Lancs/Cheshire Division One Explained

Lancs/Cheshire Division 1
Current Season:	2019–20 Lancs/Cheshire Division 1
Sport:	Rugby union
Teams:	8
Country:	,
Champion:	Orrell (1st title)
Most Champs:	Altrincham Kersal, Warrington
Count:	3
Website:	England RFU

Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 (usually referred to as Lancs/Cheshire 1) was a regional English Rugby Union league for teams from Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, ranked at tier 8 of the English league system. The top two clubs are promoted to North 2 West and the bottom two clubs are relegated to Lancs/Cheshire 2. Each season two teams from Lancs/Cheshire 1 are picked to take part in the RFU Senior Vase (a national competition for clubs at level 8) - one affiliated with the Cheshire RFU, the other with the Lancashire RFU.

The division was initially known as North-West West 1 when it was created in 1987, and had a number of different names since with South Lancs/Cheshire 1 being the longest running. The division switched to its current name for the 2018–19 season due to the restructuring of the northern leagues by the RFU as a result of 19 Lancashire clubs withdrawing from RFU competitions across the leagues to form their own competitions. This would see the North Lancashire/Cumbria division abolished, with Lancashire-based sides from that league being transferred into Lancs/Cheshire 1, while the Cumbria sides were transferred into Cumbria 1.^[1]

The introduction of North 2 West for the 2019–20 season at tier 7 of the north west leagues, meant that Lancs/Cheshire Division 1 dropped down to being a tier 8 league.

The after the cancellation of Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season^[2] that due to the coronavirus pandemic the league was disbanded with teams transferred into the Lancashire Merit Table competitions or ADM Lancashire leagues.

Teams 2019–20

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Birchfield	Birchfield Road			5th
Congleton	Congleton Park			4th
Ellesmere Port	Whitby Sports & Social Club			Promoted from Lancs/Cheshire 3 (runners up)
Garstang	Hudson Park			8th
Hoylake	Carham Road			Relegated from Lancs/Cheshire 1 (12th)
	Hartsfield	2,000		7th
				3rd
	Mooragh Park			Promoted from Lancs/Cheshire 3 (champions)

Teams 2018–19

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Stelfox Avenue			Relegated from North 1 West (12th)
	Avenue Street			Transferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria (3rd)
Bowdon	Clay Lane			5th
Fleetwood	Melbourne Avenue			Transferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria (10th)
Glossop	Hargate Hill Lane			3rd
Hoylake	Carham Road			11th
Leigh	Round Ash Park			7th
Liverpool Collegiate		3,000		Promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (runners up)
	Moorgate Avenue			Relegated from North 1 West (13th)
	Thornhead Lane			10th
	Recreation Ground	3,500		9th
Tarleton	Carr Lane			Transferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria (7th)
	Burrows Hill			Promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (champions)

Teams 2017–18

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Malone Field			11th
Bowdon	Clay Lane			5th
	Hough End			3rd
Glossop	Hargate Hill Lane			4th
Hoylake	Carham Road			Promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (runners up)
Leigh	Round Ash Park			Relegated from North 1 West (13th)
	Moss Lane			6th
	Hartsfield	2,000		10th
	Thornhead Lane			8th
	Recreation Ground	3,500		9th
Tyldesley	St Georges Park			Promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (champions)
	Red Rocks			Relegated from North 1 West (12th)
Widnes	Heath Road			7th

Participating Clubs 2016-17

• Anselmians
• Bowdon
• Broughton Park
• Douglas (I.O.M.)
• Glossop
• Liverpool St Helens
• Manchester
• Manchester Medics (promoted from Cheshire (South))
• New Brighton
• Oswestry (promoted from Cheshire (South))
• Sefton
• Southport (promoted from Merseyside (West))
• Widnes
• Wigan

