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CLUBS A - D
FOR CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE, LANCASHIRE COMBINATION AND NORTH WEST COUNTIES LEAGUE, PLEASE USE THE NORTH WEST BUTTON. FOR MIDLAND LEAGUE, NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE, NORTHERN LEAGUE, NORTHERN COUNTIES (EAST) LEAGUE AND YORKSHIRE LEAGUE, PLEASE USE THE NORTH EAST BUTTON. FOR NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE (UNIBOND), PLEASE USE THE NORTH BUTTON. FOR ALLIANCE PREMIER LEAGUE/CONFERENCE (NATIONAL) AND CONFERENCE NORTH, PLEASE USE THE CONFER. BUTTON.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY
The original Accrington Stanley joined the Lancashire Combination in 1900, winning the title in 1903 and 1906, plus the first Northern section played in the 1915-1916 season. Leaving the competition in 1916, Accrington returned in 1919, after the Great War. They became founder members of the 3rd Division (North) in 1921, with the reserve side joining the Combination. Accrington Stanley’s first-team came back into non-league football in 1962 for a couple of seasons, joining the Lancashire Combination Division Two, which was won in 1964. Promotion to Division 1 proved a disastrous experience and the club folded completely in January 1966, shortly after winning its first match of the campaign.
In 1968 a new club was formed and this joined the Lancashire Combination in 1970. The title was won in 1974 and again in 1978, at which point Stanley switched to the Cheshire County League, as a founder member of the new Division 2. After missing out on promotion because of ground problems in 1980, Accrington were promoted to Division 1 in 1981. In 1982 the club joined the new North West Counties League after the amalgamation of the Cheshire and Lancashire competitions and in 1988 they moved again to join the new Northern Premier League Division 1. Promoted to the Premier Division in 1991, Accrington were relegated to Division 1 in 1999, but bounced back a year later. In 2003, having won the NPL, the club was promoted to the Conference, of which they became champions in 2006 and won promotion to the Football League.
ALFRETON TOWN
Alfreton Town played in the Midland League 1925-1927. The club reappeared in the new Midland League in 1961, winning the title three times in the 1970s. Town were founder members of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982 and they entered the Northern Premier League in 1987 after becoming NCEL champions. Alfreton returned to the NCEL in1999, but won promotion to the Northern Premier League in 2002 having won the NCEL title again. Another move was made when the club joined Conference North in 2004.
ALTRINCHAM
Founded as Broadheath F.C., the club were founder members of the Manchester League in 1893, changing their name to Altrincham in 1903. Eight years later, in 1911, Alty joined the Lancashire Combination Division Two, finishing their first campaign in second place and missing out on the title only on goal average. Promotion to Division 1 was some consolation.
In 1919, Altrincham became founder members of the Cheshire County League. Once again inferior goal average cost the club the title, when the team finished runners-up in 1935 and this position was reached again a year later. After another second place finish in 1940, Altrincham were finally crowned champions in 1966, taking the Cheshire League title. This success was repeated a year later, though the club had to settle for the runners-up berth in 1968, prior to its joining the Northern Premier League.
A 4-game marathon F.A. Trophy semi-final against Scarborough in 1977 ended in disappointment for the Moss Lane men, but in 1978 the Final was reached ... and won. In 1979, Altrincham finished as runners-up in the Northern Premier League and had no problem being invited to join the Alliance Premier League for the 1978-1980 inaugural season. Champions in the first two seasons of the new competition, Alty should have been elected to the Football League at this time, but missed out in bizarre circumstances at the League A.G.M..
After reaching the F.A. Trophy semi-finals in 1985, the club won non-league soccer’s premier knock-out prize for the second time in 1986. After this, however, fortunes became rather mixed. Another Trophy ‘last 4’ was achieved in 1991, but league form disappointed and resulted in a return to the Northern Premier in 1997. Champions in 1999, Altrincham rose to the Conference again, only to drop down again in 2001. It took 4 years to climb back up this time around, via end-of-season play-offs, and the club has clung precariously to its status since, aided by the misfortunes of others, including, in 2006, 1977 Trophy semi-final opponents, Scarborough. Having survived a number of scares, however, Altrincham have opened the 2009-2010 campaign well enough to suggest that they have at last become an established Conference club again.
