The 2009–10 season was the 42nd season for the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the third season for the Northern Premier League Division One North and South.
For Sponsorship reasons, the leagues were more formally known as the Unibond Premier, Unibond 1st Division North and Unibond 1st Division South
This was the last season that the three Northern Premier League divisions were sponsored by Henkel Unibond, ending a record 17 seasons relationship.
The final allocations of teams following the 2008–09 season was released on 29 May 2009.[1] With the restructuring of the national league system complete, all three divisions of the Northern Premier League had their full complement of twenty-two teams until the withdrawal of Newcastle Blue Star (see below).
| Competition: | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
| Season: | 2009–10 |
| Winners: | Guiseley |
| Promoted: | Guiseley Boston United |
| Relegated: | Durham City |
| Matches: | 383 |
| Total Goals: | 1280 |
| Goals Per Game: | 3.3 |
| Prevseason: | 2008–09 |
| Nextseason: | 2010–11 |
The Premier Division featured seven new clubs:
* After extra time
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigg Lane (Bury ground share) | 11,840 | ||
| 10,200 | |||
| 6,643 | |||
| The Walks | 5,733 | ||
| The Silverlands | 5,200 | ||
| 5,000 | |||
| Watnall Road | 5,000 | ||
| Hurst Cross | 4,500 | ||
| The Weaver Stadium | 3,500 | ||
| Look Local Stadium | 3,500 | ||
| Turnbull Ground | 3,500 | ||
| New Manor Ground (Ilkeston ground share) | 3,500 | ||
| Victoria Park | 3,054 | ||
| The Arnott Stadium | 3,000 | ||
| Nethermoor Park | 3,000 | ||
| The Arriva Stadium | 2,800 | ||
| Grange Lane | 2,700 | ||
| Lakeland Radio Stadium | 2,400 | ||
| Causeway Lane | 2,214 | ||
| Westfield Lane | 2,087 | ||
| Ingfield | 2,000 | ||
| Cannon Park | 2,000 |
| Competition: | Northern Premier League Division One North |
| Season: | 2009–10 |
| Winners: | FC Halifax Town |
| Promoted: | FC Halifax Town Colwyn Bay |
| Relegated: | Rossendale United |
| Matches: | 463 |
| Total Goals: | 1503 |
| Goals Per Game: | 3.2 |
| Prevseason: | 2008–09 |
| Nextseason: | 2010–11 |
The Division One North featured three new clubs:
| Competition: | Northern Premier League Division One South |
| Season: | 2009–10 |
| Winners: | Mickleover Sports |
| Promoted: | Mickleover Sports Chasetown |
| Relegated: | Willenhall Town |
| Matches: | 463 |
| Total Goals: | 1459 |
| Goals Per Game: | 3.1 |
| Prevseason: | 2008–09 |
| Nextseason: | 2010–11 |
The Division One South featured five new clubs:
On 20 June 2009, three days following the league's AGM which confirmed the 2009–10 allocation, Newcastle Blue Star resigned from the league.[2] As division placements had been confirmed be then, no replacement team could be entered and the Premier Division was reduced to twenty one teams for the season.
On 9 December 2009, King's Lynn were officially wound up by the High Court in London over debts and an overdue tax bill, and they will play no further games in the season. The League released a table on 21 December with King's Lynn's playing record expunged from it, and leaving the Premier Division with twenty clubs and only two relegation spots.[3] Then, in March 2010 Chester City F.C. and Farsley Celtic A.F.C. were removed from the Conference National and Conference North respectively.
Promotion from the First Divisions to the Premier Division took place as planned. Relegation from the First Divisions to the county level was reduced from the planned two per division to one. Relegation from the Premier Division was reduced from two to one on account of developments in the Conference. The final decision on relegations were made during the close season by the FA's National League System Committee which left this method completely redundant as Chester City, Farsley Celtic (now Farsley A.F.C.), King's Lynn, Grays Athletic (lost their ground), Merthyr Tydfil (expelled), VCD Athletic (ground grade fail) and Rothwell Town (resigned) were all demoted to Level 8.
Challenge Cup
Teams from all 3 divisions.
President's Cup
Teams from lower 2 divisions.
Chairman's Cup
Between Champions of NPL Division One North and NPL Division One South.
| 2010 Peter Swales Shield | |
| Team1: | Guiseley |
| Team1score: | 1 |
| Team2: | Mickleover Sports |
| Team2score: | 1 |
| Details: | Guiseley won 5–3 on penalties |
| Date: | 1 May 2010 |
| Stadium: | Nethermoor Park |
| City: | Guiseley |
| Referee: | C Grundy[4] |
| Attendance: | 259 |
| Previous: | 2009 |
| Next: | 2011 |
The Peter Swales Shield has changed format several times, and the 2010 version saw the champions of the 2009–10 NPL Premier Division, Guiseley, play against the winners of the 2010 NPL Chairman's Cup, North Ferriby United. It was decided before the match that no extra time would be played and would go straight to penalties after regulation.[5] Guiseley won the game 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes.[6]