Manchester Football League
Encyclopedia
The Manchester Football League, currently known under terms of sponsorship as Bridgewater Office Supplies Football League, is a football league in England, covering a 20-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall
. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2010–11 champions are AVRO. They successfully defended their trophy as champions and will be defending their trophy again after choosing not to progress to the North West Counties Football League Division One.
The Premier Division has a promotion/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.
For the 2011-12 season, 28 clubs are competing in the League.
Manchester Town Hall
Manchester Town Hall is a Victorian-era, Neo-gothic municipal building in Manchester, England. The building functions as the ceremonial headquarters of Manchester City Council and houses a number of local government departments....
. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2010–11 champions are AVRO. They successfully defended their trophy as champions and will be defending their trophy again after choosing not to progress to the North West Counties Football League Division One.
Structure
The league consists of five divisions: the Premier Division and Division One are exclusively for first teams, while Divisions Two, Three, and Four consist of reserve and lower teams of clubs in the top two divisions. Reserve teams of clubs whose first teams play in other leagues are not permitted to join.The Premier Division has a promotion/relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League
North West Counties Football League
The North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2011, the league covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Southern Cumbria, Northern Staffordshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire, and the far west of West Yorkshire. In the past, the...
, placing it at level 11 of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
. 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
Ashton Athletic F.C.
Ashton Athletic F.C. are an English football club based in Ashton in Makerfield in Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association...
took the step up in 2006, despite only finishing 4th in Division One. Teams such as Salford City
Salford City F.C.
Salford City F.C. are a semi-professional football club based in the Kersal area of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. They are the only semi-professional side in the City of Salford, with Manchester United the closest league club. Salford City currently play in the Northern Premier League...
, Maine Road
Maine Road F.C.
Maine Road F.C. are an English football club, based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Manchester Football Association...
and Northern Nomads
Northern Nomads F.C.
Northern Nomads F.C. was an English football club based in the Manchester area. Established around 1862, they were known as the "Nomads" or "Roaming Brigade" as they never possessed a home ground.-History:...
have all played in the league at some point.
For the 2011-12 season, 28 clubs are competing in the League.
Premier Division
- AFC Bury
- AFC Monton
- AVRO
- Dukinfield Town
- East Manchester
- Heywood St. James
- Hindsford
- Manchester Gregorians
- Old Altrinchamians
- Prestwich Heys
- Royton Town
- Springhead
- Stockport Georgians
- Walshaw Sports
- West Didsbury & Chorlton
- Wythenshawe AmateursWythenshawe Amateurs F.C.Wythenshawe Amateurs Football Club are a football club from Wythenshawe, in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England. The club plays in the Manchester Football League Premier Division. They are based at the Northenden Club on Longley Lane, Northenden, Manchester....
Division One
- Atherton Town
- Beechfield United
- Breightmet United
- Chapel Town
- Elton Vale
- Fives Athletic
- Hollinwood
- Leigh Athletic
- Pennington
- Rochdale Sacred Heart
- Salford Victoria
- Wilmslow Albion
- Woodley SportsWoodley Sports F.C.Woodley Sports F.C. is a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and play at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. In 1992, they became champions of the Manchester League Division One, and were promoted to the Manchester...