ASHINGTON
The club joined the North Eastern League in 1914 and had made a big enough impression to become founder members of the 3rd Division (North) by 1921. Voted out of the Football League 8 years later, Ashington returned to the North Eastern League in 1929, playing in that competition until the league folded in 1958, when the club switched to the Midland League until that folded two years after this. Ashington were in the Northern Counties League 1960-1962, the North Eastern League 1962-1964, the Wearside League 1964-1965 and the North Regional League 1965-1968. For the 1968-1969 season the club played in the Northern Premier League and later joined the Northern League in 1970. After much swapping about in previous times, Ashington have remained in the Northern League since.
ASHTON ATHLETIC
The club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1978. Founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, Athletic left the competition in 1986, before returning to the NW Cos in 2006.
ASHTON TOWN
Ashton Town played in the Lancashire Combination 1903-1910/11, reappearing in 1971. Moving to the Cheshire County League in 1978, Town became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, and still play in that competition.
ASHTON UNITED
Under the name ‘Hurst’, the club played in the Lancashire Combination 1912-1915. After a bit of a gap, they joined the Cheshire County League in 1923 and continued through to the Second World War. In 1946 the present name was adopted and United joined the Lancashire Combination in 1948. The next move was an odd one with Ashton United, complete with centre half Dave Ewing, joining the Midland League in 1964. This did not last long, however, and a return to the more familiar surroundings of the Lancashire Combination followed in 1966, after which the club transferred to the Cheshire County League in 1968. The next change came when the Cheshire and Lancashire sections joined together as the North West Counties League in 1982. Success in this compettion saw United promoted to the Northern Premier League in 1992 and , apart from a brief period in Conference North 2004-2005, this is where the club are now.
ASHTON NATIONAL
Another Ashton club, National joined the Cheshire County League in 1920 and remained members until 1940 when they ‘disappeared’. The club’s best period was in the 2nd half of the 1920s. The fact National did not reappear after World War 2 may be connected with the creation of Ashton United in 1946.
ATHERTON
Atherton Church House joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903. Three years later, the club adopted the simpler name of ‘Atherton’ and remained a member of the competition well into the War Years. Rejoining the Lancashire Combination in 1920, Atherton left again in 1930.
Atherton Collieries became members of the Lancashire Combination in 1950, but left in 1952. The club re-joined the set-up in 1971, but switched to the Cheshire League in 1978 before being founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982.
Atherton Laburnum Rovers followed their neighbours into the Cheshire County League, joining in 1980. They too were founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, winning the title in successive years1993 and 1994. Rovers joined the Northern Premier League in 1994, but returned to the North West Counties League in 1997.
BARROW
Barrow started in the Lancashire League in 1893, making it as far as November 20th when they resigned. Another attempt began in 1901 and this time things went rather better. Barrow moved to the Lancashire Combination in 1903, staying there until they became champions in 1921 – the year the Holker Street side joined the new Football League 3rd Division (North). For the next half century it was Barrow Reserves who were prominent in non-league circles to the west of the Pennines. In 1972 the club lost its place in the Football League and were members of the Northern Premier League 1972-1979. The 30 years since have seen the club moving between the Conference and the Northern Premier. The years spent in the Conference have been 1979-1983, 1984-1986, 1989-1992, 1998-1999 and 2004-the present day, the period 2004-2007 being spent in Conference North. When not a Conference club, Barrow played in the Northern Premier League.
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BISHOP AUCKLAND
Beginning life as Auckland Town, the club took its present name in 1893 when rejoining the Northern League, of which ‘Bishops’ were members for 95 years, taking the title on 18 occasions, as well as winning the F.A. Amateur Cup 10 times. The club switched to the Northern Premier League in 1988, finishing as Premier Division runners-up in 1997. After that things did not go quite so well and Bishop Aucklane rejoined the Northern League in 2006.
