North West Counties Football League

The league was formed in 1982 by the merger of the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination. Originally consisting of three divisions, this was reduced to two in 1987 due to the creation of an extra division in the Northern Premier League (NPL). At the same time, promotion and relegation between the two leagues was introduced, with either the first- or second-placed club in the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) being entitled to a place in the NPL, subject to their ground meeting that league's requirements. The NWCFL has six feeder leagues of its own with eligibility for promotion to the First Division being accorded to champions of the Cheshire Association Football League, Liverpool County Premier League, West Cheshire Amateur Football League, Staffordshire County Senior League, West Lancashire Football League, and Manchester Football League, subject to ground grading requirements. the First Division was regionalised in 2018. The vacant positions in the new North and South divisions were filled by 15 clubs from feeder leagues. Four clubs have won a Premier Division/Division One and League Challenge Cup double, and the First Division Challenge Cup called the Edward Case Cup. A tertiary competition, the Floodlit Trophy, operated on weeknights from 1990 to 2000, as well a reserve league and cup which were disbanded in 2014. ==Member clubs (2025–26)==

Premier Division Division One North Division One South ==Previous divisional champions==

1982–87 The league was formed with three divisions. 1987–2008 Due to the expansion of the Northern Premier League, and the withdrawal of clubs who could no longer meet the ground requirements, the third division was disbanded and a two division format was instigated, a format that stayed in place until 2018. 2008–18 In the 2008–09 season, the league renamed their divisions to the Premier Division and First Division. 2018–present As from the 2018–19 the league has operated three divisions, the Premier Division at Step 5 and Division one - the Step 6 division being split geographically into North and South components both with promotional slots to Step 5. This was retained for the 2019–20 season. ==NWCFL Challenge Cup winners==

The NWCFL Challenge Cup is for all members of the league. Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence. • 1982–83 – Darwen • 1983–84 – Ellesmere Port & Neston • 1984–85 – Leek Town • 1985–86 – Warrington Town • 1986–87 – Colne Dynamoes • 1987–88 – Warrington Town • 1988–89 – Colwyn Bay • 1989–90 – Knowsley United • 1990–91 – Vauxhall GM • 1991–92 – Ashton United • 1992–93 – Burscough • 1993–94 – Rossendale United • 1994–95 – Nantwich Town • 1995–96 – Burscough • 1996–97 – Newcastle Town • 1997–98 – Kidsgrove Athletic • 1998–99 – Vauxhall GM • 1999–2000 – Skelmersdale United • 2000–01 – Formby • 2001–02 – Prescot Cables • 2002–03 – Mossley • 2003–04 – Bacup Borough • 2004–05 – Cammell Laird • 2005–06 – Salford City • 2006–07 – F.C. United of Manchester • 2007–08 – Maine Road • 2008–09 – New Mills • 2009–10 – Abbey Hey • 2010–11 – Winsford United • 2011–12 – Bacup Borough • 2012–13 – Runcorn Linnets • 2013–14 – Ashton Athletic • 2014–15 – Glossop North End • 2015–16 – Atherton Collieries • 2016–17 – City of Liverpool • 2017–18 – Widnes • 2018–19 – 1874 Northwich • 2019–20 – 1874 Northwich • 2020–21 – Not held • 2021–22 – Charnock Richard • 2022–23 – Congleton Town • 2023–24 – Barnoldswick Town • 2024–25 – Charnock Richard • 2025–26 – A.F.C. Liverpool Results by team Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence, teams in bold are members of the NWCFL as of 2025–26. ==First Division Challenge Cup winners==

The First Division Challenge Cup is for all members of the First Division. It was known as the Second Division Trophy from 1989 to 2008. • 1989–90 – Great Harwood Town • 1990–91 – Glossop • 1991–92 – Newcastle Town • 1992–93 – Stantondale • 1993–94 – North Trafford • 1994–95 – Formby • 1995–96 – Ramsbottom United • 1996–97 – Nelson • 1997–98 – Tetley Walker • 1998–99 – Fleetwood Freeport • 1999–2000 – Warrington Town • 2000–01 – Squires Gate • 2001–02 – No competition • 2002–03 – Stone Dominoes • 2003–04 – Colne • 2004–05 – Cammell Laird • 2005–06 – Flixton • 2006–07 – New Mills • 2007–08 – Kirkham & Wesham • 2008–09 – AFC Liverpool • 2009–10 – AFC Liverpool • 2010–11 – Atherton Collieries • 2011–12 – Norton United • 2012–13 – West Didsbury & Chorlton • 2013–14 – Formby • 2014–15 – AFC Darwen • 2015–16 – Barnton • 2016–17 – City of Liverpool • 2017–18 – Prestwich Heys • 2018–19 – Sandbach United • 2019–20 – Sandbach United • 2020–21 – Not held • 2021–22 – FC Isle of Man • 2022–23 – Bacup Borough • 2023–24 – Bacup Borough • 2024–25 – Atherton Laburnum Rovers • 2025–26 – Runcorn Town ==First Division Champions Cup winners==

The First Division Champions Cup is for the winners of the two geographical divisions within Division One. Its inaugural season was 2018–19. • 2018–19 – Rylands • 2019–20 – No winner • 2020–21 – Not held • 2021–22 – Not held • 2022–23 – Wythenshawe Amateurs • 2023–24 – FC St Helens • 2024–25 – Atherton Laburnum Rovers ==Floodlit Trophy winners==

The NWCFL Floodlit Trophy was for all members of the Premier and First divisions. • 1990–91 – Colwyn Bay • 1991–92 – Great Harwood Town • 1992–93 – Newcastle Town • 1993–94 – Bootle • 1994–95 – Penrith • 1995–96 – Newcastle Town • 1996–97 – Colwyn Bay • 1997–98 – Burscough • 1998–99 – Clitheroe • 1999–2000 – Vauxhall GM ==Notes==