukinfield | Folded |
| 10 | Brooklands | 1909-1912 | Atkinson Road, Ashton-on-Mersey | Folded |
| 11 | Westinghouse | 1909-1915 | Warwick Road, Old Trafford | Folded |
The first round of matches took place on Saturday 18 September 1909:
- Brooklands v Westinghouse
- Bolton Wyresdale v Lymm Amateurs
- Werneth Amateurs v Denton Corinthians
- Dukinfield Astley v Walkden Amateurs
The league made a profit of £19 17s at the end of the opening season. The first champions, Walkden Amateurs, finished two points clear of runners-up Stalybridge Celtic. Third place Bolton Wyresdale were seven points further behind. The league table ended with 1 game unplayed - Lymm Amateurs v Denton Corinthians. The league chairman said that Denton Corinthians "had not treated the league in a very good spirit" by not fulfilling the fixture.
After the season, Denton Corinthians disbanded, while Bolton Wyresdale moved on to the Manchester Section of the Lancashire Amateur League. Two new clubs were accepted for the following season - Nuthurst (Moston) and Manchester Simmarians. A third club was later accepted - Bolton Caledonians.
The league was said to have been so successful in its initial season, that a second division was to be launched for 1910-11.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Unknown location of ground in 1909. Current ground for the club is Inverbeg Drive, Bolton
- ^ Unknown location of the ground. References online can only be found in Manchester Grammar School from before 1909 in a newsletter referencing inter-school league games. The ground isn't noted specifically, but can be safely assumed to be somewhere in Denton
- ^ Unconfirmed if this was the address of their ground. However, the college moved to Victoria Park, 2.5 acres of grounds, in 1907 so it is likely the league games were played here
Clubs moving to higher status
[edit]A number of clubs that have left the league now play at a higher level.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Played as Salford Beechfield United from 2003 to 2005
- ^ After resigning from the Manchester League, the Manchester Saturday Morning League team, who were previously considered their Reserve side, has effectively become their 1st team, as their only open age side playing in 2022-23
- ^ They were called Bradford Parish Church for 1922-23 only, then played as Bradford Parish until 1994 when they were renamed Denton Town
- ^ They were inactive for 1925-26 season
- ^ Merged with Linotype and played as Linotype & Cheadle Heath Nomads from 2004 to 2018. They renamed back to Cheadle Heath Nomads in 2018
- ^ a b c The League was known as Mid-Cheshire League until 2007
- ^ Merged with University Of Manchester in 2022 and became Govan & University Of Manchester
- ^ Resigned mid-season 2017-18 but returned for 2018-19 season. Also was set to start Div 2 in 2022-23 but resigned just before the season started
- ^ Changed name to AFC Monton in 2011
- ^ Originally called Birch Vale and Thornsett. In 1983 they took over the ground of the New Mills side that folded and in 1984 changed their name to New Mills
- ^ North Withington changed their name to Wythenshawe Town in 1987, while in the Manchester League
- ^ Not including World War 1 years 1915-1919
- ^ Played in both the Central League and the Southern League at the same time
- ^ Played in both the Central League and the Lancashire Combination at the same time
- ^ Not including World War 2 years 1940-1945
- ^ Football Conference became National League in 2015
- ^ Resigned from the league midway through 2002-03 season
- ^ Merged with Standians in summer 2009 before folding in the early stages of 2009-10
- ^ Merged with Adswood Amateurs in 1987 and moved to the Manchester League, taking Adswood's place
- ^ Originally called United Manchester Hospitals, and changed their name to Manchester Royal in 1988
- ^ Resigned mid-season 2002-03
- ^ Joined the league as West Didsbury and changed their name to West Didsbury & Chorlton in 2003
- ^ Joined the league as Woodley Athletic and changed their name to Woodley Sports in 1980
- ^ In 2012 changed name to Stockport Sports, and were expelled from the North West Counties League before the end of 2014-15 season
Current members
