The 2008–09 was the 41st season for the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the second season for the Northern Premier League Division One North and South.
As continuing part of non-league restructuring, the Division One South temporarily had 20 teams, while the Division One North contained 21, with a targeted number for both of 22 teams. This naturally affected the number of relegation slots available during the season, as the league attempted to enlarge the size of the divisions at the end of the season.
| Competition: | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
| Season: | 2008–09 |
| Winners: | Eastwood Town |
| Promoted: | Eastwood Town Ilkeston Town |
| Relegated: | Cammell Laird Witton Albion Leigh Genesis Prescot Cables |
| Matches: | 465 |
| Total Goals: | 1437 |
| Goals Per Game: | 3.1 |
| Prevseason: | 2007–08 |
| Nextseason: | 2009–10 |
The Premier Division features six new clubs:
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigg Lane (Bury ground share) | 11,840 | ||
| Leigh Sports Village Stadium | 10,000 | ||
| 6,643 | |||
| The Silverlands | 5,200 | ||
| 5,000 | |||
| Watnall Road (Hucknall ground share) | 5,000 | ||
| Hurst Cross | 4,500 | ||
| New Manor Ground | 3,500 | ||
| The Weaver Stadium | 3,500 | ||
| Turnbull Ground | 3,500 | ||
| 3,200 | |||
| Victoria Park | 3,054 | ||
| Nethermoor Park | 3,000 | ||
| The Arriva Stadium | 2,800 | ||
| Grange Lane | 2,700 | ||
| Coronation Park | 2,500 | ||
| Lakeland Radio Stadium | 2,400 | ||
| Causeway Lane | 2,214 | ||
| Westfield Lane | 2,087 | ||
| Ingfield | 2,000 | ||
| Kirklands Stadium | 1,500 |
| Competition: | Northern Premier League Division One North |
| Season: | 2008–09 |
| Winners: | Durham City |
| Promoted: | Durham City Newcastle Blue Star |
| Relegated: | None |
| Matches: | 423 |
| Total Goals: | 1447 |
| Goals Per Game: | 3.4 |
| Prevseason: | 2007–08 |
| Nextseason: | 2009–10 |
The Division One North features six new clubs:
| Competition: | Northern Premier League Division One South |
| Season: | 2008–09 |
| Winners: | Retford United |
| Promoted: | Retford United Stocksbridge Park Steels |
| Relegated: | Gresley Rovers |
| Matches: | 383 |
| Total Goals: | 1243 |
| Goals Per Game: | 3.2 |
| Prevseason: | 2007–08 |
| Nextseason: | 2009–10 |
The Division One South features seven new clubs:
Challenge Cup
Teams from all 3 divisions.
President's Cup
Teams from lower 2 divisions.
Chairman's Cup
Between Champions of NPL Division 1 North and NPL Division 1 South.
| 2009 Peter Swales Shield | |
| Team1: | Eastwood Town |
| Team1score: | 2 |
| Team2: | Durham City |
| Team2score: | 1 |
| Date: | 2 May 2009 |
| Stadium: | Coronation Park[1] |
| City: | Eastwood |
| Referee: | James Hermuzi |
| Attendance: | 202 |
| Previous: | 2008 |
| Next: | 2010 |
The 2009 version of the Peter Swales Shield saw the champions of the 2008–09 NPL Premier Division, Eastwood Town, play against the winners of the 2009 NPL Chairman's Cup, Durham City. Eastwood Town won the match 2–1.[2]