2016–17 North West Counties Football League

The 2016–17 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Hallmark Security League for sponsorship reasons[1]) was the 35th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions: Premier Division and First Division.

Premier Division

Football league season
North West Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2016–17
ChampionsAtherton Collieries
PromotedAtherton Collieries
RelegatedNew Mills
Nelson
Cammell Laird 1907

The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs.[2]

The following four clubs joined the division at the start of the season:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Atherton Collieries (C, P) 42 32 4 6 103 39 +64 100 Promoted to Northern Premier League Division One North
2 Bootle 42 30 2 10 134 57 +77 92
3 Runcorn Town 42 29 5 8 112 52 +60 92
4 Runcorn Linnets 42 27 9 6 105 45 +60 90
5 1874 Northwich 42 25 7 10 81 50 +31 82
6 West Didsbury & Chorlton 42 21 7 14 106 83 +23 70
7 Padiham 42 21 6 15 85 71 +14 69
8 Irlam 42 19 9 14 65 70 −5 66
9 Ashton Athletic 42 17 9 16 83 74 +9 60
10 Hanley Town 42 15 12 15 83 73 +10 57
11 Barnoldswick Town 42 16 8 18 78 75 +3 56
12 AFC Liverpool 42 16 9 17 79 84 −5 54[a]
13 Winsford United 42 15 7 20 76 85 −9 52
14 Abbey Hey 42 15 7 20 63 76 −13 52
15 Maine Road 42 13 10 19 67 72 −5 49
16 Congleton Town 42 12 11 19 75 89 −14 47
17 Barnton 42 13 6 23 50 95 −45 45
18 AFC Darwen 42 10 11 21 50 110 −60 41
19 Squires Gate 42 10 10 22 80 106 −26 40
20 New Mills (R) 42 8 9 25 65 102 −37 33 Relegated to Division One
21 Nelson (R) 42 5 11 26 55 87 −32 25[b]
22 Cammell Laird 1907 (R) 42 3 11 28 40 140 −100 20
Source: NWC Archive Tables
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ AFC Liverpool have been deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player in their game against Barnoldswick Town on 13 August.[3]
  2. ^ Nelson have been deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player in their game against Atherton Collieries of 10 October.[4]

Promotion criteria

To be promoted at the end of the season a team must:[6]

  1. Have applied to be considered for promotion by 30 November 2016
  2. Pass a ground grading examination by 31 March 2017
  3. Finish the season in a position higher than that of any other team also achieving criteria 1 and 2
  4. Finish the season in one of the top three positions

The following seven clubs achieved criterion 1:[7]