[edit]| Premier Division[38] | Division One[39] | Division Two[40] | Division Three[41] | Division A[42] | Division B[43] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abacus Media | AFC Stockport | Abacus Media Reserves | AFC Stockport Warriors | AFC Oldham | AFC Oldham Reserves |
| AFC Monton | Chadderton Cott | Cavaliers | Altrincham Hale A | Bury Amateur A | AFC Stockport Titans |
| Bedians | Dukinfield Athletic | Didsbury | Broadheath Central A | Didsbury Reserves | Bury Amateur B |
| Bollington United | Elton Fold | Dom Doyle | Heywood St James Reserves | Fitton Hill All Stars | Didsbury A |
| Bury Amateur | FC Babylon | Hillgate | Manchester Rovers | Irlam Steel Rangers Reserves | Mossley Juniors U21 Comets |
| Hazel Grove | Hattersley | Konger | Old Stretfordians Gregorians Reserves | Manchester Saints Athletic | Moston Brook B |
| Jlingz | Moston Brook Reserves | Mellor Reserves | Saddleworth 3Ds | Milnrow Juniors Firgrovia | Richmond Rovers Reserves |
| Sale Amateurs | Richmond Rovers | Old Stretfordians Gregorians | South Manchester | Moston Brook A | Rushford Park Reserves |
| Salford Victoria | Rushford Park | Rochdalians | Spurley Hey | Newton Vikings | Saddleworth 3Ds Reserves |
| Trafford United | Stoconians | Santos | Sublime Athletic | Prestwich Marauders | Santos U23 |
| Village Manchester | Trafford Reserves | Stretford Paddock Amateurs | Timperley Villa | Salford United | Signol Athletic |
| Tintwistle Athletic Reserves | Trafford United Reserves | Stafford Argyle | Stoconians Reserves | ||
| Village Manchester Reserves | Waterhead | Village Manchester A | |||
Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League winners
[edit]1909–10
[edit]The number and naming of the divisions has varied throughout the league's history, and the size of the league has grown from its early days.
| Season | Division One |
|---|---|
| 1909–10 | Walkden Amateurs |
1910–14
[edit]A second division (Division Two) was launched including some reserve sides from Division One.
| Season | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|
| 1910–11 | Stalybridge Celtic | Walkden Amateurs Reserves |
| 1911–12 | Cranford | Old Trafford St Johns Juniors |
| 1912–13 | Cranford | Refuge Assurance |
| 1913–14 | Cranford | Bramhall |
1919–20
[edit]There was no competition 1914/15 to 1919 due to World War One. The league re-started in 1919 with a single division.
| Season | Division One |
|---|---|
| 1919–20 | Barton Hall |
1920–21
[edit]A second division (Division A) was launched with some reserve sides from Division One.
| Season | Division One | Division A |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–21 | Chorlton Amateurs | Urmston Reserves[Note 1] |
1921–26
[edit]A Junior division was launched for junior players, initially defined as between 14 and 18 and a half, it was later increased up to 20 in 1924.
| Season | Division One | Division A | Junior Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921–22 | Royton Amateurs | Styal | Sale Juniors |
| 1922–23 | Royton Amateurs | Bradford Parish Church | Didsbury Juniors |
| 1923–24 | Bradford Parish[Note 2] | Urmston Reserves[Note 1] | South Salford Lads Club |
| 1924–25 | Bramhall | South Salford[Note 3] | Chorlton Albion |
| 1925–26 | South Salford | Mottram Amateurs | Monton Amateurs |
1926–27
[edit]The Junior Division closed down due to problems clubs had recruiting players under 18.
| Season | Division One | Division A |
|---|---|---|
| 1926–27 | South Salford[Note 4] | Longsight |
1927–30
[edit]A new Division Two was launched in place of Division A. Therefore Division A would now effectively become the division for Reserves.
| Season | Division One | Division Two | Division A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927–28 | South Salford[Note 5] | Cheadle Heath Nomads[Note 6] | Royton Amateurs Reserves |
| 1928–29 | South Salford | Chapelmoor | South Salford Reserves |
| 1929–30 | South Salford | Monton Amateurs | Union Chapel Reserves |
1930–31
[edit]A new Junior Division was launched, and at least eight players had to be under 18.5, with up to 3 open-age players allowed. A second Reserve division "B" was also launched.
| Season | Division One | Division Two | Division A | Division B | Junior Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930–31 | South Salford | Oldham Secondary School Old Boys | South Salford Reserves | Styal Reserves | Denton Russell Scott Old Boys |
1931–33
[edit]The Junior and B divisions were dropped after one season.
