2016–17 North West Counties Football League
The 2016–17 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Hallmark Security League for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 35th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: Premier Division and First Division.
Premier Division
[edit]Season | 2016–17 |
---|---|
Champions | Atherton Collieries |
Promoted | Atherton Collieries |
Relegated | New Mills Nelson Cammell Laird 1907 |
← 2015–16 2017–18 → |
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs.[2]
The following four clubs joined the division at the start of the season:
- Barnton – promoted from the First Division
- Hanley Town – promoted from the First Division
- Irlam – promoted from the First Division
- New Mills – relegated from the Northern Premier League First Division North
League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atherton Collieries (C, P) | 42 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 103 | 39 | +64 | 100 | Promoted to Northern Premier League Division One North |
2 | Bootle | 42 | 30 | 2 | 10 | 134 | 57 | +77 | 92 | |
3 | Runcorn Town | 42 | 29 | 5 | 8 | 112 | 52 | +60 | 92 | |
4 | Runcorn Linnets | 42 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 105 | 45 | +60 | 90 | |
5 | 1874 Northwich | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 81 | 50 | +31 | 82 | |
6 | West Didsbury & Chorlton | 42 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 106 | 83 | +23 | 70 | |
7 | Padiham | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 85 | 71 | +14 | 69 | |
8 | Irlam | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 65 | 70 | −5 | 66 | |
9 | Ashton Athletic | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 83 | 74 | +9 | 60 | |
10 | Hanley Town | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 83 | 73 | +10 | 57 | |
11 | Barnoldswick Town | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 78 | 75 | +3 | 56 | |
12 | AFC Liverpool | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 79 | 84 | −5 | 54[a] | |
13 | Winsford United | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 76 | 85 | −9 | 52 | |
14 | Abbey Hey | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 63 | 76 | −13 | 52 | |
15 | Maine Road | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 67 | 72 | −5 | 49 | |
16 | Congleton Town | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 75 | 89 | −14 | 47 | |
17 | Barnton | 42 | 13 | 6 | 23 | 50 | 95 | −45 | 45 | |
18 | AFC Darwen | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 50 | 110 | −60 | 41 | |
19 | Squires Gate | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 80 | 106 | −26 | 40 | |
20 | New Mills (R) | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 65 | 102 | −37 | 33 | Relegated to Division One |
21 | Nelson (R) | 42 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 55 | 87 | −32 | 25[b] | |
22 | Cammell Laird 1907 (R) | 42 | 3 | 11 | 28 | 40 | 140 | −100 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Promotion criteria
[edit]To be promoted at the end of the season a team must:[6]
- Have applied to be considered for promotion by 30 November 2016
- Pass a ground grading examination by 31 March 2017
- Finish the season in a position higher than that of any other team also achieving criteria 1 and 2
- Finish the season in one of the top three positions
The following seven clubs achieved criterion 1:[7]
Results
[edit]Stadia and Locations
[edit]Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
A.F.C. Darwen | The Anchor Ground | 4,000 |
A.F.C. Liverpool | Marine Travel Arena, Crosby (groundshare with Marine) | 3,185 |
1874 Northwich | Barton Stadium (groundshare with Winsford United) | 3,000 |
Winsford United | Barton Stadium | 3,000 |
Atherton Collieries | Alder Street | 2,500 |
Bootle | Delta Taxis Stadium | 2,500 |
Cammell Laird 1907 | North West Construction Stadium, Birkenhead | 2,000 |
