2025–26 North West Counties Football League

The 2025–26 North West Counties Football League season is the 44th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and First Divisions North and South, at Step 6.

The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 this season were announced by The Football Association on 15 May 2025,[1] and were subject to appeals and FA ratification.

Premier Division

North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2025–26
Teams24
Top goalscorerLewis-Simon Byrne
(Chadderton)
(52 goals)
All statistics correct as of 14 March 2026.

The Premier Division comprises 24 teams.

The following four clubs left the Premier Division before the season:

The following four clubs joined the Premier Division before the season:

League Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Wythenshawe 39 28 4 7 99 46 +53 88 Promotion to the Northern Premier
League Division One West
2 Ramsbottom United 40 26 9 5 92 41 +51 87 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Chadderton 40 26 5 9 117 57 +60 83
4 Atherton Laburnum Rovers 39 25 3 11 79 42 +37 78
5 Padiham 40 24 4 12 90 55 +35 76
6 Irlam 40 23 6 11 96 57 +39 75
7 Prestwich Heys 40 20 10 10 73 40 +33 70
8 West Didsbury & Chorlton 39 22 3 14 83 57 +26 69
9 FC St Helens 39 19 11 9 76 47 +29 68
10 Burscough 41 20 5 16 70 51 +19 65
11 Stockport Town 41 18 10 13 68 58 +10 64
12 Charnock Richard 41 16 7 18 93 74 +19 55
13 Longridge Town 39 15 8 16 72 74 −2 53
14 South Liverpool 41 15 8 18 65 77 −12 53
15 Glossop North End 41 15 7 19 61 68 −7 52
16 AFC Liverpool 38 14 8 16 70 69 +1 50
17 Euxton Villa 39 11 13 15 54 67 −13 46
18 Cheadle Town 40 12 10 18 55 69 −14 46
19 Barnoldswick Town 39 11 8 20 59 93 −34 41
20 FC Isle of Man 39 10 8 21 61 95 −34 38
21 Abbey Hey 42 9 6 27 60 100 −40 33
22 Pilkington 41 9 3 29 49 124 −75 30
23 Litherland REMYCA 39 4 5 30 39 96 −57 17 Relegation to First Division North or
First Division South
24 City of Liverpool 41 4 5 32 37 161 −124 17
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: NWCFL Tables Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]

