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. These were subject to appeal, and the North West Counties' constitution was subject to ratification at the league's AGM on 15 June. 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. The FA confirmed Carlisle City's transfer to the Northern League at its hearing, thereby rejecting the club's appeal against it and ratifying the constitution.
As three new divisions 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.
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. On 30 March 2020, sixty-six non-league clubs sent an open letter to the Football Association requesting that they reconsider their decision. Consequently, the addition of three divisions in the football pyramid will be fulfilled in 2021–22 instead.

Premier Division

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 Results

† Skelmersdale v Bootle, 29 Feb: match declared void.

Stadia and locations

TeamStadium
1874 NorthwichTownfield
Ashton AthleticBrockstedes Park
AvroWhitebank Stadium, Oldham
Barnoldswick TownGreenberfield Lane
BootleNew Bucks Park
BurscoughVictoria Park
Charnock RichardMossie Park
Congleton TownIvy Gardens
Hanley TownAbbey Lane
IrlamSilver Street
Litherland REMYCALitherland Sports Park
Longridge TownMike Riding Ground
Northwich VictoriaWincham Park
PadihamArbories Memorial Sports Ground
Runcorn TownPavilions Sports Complex
RylandsGorsey Lane
Skelmersdale United Valerie Park
Squires GateSchool Road
Whitchurch AlportYockings Park
Winsford UnitedBarton Stadium

Division One North

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 Results

Stadia and locations

TeamStadium
AFC BlackpoolThe Mechanics
AFC DarwenThe Anchor Ground
AFC LiverpoolRossett Park, Crosby
Ashton TownEdge Green Street
Atherton Laburnum RoversCrilly Park
Bacup BoroughWest View
ChaddertonMCA Stadium
Cleator Moor CelticMcGrath Park
Daisy HillNew Sirs, Westhoughton
EmleyWelfare Ground
GarstangThe Riverside
Golcar UnitedLongfield Avenue
Holker Old BoysRakesmoor Lane, Barrow-in-Furness
Lower BreckAnfield Sports and Community Centre
NelsonVictoria Park
PilkingtonRuskin Drive Sportsground
Prestwich HeysAdie Moran Park
Shelley CommunityStorthes Hall Park
St Helens TownRuskin Drive Sportsground
SteetonCougar Park

Division One South

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 Results

Stadia and locations

TeamStadium
Abbey HeyThe Abbey Stadium, Gorton
Abbey Hulton UnitedBirches Head Road
Alsager TownWood Park Stadium
BarntonTownfield
Cammell Laird 1907Kirklands, Birkenhead
Cheadle Heath NomadsThe Heath
Cheadle TownPark Road Stadium
EccleshallPershall Park
Ellesmere RangersBeech Grove
FC Oswestry TownPark Hall Stadium
Maine RoadBrantingham Road, Chorlton
New MillsChurch Lane
Sandbach UnitedSandbach Community Football Centre
St MartinsThe Venue, Oswestry
Stockport TownStockport Sports Village
Stone AlleyniansYarnfield Lane
Vauxhall MotorsRivacre Park, Ellesmere Port
West Didsbury & ChorltonBrookburn Road, Chorlton
Wythenshawe AmateursHollyhedge Park
Wythenshawe TownEricstan Stadium

League Challenge Cup

Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.
Sources for this section: and

First Round

Home teamScoreAway team
Abbey Hey2–1Holker Old Boys
Ashton Town5–1Golcar United
Avro0–6Vauxhall Motors
Bacup Borough1–1
Charnock Richard
Bootle3–2Eccleshall
Burscough0–5Ashton Athletic
Cheadle Heath Nomads1–51874 Northwich
Congleton Town2–3AFC Darwen†
Daisy Hill3–6AFC Blackpool
Ellesmere Rangers3–2Cleator Moor Celtic
Emley AFC2–1Squires Gate
Garstang1–1
Stockport Town
Hanley Town1–2Abbey Hulton United

† AFC Darwen fielded ineligible player, and forfeit place in next season's competition.
Home teamScoreAway team
Lower Breck2–1Cammell Laird
Maine Road3–0FC Oswestry Town
Northwich Victoria3–1Barnoldswick Town
Padiham9–1St Martins
Pilkington1–3Steeton
Prestwich Heys1–0Winsford United
Runcorn Town5–0Atherton LR
Rylands5–0Barnton
Sandbach United2–4AFC Liverpool
Shelley3–2Wythenshawe Town
Skelmersdale United1–3Irlam
St Helens Town2–1Nelson
Stone Old Alleynians1–2Litherland REMYCA
West Didsbury & Chorlton3–1New Mills
Wythenshawe Amateurs2–1Chadderton