BLYTH SPARTANS
Spartans became members of the North Eastern League in 1913 winning the title in 1936. After the competition folded the club joined the Midland League in 1958, then the Northern Counties League in 1960. Blyth continued as members of this competition under its new name ‘North-Eastern League’ 1962-1964, but when it again folded Spartans moved to the Northern League in 1964. After 10 championships, the club looked for a new challenge and moved to the Northern Premier League in 1994. As Premier Division title winners in 2005, Blyth moved to the Conference North. BOSTON UNITED
Boston Town joined the Midland League in 1921, playing there until 1933 when the club had to be wound up, being re-formed as Boston United and continuing in the same competition until 1958, when a move was made to the Southern League. The club rejoined the Midland League in 1962 but left in 1964. Brief spells in the United Counties League and the West Midlands (Regional) League, where three successive league titles were won, United became members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 and emerged as champions 4 times in the next few years. The club was a founder member of the Alliance Premier League (Conference) in 1979, but had to rejoin the Northern Premier League in 1993 before switching to the Southern League in 1998. Boston returned to the Conference in 2000, earning promotion to the Football League in 2002. After a few uneventful years, the Lincolnshire club returned to the Conference in 2007, ending up in Conference North because of the major financial difficulties being faced by this time. Another demotion followed to the Northern Premier League where the club are currently playing.
BRADFORD PARK AVENUE
Avenue joined the Southern League in 1907 and were elected to the Football League Division 2 in 1908, moving up to Division 1 in 1914. After many years of reasonable success, the club experience a sad decline which culminated in their losing Football League status. In 1970 Bradford joined the Northern Premier League, but folded in 1974.
Prior to 1970, Avenue’s reserve side had featured prominently at times in non-league football, being members of the North Eastern League 1907-1909; the Midland League 1909-1910, 1914-1915, 1929-1939 and 1945-1958; the Yorkshire Combination 1910-1914; and the Yorkshire League 1920-1924, 1928-1929 and 1970-1973.
A new Bradford Park Avenue was founded in 1977 and this club joined the North West Counties League in 1990, winning the Division title 5 years later. Avenue moved to the Northern Premier League in 1995, moved up to Conference North in 2004, then rejoined the NPL in 2005.
BRIDLINGTON TOWN
The original Bridlington Town joined the Yorkshire League in 1924, leaving in 1939. Town rejoined the Yorkshire League in 1959, winning the title in 1967, but falling on harder times after this. The club were founder members of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982 and joined the Northern Premier League in 1990, earning promotion as champions to the Premier Division and winning the F.A. Vase in 1993. It all went wrong after this and the club folded a year later, in 1994.
A local team, Greyhound FC, moved into the Queensgate and joined the Northern Counties (East) League in 1999 as Bridlington Town. Promotion followed in 2003 to the Northern Premier League, but there was a return to the NCEL after that in 2008.
BRIDLINGTON TRINITY
Bridlington’s other successful team, Trinity, joined the Yorkshire League in 1960, winning the title twice (1964 and 1968). Trinity moved to the Midland League in 1972, finishing runners-up on goal difference in 1980. Founder members of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982, the club resigned in 1990 after its groundshare agreement at Queensgate came to an end. The club now folded.
BURSCOUGH
The club joined the Lancashire Combination in 1953, going on to become champions twice before moving to the Cheshire County League in 1970. Burscough were founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982, moving on to join the Northern Premier League in 1998. Success in the F.A. Trophy in 2003 was followed by elevation to Conference North in 2007, but the club returned to the Northern Premier League in 2009.
BURSCOUGH RANGERS
Another Burscough side, ‘Rangers’, were members of the Lancashire Combination 1927-1933.
BUXTON
Buxton’s league experience began in the relatively short-lived Combination 1n 1891. The club joined the Cheshire County League in 1932 and, apart from the War years, played in that competition until 1973 emerging that year as champions. In 1973 they moved to the Northern Premier League. In 1998 Buxton joined the Northern Counties (East) League, but returned to the Northern Premier League in 2006.
