2017–18 North West Counties Football League

The 2017–18 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Hallmark Security League for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 36th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. It was also the last season to have a single Division One. Teams were divided into two divisions: Premier Division and Division One.

The constitution for Step 5 and Step 6 divisions for 2017–18 was announced by the FA on 26 May 2017,[2] and ratified by the league at its AGM on 17 June.[3]

Premier Division
North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2017–18
ChampionsRuncorn Linnets
PromotedRuncorn Linnets
Widnes
RelegatedAFC Liverpool
Maine Road
Barnton
AFC Darwen

At the end of season 2016–17, the following four teams left the division:

The remaining 18 teams, together with the following, formed the Premier Division for season 2017–18:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Runcorn Linnets (C, P) 44 31 7 6 122 36 +86 100 Promoted to Northern Premier League Division One West
2 Widnes (P) 44 30 6 8 102 52 +50 96 Promoted to Northern Premier League Division One West[lower-alpha 1]
3 Runcorn Town 44 29 6 9 107 65 +42 93
4 City of Liverpool 44 25 9 10 115 58 +57 84
5 Bootle 44 25 8 11 122 61 +61 83
6 Charnock Richard 44 24 7 13 103 72 +31 79
7 1874 Northwich 44 24 7 13 85 56 +29 79
8 Hanley Town 44 23 7 14 94 59 +35 76
9 Barnoldswick Town 44 22 5 17 102 78 +24 71
10 West Didsbury & Chorlton 44 21 4 19 99 120 −21 67
11 Squires Gate 44 19 7 18 79 94 −15 64
12 Ashton Athletic 44 19 5 20 86 69 +17 62
13 Irlam 44 18 5 21 66 80 −14 59
14 Winsford United 44 16 10 18 77 87 −10 58
15 Congleton Town 44 16 8 20 83 85 −2 56
16 Northwich Victoria 44 17 5 22 77 93 −16 56
17 Padiham 44 16 5 23 85 96 −11 53
18 Burscough 44 15 5 24 82 103 −21 50
19 Abbey Hey 44 13 6 25 65 84 −19 45
20 AFC Liverpool (R) 44 12 6 26 77 94 −17 42 Relegated to Division One North
21 Maine Road (R) 44 11 4 29 59 117 −58 37 Relegated to Division One South
22 Barnton (R) 44 4 7 33 61 171 −110 19
23 AFC Darwen (R) 44 3 7 34 42 160 −118 16 Relegated to Division One North
Updated to match(es) played on 12 May 2018. Source: NWCFL Tables
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:
  1. 12 of the 14 runners-up at Step 5 were to have been promoted to Step 4.[4]
    However, with resignations and mergers in leagues above, all fourteen runners-up were promoted.

