2020–21 North West Counties Football League
The 2020–21 North West Counties Football League season was the 39th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the third season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams are divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 for season 2020–21 were announced by the Football Association on 21 July,[1] and were subject to appeal. On 6 August, it was announced by the League that the season would start no earlier than Saturday 3 October.[2] The season was later suspended in December as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. It was subsequently abandoned on 24 February 2021.[3]
Premier Division
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
The Premier Division comprised 20 teams, the same set of teams which competed in the previous season's aborted competition.
Rylands changed its name to Warrington Rylands 1906.[4]
Premier Division table
Prior to the first match(es) being played the Pos column shows alphanumeric sequence of teams rather than league position.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avro | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 9 | +14 | 16 | |
| 2 | Warrington Rylands (P) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 13 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One West |
| 3 | Northwich Victoria | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 13 | |
| 4 | Irlam | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 12 | |
| 5 | Runcorn Town | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 11 | |
| 6 | Hanley Town | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 11 | Transfer to the Midland League |
| 7 | Winsford United | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 10 | |
| 8 | Congleton Town | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 10 | |
| 9 | Bootle (P) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 9 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One West |
| 10 | 1874 Northwich (P) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 9 | |
| 11 | Burscough | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | |
| 12 | Padiham | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 7 | |
| 13 | Longridge Town | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 6 | |
| 14 | Ashton Athletic | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 16 | −6 | 6 | |
| 15 | Whitchurch Alport | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 6 | Transfer to the Midland League |
| 16 | Barnoldswick Town | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 26 | −15 | 6 | |
| 17 | Charnock Richard | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 4 | |
| 18 | Skelmersdale United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 3 | |
| 19 | Squires Gate | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 29 | −14 | 3 | |
| 20 | Litherland REMYCA | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 16 | −9 | 1 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
(P) Promoted
Premier Division results
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium |
|---|---|
| 1874 Northwich | Townfield (groundshare with Barnton) |
| Ashton Athletic | Brockstedes Park |
| Avro | Whitebank Stadium, Oldham |
| Barnoldswick Town | Greenberfield Lane |
| Bootle | New Bucks Park |
| Burscough | Victoria Park |
| Charnock Richard | Mossie Park |
| Congleton Town | Ivy Gardens |
| Hanley Town | Abbey Lane |
| Irlam | Silver Street |
| Litherland REMYCA | Litherland Sports Park |
| Longridge Town | Mike Riding Ground |
| Northwich Victoria | Wincham Park (groundshare with Witton Albion) |
| Padiham | Arbories Memorial Sports Ground |
| Runcorn Town | Pavilions Sports Complex |
| Skelmersdale United | Valerie Park |
| Squires Gate | School Road |
Warrington Rylands |
Gorsey Lane |
| Whitchurch Alport | Yockings Park |
| Winsford United | Barton Stadium |
Division One North
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Division One North comprised 19 clubs, 18 of which were in the division the previous season.
- Shelley resigned shortly before the season began[6]
- Emley AFC was transferred back to the Northern Counties East League, having spent just one season in this league
- Bury AFC
Division One North table
Prior to the first match(es) being played the Pos column shows alphabetic sequence of teams rather than league position.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bury AFC
|
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 16 | |
| 2 | Lower Breck (P) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 12 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 3 | AFC Darwen
|
7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 12 | |
| 4 | Cleator Moor Celtic | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 12 | |
| 5 | AFC Liverpool (P) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 10 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 6 | Prestwich Heys (P)
|
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 9 | +4 | 10 | |
| 7 | Steeton | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 10 | |
| 8 | Golcar United | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 15 | −1 | 10 | |
| 9 | Ashton Town
|
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 18 | −4 | 10 | |
| 10 | Bacup Borough | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 9 | |
| 11 | Garstang | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 19 | −5 | 9 | |
| 12 | Pilkington | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 8 | |
| 13 | AFC Blackpool | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 6 | |
| 14 | Chadderton | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 19 | −7 | 5 | |
| 15 | Holker Old Boys | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 3 | |
| 16 | Atherton LR | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 3 | |
| 17 | Nelson | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 19 | −8 | 3 | |
| 18 | Daisy Hill | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 18 | −11 | 3 | |
| 19 | St Helens Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 1 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
(P) Promoted
Division One North results
Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2020–21 North West Counties Football League Division One North teams