| Season | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931–32 | South Salford | Stockport Georgians | Old Urmstonians Reserves | Styal Reserves |
| 1932–33 | South Salford | Denton Russell Scott Old Boys | Old Urmstonians Reserves | Royton Amateurs Reserves |
1933–34
[edit]Division B was re-introduced.
| Season | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division A | Division B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933–1934 | South Salford | East Chorlton Amateurs | Birchfields | East Chorlton Amateurs Reserves | Aldermere Reserves |
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b In later records, the club was known as Urmston Victoria. They were members of the league 1914-1926
- ^ Bradford Parish Church was renamed Bradford Parish in 1923
- ^ South Salford Lads Club continued in the Junior Division, whilst their new Open Age side in Division A (which was mainly the previous Junior players) were called just South Salford
- ^ Won the league with a 100% record
- ^ Won the league after a Championship play-off with West Didsbury, winning 4-1 after extra time
- ^ This was the original Cheadle Heath Nomads that were formed in 1919, that merged with Linotype in 2004
| Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Rochdalians | Tintwistle Athletic | Whalley Range Reserves | Chorltonians Town |
| 2016–17 | Mellor | Moorside Rangers | Mellor Reserves | Didsbury Reserves |
| 2017–18 | Moorside Rangers | Waterloo | Chorltonians Reserves | Dom Doyle |
| 2018–19 | Rochdalians | Dom Doyle | Newton | Radclyffe |
| 2019–20 | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) |
| 2020–21 | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) | cancelled/records expunged (Covid) |
| 2021–22 | De La Salle Reds | Chadderton Cott | Irlam Tiger Rangers | Village Manchester |
| 2022–23 | Moston Brook | Chadderton Park Sports Club | Moston Brook Reserves | Dukinfield Athletic |
| 2023–24 | Moston Brook | Hazel Grove | Bollington Health & Leisure | AFC Stockport |
References
[edit]- ^ Harrison, Paul (15 August 2016). "Lancashire and Cheshire League ready for big kick off". South Manchester News.
- ^ 100 up for biggest amateur league, Manchester Evening News (24 June 2009). "100 up for biggest amateur league". Manchester Evening News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 1 Football Grounds in England | Football Ground Map". www.footballgroundmap.com.
- ^ Association, The Football. "11v11 & Transition Leagues in Greater Manchester". www.manchesterfa.com.
- ^ Show Respect, Manchester Evening News (19 April 2010). "Show Respect". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ ‘Respect’ key to AFL success, Manchester Evening News (16 June 2011). "'Respect' key to AFL success". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ Stretford Paddock official web site
- ^ "Blink and you'll miss it, part 4: Stalybridge Celtic 1921-23". 27 March 2017.
- ^ Stretford Paddock official web site
- ^ "LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Mellor celebrate new record". Messenger Newspapers. 26 May 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9560772-0-2 Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 7
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9560772-0-2 Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 10
- ^ "Contact Bolton Wyresdale A.F.C". www.boltonwyresdaleafc.com.
- ^ "Our Story".
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Adswood Amateurs". www.fchd.info.
- ^ a b "Football Club History Database - Stockport Georgians". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Beechfield United". fchd.info.
- ^ "Club History | Boothstown Football Club". Boothstown Football.
- ^ "Tables - Manchester Football League". www.manchesterleague.co.uk.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Denton Town". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Club History". 2 June 2019.
- ^ "NWCFL | Cheadle Heath Nomads Club Information Page". www.nwcfl.com.
- ^ "NWCFL | Flixton League History 1982-2019". www.nwcfl.com.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Flixton". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Govan Athletic". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Irlam Steel". fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Monton Amateurs". fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Moorside Rangers". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Wythenshawe Town". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Wythenshawe Town FC History of the club". Wythenshawe Town.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Poynton". fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Stalybridge Celtic". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Stand Athletic". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Tintwistle Athletic". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Manchester Royal". fchd.info.
- ^ "Records & Honours". 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Stockport Sports". www.fchd.info.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Premier Division". fulltime.thefa.com.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 1". fulltime.thefa.com.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 2". fulltime.thefa.com.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 3". fulltime.thefa.com.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division A". fulltime.thefa.com.
- ^ "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division B". fulltime.thefa.com.
- ^ "Football Club History Database - Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League History". www.fchd.info.