Northern Premier League
 | |
| Founded | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Other club(s) from | Wales |
| Number of teams | 62 22 (Premier Division) 20 (Division One East) 20 (Division One West) |
| Level on pyramid | 7 and 8 |
Promotion to | Level 6 National League North |
Relegation to | Level 9 Northern Football League Northern Counties East Football League North West Counties Football League Midland Football League United Counties League |
| Domestic cup(s) | National FA Cup FA Trophy League League Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | Altrincham (Premier Division) South Shields (Division One North) Basford United (Division One South) |
| Website | Evo-Stik League |
 2018–19 | |
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. It has three divisions - the Premier Division (which stands at level 7 of the English football league system) - and Division One East and Division One West (which both stand at level 8).
Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England and the northern/central areas of the Midlands. Originally a single-division competition, a second division was added in 1987: Division One, and in 2007 a third was added when Division One split into two geographic sections - Division One North and Division One South. In 2018 Division One was re-aligned as East and West Divisions.
Successful teams at the top of the NPL Premier Division are promoted to level 6 of the pyramid (either National League North or National League South), and at the bottom end of the competition, teams are relegated down to level 9, where several regional feeder leagues promote clubs into the league.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Sponsorship
2 Structure
3 Current members
3.1 Premier Division
3.2 Division One West
3.3 Division One East
4 Honours
4.1 Champions
4.2 Promoted
5 Cup competitions
5.1 League Challenge Cup
5.1.1 Finals
5.2 Defunct competitions
5.2.1 Winners
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
History
The Northern Premier League (NPL) was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, decades after the other two leagues at what is now the seventh tier of the English football league system, the Isthmian League and the Southern League. At that time they were the highest level non-League division below the English Football League, the same level as the other league in Northern England, the Northern League.[1]
Over the next two decades, the NPL successfully displaced its older rival to become the pre-eminent regional competition in Northern England, with the Northern League eventually forced to accept status as feeder league to the NPL. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League (which later became the Conference and is now the National League), the NPL became a feeder league and fell down one level in the English football league system, and with the then-Conference's addition of regional divisions in 2004 the NPL was demoted by a further tier and there are now two levels between it and the English Football League.
From 1992–93 to 1994–95 the League's Division One included two non-English clubs, Caernarfon Town from Wales and Gretna from Scotland, who have later joined their countries' league systems. Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Newtown, and Rhyl have also played in the league.
In March 2018, the NPL's member clubs voted 37–27, with one abstention and three clubs' absence, to split Step 4 (level 8) divisions from east to west starting from the 2018–19 season.[2]
1968–69 to 1968–69: Premier Division
1987–88 to 2006–07: Premier Division, Division One
2007–08 to 2017–18: Premier Division, Division One North, Division One South
since 2018–19: Premier Division, Division One East, Division One West
Sponsorship
Due to title sponsorship deals, the league has been billed under various names, including a sixteen-year spell as the Unibond League, the longest such deal in world football.[3] When this deal ended in 2010, a new deal was announced which will see the competition billed as the Evo-Stik League[4][5][6] until the 2017–18 season.[7]
Structure
Since 2018, the NPL has had three divisions: the Premier Division, Division One East and Division One West. Prior to 2007 there was just a single Division One,[1] and prior to 2018 Division One was arranged on a north-south basis.
The Premier Division has 22 clubs, with the champions promoted to the National League along with the winners of a playoff between the second to fifth place clubs. Theoretically, clubs from the NPL could be promoted into either of the National League's two regional divisions, however, the geographical footprint of the NPL has never overlapped with that of the National League South, therefore (as of 2015) all promoted NPL clubs have been placed in the National League North. The bottom three teams are usually relegated to Division One East or West, however NPL Premier Division clubs in the most southerly locales could be placed in the Southern League Division One Central in the event of relegation.
From the 2018–19 season, Division One East and West have 20 clubs each. In each division, the champions are promoted to the Premier Division, along with the winners of a divisional playoff. The bottom two clubs in each division are relegated to one of the feeder leagues below provided there are enough suitable promotion candidates from those leagues. The champions of the three feeder leagues covering the NPL area are promoted each season. These are the Northern League, the Northern Counties East League, and the North West Counties League. Clubs in the northern extremities of the Midland League and the United Counties League may also be promoted to the Northern Premier League.