Second Round

Home teamScoreAway team
Abbey Hey2–1Bacup Borough
Abbey Hulton United0–2 *AFC Liverpool
Ashton Athletic4–2Ashton Town
Emley AFC1–2Ellesmere Rangers
Garstang4–2Steeton
Irlam0–4 **1874 Northwich
Litherland REMYCA2–0Bootle
Longridge Town0–3Vauxhall Motors


** Played at 1874 Northwich's home ground, following postponements
Home teamScoreAway team
Lower Breck2–4Maine Road
Northwich Victoria0–2Runcorn Town
Prestwich Heys2–1AFC Darwen
Rylands4–3Padiham
St Helens Town0–1AFC Blackpool
West Didsbury & Chorlton6–1Alsager Town
Whitchurch Alport2–3Shelley
Wythenshawe Amateurs3–2Cheadle Town

Third Round

Home teamScoreAway team
AFC Blackpool1–2Ellesmere Rangers
Ashton Athletic6–0Wythenshawe Amateurs
Garstang0–2 *Maine Road
Prestwich Heys0–2AFC Liverpool

Home teamScoreAway team
Rylands1–1
 1874 Northwich
Shelley3–2Abbey Hey
Vauxhall Motors1–2Litherland REMYCA
West Didsbury & Chorlton1–4Runcorn Town

Quarter Finals

Home teamScoreAway team
Ashton Athletic2–2
p		Runcorn Town
Litherland REMYCA1–5AFC Liverpool

Home teamScoreAway team
Maine Road0–41874 Northwich
Shelley3–2Ellesmere Rangers

Semi Finals

Ties to be played over two legs, scheduled for weekends of 28 March and 4 April

First Leg

Home teamScoreAway team
AFC LiverpoolRuncorn Town

Home teamScoreAway team
Shelley1874 Northwich

Second Leg

Home teamScoreAway team
Runcorn TownAFC Liverpool

Home teamScoreAway team
1874 NorthwichShelley

Division One Trophy

Also called The PlayerMatch.com Cup for sponsorship reasons.
Sources for this section: and

First Round

Home teamScoreAway team
Abbey Hey3–2Bacup Borough
Abbey Hulton United4–1Ellesmere Rangers
AFC Liverpool3–1Shelley
Cleator Moor Celtic1–2Cheadle Town
Holker Old Boys0–3AFC Blackpool

Home teamScoreAway team
Lower Breck6–2Vauxhall Motors
New Mills3–3
Eccleshall
Steeton0–0
FC Oswestry Town

All the remaining Division One teams received a bye to the second round.

Second Round

Home teamScoreAway team
Abbey Hulton United1–2Cheadle Heath Nomads
Alsager Town2–5Cheadle Town
Ashton Town9–2Atherton LR
Barnton0–4Abbey Hey
Cammell Laird0–0
Sandbach United
Chadderton0–1Pilkington
Daisy Hill5–3Maine Road
Emley AFC4–0AFC Blackpool

Home teamScoreAway team
Garstang2–3
FC Oswestry Town
Golcar United4–4
Wythenshawe Town
Lower Breck6–0Eccleshall
St Helens Town8–3AFC Darwen
St Martins0–5AFC Liverpool
Stone Old Alleynians2–1Prestwich Heys
West Didsbury & Chorlton4–0Nelson
Wythenshawe Amateurs3–2Stockport Town

Third Round

Home teamScoreAway team
AFC Liverpool2–1Pilkington
Ashton Town2–2
Abbey Hey
Cheadle Town4–2Wythenshawe Amateurs
Emley AFC6–1Daisy Hill

Home teamScoreAway team
FC Oswestry Town0–1Lower Breck †
Sandbach United2–1Stone Old Alleynians
St Helens Town1–2West Didsbury & Chorlton
Wythenshawe Town4–1Cheadle Heath Nomads

† Eliminated due to playing ineligible player

Quarter Finals

Home teamScoreAway team
Abbey Hey1-3Wythenshawe Town
AFC Liverpool3-0Cheadle Town

Home teamScoreAway team
FC Oswestry Town1-0Emley AFC
West Didsbury & Chorlton0-2Sandbach United

Semi Finals

Ties to be played over two legs, scheduled for weekends of 14 and 21 March

First leg

Home teamScoreAway team
FC Oswestry Town0–3AFC Liverpool

Home teamScoreAway team
Wythenshawe Town1–2Sandbach United

Second leg

Home teamScoreAway team
AFC LiverpoolFC Oswestry Town

Home teamScoreAway team
Sandbach UnitedWythenshawe Town

Division One Champions Cup

This will be played at the end of the season between the winners of Division One North and Division One South