Maine Road | Brantingham Road, Chorlton | 2,000 |
Nelson | Victoria Park | 2,000 |
Padiham | Arbories Memorial Sports Ground | 1,688 |
Runcorn Linnets | Millbank Linnets Stadium | 1,600 |
Runcorn Town | Pavilions Sports Complex | 1,530 |
Congleton Town | Richborough Estates Stadium | 1,450 |
New Mills | Church Lane | 1,400 |
Abbey Hey | The Abbey Stadium, Gorton | 1,000 |
Ashton Athletic | Brockstedes Park | 1,000 |
Irlam | Silver Street | 1,000 |
Squires Gate | School Road | 1,000 |
West Didsbury & Chorlton | Brookburn Road, Chorlton | 1,000 |
Hanley Town | Abbey Lane | 750 |
Barnoldswick Town | Silentnight Beds Stadium | |
Barnton | Townfield |
Division One
[edit]Season | 2016–17 |
---|---|
Champions | Widnes |
Promoted | Widnes Charnock Richard City of Liverpool |
Relegated | Ashton Town |
← 2015–16 2017–18 → |
The Division One consisted of 22 teams.[2][8]
The following nine clubs joined the division at the start of the season:
- AFC Blackpool – relegated from the Premier Division
- Alsager Town – relegated from the Premier Division
- Carlisle City – promoted from the Northern Football Alliance
- Charnock Richard – promoted from the West Lancashire League
- City of Liverpool – new team
- FC Oswestry Town – promoted from the Mercian Regional League
- Prestwich Heys – promoted from the Manchester League
- Sandbach United – promoted from the Cheshire League
- Silsden – relegated from the Premier Division
League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Widnes (C, P) | 42 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 117 | 50 | +67 | 96 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
2 | Charnock Richard (P) | 42 | 29 | 5 | 8 | 117 | 51 | +66 | 92 | |
3 | Litherland REMYCA | 42 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 107 | 60 | +47 | 89 | Qualified for the play-offs |
4 | City of Liverpool (O, P) | 42 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 119 | 45 | +74 | 88 | Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division[a] |
5 | Whitchurch Alport | 42 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 97 | 45 | +52 | 85 | Qualified for the play-offs |
6 | Sandbach United | 42 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 81 | 51 | +30 | 81 | |
7 | Alsager Town | 42 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 98 | 66 | +32 | 74 | |
8 | Prestwich Heys | 42 | 22 | 3 | 17 | 87 | 62 | +25 | 69 | |
9 | Chadderton | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 103 | 80 | +23 | 67 | |
10 | Stockport Town | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 92 | 89 | +3 | 64[b] | |
11 | Silsden | 42 | 20 | 2 | 20 | 83 | 77 | +6 | 62 | |
12 | Cheadle Town | 42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 97 | 83 | +14 | 61 | |
13 | St Helens Town | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 88 | 95 | −7 | 56 | |
14 | Carlisle City | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 72 | 92 | −20 | 54 | |
15 | FC Oswestry Town | 42 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 73 | 97 | −24 | 53 | |
16 | Daisy Hill | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 82 | 111 | −29 | 49 | |
17 | Holker Old Boys | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 65 | 94 | −29 | 43 | |
18 | Bacup Borough | 42 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 45 | 78 | −33 | 40 | |
19 | AFC Blackpool | 42 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 48 | 114 | −66 | 32 | |
20 | Atherton Laburnum Rovers | 42 | 8 | 4 | 30 | 44 | 95 | −51 | 28 | |
21 | Eccleshall | 42 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 55 | 145 | −90 | 18 | |
22 | Ashton Town (R) | 42 | 5 | 2 | 35 | 42 | 132 | −90 | 17 | Relegated to the Cheshire Association League |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Four teams played for one spot and promotion to the Premier Division.
- ^ Stockport Town have been deducted 1 point for a rule contravention.
