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The 2021–22 North West Counties Football League season was the 40th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the fourth 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 this season were announced by The Football Association on 18 May 2021,[1] and were subject to appeal. On 8 April, it was announced at the league's Management Committee meeting that the season would start no earlier than Saturday 31 July.[2] The league constitution was adopted on 12 June.[3]
After the abandonment of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, numerous promotions were decided on a points per game basis over the previous two seasons.[4][5][6]
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Macclesfield |
| Promoted | Macclesfield Skelmersdale United |
| Relegated | Runcorn Town |
| Biggest home win | Charnock Richard 9-1 Ashton Athletic (August 14) |
| Biggest away win | Winsford United 1-7 Irlam (August 30), Vauxhall Motors 0-6 Macclesfield (February 22) |
| Highest scoring | Charnock Richard 9-1 Ashton Athletic (August 14) AFC Liverpool 4-6 Burscough (October 9) |
← 2020–21 2022–23 → | |
The Premier Division comprises 21 teams, 15 of which competed in the previous season's aborted competition.
The following five clubs left the Premier Division before the season:
- 1874 Northwich – promoted to the Northern Premier League
- Bootle – promoted to the Northern Premier League
- Hanley Town – transferred to the Midland League
- Warrington Rylands – promoted to the Northern Premier League
- Whitchurch Alport – transferred to the Midland League
The following six clubs joined the Premier Division before the season:
- AFC Liverpool – promoted from Division One North
- Lower Breck – promoted from Division One North
- Macclesfield – a newly formed phoenix club
- Prestwich Heys – promoted from Division One North
- Vauxhall Motors – promoted from Division One South
- Wythenshawe Town – promoted from Division One South
Congleton Town's initial transfer laterally to the Midland League was successfully appealed and this move was reversed.[7]
Premier Division table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macclesfield (C, P) | 40 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 94 | 38 | +56 | 94 | Promotion to the NPL Division One West |
| 2 | Skelmersdale United (O, P) | 40 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 94 | 51 | +43 | 79 | Qualification for an inter-step play-off[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | Wythenshawe Town | 40 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 83 | 43 | +40 | 78 | |
| 4 | Charnock Richard | 40 | 24 | 6 | 10 | 106 | 69 | +37 | 78 | |
| 5 | Northwich Victoria | 40 | 19 | 6 | 15 | 74 | 64 | +10 | 63 | |
| 6 | Avro | 40 | 18 | 8 | 14 | 68 | 62 | +6 | 62 | |
| 7 | Burscough | 40 | 17 | 8 | 15 | 69 | 62 | +7 | 59 | |
| 8 | Vauxhall Motors | 40 | 18 | 5 | 17 | 63 | 77 | −14 | 59 | |
| 9 | Congleton Town | 40 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 58 | |
| 10 | Irlam | 40 | 17 | 6 | 17 | 62 | 68 | −6 | 57 | |
| 11 | Winsford United | 40 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 54 | |
| 12 | Longridge Town | 40 | 15 | 7 | 18 | 74 | 83 | −9 | 52 | |
| 13 | Padiham | 40 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 57 | 65 | −8 | 50 | |
| 14 | AFC Liverpool | 40 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 80 | 80 | 0 | 49 | |
| 15 | Barnoldswick Town | 40 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 63 | 72 | −9 | 47 | |
| 16 | Prestwich Heys | 40 | 13 | 6 | 21 | 59 | 79 | −20 | 45 | |
| 17 | Squires Gate | 40 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 52 | 65 | −13 | 44 | |
| 18 | Ashton Athletic | 40 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 65 | 97 | −32 | 43 | |
| 19 | Lower Breck | 40 | 12 | 6 | 22 | 63 | 89 | −26 | 42 | |
| 20 | Litherland REMYCA | 40 | 10 | 3 | 27 | 54 | 89 | −35 | 33 | Reprieve from relegation[lower-alpha 2] |
| 21 | Runcorn Town (R) | 40 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 53 | 93 | −40 | 27 | Relegation to Division One North |
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[11]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[11]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Contested a one-off inter-step play-off match as one of the bottom six runners-up from Step 5 with the most points per game (PPG) against a third-from-bottom club out of six from Step 4 with the fewest PPG. The winner rose to Step 4 for the 2022–23 season, while the loser dropped to Step 5.[8] If a runner-up did not meet the minimum participation criteria, a club in the next eligible position between second and seventh would have played instead.[9]
- Reprieved as one of twelve clubs with the most PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom at Step 5.[10]
Inter-step play-offs
| 30 April 2022 | Cinderford Town | 1–5 | Skelmersdale United | Causeway Ground, Cinderford |
| 15:00 (UTC+01:00) | Drew  80' |
Howard 33', 47', 88', 90+3' Conteh 65' |
Attendance: 360 |
Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2021–22 North West Counties Football League Premier Division teams
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Liverpool | Crosby | Rossett Park |
| Ashton Athletic | Ashton-in-Makerfield | Brockstedes Park |
| Avro | Oldham | Whitebank Stadium |