Results

Home \ Away 18N ABH DAR LVP ASH ACO BWT BNT BTL CAM CNG HAN IRL MNR NEL NWM PAD RNL RNT SQG WDC WIN
1874 Northwich 2–0 3–0 1–3 1–0 1–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–4 3–2 4–1 4–1 0–4
Abbey Hey 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–2 1–2 2–0 3–2 0–1 4–0 0–3 0–2 1–2 3–2 7–0 1–1 0–3 0–1 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–3
AFC Darwen 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–5 0–7 2–0 1–7 0–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 0–6 0–3 1–1 1–2 0–3 0–3 4–1 3–0 2–2
AFC Liverpool 0–1 1–2 0–2 3–1 1–2 5–2 1–2 1–4 4–1 1–0 2–2 3–2 1–2 1–5 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–4 4–2 3–2 2–0
Ashton Athletic 3–2 0–1 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 5–1 0–6 1–1 6–2 3–2 1–3 2–2 6–0 3–0 3–1 0–3 1–1 2–1 2–3 3–0
Atherton Collieries 1–0 1–0 5–1 1–2 3–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 4–1 5–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–1
Barnoldswick Town 2–1 3–0 1–1 5–2 0–0 1–2 0–2 1–2 2–0 3–3 2–1 3–0 1–1 2–1 4–2 1–2 0–2 7–2 2–4 1–3 2–1
Barnton 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–5 1–0 0–3 6–0 0–0 0–6 0–2 1–1 3–3 1–0 1–6 0–4 0–3 0–0 0–3 3–2
Bootle 0–0 2–1 9–0 4–3 3–0 3–2 6–1 4–2 6–1 3–2 2–2 1–2 1–0 3–1 3–2 6–1 1–2 3–0 0–2 3–5 5–1
Cammell Laird 1907 1–6 0–2 4–1 2–2 0–6 2–6 1–1 0–1 1–7 2–7 1–0 2–5 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 3–3 0–4 1–3 2–7 1–4
Congleton Town 2–4 6–1 3–3 2–2 0–1 0–4 1–1 3–4 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–2 3–1 0–3 2–3 2–2 0–0 0–3 3–2 2–1 1–1
Hanley Town 0–1 3–0 3–1 2–2 4–3 1–4 2–3 4–1 1–7 3–0 4–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–3 0–0 1–3 4–2 1–2 2–0
Irlam 0–1 4–3 1–3 3–3 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–4 2–1 3–1 0–6 1–3
Maine Road 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 5–4 1–1 3–2 1–2 2–3 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 6–1 0–3 2–3
Nelson 1–3 1–2 1–2 0–1 2–2 0–2 1–2 4–0 1–4 2–2 0–3 1–2 0–2 0–1 7–4 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 4–4 0–2
New Mills 2–4 2–0 0–1 1–3 2–2 0–5 3–0 6–1 0–3 4–3 2–3 1–1 0–2 2–3 2–1 3–2 2–2 0–1 3–3 1–4 2–1
Padiham 1–3 6–3 1–1 3–0 2–4 1–3 0–2 2–0 0–3 4–0 2–1 1–5 3–2 4–1 1–0 4–2 1–0 2–2 1–0 3–1 4–2
Runcorn Linnets 1–1 2–2 8–0 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 5–2 5–0 3–0 5–2 2–5 4–1 1–0 3–1 4–0 4–2 1–1 4–3 2–2 0–2
Runcorn Town 0–2 4–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 2–1 3–4 4–1 3–2 8–0 3–4 3–1 3–0 4–1 1–0 5–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 6–2 4–0
Squires Gate 4–1 1–3 2–3 4–5 1–1 3–4 2–3 0–2 4–3 2–0 1–1 4–4 1–1 1–2 4–3 2–0 1–4 3–2 1–6 1–3 3–3
West Didsbury & C 0–1 1–0 3–0 2–2 2–5 1–3 3–3 4–1 2–4 6–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–0 4–3 1–0 1–4 4–1 2–3 4–2
Winsford United 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–1 2–2 0–3 6–1 4–2 1–3 2–3 3–2 2–0 3–1 2–5 1–1 0–1 4–2 1–3
Updated to match(es) played on 29 April 2017. Source: NWC archive results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and Locations

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2016–17 North West Counties Football League Premier Division teams
Team Stadium Capacity
A.F.C. Darwen The Anchor Ground 4,000
A.F.C. Liverpool Marine Travel Arena, Crosby (groundshare with Marine) 3,185
1874 Northwich Barton Stadium (groundshare with Winsford United) 3,000
Winsford United Barton Stadium 3,000
Atherton Collieries Alder Street 2,500
Bootle Delta Taxis Stadium 2,500
Cammell Laird 1907 North West Construction Stadium, Birkenhead 2,000
Maine Road Brantingham Road, Chorlton 2,000
Nelson Victoria Park 2,000
Padiham Arbories Memorial Sports Ground 1,688
Runcorn Linnets Millbank Linnets Stadium 1,600
Runcorn Town Pavilions Sports Complex 1,530
Congleton Town Richborough Estates Stadium 1,450
New Mills Church Lane 1,400
Abbey Hey The Abbey Stadium, Gorton 1,000
Ashton Athletic Brockstedes Park 1,000
Irlam Silver Street 1,000
Squires Gate School Road 1,000
West Didsbury & Chorlton Brookburn Road, Chorlton 1,000
Hanley Town Abbey Lane 750
Barnoldswick Town Silentnight Beds Stadium
Barnton Townfield

Division One

Football league season
North West Counties
Football League
Division One
Season2016–17
ChampionsWidnes
PromotedWidnes
Charnock Richard
City of Liverpool
RelegatedAshton Town