CHESTER CITY
Chester’s first few years in league competition (1890-1899, 1901-1910) were spent in The Combination. In 1910 the club entered the Lancashire Combination, remaining there until March 1915. Founder members of the Cheshire County League in 1919, Chester were twice champions of this league prior to being elected to the Football League in 1931. The club became Chester City in 1983 and re-joined non-league football when relegated to the Conference in 2000. Promoted back to the Football League in 2004, Chester City returned to the Conference in 2009.
CHORLEY
Chorley played in the Lancashire League from 1894, moving to the Lancashire Combination in 1903. Champions of this league 10 times, the club became founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 for one season, rejoining in 1970 and 1982, with the period 1972-82 spent in the Cheshire County League. Chorley were in the Conference 1988-1990, returning to the NPL in 1990. The club’s reserve side were successful in the Lancashire Combination Division 2, which they joined in 1949, left in1968 and rejoined 1978 before again departing in 1981.
CONSETT
Consett joined the North Eastern League in 1926, leaving that competition in 1935, but re-entering in 1937 and remaining members until the league folded in 1958. Consett joined the Midland League in 1958 but switched to the Northern Counties League (afterwards the North Eastern League) in 1960. The club joined the Northern League in 1970, though what league was played for the 6 seasons before that is unknown. Consett have remained in the Northern League since.
DARWEN
F.A. Cup semi-finalists in 1881, Darwen were one of the North’s best sides in the 1880s and were elected to the Football League in 1891. Life was not always comfortable at this level, however, and the Darreners left the League in 1899 for the Lancashire League, where they were champions in 1902 and runners-up a year later. Darwen joined the Lancashire Combination in 1903, leaving in 1914, but re-joining in 1920 and going on to be champions four times by the time of the amalgamation with the Cheshire League. The club was a founder member of the North West Counties League in 1982 and remained there until folding in 2009.
DENABY UNITED
Denaby became members of the Midland League in 1902 but left in 1913. The club re-joined the Midland League in 1920, but left to join the Yorkshire League in 1960 when the old league folded. Back in the new Midland League in 1961, Denaby found it hard going and were in the Yorkshire League again by 1965. United were founder members of the Northern Counties (East) League in 1982, winning the competition in 1997. Five years later, Denaby United folded when the lease of their ground expired and a suitable alternative could not be found.
DROYLSDEN
Droylsden joined the Cheshire County League in 1939, taking part in the league’s wartime set-up. The club joined the competition proper in 1945, but left in 1950. In 1949 Belle Vue FC of the Lancashire Combination changed its name to Droyslden United, merging with Droylsden in 1951 and playing under the simpler name in the Lancashire Combination from then on, until moving to the Cheshire League in 1968. Droylsden became founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982. The next move was to the Northern Premier League in 1987 and success there led to a place in Conference North in 2004. Champions in 2007, Droylsden spent the 2007-2008 season in Conference National, returning to Conference North in 2008.
DURHAM CITY
City joined the North Eastern League in 1919 and were elected to the Football League in 1921. After losing their place in Division 3 (North), the club returned to the North Eastern League in 1928. A change of name to ‘City of Durham’ in 1933 opened a period of amazing records of conceding goals. the club folded in 1938.
A new Durham City emerged and joined the Northern League in 1952, eventually taking the title in 1994. A further championship success in 2008 and an excellent sponsorship agreement with the company which had provided the club with an artificial pitch persuaded the club to try its luck elsewhere. City joined the Northern Premier League in 2008, winning the 1st Division North at the first attempt and being promoted to the Premier Division. The Conference announced at the start of the 2009-2010 campaign that Durham City’s artificial pitch was not acceptable at ‘that level’. The sponsors pulled out, the players left and City are rooted to the foot of the table, bravely seeking to fulfil their fixtures after suffering the sort of body blow all clubs dread happening to them one day. | |||||||||