| Barnoldswick Town | Barnoldswick | Greenberfield Lane |
| Burscough | Burscough | Victoria Park |
| Charnock Richard | Charnock Richard | Mossie Park |
| Congleton Town | Congleton | Ivy Gardens |
| Irlam | Irlam | Silver Street |
| Litherland REMYCA | Litherland | Litherland Sports Park |
| Longridge Town | Longridge | Mike Riding Ground |
| Lower Breck | Liverpool | Anfield Sports and Community Centre |
| Macclesfield | Macclesfield | Moss Rose |
| Northwich Victoria | Wincham | Wincham Park |
| Padiham | Padiham | Arbories Memorial Sports Ground |
| Prestwich Heys | Prestwich | Adie Moran Park |
| Runcorn Town | Runcorn | Pavilions Sports Complex |
| Skelmersdale United | Skelmersdale | Valerie Park |
| Squires Gate | Squires Gate | School Road |
| Warrington Rylands | Warrington | Gorsey Lane |
| Vauxhall Motors | Ellesmere Port | Rivacre Park |
| Winsford United | Winsford | St Luke's Barton Stadium |
| Wythenshawe Town | Wythenshawe | Ericstan Stadium |
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bury AFC |
| Promoted | Bury AFC Golcar United |
| Relegated | St Helens Town |
← 2020–21 2022–23 → | |
Division One North comprises 19 clubs, 16 of which were in the division the previous season.
The following three clubs left Division One North before the season, three promoted to the Premier Division:
The following three clubs joined Division One North before the season:
- Campion – transferred from the Northern Counties East League
- Ilkley Town – promoted from the West Yorkshire League
- South Liverpool – promoted from the West Cheshire League
FC Isle of Man appealed for a move to Division One South for logistical reasons after the initial allocation to this division and the club's request was granted.[3]
Division One North table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bury AFC (C, P) | 36 | 27 | 8 | 1 | 92 | 32 | +60 | 89 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Holker Old Boys | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 74 | 35 | +39 | 78 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Golcar United (O, P) | 36 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 81 | 65 | +16 | 66 | |
| 4 | AFC Blackpool | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 78 | 59 | +19 | 58 | |
| 5 | Nelson | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 78 | 65 | +13 | 58 | |
| 6 | Pilkington | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 76 | 78 | −2 | 56 | |
| 7 | Bacup Borough | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 78 | 54 | +24 | 54 | |
| 8 | Daisy Hill | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 69 | 66 | +3 | 51 | |
| 9 | Cleator Moor Celtic | 36 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 84 | 75 | +9 | 49[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 10 | Garstang | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 76 | 70 | +6 | 49 | |
| 11 | Chadderton | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 54 | 61 | −7 | 49 | |
| 12 | Steeton | 36 | 14 | 5 | 17 | 78 | 89 | −11 | 47 | |
| 13 | South Liverpool | 36 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 57 | 67 | −10 | 45 | |
| 14 | Ashton Town | 36 | 12 | 5 | 19 | 60 | 79 | −19 | 41 | |
| 15 | Ilkley Town | 36 | 12 | 4 | 20 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 40 | |
| 16 | Campion | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 69 | 75 | −6 | 40 | Transfer to the Northern Counties East League |
| 17 | AFC Darwen | 36 | 12 | 3 | 21 | 68 | 92 | −24 | 39 | Reprieve from relegation[lower-alpha 2] |
| 18 | Atherton LR | 36 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 64 | 91 | −27 | 37 | |
| 19 | St Helens Town (R) | 36 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 55 | 138 | −83 | 16 | Relegation to the Liverpool County League |
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[11]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[11]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- All third-from-bottom clubs at Step 6 were reprieved from relegation. The top 15 second-from-bottom sides were also reprieved on a PPG basis.[12]
Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2021–22 North West Counties Football League Division One North teams
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Blackpool | Blackpool | The Mechanics |
| AFC Darwen | Darwen | The Anchor Ground |
| Ashton Town | Ashton-in-Makerfield | Edge Green Street |
| Atherton Laburnum Rovers | Atherton | Crilly Park |
| Bacup Borough | Bacup | West View |
| Bury AFC | Radcliffe | Stainton Park |
| Campion | Bradford | Scotchman Road |
| Chadderton | Chadderton | MCA Stadium |
| Cleator Moor Celtic | Cleator Moor | McGrath Park |
| Daisy Hill | Westhoughton | New Sirs |
| Garstang | Garstang | The Riverside |
| Golcar United | Golcar | Longfield Avenue |
| Holker Old Boys | Barrow-in-Furness | Rakesmoor Lane |
| Ilkley Town | Ilkley | MPM Lane |
| Nelson | Nelson | Victoria Park |
| Pilkington | St Helens | Ruskin Drive Sportsground |
| South Liverpool | Liverpool | Jericho Lane |
| St Helens Town | St Helens | Ruskin Drive Sportsground |
| Steeton | Steeton | Marley Stadium |
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Champions | West Didsbury & Chorlton |
| Promoted | West Didsbury & Chorlton FC Isle of Man |
| Relegated | St Martins |
← 2020–21 2022–23 → | |
Division One South comprises 20 clubs, 16 of which were in the division the previous season.