Results Table

Home \ Away ABB ALV ALR BAR BUR CHA CHR CHT CLV EUX FSH GNE IOM IRL LIT LON PAD PIL PRE RAM SLV STO WDC WYT
Abbey Hey 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–7 4–0 1–2 0–3 2–0 1–2 1–3 6–2 1–2 1–2 3–1 2–1 0–1 2–3 0–3 1–2 1–2
AFC Liverpool 3–0 1–3 3–1 2–1 4–1 1–2 2–2 3–4 1–5 2–2 5–1 2–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 1–5
Atherton Laburnum Rovers 0–1 3–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 2–3 3–1 1–4 3–1 3–2 2–1 4–0 2–1 1–3 5–0 0–1 0–1
Barnoldswick Town 2–0 0–7 1–3 1–2 0–6 0–5 3–1 7–0 1–1 3–1 0–3 2–2 2–5 6–1 2–2 1–3 0–0 3–3
Burscough 1–1 1–1 0–3 3–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 1–2 1–2 5–0 3–0 3–0 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–0 5–2 0–3 1–0 1–4
Chadderton 5–1 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 8–0 2–2 4–1 3–6 2–0 1–2 2–3 6–1 1–2 3–3 7–2 1–3 3–2
Charnock Richard 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–1 2–4 5–1 4–2 2–2 1–0 3–5 3–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–2 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–4
Cheadle Town 3–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–3 0–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 1–2 4–2 1–2 0–1
City of Liverpool 2–3 1–3 0–6 1–7 0–9 0–8 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–2 0–6 0–4 2–2 0–3 3–4 0–7 0–8 1–2 1–4 1–2
Euxton Villa 5–4 0–3 2–3 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 3–2 3–3 2–1 3–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–4 0–3
FC St Helens 5–0 1–0 6–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–2 1–2 3–1 1–1 3–0 0–1
Glossop North End 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–3 4–1 2–1 3–1 0–4 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–2 2–2
FC Isle of Man 2–2 5–0 1–5 1–2 0–1 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–0 2–2 2–3 2–2 0–0 2–2 2–3 1–2 4–4 3–2 0–4 1–3 2–1
Irlam 3–2 1–0 3–0 1–2 2–4 6–0 4–1 1–1 4–1 0–1 4–0 4–0 2–0 1–2 2–1 3–2 0–2 0–0 2–4 0–2
Litherland REMYCA 1–3 1–3 1–2 2–5 4–2 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 0–3 0–2 2–3 4–1 0–2 0–3 0–6 1–1 1–2
Longridge Town 1–0 1–2 1–7 3–1 2–0 5–0 4–3 2–1 2–1 2–5 5–1 3–0 4–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–2 0–4 0–1
Padiham 4–1 4–0 2–3 3–1 3–0 3–3 2–0 1–4 0–2 2–0 2–1 3–1 3–3 4–0 4–1 0–2 3–1 1–0 1–2 3–0
Pilkington 2–4 0–4 0–1 3–3 2–6 0–2 0–3 1–2 1–3 0–3 3–2 2–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 5–3 1–10 0–1 1–6 1–2 0–5
Prestwich Heys 6–0 0–0 0–2 0–2 3–3 1–1 7–0 3–1 0–2 5–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–3 3–0 1–0 2–1 1–2
Ramsbottom United 4–0 4–1 2–1 4–1 2–0 2–1 3–2 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 4–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 3–0 3–3 3–1 3–0
South Liverpool 5–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 0–3 2–3 3–0 2–2 1–1 1–2 3–1 0–3 2–1 2–2 1–0 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–3 0–1 1–3
Stockport Town 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–3 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–2 0–3 1–0 1–2 1–2 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–0
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3–1 4–3 0–1 4–0 3–1 2–3 1–4 6–1 3–3 1–1 1–2 3–2 2–5 3–0 3–0 1–2 2–5 4–0 1–3 0–1
Wythenshawe 3–1 3–1 3–3 3–0 3–1 3–1 3–0 1–3 11–1 2–0 1–4 1–1 4–0 6–2 6–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: NWCFL League Results Grid
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Locations of the 2025–26 North West Counties Football League Premier Division teams
Locations of 2025–26 North West Counties Premier Division teams (Greater Manchester)
Locations of 2025–26 North West Counties Football League (Merseyside)
Locations of 2025–26 North West Counties Premier Division team (Isle of Man)
Team Stadium Location
Abbey Hey The Abbey Stadium Manchester (Gorton)
AFC Liverpool Rossett Park (groundshare with Marine) Crosby
Atherton Laburnum Rovers Crilly Park Atherton
Barnoldswick Town Greenberfield Lane Barnoldswick
Burscough The Community Stadium Burscough
Chadderton MCA Stadium Chadderton
Charnock Richard Mossie Park Charnock Richard
Cheadle Town Park Road Stadium Cheadle
City of Liverpool The Community Stadium Burscough
Euxton Villa Jim Fowler Memorial Ground Euxton
FC Isle of Man The Bowl Douglas
FC St Helens Windleshaw Sports St Helens
Glossop North End Surrey Street Glossop
Irlam Silver Street Salford (Irlam)
Litherland REMYCA Litherland Sports Park Litherland
Longridge Town Mike Riding Ground Longridge
Padiham Arbories Memorial Sports Ground Padiham
Pilkington Ruskin Drive Sportsground St Helens
Prestwich Heys Adie Moran Park Whitefield
Ramsbottom United Harry Williams Riverside Stadium Ramsbottom
South Liverpool Jericho Lane Liverpool (Otterspool)
Stockport Town Stockport Sports Village Stockport (Woodley)
West Didsbury & Chorlton Brookburn Road Manchester (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Wythenshawe Hollyhedge Park Manchester (Sharston)

First Division North

The First Division North comprises 18 teams.