Reserves - Wythenshawe Town
Recent Champions of Premier Division and Division One
Season | Premier Division | Division One |
---|---|---|
1982-83 | Maine Road Maine Road F.C. Maine Road F.C. are an English football club, based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Manchester Football Association... |
Mount Pleasant |
1983-84 | Maine Road Maine Road F.C. Maine Road F.C. are an English football club, based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Manchester Football Association... |
Shell (Carington) |
1984-85 | Maine Road Maine Road F.C. Maine Road F.C. are an English football club, based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Manchester Football Association... |
Coldhurst United |
1985-86 | Maine Road Maine Road F.C. Maine Road F.C. are an English football club, based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Manchester Football Association... |
Adswood Amateurs |
1986-87 | Adswood Amateurs | Castleton Gabriels Castleton Gabriels F.C. Rochdale Town F.C. are an English football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Castleton Sports Centre, in Castleton, Rochdale, which has a capacity of 1,500. They were originally known as St Gabriels and then Castleton Gabriels, before adopting their present... |
1987-88 | Stockport Georgians | Prestwich Heys |
1988-89 | Abbey Hey Abbey Hey F.C. Abbey Hey F.C. are an English association football club based in the Abbey Hey area of Gorton, Manchester. The club were founded in 1902 and were formerly known as Abbey Hey WMC.They have won the Manchester League on a number of occasions and currently play in the North West Counties Football... |
Avro |
1989-90 | Wythenshawe Amateurs Wythenshawe Amateurs F.C. Wythenshawe Amateurs Football Club are a football club from Wythenshawe, in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England. The club plays in the Manchester Football League Premier Division. They are based at the Northenden Club on Longley Lane, Northenden, Manchester.... |
Greater Manchester Police |
1990-91 | Abbey Hey Abbey Hey F.C. Abbey Hey F.C. are an English association football club based in the Abbey Hey area of Gorton, Manchester. The club were founded in 1902 and were formerly known as Abbey Hey WMC.They have won the Manchester League on a number of occasions and currently play in the North West Counties Football... |
Ramsbottom United Ramsbottom United F.C. Ramsbottom United F.C. are an English football club based in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division. Their home stadium is the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Acrebottom, Ramsbottom and their nickname is The Rams... |
1991-92 | East Manchester | Woodley Sports Woodley Sports F.C. Woodley Sports F.C. is a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and play at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. In 1992, they became champions of the Manchester League Division One, and were promoted to the Manchester... |
1992-93 | Wythenshawe Amateurs Wythenshawe Amateurs F.C. Wythenshawe Amateurs Football Club are a football club from Wythenshawe, in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England. The club plays in the Manchester Football League Premier Division. They are based at the Northenden Club on Longley Lane, Northenden, Manchester.... |
Atherton Town |
1993-94 | Abbey Hey Abbey Hey F.C. Abbey Hey F.C. are an English association football club based in the Abbey Hey area of Gorton, Manchester. The club were founded in 1902 and were formerly known as Abbey Hey WMC.They have won the Manchester League on a number of occasions and currently play in the North West Counties Football... |
Winton United |
1994-95 | Abbey Hey Abbey Hey F.C. Abbey Hey F.C. are an English association football club based in the Abbey Hey area of Gorton, Manchester. The club were founded in 1902 and were formerly known as Abbey Hey WMC.They have won the Manchester League on a number of occasions and currently play in the North West Counties Football... |
Highfield United |
1995-96 | Little Hulton United | Stand Athletic |
1996-97 | Highfield United | Prestwich Heys |
1997-98 | Springhead | Urmston |
1998-99 | Stand Athletic | Willows |
1999-00 | Stand Athletic | Sacred Heart |
2000-01 | Stand Athletic | Leigh Athletic |
2001-02 | Stockport Georgians | Royton Town |
2002-03 | Wythenshawe Amateurs Wythenshawe Amateurs F.C. Wythenshawe Amateurs Football Club are a football club from Wythenshawe, in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England. The club plays in the Manchester Football League Premier Division. They are based at the Northenden Club on Longley Lane, Northenden, Manchester.... |
Breightmet United |
2003-04 | Royton Town | Avro |
2004-05 | Prestwich Heys | AFC Blackley |
2005-06 | Prestwich Heys | Whitworth Valley |
2006-07 | Prestwich Heys | Walshaw Sports |
2007-08 | Wigan Robin Park Wigan Robin Park F.C. Wigan Robin Park FC is an amateur football club from Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.The Robins have two senior sides, with the first team competing in the North West Counties League Division One, whilst the second team compete in the Fourth Division of the Manchester Football League... |
Chapel Town |
2008-09 | Gregorians | Dukinfield Town |
2009-10 | AVRO | Bury Amateurs |
2010-11 | AVRO | West Didsbury & Chorlton |