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The2025–26 North West Counties Football League season is the 44th in the history of theNorth West Counties Football League, afootball competition inEngland. 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 byThe Football Association on 15 May 2025,[1] and were subject to appeals and FA ratification.
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
2026–27 → | |
The Premier Division comprises 24 teams.
The following four clubs left the Premier Division before the season:
The following four clubs joined the Premier Division before the season:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wythenshawe | 33 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 85 | 34 | +51 | 80 | Promotion to theNorthern Premier League Division One West |
| 2 | Ramsbottom United | 31 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 78 | 35 | +43 | 68 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Irlam | 32 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 83 | 48 | +35 | 63 | |
| 4 | Padiham | 33 | 20 | 3 | 10 | 79 | 48 | +31 | 63 | |
| 5 | Burscough | 35 | 19 | 5 | 11 | 67 | 39 | +28 | 62 | |
| 6 | Chadderton | 31 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 91 | 46 | +45 | 61 | |
| 7 | West Didsbury & Chorlton | 32 | 20 | 1 | 11 | 71 | 47 | +24 | 61 | |
| 8 | Atherton Laburnum Rovers | 32 | 19 | 2 | 11 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 59 | |
| 9 | FC St Helens | 33 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 68 | 43 | +25 | 57 | |
| 10 | Stockport Town | 35 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 59 | 52 | +7 | 56 | |
| 11 | Longridge Town | 31 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 62 | 55 | +7 | 47 | |
| 12 | Glossop North End | 35 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 56 | 60 | −4 | 47 | |
| 13 | Prestwich Heys | 32 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 48 | 38 | +10 | 46 | |
| 14 | South Liverpool | 34 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 58 | 67 | −9 | 45 | |
| 15 | Charnock Richard | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 72 | 57 | +15 | 43 | |
| 16 | AFC Liverpool | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 37 | |
| 17 | Cheadle Town | 33 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 60 | −14 | 35 | |
| 18 | Euxton Villa | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 34 | |
| 19 | FC Isle of Man | 34 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 54 | 83 | −29 | 34 | |
| 20 | Barnoldswick Town | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 45 | 75 | −30 | 31 | |
| 21 | Pilkington | 35 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 46 | 106 | −60 | 30 | |
| 22 | Abbey Hey | 34 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 47 | 85 | −38 | 22 | |
| 23 | City of Liverpool | 32 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 35 | 119 | −84 | 16 | Relegation toDivision One North orDivision One South |
| 24 | Litherland REMYCA | 33 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 26 | 86 | −60 | 9 |
| Home \ Away | ABB | LVP | ALR | BAR | BUR | CHD | CHR | CHT | COL | EUV | IOM | FSH | GNE | IRL | LIT | LON | PAD | PIL | PRE | RAM | SLP | STO | WDC | WYT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Hey | — | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–3 | ||||||||||||||
| AFC Liverpool | — | 1–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Atherton Laburnum Rovers | 3–0 | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | |||||||||||||
| Barnoldswick Town | — | 1–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Burscough | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | |||||||||||||
| Chadderton | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 7–2 | 1–3 | ||||||||||||
| Charnock Richard | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Cheadle Town | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||
| City of Liverpool | 0–6 | — | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 1–4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Euxton Villa | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | |||||||||||||
| FC Isle of Man | 1–2 | 3–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | ||||||||||||||||
| FC St Helens | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Glossop North End | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | |||||||||||||
| Irlam | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | ||||||||||||||
| Litherland REMYCA | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | — | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | ||||||||||||||
| Longridge Town | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 3–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Padiham | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | ||||||||||||
| Pilkington | 2–4 | 0–4 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 5–3 | — | 1–6 | 1–2 | 0–5 | |||||||||||
| Prestwich Heys | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | |||||||||||||||
| Ramsbottom United | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | — | 3–3 | 3–0 | |||||||||||
| South Liverpool | 5–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 0–3 | 0–1 | |||||||||||||
| Stockport Town | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | |||||||||||||
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | 4–3 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 2–5 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–5 | — | |||||||||||||
| Wythenshawe | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–4 | 2–1 | — |
Division One North comprises 18 teams.