Results
Home \ Away 18N ABH DAR LVP ASH BWT BNT BTL BUR CHR COL CNG HAN IRL MNR NWV PAD RNL RNT SQG WDC WID WIN
1874 N — 1–1 5–0 4–1 1–2 3–0 3–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–2 5–0 2–1 2–0 2–4 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–2 1–0
Abbey H 4–2 — 1–1 3–3 0–2 0–2 7–1 0–1 4–2 1–2 0–0 2–3 2–3 1–2 0–4 1–2 3–0 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–3 1–2
AFC Darwen 0–3 1–3 — 2–0 0–4 0–4 1–3 4–4 0–0 1–4 0–6 3–3 2–5 0–4 1–3 0–5 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–1 3–3 2–3 0–0
AFC Livpl 3–0 3–1 4–2 — 1–3 3–4 5–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–5 0–2 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–4 1–3 1–2 1–2 0–0 3–2 2–4 4–0
Ashton Ath 0–2 3–0 6–0 1–0 — 3–2 3–3 0–1 2–4 5–0 1–2 4–2 0–5 0–2 0–1 5–1 2–0 0–3 3–1 0–2 7–1 0–1 0–2
Barlick 4–0 3–1 0–1 3–2 1–3 — 5–0 1–2 5–2 0–4 1–3 4–2 1–3 3–0 2–4 1–1 5–1 1–4 0–1 5–0 4–1 6–1 3–2
Barnton 2–3 0–4 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–3 — 1–9 1–2 3–5 0–8 1–1 1–5 1–3 3–3 0–4 2–3 1–3 1–4 0–7 2–4 2–2 0–4
Bootle 0–1 2–0 10–0 3–3 4–3 2–3 5–0 — 1–2 0–0 0–4 5–1 3–4 3–3 4–1 5–0 4–1 0–0 3–3 1–0 3–3 5–2 3–0
Burscough 0–1 3–2 1–0 2–3 1–4 4–1 4–2 1–1 — 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–4 2–1 2–1 1–5 0–1 2–5 3–2 4–5 0–1 1–6
Char Rchd 4–2 0–1 9–1 2–2 1–0 3–4 4–1 3–1 5–2 — 1–4 2–0 3–0 1–0 4–1 3–2 4–1 0–2 1–1 5–2 1–2 1–4 1–1
C of Liv 2–0 2–0 8–0 1–1 2–1 4–4 4–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 — 2–4 3–0 5–0 4–0 2–1 4–3 1–5 0–0 0–1 6–1 1–4 3–1
Cong T 1–4 3–1 6–2 3–3 0–2 1–1 5–1 3–4 4–2 1–1 1–2 — 3–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–0 0–1 0–3 0–1 4–1
Hanley T 1–1 4–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 5–1 2–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 0–2 — 5–0 3–0 3–0 3–2 1–1 1–2 4–0 6–2 1–1 1–1
Irlam 0–3 1–2 3–5 0–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 0–3 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 — 2–1 0–2 0–4 1–0 2–3 4–0 3–0 1–3 1–5
Maine Road 2–3 1–3 3–2 0–1 0–3 0–3 3–1 0–4 2–3 1–3 0–5 2–1 2–8 2–0 — 2–1 1–3 0–5 2–5 1–1 2–1 0–2 0–1
Nwich Vic 0–2 0–2 5–0 3–1 0–2 3–1 5–2 2–3 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–2 3–2 1–4 1–0 — 1–2 3–0 1–3 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–4
Padiham 0–3 1–2 5–1 5–4 0–0 1–2 5–3 0–2 3–2 2–1 2–0 3–4 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–4 — 1–1 4–0 4–2 6–1 3–3 1–2
Runc Lin 2–1 2–2 5–1 5–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 6–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–0 4–2 6–1 — 0–1 5–0 7–0 0–2 5–0
Runc T 2–1 1–0 10–3 1–0 3–1 3–2 5–0 2–0 3–2 0–2 2–2 5–2 1–0 2–0 4–3 6–1 4–0 0–5 — 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–2
Sq Gate 0–3 3–2 4–0 5–4 3–1 1–3 6–4 0–5 0–6 3–1 3–2 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 5–0 2–2 0–5 1–2 — 1–2 1–2 2–2
WDC 2–1 2–2 4–1 1–2 4–2 0–2 1–4 0–4 4–3 5–3 4–3 2–1 3–3 3–5 4–3 1–2 3–1 4–0 2–4 4–2 — 3–1 3–2
Widnes 2–2 0–1 4–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 7–1 3–2 3–0 0–3 0–1 2–1 3–0 3–1 5–1 4–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 4–0 — 3–1
Wins U 1–1 1–2 2–0 4–3 3–3 1–0 1–1 0–4 1–5 3–3 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–3 5–1 2–3 2–1 0–4 2–4 2–2 1–3 2–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 12 May 2018. Source: results and fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2017–18 North West Counties Football League Premier Division teams
Team Stadium Capacity
WidnesSelect Security Stadium
(groundshare with Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club)		13,350
AFC DarwenThe Anchor Ground4,000
AFC LiverpoolMarine Travel Arena, Crosby (groundshare with Marine)3,185
BurscoughVictoria Park3,054
1874 Northwich *Barton Stadium (groundshare with Winsford United)3,000
Winsford UnitedBarton Stadium3,000
BootleDelta Taxis Stadium2,500
City of LiverpoolDelta Taxis Stadium (groundshare with Bootle)2,500
Maine RoadBrantingham Road, Chorlton2,000
PadihamArbories Memorial Sports Ground1,688
Runcorn LinnetsMillbank Linnets Stadium1,600
Runcorn TownPavilions Sports Complex1,530
Congleton TownRichborough Estates Stadium1,450
Abbey HeyThe Abbey Stadium, Gorton1,000
Ashton AthleticBrockstedes Park1,000
IrlamSilver Street1,000
Squires GateSchool Road1,000
West Didsbury & ChorltonBrookburn Road, Chorlton1,000
Hanley TownAbbey Lane750
Barnoldswick TownSilentnight Beds Stadium
BarntonTownfield
Charnock RichardMossie Park1,000
Northwich VictoriaTownfield (groundshare with Barnton)
  • Due to ground conditions and acute fixture congestion, 1874 Northwich played some home matches, notably in the latter stages of the FA Vase and the league programme, at Wincham Park, Northwich, home of Witton Albion.[6]