The Division One consisted of 22 teams.[2][8]

The following nine clubs joined the division at the start of the season:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Widnes (C, P) 42 30 6 6 117 50 +67 96 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Charnock Richard (P) 42 29 5 8 117 51 +66 92
3 Litherland REMYCA 42 27 8 7 107 60 +47 89 Qualified for the play-offs
4 City of Liverpool (O, P) 42 27 7 8 119 45 +74 88 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division[a]
5 Whitchurch Alport 42 26 7 9 97 45 +52 85 Qualified for the play-offs
6 Sandbach United 42 25 6 11 81 51 +30 81
7 Alsager Town 42 23 5 14 98 66 +32 74
8 Prestwich Heys 42 22 3 17 87 62 +25 69
9 Chadderton 42 20 7 15 103 80 +23 67
10 Stockport Town 42 19 8 15 92 89 +3 64[b]
11 Silsden 42 20 2 20 83 77 +6 62
12 Cheadle Town 42 18 7 17 97 83 +14 61
13 St Helens Town 42 16 8 18 88 95 −7 56
14 Carlisle City 42 16 6 20 72 92 −20 54
15 FC Oswestry Town 42 16 5 21 73 97 −24 53
16 Daisy Hill 42 14 7 21 82 111 −29 49
17 Holker Old Boys 42 12 7 23 65 94 −29 43
18 Bacup Borough 42 11 7 24 45 78 −33 40
19 AFC Blackpool 42 7 11 24 48 114 −66 32
20 Atherton Laburnum Rovers 42 8 4 30 44 95 −51 28
21 Eccleshall 42 4 6 32 55 145 −90 18
22 Ashton Town (R) 42 5 2 35 42 132 −90 17 Relegated to the Cheshire Association League
Source: NWC archive tables
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams played for one spot and promotion to the Premier Division.
  2. ^ Stockport Town have been deducted 1 point for a rule contravention.