The following four clubs left the First Division North before the season:

The following four clubs joined the First Division North before the season:

League Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Droylsden 28 17 4 7 62 37 +25 55 Promotion to the Premier Division
2 Nelson 27 16 6 5 55 41 +14 54 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Squires Gate 30 14 6 10 57 50 +7 48
4 MSB Woolton 28 13 8 7 53 43 +10 47
5 Maghull 30 13 8 9 62 53 +9 47
6 Darwen 29 12 9 8 52 44 +8 45
7 Thornton Cleveleys 30 13 5 12 63 59 +4 44
8 Holker Old Boys 27 12 7 8 51 37 +14 43
9 Bacup Borough 28 11 9 8 51 52 −1 42
10 Fulwood Amateurs 30 11 6 13 61 57 +4 39
11 Ashton Town 27 11 6 10 35 35 0 39
12 Daisy Hill 29 9 9 11 55 60 −5 36
13 Steeton 29 9 8 12 44 51 −7 35
14 AFC Blackpool 30 10 5 15 41 53 −12 35
15 Colne 28 6 11 11 49 57 −8 29
16 Ashton Athletic 30 8 3 19 40 63 −23 27 Possible relegation to
a feeder league
17 Garstang 28 6 9 13 42 66 −24 27
18 Maine Road 28 6 3 19 46 61 −15 21
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. 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[2]

Results Table

Home \ Away ABL ASA AST BAC COL DAI DAR DRO FUL GAR HOL MAG MAI MSB NEL SQU STE THO
AFC Blackpool 2–0 3–0 2–0 2–2 2–4 1–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–2
Ashton Athletic 1–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–4 3–0 1–2 0–2 2–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 3–2 3–1
Ashton Town 1–0 1–3 0–1 2–2 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 2–1 4–2
Bacup Borough 2–4 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–2 5–2 4–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–2 1–1
Colne 5–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–1 0–3 2–5 2–0 3–2 3–3 0–2 2–2 2–4
Daisy Hill 4–1 0–1 3–1 3–2 2–3 2–2 2–2 3–3 2–2 0–3 0–1 2–1 2–0 3–5
Darwen 0–2 3–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 2–3 1–1 4–0 3–3 5–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 0–0
Droylsden 2–0 3–1 6–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 2–0 1–3 0–2
Fulwood Amateurs 4–0 3–0 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–2 4–3 2–2 1–4 3–0 4–2 2–1 1–4 5–2 0–2
Garstang 3–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–7 2–2 6–1 2–2 0–4 1–7
Holker Old Boys 2–2 2–0 0–1 3–0 2–2 1–2 3–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 5–0 0–1 1–2 3–1
Maghull 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–0 1–1 4–3 0–3 2–1 1–0 5–1 2–2 7–0 2–0
Maine Road 2–1 4–0 1–3 0–1 3–3 2–4 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 5–0 4–5 1–4 1–1 3–0
MSB Woolton 2–0 2–1 4–3 3–3 2–2 4–1 3–1 3–1 0–0 4–2 1–1 3–1 0–1 2–1
Nelson 2–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 4–2 2–2 4–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–1
Squires Gate 3–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 2–3 2–1 3–0 5–3 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 3–5 2–1 0–2
Steeton 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–4 5–2 1–1 1–2 1–6 0–0 2–2 1–3 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–2
Thornton Cleveleys 3–2 3–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–3 3–7 3–3 1–0 3–2 5–2 5–2 1–0 1–2 0–2
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: NWCFL League Results Grid
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations


Locations of the 2025–26 North West Counties Football League First Division North teams
Locations of 2025–26 North West Counties Premier Division teams (Greater Manchester)
Team Stadium Location
AFC Blackpool The Mechanics Blackpool
Ashton Athletic Brockstedes Park Wigan (Ashton-in-Makerfield)
Ashton Town Edge Green Street Wigan (Ashton-in-Makerfield)
Bacup Borough West View Bacup
Colne Holt House Colne
Daisy Hill New Sirs Westhoughton
Darwen The Anchor Ground Darwen
Droylsden Butcher's Arms Ground Droylsden
Fulwood Amateurs Lightfoot Green Preston (Fulwood)
Garstang The Riverside Garstang
Holker Old Boys Rakesmoor Lane Barrow-in-Furness
Maghull Old Hall Field Liverpool
Maine Road Brantingham Road Manchester
MSB Woolton Jericho Lane Liverpool
Nelson Victoria Park Nelson
Squires Gate Brian Addison Stadium Blackpool
Steeton Marley Stadium Keighley
Thornton Cleveleys Gamble Road Thornton-Cleveleys

First Division South

The First Division South comprises 19 teams.

The following two clubs left First Division South before the season:

The following three clubs joined the First Division South before the season:

League Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Runcorn Town (T) 28 24 3 1 95 20 +75 75 Promotion to the Midland League
2 Eccleshall 28 19 4 5 65 27 +38 61 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Stockport Georgians 30 17 9 4 70 38 +32 60
4 New Mills 30 14 9 7 59 33 +26 51
5 Ashville 31 14 9 8 51 37 +14 51
6 Stafford Town 31 14 8 9 72 51 +21 50
7 Sandbach United 31 15 5 11 54 39 +15 50
8 Telford Town 29 14 6 9 50 51 −1 48
9 Barnton 30 11 8 11 48 46 +2 41
10 Allscott Heath 31 9 10 12 56 59 −3 37
11 Cheadle Heath Nomads 28 10 6 12 43 48 −5 36
12 Cammell Laird 1907 28 9 5 14 38 51 −13 32
13 Wolverhampton Casuals 28 9 4 15 45 60 −15 31
14 Foley Meir 26 8 5 13 41 51 −10 29
15 Market Drayton Town 30 6 8 16 39 69 −30 26
16 Shawbury United 29 6 3 20 32 86 −54 21
17 Alsager Town 28 5 5 18 32 56 −24 20 Possible relegation to
a feeder league
18 Haughmond 30 4 3 23 47 115 −68 15
19 Wolverhampton Sporting (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrawn (Record Expunged)[a]
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. 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[2]
(R) Relegated; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated
Notes:
  1. ^ On 5 February 2026, Wolverhampton Sporting Community withdrew from the league, and their record of P21 W1 D2 L21 GF23 GA90 was expunged.[3]

