The 2019–20 North West Counties Football League season was the 38th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the second 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 1 to 6 for season 2019–20 were announced by the FA on 19 May.[1] These were subject to appeal, and the North West Counties' constitution was subject to ratification at the league's AGM on 15 June.[2] As one appeal was not yet heard until after the AGM, ratification of the constitution had to be delayed until after the hearing was held.[3] The FA confirmed Carlisle City's transfer to the Northern League at its hearing, thereby rejecting the club's appeal against it[4] and ratifying the constitution.
As three new divisions (one at Step 4 and two at Step 5) were to be introduced to the English football pyramid for the 2020–21 season, at the end of this season, three teams were to be promoted from the Premier Division and four from each Division One.[5]
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to, from, or within the competition.[6] On 30 March 2020, sixty-six non-league clubs sent an open letter to the Football Association requesting that they reconsider their decision.[7] Consequently, the addition of three divisions in the football pyramid was fulfilled in 2021–22 instead.
| Competition: | North West Counties Football League Premier Division |
| Season: | 2019–20 |
| Prevseason: | 2018–19 |
| Nextseason: | 2020–21 |
The Premier Division consists of 20 clubs.
The following 4 clubs left the Premier Division before the season -
The following 4 clubs joined the Premier Division before the season -
† Skelmersdale v Bootle, 29 Feb: match declared void.[8]
| Team | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| Townfield (groundshare with Barnton) | ||
| Brockstedes Park | ||
| Whitebank Stadium, Oldham | ||
| Greenberfield Lane | ||
| New Bucks Park | ||
| Victoria Park | ||
| Mossie Park | ||
| Ivy Gardens | ||
| Abbey Lane | ||
| Silver Street | ||
| Litherland Sports Park | ||
| Mike Riding Ground | ||
| Wincham Park (groundshare with Witton Albion) | ||
| Arbories Memorial Sports Ground | ||
| Pavilions Sports Complex | ||
| Gorsey Lane | ||
| Valerie Park | ||
| School Road | ||
| Yockings Park | ||
| Barton Stadium |
| Competition: | North West Counties Football League Division One North |
| Season: | 2019–20 |
| Prevseason: | 2018–19 |
| Nextseason: | 2020–21 |
Division One North consists of 20 clubs.
The following 3 clubs left Division One North before the season -
The following 3 clubs joined Division One North before the season -
| Team | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| The Mechanics | ||
| The Anchor Ground | ||
| Rossett Park, Crosby (groundshare with Marine) | ||
| Edge Green Street | ||
| Crilly Park | ||
| West View | ||
| MCA Stadium | ||
| McGrath Park | ||
| New Sirs, Westhoughton | ||
| Welfare Ground | ||
| The Riverside | ||
| Longfield Avenue | ||
| Rakesmoor Lane, Barrow-in-Furness | ||
| Anfield Sports and Community Centre | ||
| Victoria Park | ||
| Ruskin Drive Sportsground | ||
| Adie Moran Park | ||
| Storthes Hall Park | ||
| Ruskin Drive Sportsground | ||
| Cougar Park |
| Competition: | North West Counties Football League Division One South |
| Season: | 2019–20 |
| Prevseason: | 2018–19 |
| Nextseason: | 2020–21 |
Division One South consists of 20 clubs.