Should there be an unusually large or small number of clubs relegated to and/or promoted to the level of the NPL from Northern England, the National League System (NLS) Committee can order one or more of the NPL's southernmost clubs to transfer to the Southern League (or vice versa) to maintain numerical balance between the leagues.
Division One North and South teams receive a bye to the Preliminary Round of FA Cup Qualification. Premier Division teams receive a bye to the First Round of Qualification.
The league currently runs one cup competition, with all member clubs competing in the League Challenge Cup. In the past, the league has run other competitions, such as the Chairman's Cup, the President's Cup and the Peter Swales Shield.
Current members
|
|
|   Atherton Collieries Chasetown Clitheroe Colne Colwyn Bay Droylsden Glossop North End Kendal Town Kidsgrove Athletic Leek Town Market Drayton Town Newcastle Town Mossley Prescot Cables Radcliffe Borough Ramsbottom United Runcorn Linnets Skelmersdale United Trafford Widnes  A.F.C. Mansfield Belper Town Brighouse Town Carlton Town Cleethorpes Town Frickley Athletic Gresley Lincoln United Loughborough Dynamo Marske United Morpeth Town Ossett United Pickering Town Pontefract Collieries Sheffield Spalding United Stamford Stocksbridge Park Steels Tadcaster Albion Wisbech Town  Bamber Bridge Basford United Buxton Farsley Celtic Gainsborough Trinity Grantham Town Hyde United Lancaster City Marine Matlock Town Mickleover Sports Nantwich Town North Ferriby United Scarborough Athletic Shaw Lane South Shields Stafford Rangers Stalybridge Celtic Warrington Town Whitby Town Witton Albion Workington – Premier Division – Division One West – Division One East |
Honours
Champions
| Season | |
|---|---|
1968–69 | Macclesfield Town |
1969–70 | Macclesfield Town |
1970–71 | Wigan Athletic |
1971–72 | Stafford Rangers |
1972–73 | Boston United |
1973–74 | Boston United |
1974–75 | Wigan Athletic |
1975–76 | Runcorn |
1976–77 | Boston United |
1977–78 | Boston United |
1978–79 | Mossley |
1979–80 | Mossley |
1980–81 | Runcorn |
1981–82 | Bangor City |
1982–83 | Gateshead |
1983–84 | Barrow |
1984–85 | Stafford Rangers |
1985–86 | Gateshead |
1986–87 | Macclesfield Town |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
1987–88 | Chorley | Fleetwood Town |
1988–89 | Barrow | Colne Dynamoes |
1989–90 | Colne Dynamoes | Leek Town |
1990–91 | Witton Albion | Whitley Bay |
1991–92 | Stalybridge Celtic | Colwyn Bay |
1992–93 | Southport | Bridlington Town |
1993–94 | Marine | Guiseley |
1994–95 | Marine | Blyth Spartans |
1995–96 | Bamber Bridge | Lancaster City |
1996–97 | Leek Town | Radcliffe Borough |
1997–98 | Barrow | Whitby Town |
1998–99 | Altrincham | Droylsden |
1999–00 | Leigh RMI | Accrington Stanley |
2000–01 | Stalybridge Celtic | Bradford Park Avenue |
2001–02 | Burton Albion | Harrogate Town |
2002–03 | Accrington Stanley | Alfreton Town |
2003–04 | Hucknall Town | Hyde United |
2004–05 | Hyde United | North Ferriby United |
2005–06 | Blyth Spartans | Mossley |
2006–07 | Burscough | Buxton |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One North | Division One South |
|---|---|---|---|
2007–08 | Fleetwood Town | Bradford Park Avenue | Retford United |
2008–09 | Eastwood Town | Durham City | Retford United |
2009–10 | Guiseley | FC Halifax Town | Mickleover Sports |
2010–11 | FC Halifax Town | Chester | Barwell |
2011–12 | Chester | AFC Fylde | Grantham Town |
2012–13 | North Ferriby United | Skelmersdale United | King's Lynn Town |
2013–14 | Chorley | Curzon Ashton | Halesowen Town |
2014–15 | FC United of Manchester | Salford City | Mickleover Sports |
2015–16 | Darlington 1883 | Warrington Town | Stafford Rangers |
2016–17 | Blyth Spartans | Lancaster City | Shaw Lane |