Results

Home \ Away BLP ALS AST ALR BAC CAR CHD CHR CHE LIV DSH ECC OSW HOB LIT PRH SAN SIL STH STK WHI WID
AFC Blackpool 2–1 0–5 1–1 2–3 2–3 0–0 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–3 0–1 3–5 0–5 2–1 0–6 1–3 2–2 0–0 1–5
Alsager Town 6–1 3–1 3–1 5–0 2–0 0–3 1–2 2–1 0–2 4–2 6–1 0–0 1–1 0–3 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–2 3–1 0–1 1–2
Ashton Town 3–0 0–4 2–3 1–2 3–2 1–4 1–5 1–3 0–1 2–1 3–3 1–3 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–9 0–6
Atherton LR 1–2 0–2 2–1 1–1 6–1 1–4 2–2 0–3 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–3 0–1 4–2 0–2 0–1 2–4
Bacup Borough 4–0 0–4 4–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–4 2–3 1–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 0–3 2–3 0–2 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–1
Carlisle City 3–1 5–3 4–2 3–0 0–0 0–1 2–3 2–1 0–6 6–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 1–3 1–0 0–3 2–1 4–3 2–2 0–0 0–3
Chadderton 7–0 1–3 5–1 3–5 1–0 4–0 1–2 1–1 1–3 5–4 9–0 4–2 3–2 1–1 3–3 1–0 1–2 2–5 2–3 3–0 1–2
Charnock Richard 2–3 1–4 3–0 2–1 3–0 2–2 3–0 6–1 4–3 3–0 3–1 1–0 8–0 0–1 5–2 3–1 0–0 1–3 2–2 2–3 4–2
Cheadle Town 2–2 1–2 3–0 6–0 0–1 2–1 5–4 2–5 1–5 4–0 3–5 1–4 3–1 0–3 2–0 1–2 5–2 3–3 2–0 3–3 1–4
City of Liverpool 6–2 2–0 0–0 8–0 3–2 6–1 5–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 4–0 1–0 6–1 2–4 4–0 0–0 2–1 5–1 4–2 2–3 1–2
Daisy Hill 1–0 3–2 2–0 3–2 1–2 1–2 2–2 0–7 1–4 2–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–4 3–3 5–4 2–2 5–2 3–7 2–2
Eccleshall 0–4 4–4 5–4 0–1 1–2 2–4 1–7 0–3 1–5 1–2 3–3 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–6 2–4 0–4 2–3 0–5 1–3
FC Oswestry Town 2–2 2–4 3–1 3–1 3–0 2–1 4–5 0–5 2–1 0–4 0–1 2–2 4–2 0–4 4–0 1–5 6–6 3–2 0–0 0–3 1–3
Holker Old Boys 0–1 1–2 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–3 1–4 0–3 2–5 1–2 3–2 4–1 7–1 1–0 1–3 0–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 3–0 0–1
Litherland REMYCA 2–2 4–1 5–1 3–0 4–2 3–0 2–2 2–3 3–3 2–3 3–2 3–1 4–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 1–2 5–3 2–2 6–5
Prestwich Heys 0–1 1–2 2–1 6–0 5–0 4–0 0–0 0–3 2–1 1–0 2–1 5–2 5–2 5–1 2–3 0–2 2–0 3–0 0–1 1–2 1–3
Sandbach United 1–0 3–3 5–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 3–2 3–1 4–1 1–2 0–2 1–3 2–0 2–1 1–3 0–3 3–0
Silsden 5–2 2–1 6–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 0–3 0–2 7–2 2–1 0–3 3–2 0–1 3–2 1–2 1–4 1–2 0–3 1–4
St Helens Town 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–0 2–0 3–4 1–3 2–3 4–2 2–2 4–2 1–0 2–1 4–2 2–4 2–2 2–4 2–6 2–0 2–3 1–1
Stockport Town 3–1 3–2 7–0 3–2 1–1 3–1 3–4 1–0 1–5 0–10 3–4 7–1 2–3 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 1–5 2–3
Whitchurch Alport 2–1 1–2 4–0 2–1 3–0 3–1 3–0 0–2 0–0 1–2 2–0 5–0 2–0 3–0 1–2 1–3 1–1 0–1 3–0 2–1 2–5
Widnes 7–0 1–4 3–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 3–1 5–0 5–0 2–2 2–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 8–0 2–2 1–3
Source: NWC archive results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Playoffs

Source for this subsection: NWC results archives

Semifinals Final
      
3 Litherland REMYCA 1
6 Sandbach United 0
3 Litherland REMYCA 0
4 City of Liverpool 3
4 City of Liverpool 1
5 Whitchurch Alport 0

Stadia & Locations

Team Stadium Capacity
Widnes Select Security Stadium
(groundshare with Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club)
13,350
Carlisle City Gillford Park Stadium 4,000
Atherton Laburnum Rovers Crilly Park 3,000
Bacup Borough West View 3,000
City of Liverpool Delta Taxis Stadium
(groundshare with Bootle)
2,500
Holker Old Boys Rakesmoor Lane Barrow-in-Furness 2,500
Stockport Town Stockport Sports Village 2,384
F.C. Oswestry Town Park Hall Stadium 2,034
Ashton Town Edge Green Street 2,000
Cheadle Town Park Road Stadium 2,000
Daisy Hill New Sirs Westhoughton 2,000
Eccleshall Pershall Park 2,000
A.F.C. Blackpool The Mechanics 1,500
Alsager Town Wood Park Stadium 1,500
Chadderton MCA Stadium 1,500
Silsden Keighley Road Stadium 1,500
Charnock Richard Mossie Park
Litherland REMYCA Litherland Sports Park
Prestwich Heys Aide Moran Park
Sandbach United Sandbach Community Football Centre *
St Helens Town Ruskin Drive Sportsground *
Whitchurch Alport Yockings Park

League Challenge Cup

Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons.[9] Source for this section: NWC results archives

First round

Atherton Collieries are exempt until the second round, as holders.

All remaining teams received byes.