Participating Clubs 2015-16

Team	Ground	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
	Malone Field			8th
	Clay Lane			11th
	Port-e-Chee Meadow			10th
	Hargate Hill Lane			7th
	Carham Road			12th
		3,000		Promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (champions)
	Moss Lane			2nd
	Grove Park	4,000 (250 seats)		9th
	Hartsfield	2,000		Relegated from North 1 West (13th)
	Moss Farm			3rd
	Thornhead Lane			6th
	Red Rocks			5th
	Douglas Valley			Level transfer from North Lancashire/Cumbria (7th)
	Burrows Hill			4th

Participating Clubs 2014-15

• Altrincham Kersal (relegated from North 1 West)
• Anselmians
• Bowdon (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2)
• Douglas (I.O.M.)
• Glossop
• Hoylake
• Liverpool St Helens (relegated from North 1 West)
• Manchester
• Manchester Medics (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2)
• Northwich
• Ruskin Park
  • Sefton West Park St Helens
• Winnington Park

Participating Clubs 2013-14

• • Anselmians Ashton-on-Mersey
• Douglas (I.O.M.) (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2)
• Glossop
• Hoylake
• Manchester (relegated from North 1 West)
• New Brighton
• Northwich
• Ruskin Park
• Sefton (promoted from South Lancs/Cheshire 2)
• Tyldesley
• West Park St Helens
• Wigan
• Winnington Park

Participating Clubs 2012-13

• Ashton-on-Mersey
• Bowdon
• Broughton Park (relegated from North 1 West)
• Crewe & Nantwich
• Glossop
• Hoylake
• New Brighton
• Orrell
• Ruskin Park
• Tyldesley
• Warrington
• West Park St Helens
• Wigan
• Winnington Park

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

• • Aspull Birchfield
• Douglas
• Eagle
• Liverpool College
• Mersey Police
• Old Anselmians
• Old Parkonians
  • Oldershaw Ormskirk
• St. Edward's Old Boys

Lancs/Cheshire 1 honours

North-West West 1 (1987–1992)

The original incarnation of Lancs/Cheshire 1 was known as North-West West 1, and was a tier 9 league with promotion up to North West 2 and relegation down to North-West West 2.

<											----> North-West West 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1987–88	11	Mersey Police		Old Anselmians, Oldershaw
1988–89	11	Warrington		Birchfield, Aspull
1989–90	11	St. Edward's Old Boys		Old Parkonians
1990–91	11	South Liverpool		Vulcan
1991–92	11	Ormskirk		No relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Cheshire/Lancs South (1992–1996)

Restructuring of north-west leagues saw North-West West 1 renamed as Cheshire/Lancs South for the 1993–94 season. Promotion continued to be up to North West 2, while relegation was to either Cheshire or Lancashire South (new regional divisions of what was North-West West 2). The division was initially at tier 9 but the creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Cheshire/Lancs South dropped to become a tier 10 league.

<											----> Cheshire/Lancs South
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1992–93	12	Ruskin Park
1993–94	13	Leigh		Newton-le-Willows, St Mark's Old Boy, Liverpool College
1994–95	13	Aspull		Vulcan, Old Anselmians, Southport
1995–96	13	Ruskin Park		Port Sunlight, Sefton, Congelton, Crewe & Nantwich
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

South Lancs/Cheshire 1 (1996–2000)

The league system was restructured from top to bottom by the Rugby Football Union for the start of the 1996–97 season. Firstly, as part of the reorganisation of the Cheshire and Lancashire leagues, Cheshire/Lancs South was renamed South Lancs/Cheshire 1. The cancellation of National 5 North and creation of North West 3 meant that South/Lancs Cheshire 1 remained a tier 10 league, with promotion to North West 3 and relegation to the newly named South/Lancs Cheshire 2 - now back to being a single division. From the 1998–99 season onward the league was known as EuroManx South Lancs/Cheshire 1 after its sponsor EuroManx.

<											----> South/Lancs Cheshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
1996–97	10	Altrincham Kersal		Old Parkonians, Birchfield
1997–98	9	Warrington		Newton-le-Willows, South Liverpool
1998–99^[3]	10	St. Edward's Old Boys
1999–00^[4]	9	Birchfield
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

South Lancs/Cheshire 1 (2000–2018)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–2000 season saw the cancellation of North West 1, North West 2 and North West 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that South/Lancs Cheshire 1 became a tier 7 league, with promotion to North 2 West (currently North 1 West). The division would continue to be known as EuroManx South Lancs/Cheshire 1 until the 2007–08 season when EuroManx ceased operations. Relegation during this time continued to be to South Lancs/Cheshire 2 except for one season (2015–16) where teams dropped to Cheshire (South), Lancashire (North) or Merseyside (West).