2017–18 | Altrincham | South Shields | Basford United |
Promoted
Since the league's formation in 1968, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system -
| Season | Club | Position | Promoted to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–78 | Wigan Athletic | 2nd | Football League Division Four |
| 1978–79 | Altrincham Scarborough Boston United Stafford Rangers Northwich Victoria Bangor City Barrow | 2nd 4th 6th 8th 10th 12th 16th | Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League |
| 1979–80 | Frickley Athletic | 3rd | Alliance Premier League |
| 1980–81 | Runcorn | 1st | Alliance Premier League |
| 1981–82 | Bangor City | 1st | Alliance Premier League |
| 1982–83 | Gateshead | 1st | Alliance Premier League |
| 1983–84 | Barrow | 1st | Alliance Premier League |
| 1983–84 | Stafford Rangers | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1985–86 | Gateshead | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1986–87 | Macclesfield Town | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1987–88 | Chorley | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1988–89 | Barrow | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1989–90 | Gateshead | 2nd | Football Conference |
| 1990–91 | Witton Albion | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1991–92 | Stalybridge Celtic | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1992–93 | Southport | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1994–95 | Morecambe | 2nd | Football Conference |
| 1996–97 | Leek Town | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1997–98 | Barrow | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1998–99 | Altrincham | 1st | Football Conference |
| 1999–00 | Leigh RMI | 1st | Football Conference |
| 2000–01 | Stalybridge Celtic | 1st | Football Conference |
| 2001–02 | Burton Albion | 1st | Football Conference |
| 2002–03 | Accrington Stanley | 1st | Football Conference |
| 2003–04 | Hucknall Town Droylsden Barrow Alfreton Town Harrogate Town Southport Worksop Town Lancaster City Vauxhall Motors Gainsborough Trinity Stalybridge Celtic Altrincham Runcorn Ashton United Bradford Park Avenue | 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 17th* | Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2004–05 | Hyde United Workington | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2005–06 | Blyth Spartans Farsley Celtic | 1st 4th* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2006–07 | Burscough AFC Telford United | 1st 4th* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2007–08 | Fleetwood Town Gateshead | 1st 3rd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2008–09 | Eastwood Town Ilkeston Town | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2009–10 | Guiseley Boston United | 1st 3rd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2010–11 | FC Halifax Town Colwyn Bay | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2011–12 | Chester Bradford Park Avenue | 1st 4th* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2012–13 | North Ferriby United Hednesford Town | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2013–14 | Chorley AFC Fylde | 1st 3rd* | Football Conference North Football Conference North |
| 2014–15 | FC United of Manchester Curzon Ashton | 1st 4th* | National League North National League North |
| 2015–16 | Darlington 1883 Salford City | 1st 3rd* | National League North National League North |
| 2016–17 | Blyth Spartans Spennymoor Town | 1st 2nd* | National League North National League North |
| 2017–18 | Altrincham Ashton United | 1st 2nd* | National League North National League North |
Asterisk indicates club was promoted via play-offs
Cup competitions
League Challenge Cup