The following 2 clubs left Division One South before the season -
The following 2 clubs joined Division One South before the season -
| Team | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| The Abbey Stadium, Gorton | ||
| Birches Head Road | ||
| Wood Park Stadium | ||
| Townfield | ||
| Kirklands, Birkenhead | ||
| The Heath | ||
| Park Road Stadium | ||
| Pershall Park | ||
| Beech Grove | ||
| Park Hall Stadium | ||
| Brantingham Road, Chorlton | ||
| Church Lane | ||
| Sandbach Community Football Centre | ||
| The Venue, Oswestry | ||
| Stockport Sports Village | ||
| Yarnfield Lane | ||
| Rivacre Park, Ellesmere Port | ||
| Brookburn Road, Chorlton | ||
| Hollyhedge Park | ||
| Ericstan Stadium |
Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[9]
Sources for this section: fixtures and results
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Breck | 2–1 | Cammell Laird | |
| Maine Road | 3–0 | FC Oswestry Town | |
| Northwich Victoria | 3–1 | Barnoldswick Town | |
| Padiham | 9–1 | St Martins | |
| Pilkington | 1–3 | Steeton | |
| Prestwich Heys | 1–0 | Winsford United | |
| Runcorn Town | 5–0 | Atherton LR | |
| Rylands | 5–0 | Barnton | |
| Sandbach United | 2–4 | AFC Liverpool | |
| Shelley | 3–2 | Wythenshawe Town | |
| Skelmersdale United | 1–3 | Irlam | |
| St Helens Town | 2–1 | Nelson | |
| Stone Old Alleynians | 1–2 | Litherland REMYCA | |
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | 3–1 | New Mills | |
| Wythenshawe Amateurs | 2–1 | Chadderton |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Hey | 2–1 | Bacup Borough | |
| Abbey Hulton United | 0–2 * | AFC Liverpool | |
| Ashton Athletic | 4–2 | Ashton Town | |
| Emley AFC | 1–2 | Ellesmere Rangers | |
| Garstang | 4–2 | Steeton | |
| Irlam | 0–4 ** | 1874 Northwich | |
| Litherland REMYCA | 2–0 | Bootle | |
| Longridge Town | 0–3 | Vauxhall Motors |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Breck | 2–4 | Maine Road | |
| Northwich Victoria | 0–2 | Runcorn Town | |
| Prestwich Heys | 2–1 | AFC Darwen | |
| Rylands | 4–3 | Padiham | |
| St Helens Town | 0–1 | AFC Blackpool | |
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | 6–1 | Alsager Town | |
| Whitchurch Alport | 2–3 | Shelley | |
| Wythenshawe Amateurs | 3–2 | Cheadle Town |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Blackpool | 1–2 | Ellesmere Rangers | |
| Ashton Athletic | 6–0 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | |
| Garstang | 0–2 * | Maine Road | |
| Prestwich Heys | 0–2 | AFC Liverpool |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rylands | 1–1 (2–3 p) | 1874 Northwich | |
| Shelley | 3–2 | Abbey Hey | |
| Vauxhall Motors | 1–2 | Litherland REMYCA | |
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | 1–4 | Runcorn Town |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashton Athletic | 2–2 (2–4) p | Runcorn Town | |
| Litherland REMYCA | 1–5 | AFC Liverpool |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Road | 0–4 | 1874 Northwich | |
| Shelley | 3–2 | Ellesmere Rangers |
Played on 24 July 2021, at the start of the 2021–22 season.[11] [12]
Also called The PlayerMatch.com Cup for sponsorship reasons.[13]
Sources for this section: fixtures and results
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Hey | 3–2 | Bacup Borough | |
| Abbey Hulton United | 4–1 | Ellesmere Rangers | |
| AFC Liverpool | 3–1 | Shelley | |
| Cleator Moor Celtic | 1–2 | Cheadle Town | |
| Holker Old Boys | 0–3 | AFC Blackpool |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Breck | 6–2 | Vauxhall Motors | |
| New Mills | 3–3 (4–5 p) | Eccleshall | |
| Steeton | 0–0 (3–5 p) | FC Oswestry Town |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Hulton United | 1–2 | Cheadle Heath Nomads | |
| Alsager Town | 2–5 | Cheadle Town | |
| Ashton Town | 9–2 | Atherton LR | |
| Barnton | 0–4 | Abbey Hey | |
| Cammell Laird | 0–0 (6–7 p) | Sandbach United | |
| Chadderton | 0–1 | Pilkington | |
| Daisy Hill | 5–3 | Maine Road | |
| Emley AFC | 4–0 | AFC Blackpool |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garstang | 2–3 (3–5 p) | FC Oswestry Town | |
| Golcar United | 4–4 (3–4 p) | Wythenshawe Town | |
| Lower Breck | 6–0 | Eccleshall | |
| St Helens Town | 8–3 | AFC Darwen | |
| St Martins | 0–5 | AFC Liverpool | |
| Stone Old Alleynians | 2–1 | Prestwich Heys | |
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | 4–0 | Nelson | |
| Wythenshawe Amateurs | 3–2 | Stockport Town |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Liverpool | 2–1 | Pilkington | |
| Ashton Town | 2–2 (8–9 p) | Abbey Hey | |
| Cheadle Town | 4–2 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | |
| Emley AFC | 6–1 | Daisy Hill |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Oswestry Town | 0–1 | Lower Breck † | |
| Sandbach United | 2–1 | Stone Old Alleynians | |
| St Helens Town | 1–2 | West Didsbury & Chorlton | |
| Wythenshawe Town | 4–1 | Cheadle Heath Nomads |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Hey | 1-3 | Wythenshawe Town | |
| AFC Liverpool | 3-0 | Cheadle Town |
| Home team | Score | Away team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Oswestry Town | 1-0 | Emley AFC | |
| West Didsbury & Chorlton | 0-2 | Sandbach United |
Not contested this season due to the abandonment of the league programme.