2025–26 North West Counties Football League
The 2025–26 North West Counties Football League season is the 44th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. 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 by The Football Association on 15 May 2025,[1] and were subject to appeals and FA ratification.
Premier Division
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
← 2024–25 2026–27 → | |
The Premier Division comprises 24 teams.
The following four clubs left the Premier Division before the season:
- Bury – promoted to the Northern Premier League
- Colne – relegated to Division One North
- Lower Breck – promoted to Northern Premier League
- Squires Gate – relegated to Division One North
The following four clubs joined the Premier Division before the season:
- Atherton Laburnum Rovers – promoted from Division One North
- City of Liverpool – relegated from Northern Premier League
- Euxton Villa – promoted from Division One North
- Wythenshawe – relegated from Northern Premier League
Premier Division table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wythenshawe | 34 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 88 | 35 | +53 | 83 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One West |
| 2 | Ramsbottom United | 32 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 81 | 35 | +46 | 71 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Padiham | 34 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 81 | 48 | +33 | 66 | |
| 4 | Chadderton | 32 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 98 | 47 | +51 | 64 | |
| 5 | West Didsbury & Chorlton | 33 | 21 | 1 | 11 | 75 | 47 | +28 | 64 | |
| 6 | Irlam | 32 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 83 | 48 | +35 | 63 | |
| 7 | Burscough | 36 | 19 | 5 | 12 | 68 | 42 | +26 | 62 | |
| 8 | Atherton Laburnum Rovers | 33 | 20 | 2 | 11 | 59 | 37 | +22 | 62 | |
| 9 | FC St Helens | 33 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 68 | 43 | +25 | 57 | |
| 10 | Stockport Town | 35 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 59 | 52 | +7 | 56 | |
| 11 | Prestwich Heys | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 55 | 38 | +17 | 49 | |
| 12 | Longridge Town | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 63 | 62 | +1 | 47 | |
| 13 | Glossop North End | 35 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 56 | 60 | −4 | 47 | |
| 14 | South Liverpool | 35 | 13 | 6 | 16 | 58 | 71 | −13 | 45 | |
| 15 | Charnock Richard | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 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 | 31 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 46 | 78 | −32 | 31 | |
| 21 | Pilkington | 36 | 9 | 3 | 24 | 46 | 109 | −63 | 30 | |
| 22 | Abbey Hey | 34 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 47 | 85 | −38 | 22 | |
| 23 | City of Liverpool | 33 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 35 | 126 | −91 | 16 | Relegation to Division One North or Division One South |
| 24 | Litherland REMYCA | 33 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 26 | 86 | −60 | 9 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Results table
Stadia and locations


Division One North
Division One North comprises 18 teams.
The following four clubs left Division One North before the season:
- Atherton Laburnum Rovers – Promoted to Premier Division
- Euxton Villa – Promoted to Premier Division
- Route One Rovers – Reprieved from relegation, then transferred to the Northern Counties East League
- Skelmersdale United – Relegated to Liverpool County Premier League
The following four clubs joined Division One North before the season:
- Colne – Relegated from Premier Division
- Fulwood Amateurs – promoted from West Lancashire League
- MSB Woolton – promoted from Liverpool County Premier League
- Squires Gate – relegated from Premier Division
Division One North table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Droylsden | 24 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 52 | 34 | +18 | 43 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | MSB Woolton | 25 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 47 | 41 | +6 | 41 | 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 | Fulwood Amateurs | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 54 | 44 | +10 | 35 | |
| 8 | Thornton Cleveleys | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 55 | 49 | +6 | 35 | |
| 9 | Nelson | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 33 | |
| 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 | 23 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 28 | |
| 15 | Colne | 23 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 47 | 52 | −5 | 24 | |
| 16 | Maine Road | 23 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 21 | Possible relegation to a feeder league |
| 17 | Ashton Athletic | 23 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 30 | 49 | −19 | 20 | |
| 18 | Garstang | 21 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 32 | 56 | −24 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Results table
Stadia and locations

Locations of the 2025–26 North West Counties Football League Division One North teams
| 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
Division One South comprises 19 teams.
The following two clubs left Division One South before the season:
- Abbey Hulton United – promoted to the Midland League
- Winsford United – promoted to the Midland League
The following three clubs joined Division One South before the season:
- Haughmond – promoted from Shropshire County League
- Telford Town – promoted from West Midlands League
- Wolverhampton Casuals – relegated from the Midland League Premier Division
Division One South table
| 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 the Midland League |
| 2 | Eccleshall | 23 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 54 | 22 | +32 | 53 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Stockport Georgians | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 52 | 34 | +18 | 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 | Cammell Laird 1907 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 25 | |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Casuals | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 42 | −11 | 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] |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
(R) Relegated
Notes:
Results table
Stadia and locations


| 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 |
References
- ^ "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 2–6 in 2025–26 term". The FA. 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
- ^ Fallon, Martin (5 February 2026). "Wolverhampton Sporting Community withdraw from NWCFL". North West Counties Football League. Retrieved 5 February 2026.