The following three clubs left Division One South before the season:
- Stone Old Alleynians – promoted to the Midland League
- Vauxhall Motors – promoted to the Premier Division
- Wythenshawe Town – promoted to the Premier Division
The following four clubs joined Division One South before the season, three transferred from the Midland League:
Wem Town, previously allocated from the West Midlands (Regional) League, resigned from this league. To fill the vacancy, FC Isle of Man, returning from membership suspension for the rest of last season and initially assigned to Division One North, requested for a transfer to this division and the FA granted it.
Division One South table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Didsbury & Chorlton (C, P) | 38 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 114 | 29 | +85 | 91 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | FC Isle of Man (O, P) | 38 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 123 | 54 | +69 | 86 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | New Mills | 38 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 112 | 44 | +68 | 84 | |
| 4 | Abbey Hey | 38 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 102 | 39 | +63 | 84 | |
| 5 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 102 | 46 | +56 | 82 | |
| 6 | Maine Road | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 99 | 63 | +36 | 62 | |
| 7 | Cheadle Town | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 87 | 55 | +32 | 60 | |
| 8 | Sandbach United | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 86 | 62 | +24 | 60 | |
| 9 | Cheadle Heath Nomads | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 88 | 86 | +2 | 50 | |
| 10 | Brocton | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 59 | 72 | −13 | 50 | |
| 11 | Stockport Town | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 77 | 57 | +20 | 48 | |
| 12 | Stafford Town | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 60 | 80 | −20 | 47 | |
| 13 | Barnton | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 61 | 78 | −17 | 43 | |
| 14 | Cammell Laird | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 58 | 88 | −30 | 43 | |
| 15 | Ellesmere Rangers | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 73 | 88 | −15 | 42 | |
| 16 | Abbey Hulton United | 38 | 13 | 3 | 22 | 64 | 82 | −18 | 42 | |
| 17 | Eccleshall | 38 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 51 | 82 | −31 | 39 | |
| 18 | Alsager Town | 38 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 47 | 89 | −42 | 29 | Reprieve from relegation[lower-alpha 1] |
| 19 | Rocester | 38 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 48 | 94 | −46 | 29 | |
| 20 | St Martins (R) | 38 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 21 | 244 | −223 | 2 | Relegation to the Shropshire County League Premier Division |
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[11]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[11]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- All third-from-bottom clubs at Step 6 were reprieved from relegation. The top 15 second-from-bottom sides were also reprieved on a PPG basis.[12]
Stadia and locations
Greater Manchester
Locations of the 2021–22 North West Counties Football League Division One South teams
|
Locations of 2021–22 North West Counties Division One South teams (Greater Manchester) |
Locations of 2021–22 North West Counties Division One South teams (Isle of Man)
|
| Team | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Hey | Gorton | The Abbey Stadium |
| Abbey Hulton United | Abbey Hulton | Birches Head Road |
| Alsager Town | Alsager | Wood Park Stadium |
| Barnton | Barnton | Townfield |
| Brocton | Brocton | Silkmore Lane |
| Cammell Laird 1907 | Birkenhead | Kirklands |
| Cheadle Heath Nomads | Stockport | The Heath |
| Cheadle Town | Cheadle | Park Road Stadium |
| Eccleshall | Eccleshall | Pershall Park |
| Ellesmere Rangers | Ellesmere | Beech Grove |
| FC Isle of Man |  Douglas | The Bowl |
| Maine Road | Chorlton-cum-Hardy | Brantingham Road |
| New Mills | New Mills | Church Lane |
| Rocester | Rocester | Hillsfield |
| Sandbach United | Sandbach | Sandbach Community Football Centre |
| St Martins | Oswestry | Park Hall |
| Stafford Town | Stafford | Evans Park |
| Stockport Town | Stockport | Stockport Sports Village |
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | Chorlton-cum-Hardy | Brookburn Road |
| Wythenshawe Amateurs | Wythenshawe | Hollyhedge Park |
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