Results
[edit]Playoffs
[edit]Source for this subsection: NWC results archives
Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
3 | Litherland REMYCA | 1 | |||||||
6 | Sandbach United | 0 | |||||||
3 | Litherland REMYCA | 0 | |||||||
4 | City of Liverpool | 3 | |||||||
4 | City of Liverpool | 1 | |||||||
5 | Whitchurch Alport | 0 |
Stadia & Locations
[edit]Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Widnes | Select Security Stadium (groundshare with Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club) |
13,350 |
Carlisle City | Gillford Park Stadium | 4,000 |
Atherton Laburnum Rovers | Crilly Park | 3,000 |
Bacup Borough | West View | 3,000 |
City of Liverpool | Delta Taxis Stadium (groundshare with Bootle) |
2,500 |
Holker Old Boys | Rakesmoor Lane Barrow-in-Furness | 2,500 |
Stockport Town | Stockport Sports Village | 2,384 |
F.C. Oswestry Town | Park Hall Stadium | 2,034 |
Ashton Town | Edge Green Street | 2,000 |
Cheadle Town | Park Road Stadium | 2,000 |
Daisy Hill | New Sirs Westhoughton | 2,000 |
Eccleshall | Pershall Park | 2,000 |
A.F.C. Blackpool | The Mechanics | 1,500 |
Alsager Town | Wood Park Stadium | 1,500 |
Chadderton | MCA Stadium | 1,500 |
Silsden | Keighley Road Stadium | 1,500 |
Charnock Richard | Mossie Park | |
Litherland REMYCA | Litherland Sports Park | |
Prestwich Heys | Aide Moran Park | |
Sandbach United | Sandbach Community Football Centre * | |
St Helens Town | Ruskin Drive Sportsground * | |
Whitchurch Alport | Yockings Park |
- As their ground was not ready, St Helens Town played the majority of their home matches in 2016–17 at Volair Park, home of Prescot Cables, with the remainder being played at Edge Green Street, home of Ashton Town.
- Until their floodlight system was ready, Sandbach United played home evening matches at Alsager Town's ground.
- Due to fixture congestion at their home ground, Widnes played some of their home games at Townfield, home of Barnton.
League Challenge Cup
[edit]Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[9] Source for this section: NWC results archives
First round
[edit]Atherton Collieries are exempt until the second round, as holders.
|
* Played at Alsager |
All remaining teams received byes.
Second round
[edit]
|
* Played at Barnton
|
Third round
[edit]
* Played at Barnoldswick
|
* Played at Bootle |
Quarter-finals
[edit]
|
|
Semi-finals
[edit]First leg
[edit]
|
|
Second leg
[edit]
City of Liverpool won on penalties following a 2–2 aggregate draw |
Barnoldswick Town won 4–2 on aggregate |
Final
[edit]Played at Highbury Stadium, home of Fleetwood Town
Score | ||
---|---|---|
Barnoldswick Town | 1–1 aet (2–3 pens) | City of Liverpool |
First Division Trophy
[edit]Also called the Reusch First Division Cup for sponsorship reasons.[10] Source for this section: NWC league archives
First round
[edit]All the remaining First Division teams received a bye to the second round.
Northern Section
|
Southern Section
|
Second round
[edit]
Northern Section
|
Southern Section
|
Quarter-finals
[edit]
|
|
Semi-finals
[edit]First leg
[edit]
|
|
Second leg
[edit]
Sandbach United won 5–4 on aggregate |
City of Liverpool won 4–0 on aggregate |
Final
[edit]Score | ||
---|---|---|
City of Liverpool | 1–0 | Sandbach United |
Played at Runcorn Linnets' stadium
References
[edit]- ^ "The NWCFL agree headline sponsorship deal with Hallmark Security". NWCFL. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ a b "NWCFL Constitution – Season 2016–17". NWCFL. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Club Statement". AFC Liverpool. 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ^ "Club News". Nelson FC. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "The FA Handbook 2016-17 (page 545, section 13.2)". The FA. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "The FA Handbook 2016-17 (page 174, Step 4 and Step 5)". The FA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ "Applications for promotion to Step 4". NWCFL. 1 Dec 2016. Retrieved 1 Dec 2016.
- ^ "City of Liverpool FC Join Our League". NWCFL. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "Introducing The Reusch First Division Cup". NWCFL. 10 Nov 2014.