Results Table

Home \ Away ALL ALS ASH BAR CAM CHN ECC FOL HAU MDR NEW RUN SAN SHA STA STG TEL WLC
Allscott Heath 3–3 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–6 2–1 2–2 0–3 0–4 1–1 3–3 0–1 0–1 1–1
Alsager Town 2–2 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–3 0–1 0–3 4–3 1–2 0–4 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–1 0–1
Ashville 3–0 2–1 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 3–2 1–0 0–2 1–1 4–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–1
Barnton 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–0 0–3 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–2
Cammell Laird 1907 2–0 0–5 3–3 0–2 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–3 2–5 1–0 1–4 0–1 1–1 4–1
Cheadle Heath Nomads 1–4 0–2 0–1 0–2 3–1 1–2 3–0 7–0 2–3 2–1 0–1 2–0 3–2 3–2 2–1
Eccleshall 1–0 3–1 1–0 3–1 2–1 6–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 5–0
Foley Meir 2–3 2–1 2–4 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–5 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–2
Haughmond 0–5 2–2 4–3 1–2 5–0 3–3 1–4 1–5 3–5 2–4 1–9 1–6 1–4 2–3
Market Drayton Town 1–3 1–4 0–3 2–1 0–1 0–0 5–2 0–4 0–7 0–4 3–3 3–3 3–1 2–2 2–2
New Mills 1–3 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 8–0 3–1 0–1 1–0 7–0 0–0 0–1 3–2
Runcorn Town 3–2 0–0 2–1 4–3 5–1 4–0 2–2 1–2 6–0 6–1 3–1 12–0 4–0
Sandbach United 4–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 0–1 0–2 2–1 2–1 2–3 6–0 0–1
Shawbury United 0–6 2–3 0–3 0–3 2–1 1–1 0–5 1–3 3–2 2–0 0–2 1–0 2–6 1–3 2–5
Stafford Town 2–2 3–0 2–3 4–1 3–0 1–3 2–0 3–2 2–2 3–0 1–2 1–3 2–2 5–0 4–6 1–3
Stockport Georgians 3–3 3–1 4–1 0–0 2–1 4–1 2–2 5–1 5–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 1–1 2–2 4–4
Telford Town 2–1 0–3 2–2 3–2 4–1 0–1 3–0 1–0 0–1 3–0 1–2 0–2 0–2 3–2
Wolverhampton Casuals 1–2 4–1 3–1 3–0 0–2 1–3 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–3 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–5
Updated to match(es) played on 21 March 2026. Source: NWCFL League Results Grid
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Locations of the 2025–26 North West Counties Football League First Division South teams in the North West
Locations of the 2025–26 North West Counties Football League First Division South teams in the West Midlands
Team Stadium Location
Allscott Heath Allscott Sports & Social Club Allscott
Alsager Town Wood Park Stadium Alsager
Ashville Villa Park Wallasey
Barnton Townfield Barnton
Cammell Laird 1907 Kirklands Birkenhead
Cheadle Heath Nomads The Heath Cheadle
Eccleshall Pershall Park Stafford
Foley Meir Whitcombe Road Stoke-on-Trent (Meir)
Haughmond Shrewsbury Sports Village Shrewsbury
Market Drayton Town Greenfields Sports Ground Market Drayton
New Mills Church Lane High Peak
Runcorn Town Pavilions Sports Complex Runcorn
Sandbach United Sandbach Community Football Centre Sandbach
Shawbury United New Meadow Community 3G Shawbury
Stafford Town Evans Park Stafford
Stockport Georgians Cromley Road Stockport (Woodsmoor)
Telford Town DRM Aggregates Arena Telford
Wolverhampton Casuals Brinsford Lane Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Sporting Pride Park Great Wyrley

League Challenge Cup (The Macron Cup)

The 2025–26 NWCFL League Challenge Cup (known for sponsorship reasons as The Macron Cup) was open to all 61 clubs from the Premier and First Divisions North & South (indicated in the results listings below by '(PD)', '(FDN)' and '(FDS)' respectively).

The cup holders, Charnock Richard, together with the two highest-ranked clubs in the 2024–25 Premier Division that didn't achieve promotion, Ramsbottom United and Padiham, were allocated byes to the second round. For the first two rounds clubs were drawn into four regional groupings: Group 1 comprised sixteen all First Division South clubs; Group 2 included fifteen clubs one of whom, Padiham, were in receipt of a first round bye; Group 3 originally comprised fifteen clubs[4] including cup holders Charnock Richard with a first round bye however, owing to the non-participation of FC Isle of Man in the competition Maghull also passed directly to the second round; Group 4 comprised fifteen clubs including Ramsbottom United with a bye to the second round.[5]

