Manchester Football League
Founded | 1893 |
---|---|
Country | England |
Divisions | Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three (for reserve teams) Division Four (for reserve teams) |
Number of teams | 36 (for the purposes of the league system) |
Level on pyramid | Level 11 (Premier Division) |
Feeder to | North West Counties League |
Promotion to | North West Counties League First Division |
Domestic cup(s) | Gilgryst Cup Murray Trophy Open Trophy Manchester League Cup |
Current champions | Hindsford (Premier Division) Heywood St James (Division One) Middleton Colts (Division Two) |
Website | Official Website Official Twitter Page Official Facebook Page |
The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Manchester 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 and Four 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 (Division Two) 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 (NWCFL), 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.
Following the introduction of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) national lockdown restrictions in March 2020, the 2019/20 season was unable to be completed and was therefore declared null and void. The following season suffered the same outcome with only around a third of fixtures being completed.
Current member clubs (2021-22)[]
Premier Division[]
- Beechfield United
- Bolton County
- Chadderton Reserves
- Dukinfield Town
- Heyside
- Heywood St James
- Hindsford
- Manchester Gregorians
- Old Altrinchamians
- Pennington
- Rochdale Sacred Heart
- Royton Town
- Springhead
- Stockport Georgians
- Walshaw Sports
Division One[]
- Altrincham Hale
- Atherton Town
- Bolton Lads & Girls Club
- Boothstown
- East Manchester
- Elton Vale
- Govan Athletic
- Moorside Rangers
- Tintwistle Athletic
- Uppermill
- Wilmslow Albion
Division Two[]
- AFC Burnley
- AFC Monton
- Astley & Tyldesley
- Avenue
- Avro Reserves
- Bolton Borough
- Bolton United
- Breightmet United
- Cavaliers
- Daisy Hill Development
- Hindley Juniors
- Hollinwood
- Leigh Genesis
- Manchester Central
- Oldham Community
Recent champions of Premier Division, Division One & Division Two[]
Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
---|---|---|---|
1982–83 | Maine Road | Mount Pleasant | |
1983–84 | Maine Road | Shell (Carington) | |
1984–85 | Maine Road | Coldhurst United | |
1985–86 | Maine Road | Adswood Amateurs | |
1986–87 | Adswood Amateurs | Castleton Gabriels | |
1987–88 | Stockport Georgians | Prestwich Heys | |
1988–89 | Abbey Hey | Avro | |
1989–90 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Greater Manchester Police | |
1990–91 | Abbey Hey | Ramsbottom United | |
1991–92 | East Manchester | Woodley Sports | |
1992–93 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Atherton Town | |
1993–94 | Abbey Hey | Winton United | |
1994–95 | Abbey Hey | 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 | Irlam Mitchell Shackletons | 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 | Chapel Town | |
2008–09 | Gregorians | Springhead | |
2009–10 | Avro | Bury Amateurs | |
2010–11 | Manchester Gregorians | Avro | |
2011–12 | Hindsford | Wythenshawe Town | |
2012–13 | Hindsford | Rochdale Sacred Heart | |
2013–14 | Hindsford | Chapel Town | |
2014–15 | Stockport Georgians | Old Altrinchamians | |
2015–16 | Prestwich Heys | East Manchester | |
2016–17 | Rochdale Sacred Heart | Prestwich Heys Reserves | |
2017–18 | Avro | Chadderton Reserves | Altrincham Hale |
2018-19 | Hindsford | Heywood St James | Middleton Colts |
2019-20 | Null & Void | Null & Void | Null & Void |
2020-21 | Null & Void | Null & Void | Null & Void |
External links[]
- Manchester Football League
- 1893 establishments in England
- Football in Greater Manchester
- Football leagues in England
- Sports leagues established in 1893