The following four clubs left Division One North before the season:
The following four clubs joined Division One North before the season:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSB Woolton | 25 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 47 | 41 | +6 | 41 | Promotion to thePremier Division |
| 2 | Droylsden | 23 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 50 | 34 | +16 | 40 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Squires Gate | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 43 | 38 | +5 | 39 | |
| 4 | Darwen | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 38 | |
| 5 | Bacup Borough | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 37 | |
| 6 | Maghull | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 39 | +11 | 36 | |
| 7 | Thornton Cleveleys | 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 54 | 46 | +8 | 35 | |
| 8 | Nelson | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 33 | |
| 9 | Fulwood Amateurs | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 32 | |
| 10 | Ashton Town | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 31 | −1 | 32 | |
| 11 | Holker Old Boys | 21 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 30 | |
| 12 | Steeton | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 42 | −6 | 30 | |
| 13 | Daisy Hill | 24 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 29 | |
| 14 | AFC Blackpool | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 32 | 40 | −8 | 28 | |
| 15 | Colne | 23 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 52 | −5 | 24 | |
| 16 | Maine Road | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 21 | Possible relegation to a feeder league |
| 17 | Ashton Athletic | 22 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 27 | 48 | −21 | 17 | |
| 18 | Garstang | 21 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 32 | 56 | −24 | 16 |
| Home \ Away | BLP | ASA | AST | BAC | COL | DSH | DAR | DRO | FUL | GAR | HOB | MAG | MAI | MSB | NEL | SQG | STE | THO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Blackpool | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | |||||||||||||||
| Ashton Athletic | — | 1–4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Ashton Town | — | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Bacup Borough | — | 1–1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Colne | 1–1 | — | 2–5 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |||||||||||||
| Daisy Hill | 0–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | |||||||||||||
| Darwen | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | |||||||||||||
| Droylsden | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–0 | ||||||||||||||
| Fulwood Amateurs | 2–2 | — | 1–4 | |||||||||||||||
| Garstang | 2–1 | 1–7 | — | 2–2 | ||||||||||||||
| Holker Old Boys | 2–0 | 1–2 | — | 5–0 | 1–2 | |||||||||||||
| Maghull | 4–3 | — | 5–1 | 2–2 | ||||||||||||||
| Maine Road | 4–0 | 1–0 | — | 5–0 | ||||||||||||||
| MSB Woolton | 2–2 | 0–0 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Nelson | 2–1 | — | 2–1 | |||||||||||||||
| Squires Gate | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | 0–2 | ||||||||||||||
| Steeton | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Thornton Cleveleys | 3–2 | 5–2 | 0–2 | — |
| Team | Stadium | Location |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Blackpool | The Mechanics | Blackpool |
| Ashton Athletic | Brockstedes Park | Wigan(Ashton-in-Makerfield) |
| Ashton Town | Edge Green Street | Wigan(Ashton-in-Makerfield) |
| Bacup Borough | West View | Bacup |
| Colne | Holt House | Colne |
| Daisy Hill | New Sirs | Westhoughton |
| Darwen | The Anchor Ground | Darwen |
| Droylsden | Butcher's Arms Ground | Droylsden |
| Fulwood Amateurs | Lightfoot Green | Preston(Fulwood) |
| Garstang | The Riverside | Garstang |
| Holker Old Boys | Rakesmoor Lane | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Maghull | Old Hall Field | Liverpool |
| Maine Road | Brantingham Road | Manchester |
| MSB Woolton | Jericho Lane | Liverpool |
| Nelson | Victoria Park | Nelson |
| Squires Gate | Brian Addison Stadium | Blackpool |
| Steeton | Marley Stadium | Keighley |
| Thornton Cleveleys | Gamble Road | Thornton-Cleveleys |
Division One South comprises 19 teams.