First round

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
Group One
1 Allscott Heath (FDS) 2–1 Alsager Town (FDS)
2 Ashville (FDS) 0–1 Foley Meir (FDS)
3 Eccleshall (FDS) 3–1 Market Drayton Town (FDS)
4 Runcorn Town (FDS) 1–0 Barnton (FDS)
5 Sandbach United (FDS) 4–0 Haughmond (FDS)
6 Shawbury United (FDS) 0–2 Wolverhampton Casuals (FDS)
7 Stafford Town (FDS) 1–1 (4–5 p) Cammell Laird 1907 (FDS)
8 Telford Town (FDS) 7–1 Wolverhampton Sporting (FDS)
Group Two
9 Bacup Borough (FDN) 0–0 (3–5 p) AFC Blackpool (FDN)
10 Darwen (FDN) 0–0 (3–4 p) Garstang (FDN)
11 Euxton Villa (PD) 5–0 Holker Old Boys (FDN)
12 Fulwood Amateurs (FDN) 1–1 (3–4 p) Nelson (FDN)
13 Longridge Town (PD) 1–3 Barnoldswick Town (PD)
14 Squires Gate (FDN) 2–4 Colne (FDN)
15 Thornton Cleveleys (FDN) 4–0 Steeton (FDN)
Group Three
16 AFC Liverpool (PD) 3–1 South Liverpool (PD)
17 Ashton Athletic (FDN) 2–3 FC St Helens (PD)
18 Ashton Town (FDN) 3–4 City of Liverpool (PD)
19 Daisy Hill (FDN) 0–0 (2–4 p) Burscough (PD)
20 Litherland REMYCA (PD) 2–2 (2–4 p) MSB Woolton (FDN)
21 Pilkington (PD) 0–1 Atherton Laburnum Rovers (PD)
Group Four
22 Abbey Hey (PD) 2–1 Stockport Georgians (FDS)
23 Cheadle Town (PD) 3–2 Glossop North End (PD)
24 Droylsden (FDN) 1–2 Maine Road (FDN)
25 Irlam (PD) 0–3 Chadderton (PD)
26 Stockport Town (PD) 2–3 Prestwich Heys (PD)
27 West Didsbury & Chorlton (PD) 4–0 Cheadle Heath Nomads (FDS)
28 Wythenshawe (PD) 1–2 New Mills (FDS)

Second round

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
Group One
1 Cammell Laird 1907 (FDS) 3–2 Wolverhampton Casuals (FDS)
2 Eccleshall (FDS) 1–3 Telford Town (FDS)
3 Foley Meir (FDS) 0–5 Sandbach United (FDS)
4 Runcorn Town (FDS) 1–0 Allscott Heath (FDS)
Group Two
5 AFC Blackpool (FDN) 3–0 Barnoldswick Town (PD)
6 Colne (FDN) 1–3 Euxton Villa (PD)
7 Garstang (FDN) 2–3 Thornton Cleveleys (FDN)
8 Padiham (PD) 0–6 Nelson (FDN)
Group Three
9 AFC Liverpool (PD) 3–1 Maghull (FDN)
10 Atherton Laburnum Rovers (PD) 1–1 (3–5 p) Burscough (PD)
11 City of Liverpool (PD) 2–2 (1–3 p) Charnock Richard (PD)
12 FC St Helens (PD) 0–2 MSB Woolton (FDN)
Group Four
13 New Mills (FDS) 0–1 Chadderton (PD)
14 Maine Road (FDN) 1–2 Cheadle Town (PD)
15 Ramsbottom United (PD) 3–2 Prestwich Heys (PD)
16 West Didsbury & Chorlton (PD) 4–0 Abbey Hey (PD)

Third round

From this round onwards the competition was no longer organised in regional groups. The draw comprised 8 (from an initial 23 participating) Premier Division, 4 (from 18) First Division North and 4 (from 19) First Division South clubs.

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
1 Burscough (PD) 3–1 AFC Blackpool (FDN)
2 Cammell Laird 1907 (FDS) 1–3 AFC Liverpool (PD)
3 Cheadle Town (PD) 2–1 Chadderton (PD)
4 Euxton Villa (PD) 3–3 (4–3 p) Charnock Richard (PD)
5 MSB Woolton (FDN) 0–5 Thornton Cleveleys (FDN)
6 Ramsbottom United (PD) 1–2 West Didsbury & Chorlton (PD)
7 Sandbach United (FDS) 1–3 Nelson (FDN)
8 Telford Town (FDS) 4–0 Runcorn Town (FDS)

Quarter-finals

The quarter-final draw comprised 5 Premier Division, 2 First Division North and 1 First Division South clubs. In the only all First Division level tie Nelson heavily defeated Telford Town 10–1.