The league currently runs one cup competition, the League Challenge Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.[8]
Finals
| Season | Winner | Result | Runner-up | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1968–69 | Bangor City | 5–2 (agg.) | Runcorn | 1L: 2L: | 1L: 2L: |
1969–70 | Altrincham | 4–3 (agg.) | Macclesfield Town | 1L: 2L: Moss Rose | 1L: 4,400 2L: 6,833 |
1970–71 | Fleetwood | 1–1 (agg.) 1–0 (rep.) | Macclesfield Town | 1L: 2L: Moss Rose rep. Springfield Park | 1L: 1,374 2L: 2,457 rep. |
1971–72 | Wigan Athletic | 4–2 (agg.) | Gainsborough Trinity | 1L: 2L: | 1L: 2L: |
1972–73 | Northwich Victoria | 3–2 (agg.) | Wigan Athletic | 1L: 2L: | 1L: 2L: |
1973–74 | Boston United | 4–3 (agg.) | Altrincham | 1L: 2L: | 1L: 2L: |
1974–75 | Runcorn | 2–1 (agg.) | Stafford Rangers | 1L: 2L: | 1L: 2L: |
1975–76 | Boston United | 4–3 (agg.) | Mossley | 1L: York Street 2L: Seel Park | 1L: 2,212 2L: 711 |
1976–77 | Scarborough | 1–0 | Runcorn | Maine Road | |
1977–78 | Matlock Town | 3–0 | Boston United | Maine Road | |
1978–79 | Mossley | 4–1 | Northwich Victoria | Maine Road | 5,054 |
1979–80 | Runcorn | 2–0 | Lancaster City | Maine Road | |
1980–81 | Runcorn | 4–3 | Marine | Maine Road | |
1981–82 | Gainsborough Trinity | 1–0 | Mossley | Maine Road | 1,658 |
1982–83 | Burton Albion | 2–1 | Macclesfield Town | Maine Road | 2,538 |
1983–84 | South Liverpool | 1–1 (wp) | Hyde United | Maine Road | |
1984–85 | Marine | 3–2 | Goole Town | Maine Road | |
1985–86 | Hyde United | 1–0 | Marine | Maine Road | |
1986–87 | Macclesfield Town | 2–0 | Burton Albion | Maine Road | 2,037 |
1987–88 | Goole Town | 2–2 (wp) | Barrow | Maine Road | 1,579 |
1988–89 | Mossley | 2–1 | Fleetwood | Maine Road | 2,110 |
1989–90 | Hyde United | 1–0 | Gateshead | Maine Road | |
1990–91 | Southport | 4–1 | Buxton | Maine Road | 1,700 |
1991–92 | Marine | 1–0 | Frickley Athletic | Maine Road | |
1992–93 | Winsford United | 1–1 (wp) | Warrington Town | Maine Road | |
1993–94 | Spennymoor United | 3–1 | Hyde United | Wetherby Road | 585 |
1994–95 | Bamber Bridge | 2–1 | Bishop Auckland | Burnden Park | |
1995–96 | Hyde United | 1–1 (wp) | Leek Town | Burnden Park | 501 |
1996–97 | Gainsborough Trinity | 1–0 | Boston United | Sincil Bank | |
1997–98 | Altrincham | – | Gainsborough Trinity | Saltergate | |
1998–99 | Stalybridge Celtic | 2–1 | Guiseley | ||
1999–00 | Lancaster City | 1–0 | Worksop Town | Bower Fold | |
2000–01 | Lancaster City | 2–2 (wp) | Bishop Auckland | Giant Axe | 530 |
2001–02 | Accrington Stanley | 5–4 (agg.) | Bradford Park Avenue | 1L: Horsfall Stadium 2L: Crown Ground | 1L: 471 2L: 1,107 |
2002–03 | Marine | 3–0 (agg.) | Gateshead | 1L: Filtrona Park 2L: Rossett Park | 1L: 184 2L: 425 |
2003–04 | Droylsden | 4–1 (agg.) | Hucknall Town | 1L: Butcher's Arms Ground 2L: Watnall Road | 1L: 424 2L: 597 |
2004–05 | Matlock Town | 5–3 (agg.) | Whitby Town | 1L: Causeway Lane 2L: Turnbull Ground | 1L: 547 2L: 490 |
2005–06 | Farsley Celtic | 1–0 | Stocksbridge Park Steels | Throstle Nest | 507 |
2006–07 | Fleetwood | 1–0 | Matlock Town | Wincham Park | 426 |
2007–08 | Eastwood Town | 3–0 | Skelmersdale United | Tameside Stadium | 372 |
2008–09 | Guiseley | 3–2 | Ilkeston Town | Tameside Stadium | 227 |
2009–10 | Boston United | 2–0 | Retford United | Ashby Avenue | 503 |
2010–11 | Ashton United | 1–0 | Northwich Victoria | Wincham Park | 489 |
2011–12 | North Ferriby United | 4–1 | Rushall Olympic | Coronation Park | 256 |
2012–13 | North Ferriby United | 1–1 (wp) | Curzon Ashton | Throstle Nest | 179 |
2013–14 | AFC Fylde | 1–0 | Skelmersdale United | Edgeley Park | 358 |
2014–15 | Warrington Town | 0–0 (wp) | Farsley | Edgeley Park | 731 |
2015–16 | Marine | 2–1 | Scarborough Athletic | Throstle Nest | 690 |
2016–17 | Bamber Bridge | 2–1 | Grantham Town | Harrison Park | 474 |