<											----> South Lancs/Cheshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2000–01^[5]	12	Birkenhead Park
2001–02	12	Wilmslow
2002–03^[6]	12	Caldy
2003–04^[7]	12	Widnes
2004–05^[8]	12	Rochdale
2005–06^[9]	12	Broughton Park
2006–07^[10]	12	Northwich
2007–08^[11]	12	Wilmslow
2008–09^[12]	11	Burnage		No relegation
2009–10^[13]	14	Wirral
2010–11^[14]	14	Anselmians
2011–12^[15]	14	Sale FC
2012–13^[16]	14	Warrington
2013–14^[17]	14	New Brighton
2014–15^[18]	14	Altrincham Kersal
2015–16^[19]	14	Northwich
2016–17^[20]	14	Manchester
2017–18^[21]	14	Broughton Park
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Lancs/Cheshire 1 (2018-present)

South Lancs/Cheshire 1 was renamed as Lancs/Cheshire 1 for the 2018–19 season continuing as a tier 7 league with promotion to North 1 West. The creation of North 2 West for the 2019–20 season meant that Lancs/Cheshire 1 dropped to being a tier 8 league with promotion into this new division. Relegation continued to Lancs/Cheshire 2 (formerly South Lancs/Cheshire 2).

<											----> Lancs/Cheshire 1
Season	No of Teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams
2018–19^[22]	13	Altrincham Kersal		Fleetwood, Hoylake
2019–20^[23]	8	Orrell		Ramsey, Birchfield
2020–21	8
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

For the 2018–19 season there was play-off between the runners-up of Lancashire/Cheshire 1 and Cumbria 1 and for the third and final promotion place to North 1 West. Previously Lancs/Cheshire sides had faced teams from North Lancashire/Cumbria (see following subsection). As of 2019–20 Lancashire/Cheshire 1 sides have one win to Cumbria's zero; and the home side has one win to the away side's zero. The introduction of North 2 West for the 2019–20 and the subsequent demotion of both Lancashire/Cheshire 1 and Cumbria 1 to tier 8 divisions, means that if the playoff continues it will be in place in the newly introduced division.

<						----> Cumbria 1 v Lancs/Cheshire 1 promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2018–19^[24]	Bowdon (NW)	HWO	Aspatria (C)		N/A
Green background is the promoted team. C = Cumbria 1 and NW = North 2 West

Discontinued promotion play-offs

Between the 2000–01 and 2017–18 seasons there was a play-off between the runners-up of North Lancashire/Cumbria and South Lancs/Cheshire 1 for the third and final promotion place to North 1 West. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. This continued until the North Lancashire/Cumbria division was abolished due to RFU restructuring of the leagues.^[1] At the end of the 2017–18 season the North Lancashire/Cumbria and South Lancs/Cheshire 1 team sides had nine wins apiece; and the home team had won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams five.