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
1 AFC Liverpool (PD) 3–0 Euxton Villa (PD)
2 Burscough (PD) 4–0 Cheadle Town (PD)
3 Nelson (FDN) 10–1 Telford Town (FDS)
4 West Didsbury & Chorlton (PD) 1–1 (4–2 p) Thornton Cleveleys (FDN)

Semi-finals

The semi-final draw comprised 3 Premier Division and 1 First Division North clubs.

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
1 AFC Liverpool (PD) v Nelson (FDN)
2 West Didsbury & Chorlton (PD) v Burscough (PD)

Final

v

First Division Cup (The Edward Case Cup)

The 2025–26 NWCFL First Division Cup (known as The Edward Case Cup, the name of the trophy) was open to all 37 clubs from the First Divisions North and South.

Until the quarter-finals the competition was organised in North and South sections (per the divisions). It commenced with a preliminary round for ten clubs (4 North and 6 South First Division clubs) which comprised the four newly promoted and those with lowest league positions from the 2024–25 season.[6]

Preliminary round

Tie Home team Score Away team
North Group
1 Steeton 0–3 Fulwood Amateurs
2 MSB Woolton 5–1 Garstang
South Group
3 Shawbury United 1–3 Wolverhampton Sporting
4 Foley Meir 3–2 Allscott Heath
5 Telford Town 6–0 Haughmond

First round

Tie Home team Score Away team
North Group
1 Ashton Town 4–1 Fulwood Amateurs
2 Bacup Borough 1–0 Holker Old Boys
3 Daisy Hill 2–0 Ashton Athletic
4 Darwen 4–0 Colne
5 Droylsden 1–3 AFC Blackpool
6 Nelson 2–1 MSB Woolton
7 Squires Gate 0–2 Maghull
8 Thornton Cleveleys 1–2 Maine Road
South Group
9 Alsager Town 2–4 Sandbach United
10 Ashville 2–1 Wolverhampton Casuals
11 Foley Meir 1–4 Stockport Georgians
12 New Mills 2–3 Cheadle Heath Nomads
13 Runcorn Town 1–1 (4–3 p) Cammell Laird 1907
14 Stafford Town 5–2 Market Drayton Town
15 Telford Town 1–1 (4–3 p) Eccleshall
16 Wolverhampton Sporting 1–1 (2–4 p)

Barnton

Second round

Tie Home team Score Away team
North Group
1 Ashton Town 2–3 Darwen
2 Daisy Hill x–W Nelson
Match awarded to Nelson (original result 3-2 to Daisy Hill)
3 Maghull 2–2 (5–4 p) Bacup Borough
4 Maine Road 0–0 (4–2 p) AFC Blackpool
South Group
5 Barnton 2–0 Ashville
6 Runcorn Town 2–1 Stafford Town
7 Sandbach United 2–1 Cheadle Heath Nomads
8 Telford Town x–W Stockport Georgians
Match awarded to Stockport Georgians (original result 3-0 to Telford Town)

Quarter-finals

This round saw the end of the separation of clubs into North and South groups. Clubs from First Divisions North and South are indicated by '(N)' and '(S)' respectively in the results listings below.

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
1 Barnton (S) 2–2 (2–4 p) Darwen (N)
2 Maghull (N) 4–5 Stockport Georgians (S)
3 Nelson (N) 1–1 (4–2 p) Maine Road (N)
4 Sandbach United (S) 1–2 Runcorn Town (S)

Semi-finals

Both ties featured clubs from each of the North and South Divisions.

Tie Home team (division) Score Away team (division)
1 Darwen (N) 1–0 Stockport Georgians (S)
2 Nelson (N) 0–2 Runcorn Town (S)

Final

Darwen (N) v Runcorn Town (S)

References

  1. ^ "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 2–6 in 2025–26 term". The FA. 15 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
  3. ^ Fallon, Martin (5 February 2026). "Wolverhampton Sporting Community withdraw from NWCFL". North West Counties Football League. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  4. ^ "NWCFL 2025/26 Cup Information". The NWCFL. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  5. ^ "2025–26 Macron Challenge Cup First Round Draw". The NWCFL. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  6. ^ "2025–26 Edward Case Cup Preliminary and First Round Draws". The NWCFL. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.