The following two clubs left Division One South before the season:
The following three clubs joined Division One South before the season:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Runcorn Town | 21 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 65 | 17 | +48 | 54 | Promotion to theMidland League |
| 2 | Eccleshall | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 52 | 22 | +30 | 50 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Stockport Georgians | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 52 | 32 | +20 | 44 | |
| 4 | Telford Town | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 43 | |
| 5 | Sandbach United | 24 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 31 | +15 | 41 | |
| 6 | Stafford Town | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 59 | 44 | +15 | 38 | |
| 7 | Ashville | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 37 | 27 | +10 | 38 | |
| 8 | New Mills | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 36 | |
| 9 | Barnton | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 32 | |
| 10 | Cheadle Heath Nomads | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 37 | 43 | −6 | 31 | |
| 11 | Foley Meir | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 26 | |
| 12 | Allscott Heath | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 46 | −5 | 26 | |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Casuals | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 22 | |
| 14 | Cammell Laird 1907 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 22 | |
| 15 | Market Drayton Town | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 32 | 54 | −22 | 22 | |
| 16 | Alsager Town | 25 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 29 | 48 | −19 | 20 | |
| 17 | Shawbury United | 25 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 28 | 79 | −51 | 17 | Possible relegation to a feeder league |
| 18 | Haughmond | 26 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 46 | 92 | −46 | 15 | |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Sporting(R) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrawal, Relegated[a] |
| Home \ Away | ALH | ASG | ASH | BNT | CAM | CHN | ECC | FLM | HAU | MDT | NWM | RUN | SAN | SHA | STF | STG | TEL | WVC | WSC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allscott Heath | — | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Alsager Town | — | 4–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | |||||||||||||||
| Ashville | — | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Barnton | — | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | |||||||||||||||
| Cammell Laird 1907 | — | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | |||||||||||||||
| Cheadle Heath Nomads | 0–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–0 | 2–3 | ||||||||||||||
| Eccleshall | 1–0 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | |||||||||||||||
| Foley Meir | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | |||||||||||||||
| Haughmond | 2–2 | — | 3–5 | 2–4 | |||||||||||||||
| Market Drayton Town | 0–3 | — | 3–1 | ||||||||||||||||
| New Mills | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | |||||||||||||||
| Runcorn Town | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 7–0 | ||||||||||||||
| Sandbach United | 0–1 | — | 2–1 | 2–1 | 9–0 | ||||||||||||||
| Shawbury United | 2–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Stafford Town | 4–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | |||||||||||||||
| Stockport Georgians | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–2 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Telford Town | 4–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Wolverhampton Casuals | 1–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Wolverhampton Sporting | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–4 | — |
| Team | Stadium | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Allscott Heath | Allscott Sports & Social Club | Allscott |
| Alsager Town | Wood Park Stadium | Alsager |
| Ashville | Villa Park | Wallasey |
| Barnton | Townfield | Barnton |
| Cammell Laird 1907 | Kirklands | Birkenhead |
| Cheadle Heath Nomads | The Heath | Cheadle |
| Eccleshall | Pershall Park | Stafford |
| Foley Meir | Whitcombe Road | Stoke-on-Trent(Meir) |
| Haughmond | Shrewsbury Sports Village | Shrewsbury |
| Market Drayton Town | Greenfields Sports Ground | Market Drayton |
| New Mills | Church Lane | High Peak |
| Runcorn Town | Pavilions Sports Complex | Runcorn |
| Sandbach United | Sandbach Community Football Centre | Sandbach |
| Shawbury United | New Meadow Community 3G | Shawbury |
| Stafford Town | Evans Park | Stafford |
| Stockport Georgians | Cromley Road | Stockport(Woodsmoor) |
| Telford Town | DRM Aggregates Arena | Telford |
| Wolverhampton Casuals | Brinsford Lane | Wolverhampton |
| Wolverhampton Sporting | Pride Park | Great Wyrley |