Division One
North West Counties
Football League
Division One
Season2017–18
ChampionsSilsden
PromotedSilsden
Litherland REMYCA
Whitchurch Alport

At the end of season 2016–17, the following four teams left the division:

The remaining 18 teams, together with the following, formed Division One for the 2017–18 season:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Silsden (C, P) 42 33 4 5 110 38 +72 103 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Litherland REMYCA (P) 42 31 6 5 117 39 +78 99
3 Prestwich Heys 42 29 4 9 124 50 +74 91 Qualified for the play-offs, then allocated to Division One North
4 Whitchurch Alport (O, P) 42 28 4 10 91 38 +53 88 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division[lower-alpha 1]
5 Sandbach United 42 27 3 12 90 57 +33 84 Qualified for the play-offs, then allocated to Division One South
6 Cammell Laird 1907 42 22 6 14 84 58 +26 72
7 AFC Blackpool 42 21 5 16 92 78 +14 68 Allocated to Division One North
8 Alsager Town 42 19 10 13 84 71 +13 67 Allocated to Division One South
9 Holker Old Boys 42 19 8 15 72 89 −17 65 Allocated to Division One North
10 Stockport Town 42 15 8 19 81 87 −6 53 Allocated to Division One South
11 Carlisle City 42 16 5 21 71 80 −9 53 Allocated to Division One North
12 Cheadle Town 42 14 11 17 72 83 −11 53 Allocated to Division One South
13 Abbey Hulton United 42 14 8 20 56 66 −10 50
14 New Mills 42 14 7 21 68 95 −27 49
15 Eccleshall 42 13 8 21 66 105 −39 47
16 Chadderton 42 12 10 20 83 93 −10 46 Allocated to Division One North
17 Bacup Borough 42 14 4 24 65 95 −30 46[lower-alpha 2]
18 Atherton Laburnum Rovers 42 13 5 24 61 81 −20 44
19 FC Oswestry Town 42 11 7 24 60 101 −41 40 Allocated to Division One South
20 St Helens Town 42 8 8 26 55 98 −43 32 Allocated to Division One North
21 Nelson 42 7 10 25 50 91 −41 31
22 Daisy Hill 42 8 7 27 49 108 −59 31
Updated to match(es) played on 17 May 2018. Source: NWCFL Tables
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
Notes:
  1. Four teams played for one spot and promotion to the Premier Division.
  2. Bacup Borough were awarded a 3–0 win against FC Oswestry Town, due to Oswestry failing to fulfill fixture on 5 May.

