Manchester Football League


The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Lancashire FA, covering a 30-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. Currently it consists of five divisions, with the Premier division being at level 11 of the English football league system.

Structure

The League consists of five divisions, from Premier Division to Division Four. The Premier Division, Division One and Division Two can incorporate both first teams, and reserve teams of clubs who are playing at a higher level, while Divisions Three, Four and Five usually consist entirely of reserve or lower teams.
However, for the 2018–19 season only, the constitution was amended to allow a small number of reserve teams into the bottom division of the first teams to even up the numbers. This was put in place in the hope to keep all teams playing regularly as opposed to the old structure which meant teams could go without a fixture for a few weeks at a time.
The Premier Division has a promotion and relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League, placing it at level 11 of the English football league system. However, the NWCFL's ground requirements are considerably higher than those of the Manchester League, so meeting them usually requires expensive improvements, and consequently few teams take up the opportunity of promotion. Ashton Athletic took the step up in 2006, despite only finishing 4th in Division One. Teams such as Salford City, Maine Road and Northern Nomads have all played in the league at some point. The latest team to make the step up was Prestwich Heys after the 2015–16 season.
Teams from the Premier Division are relegated to Division One, making Division One the twelfth level of the English league system. However, first teams from Division One could be relegated to Division Two after the realignment of the league structure at the start of the 2017–18 season.
For the 2019–20 season there were 39 clubs competing at Level 11, 12 and 13 of the system but this may reduce as the season goes on if Clubs leave.

Current member clubs (2019–20)

Premier Division

ClubHome ground
Beechfield UnitedSalford Sports Village
Bolton CountyRadcliffe Road
Chadderton ReservesBroadway
Dukinfield TownWoodhams Park
HeysideCrompton House Church of England Academy
Heywood St JamesPhoenix Ground
HindsfordSquires Lane
Manchester Central FCManchester Regional Arena
Manchester GregoriansBelle Vue Sports Village 3G Pitch
Old AltrinchamiansCrossford Bridge Sports Ground
PenningtonJubilee Park, Atherton
Rochdale Sacred HeartFox Park, Belfield Mill Lane
Royton TownThe Oldham Academy North 3G
SpringheadSt John Street, Lees
Stockport GeorgiansCromley Road
Walshaw SportsElton High School

Division One

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
1982–83Maine RoadMount Pleasant
1983–84Maine RoadShell
1984–85Maine RoadColdhurst United
1985–86Maine RoadAdswood Amateurs
1986–87Adswood AmateursCastleton Gabriels
1987–88Stockport GeorgiansPrestwich Heys
1988–89Abbey HeyAvro
1989–90Wythenshawe AmateursGreater Manchester Police
1990–91Abbey HeyRamsbottom United
1991–92East ManchesterWoodley Sports
1992–93Wythenshawe AmateursAtherton Town
1993–94Abbey HeyWinton United
1994–95Abbey HeyHighfield United
1995–96Little Hulton UnitedStand Athletic
1996–97Highfield UnitedPrestwich Heys
1997–98SpringheadUrmston
1998–99Stand AthleticWillows
1999–00Stand AthleticSacred Heart
2000–01Stand AthleticLeigh Athletic
2001–02Stockport GeorgiansRoyton Town
2002–03Wythenshawe AmateursBreightmet United
2003–04Royton TownAvro
2004–05Prestwich HeysAFC Blackley
2005–06Prestwich HeysWhitworth Valley
2006–07Prestwich HeysWalshaw Sports
2007–08Wigan Robin ParkChapel Town
2008–09GregoriansSpringhead
2009–10AvroBury Amateurs
2010–11Manchester GregoriansAvro
2011–12HindsfordWythenshawe Town
2012–13HindsfordRochdale Sacred Heart
2013–14HindsfordChapel Town
2014–15Stockport GeorgiansOld Altrinchamians
2015–16Prestwich HeysEast Manchester
2016–17Rochdale Sacred HeartPrestwich Heys Reserves
2017–18AvroChadderton ReservesAltrincham Hale
2018-19HindsfordHeywood St JamesMiddleton Colts