<						----> North Lancashire/Cumbria v South Lancs/Cheshire 1 promotion play-off results
Season	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Attendance
2000–01^[25]	Warrington (SLC)	HWO	Carlisle (NLC)		N/A
2001–02^[26]	Oldham (NLC)	15-24	Aspull (SLC)
2002–03^[27]	Penrith (NLC)	25-10	Widnes (SLC)
2003–04^[28]	Rossendale (NLC)	24-28	Bowdon (SLC)
2004–05^[29]	Leigh (SLC)	13-15	Tyldesley (NLC)
2005–06^[30]	Wilmslow (SLC)	43-10	St Benedicts (NLC)
2006–07^[31]	Leigh (SLC)	40-15	Blackburn (NLC)
2007–08^[32]	Rossendale (NLC)	20-16	Burnage (SLC)
2008–09^[33]	Widnes (SLC)	41-52	Vale of Lune (NLC)
2009–10^[34]	Kirkby Lonsdale (NLC)	13-12	Widnes (SLC)
2010–11^[35]	Widnes (SLC)	26-19	Fleetwood (NLC)
2011–12^[36]	Kirkby Lonsdale (NLC)	21-18 (aet)	New Brighton (SLC)
2012–13^[37]	Broughton Park (SLC)	32-13	Eccles (NLC)
2013–14^[38]	Bolton (NLC)	21-18	Northwich (SLC)		500
2014–15^[39]	Leigh (NLC)	34-26	Liverpool St Helens (SLC)
2015–16^[40]	Bolton (NLC)	20-27	West Park St Helens (SLC)
2016–17^[41]	Douglas (I.O.M.) (SLC)	15-14	De La Salle (Salford) (NLC)		600
2017–18^[42]	Anselmians (SLC)	65-14	Aspatria (NLC)	Malone Field, Eastham
Green background is the promoted team. NLC = North Lancashire/Cumbria and SLC = South Lancs/Cheshire 1

Number of league titles

• Altrincham Kersal (3)
• Warrington (3)
• Broughton Park (2)
• Northwich (2)
• Ruskin Park (2)
• St. Edward's Old Boys (2)
• Wilmslow (2)
• Anselmians (1)
• Aspull (1)
• Birchfield (1)
• Birkenhead Park (1)
• Burnage (1)
• Caldy (1)
• Leigh (1)
• Manchester (1)
• Mersey Police (1)
• New Brighton (1)
• Ormskirk (1)
• Orrell (1)
• Rochdale (1)
• Sale FC (1)
• South Liverpool (1)
• Widnes (1)
• Wirral (1)

See also

• Cheshire RFU
• Lancashire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes and References

1. Web site: North West league restructuring (June 14 2018). RFU North. 14 June 2018.
2. Web site: RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season . RFU . 2020-10-20 . 2020-11-09.
3. Web site: 1998-1999 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
4. Web site: 1999-2000 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
5. Web site: 2000-2001 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
6. Web site: 2002-2003 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
7. Web site: 2003-2004 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
8. Web site: 2004-2005 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
9. Web site: 2005-2006 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
10. Web site: 2006-2007 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
11. Web site: 2007-2008 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
12. Web site: 2008-2009 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
13. Web site: 2009-2010 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
14. Web site: 2010-2011 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
15. Web site: 2011-2012 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
16. Web site: 2012-2013 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
17. Web site: 2013-2014 Northern Division. England Rugby. 16 March 2015.
18. Web site: 2014-2015 Northern Division. England Rugby. 2 May 2015.
19. Web site: 2015-2016 Northern Division. England Rugby. 4 May 2016.
20. Web site: 2016-2017 Northern Division. England Rugby. 30 April 2017.
21. Web site: 2017-18 Northern Division. England Rugby. RFU. 28 April 2018.
22. Web site: 2018-19 Northern Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019.
23. Web site: Men's North Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.
24. Web site: North Play Offs. England Rugby. 27 April 2019.
25. Web site: 2000-01 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 26 May 2001.
26. Web site: 2001-02 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 27 April 2002.
27. Web site: 2002-03 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
28. Web site: 2003-04 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
29. Web site: 2004-05 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 7 May 2005.
30. Web site: 2005-06 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
31. Web site: 2006-07 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
32. Web site: 2007-08 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
33. Web site: 2008-09 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
34. Web site: 2009-10 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
35. Web site: 2010-11 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 14 May 2011.
36. Web site: 2011-12 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
37. Web site: 2012-13 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
38. Web site: Bolton Make History. Bolton RUFC (Pitchero). 26 April 2014.
39. Web site: 2014-15 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
40. Web site: 2015-16 North Playoffs. England Rugby. 14 May 2016.
41. Web site: DOUGLAS EDGE IN PROMOTION THRILLER. Douglas (I.O.M.) RFC. 9 May 2017.
42. Web site: ANSELMIANS PROMOTED. Aspatria RUFC (Pitchero). 19 May 2018.