Results
Home \ Away ABH BLP ALS ALR BAC CAM CAR CHD CHE DSH ECC OSW HOB LIT NEL NWM PRH SAN SIL STH STK WHI
Ab Hul U — 4–2 2–4 1–1 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–0 2–3 3–0 0–3 1–3 0–1 3–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 3–1 3–3 0–1
AFC Blckpl 3–1 — 5–1 1–6 1–2 3–2 1–3 1–3 4–2 3–2 5–0 9–2 1–2 0–1 4–2 1–0 3–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 2–1 1–4
Alsager T 2–0 4–1 — 1–0 3–0 3–2 0–1 2–2 1–4 1–2 2–1 2–1 5–2 0–1 2–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–3
Atherton LR 2–1 4–3 1–2 — 1–3 2–1 1–4 2–3 1–2 1–3 3–4 0–1 0–2 0–3 3–2 2–5 1–3 1–4 0–0 2–0 2–0 0–3
Bacup B 2–0 1–2 2–5 1–2 — 0–1 4–1 4–3 1–5 1–1 3–0 3–0 * 2–5 0–3 0–3 2–1 2–0 0–3 1–6 2–3 5–2 2–1
Camm L 1907 2–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–0 — 3–1 3–0 1–2 5–0 5–1 3–2 5–1 1–4 2–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 4–1 4–0 2–1 2–2
Carlisle C 1–2 2–3 2–3 0–1 1–1 2–3 — 0–4 2–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 4–1 2–1 5–0 1–2 0–3 0–1 0–1 3–0 1–4 3–1
Chadderton 2–1 1–3 3–3 1–3 5–4 0–1 5–0 — 2–0 4–3 1–2 0–1 2–2 4–4 4–2 1–1 2–3 1–2 0–2 4–0 2–4 1–3
Cheadle T 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 4–1 3–0 1–1 2–2 — 0–0 3–3 1–2 1–1 0–5 0–2 0–2 2–4 3–4 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–4
Daisy H 1–2 1–3 1–7 1–0 1–1 3–4 1–3 2–0 1–0 — 1–1 1–1 0–3 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–6 1–2 0–3 3–4 0–2 0–2
Eccleshall 0–0 2–2 0–4 1–1 3–2 4–2 2–1 2–2 3–4 1–3 — 3–0 2–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–5 2–1 0–5 3–2 4–1 0–2
FC Oswestry T 2–2 1–3 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–2 3–3 1–4 2–3 5–0 4–0 — 4–0 1–4 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–0 0–3 1–5 0–1
Holker OB 2–3 0–3 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–3 2–1 0–2 2–2 1–0 3–5 6–1 — 3–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 4–3
Lith REMYCA 2–0 2–3 2–2 3–3 3–1 2–1 3–0 3–3 2–0 4–0 6–0 4–3 6–0 — 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–2 3–0 1–0 4–0 1–0
Nelson 0–1 2–1 3–1 1–3 0–1 1–2 0–4 0–0 1–2 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 0–6 — 1–2 0–4 2–4 1–2 1–2 0–4 2–3
New Mills 0–1 4–1 0–3 1–4 0–3 2–2 2–3 2–2 2–3 1–5 3–1 0–4 7–2 0–2 2–2 — 2–1 1–5 2–4 2–0 4–2 4–1
Prestwich H 2–2 0–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 3–0 7–2 4–2 3–1 8–0 3–0 5–2 5–0 1–1 4–1 4–0 — 2–1 0–4 4–0 8–1 0–1
Sandbach U 1–2 1–4 2–2 4–2 7–1 1–0 2–1 4–2 1–3 4–0 2–1 4–0 0–1 0–2 2–1 3–0 0–6 — 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–1
Silsden 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–2 6–0 5–2 5–1 6–0 5–1 5–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 2–2 1–0 — 5–2 2–0 1–2
St Helens T 0–0 * 2–3 3–3 3–0 1–2 1–1 2–3 3–1 2–3 1–3 1–2 2–3 1–3 1–4 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–2 1–4 — 3–3 1–5
Stockport T 3–1 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 4–2 2–2 2–1 3–2 7–0 1–3 2–6 2–4 6–1 2–1 3–2 1–3 1–1 — 0–1
Whitchurch A 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 0–2 5–1 5–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 5–1 3–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 12 May 2018. Source: results and fixtures
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  • Bacup Borough v FC Oswestry Town: visitors failed to fulfil fixture on 5 May, result declared a 3–0 home win
  • St Helens Town v Abbey Hulton United: result declared a draw following investigation[7]