Second round

Third round

Home team Score Away team
Abbey Hey 1–1 aet (3–4 pen) * Barnoldswick Town
Ashton Athletic 2–0 Runcorn Town
City of Liverpool 2–0 Hanley Town
Maine Road 1–3 Chadderton

* Played at Barnoldswick


Home team Score Away team
Nelson 3–0 Atherton Collieries
Silsden 1–0 aet 1874 Northwich
St Helens Town 1–5 * Bootle
Winsford United 1–2 aet Widnes

* Played at Bootle

Quarter-finals

Home team Score Away team
Ashton Athletic 2–5 aet Bootle
Nelson 1–3 Chadderton


Home team Score Away team
Silsden 0–2 City of Liverpool
Widnes 0–1 Barnoldswick Town

Semi-finals

First leg

Home team Score Away team
City of Liverpool 0–2 Chadderton


Home team Score Away team
Barnoldswick Town 1–0 Bootle

Second leg

Home team Score Away team
Chadderton 0–2 (pens 3–4) City of Liverpool

City of Liverpool won on penalties following a 2–2 aggregate draw

Home team Score Away team
Bootle 2–3 Barnoldswick Town

Barnoldswick Town won 4–2 on aggregate

Final

Played at Highbury Stadium, home of Fleetwood Town

Score
Barnoldswick Town 1–1 aet (2–3 pens) City of Liverpool

First Division Trophy

Also called the Reusch First Division Cup for sponsorship reasons.[10] Source for this section: NWC league archives

First round

All the remaining First Division teams received a bye to the second round.

Northern Section

Home team Score Away team
AFC Blackpool 2–3 Carlisle City
Bacup Borough 1–2 aet Chadderton
Holker Old Boys 4–1 Ashton Town

Southern Section

Home team Score Away team
Eccleshall 1–7 Stockport Town
Prestwich Heys 2–1 Litherland REMYCA
Widnes 4–1 FC Oswestry Town

Second round

Northern Section

Home team Score Away team
Carlisle City 3–2 Atherton LR
Charnock Richard 2–0 Chadderton
Holker Old Boys 3–1 Silsden
St Helens Town 2–0 Daisy Hill


Southern Section

Home team Score Away team
City of Liverpool 2–1 Cheadle Town
Sandbach United 5–0 Stockport Town
Whitchurch Alport 4–0 Alsager Town
Widnes 4–0 Prestwich Heys

Quarter-finals

Home team Score Away team
Carlisle City 0–1 Sandbach United
Charnock Richard 1–4 Widnes


Home team Score Away team
Holker Old Boys 3–2 aet Whitchurch Alport
St Helens Town 0–3 City of Liverpool

Semi-finals

First leg

Home team Score Away team
Holker Old Boys 1–3 Sandbach United


Home team Score Away team
Widnes 0–1 City of Liverpool

Second leg

Home team Score Away team
Sandbach United 2–3 Holker Old Boys

Sandbach United won 5–4 on aggregate

Home team Score Away team
City of Liverpool 3–0 Widnes

City of Liverpool won 4–0 on aggregate

Final

Score
City of Liverpool 1–0 Sandbach United

Played at Runcorn Linnets' stadium

References

  1. ^ "The NWCFL agree headline sponsorship deal with Hallmark Security". NWCFL. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "NWCFL Constitution – Season 2016–17". NWCFL. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Club Statement". AFC Liverpool. 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Club News". Nelson FC. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "The FA Handbook 2016-17 (page 545, section 13.2)". The FA. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  6. ^ "The FA Handbook 2016-17 (page 174, Step 4 and Step 5)". The FA. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Applications for promotion to Step 4". NWCFL. 1 Dec 2016. Retrieved 1 Dec 2016.
  8. ^ "City of Liverpool FC Join Our League". NWCFL. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  9. ^ "League announces 4-year partnership deal with Macron". NWCFL. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Introducing The Reusch First Division Cup". NWCFL. 10 Nov 2014.

External links

  • nwcfl.com (The Official Website of The North West Counties Football League)
2023–24
clubs
Premier Division
Division One North
Division One South
Seasons
  • v
  • t
  • e
National teams
League
competitions
Level 1
Levels 2–4
Levels 5–6
Levels 7–8
Levels 9–10
Cup
competitions
FA cups
EFL cups
Youth
competitions
Under 23
Under 18
Club seasons
Premier League
Championship
League One
League Two