2017–18 | Atherton Collieries | 2–1 | Coalville Town | North Street | 374 |
Defunct competitions
In the past the league has run three other cup competitions - the President's Cup, Chairman's Cup and Peter Swales Shield.[9]
Winners
| Season | President's Cup | Chairman's Cup | Peter Swales Shield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–71 | - | - | Wigan Athletic |
| 1971–72 | - | - | Wigan Athletic |
| 1972–73 | - | - | Boston United |
| 1973–74 | - | - | Boston United |
| 1974–75 | - | - | Wigan Athletic |
| 1975–76 | - | - | Boston United |
| 1976–77 | - | - | Boston United |
| 1977–78 | - | - | Matlock Town |
| 1978–79 | - | - | Altrincham |
| 1979–80 | - | - | Runcorn |
| 1980–81 | - | - | Runcorn |
| 1981–82 | Buxton | - | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1982–83 | King's Lynn | - | Burton Albion |
| 1983–84 | Workington | - | Barrow |
| 1984–85 | Rhyl | - | Stafford Rangers |
| 1985–86 | Worksop Town | - | Gateshead |
| 1986–87 | Macclesfield Town | - | Bangor City |
| 1987–88 | South Liverpool | - | Chorley |
| 1988–89 | Bangor City | - | Mossley |
| 1989–90 | Fleetwood Town | - | Leek Town |
| 1990–91 | Witton Albion | - | Witton Albion |
| 1991–91 | Morecambe | - | Stalybridge Celtic |
| 1992–93 | Winsford United | - | Southport |
| 1993–94 | Guiseley | - | Marine |
| 1994–95 | Lancaster City | - | Marine |
| 1995–96 | Worksop Town | - | Hyde United |
| 1996–97 | Blyth Spartans | - | Gainsborough Trinity |
| 1997–98 | Runcorn | - | Altrincham |
| 1998–99 | Droylsden | - | Altrincham |
| 1999–00 | Trafford | Hyde United | Leigh RMI |
| 2000–01 | Stalybridge Celtic | Barrow | Stalybridge Celtic |
| 2001–02 | Barrow | Worksop Town | Accrington Stanley |
| 2002–03 | Stalybridge Celtic | Hucknall Town | Accrington Stanley |
| 2003–04 | Barrow | Hyde United | Droylsden |
| 2004–05 | Bamber Bridge | Kidsgrove Athletic | Hyde United |
| 2005–06 | Bradford Park Avenue | Blyth Spartans | Blyth Spartans |
| 2006–07 | Buxton | Guiseley | Burscough |
| 2007–08 | FC United of Manchester | Retford United | Fleetwood Town |
| 2008–09 | Trafford | Durham City | Eastwood Town |
| 2009–10 | Belper Town | Mickleover Sports | Guiseley |
| 2010–11 | Lancaster City | - | FC Halifax Town |
| 2011–12 | - | - | Chester |
| 2012–13 | - | - | Skelmersdale United |
| 2013–14 | - | - | Halesowen Town |
See also
- Isthmian League
- Southern League
References
^ ab "The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier History". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Vote For East/West Split". Pitchero.com. 9 March 2018.
^ Allcock, Alan (2 May 2010). "Evo-Stik New Sponsors From 2010–2011". The Evo-Stik League Website. Pitch Hero Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
^ Kirkbride, Philip (1 May 2010). "Northern Premier League secures new sponsor". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
^ Watters, David (18 May 2012). "Sponsor commits to three more years on night of national honours and celebration". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero Ltd. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
^ Watters, David (22 December 2013). "Christmas comes early for League!". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero Ltd. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
^ "Evo-Stik Continue Northern Premier League Backing". Pitchero.com. 17 June 2017.
^ "CUP WINNERS CHALLENGE CUP". The UniBond League. Archived from the original on 23 July 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
^ Snee, Tom (22 June 2011). "League Statement: President's Cup". The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier. Pitch Hero. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
External links
- Official website