Playoffs

Source for this subsection: NWC website

Semifinals Final
      
3 Prestwich Heys 1
6 Cammell Laird 1907 4
6 Cammell Laird 1907 1
4 Whitchurch Alport 2
4 Whitchurch Alport 1
5 Sandbach United 0

Stadia and locations
2017–18 North West Counties Football League is located in North West of England
Abbey Hulton United
Abbey Hulton United
AFC Blackpool
Alsager Tn
Ath LR
Bacup B
Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird
Carlisle City
Chadderton
Cheadle Tn
Daisy Hill
Eccleshall
Eccleshall
Holker OB
Litherland REMYCA
FC Oswestry Town
FC Oswestry Town
Nelson
New Mills
New Mills
Prestwich Heys
Sandbach Utd
Sandbach Utd
Silsden
St Helens
Stockport Tn
Stockport Tn
Whitchurch A
Whitchurch A

Locations of the 2017–18 North West Counties Football League Division One teams
Team Stadium Capacity
Carlisle CityGillford Park Stadium4,000
Atherton Laburnum RoversCrilly Park3,000
Bacup BoroughWest View3,000
Holker Old BoysRakesmoor Lane Barrow-in-Furness2,500
Stockport TownStockport Sports Village2,384
FC Oswestry TownPark Hall Stadium2,034
Cammell Laird 1907North West Construction Stadium, Birkenhead2,000
Cheadle TownPark Road Stadium2,000
Daisy HillNew Sirs Westhoughton2,000
EccleshallPershall Park2,000
NelsonVictoria Park2,000
AFC BlackpoolThe Mechanics1,500
Alsager TownWood Park Stadium1,500
ChaddertonMCA Stadium1,500
SilsdenKeighley Road Stadium1,500
New MillsChurch Lane1,400
Abbey Hulton UnitedBirches Head Road
Litherland REMYCALitherland Sports Park
Prestwich HeysAide Moran Park
Sandbach UnitedSandbach Community Football Centre
St Helens TownRuskin Drive Sportsground
Whitchurch AlportYockings Park

League Challenge Cup

Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[8] Source for this section: NWCFL web site

First round

All remaining teams received byes to the second round.

Second round

Third round

Quarter-finals

First leg

Second leg

Final

Played at Highbury Stadium, home of Fleetwood Town.

Score
Widnes 2–1 Burscough

Division One Trophy

Also called the LWC Drinks First Division Cup for sponsorship reasons.[3] Source for this section: NWCFL web site

First round

All the remaining First Division teams received a bye to the second round.

Second round

Quarter-finals

First leg

Second leg

Final

Played at the Millbank Linnets Stadium, home of Runcorn Linnets.

Score
Cammell Laird 1907 1–2 Prestwich Heys

References
  1. "The NWCFL agree headline sponsorship deal with Hallmark Security". NWCFL. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. "Club Allocations for Step 5–6" (PDF). The FA. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  3. "News from the AGM". NWCFL. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  4. "FA National League System Restructure - season 2018/19". NWC. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  5. "The FA Handbook Standardised Rules 2017-2018 (page 539, section 12.2)". The FA. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  6. "Venue switch for 1874 Northwich". North West Counties Football League. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  7. "Lights go out". Stoke Sentinel. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  8. "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  9. "LWC Drinks First Division Cup update". NWC. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.