Manchester Football League
Manchester Football League |
---|
File:ManchesterLeague.jpg |
Founded |
1893 |
Country |
England |
Feeder To |
North West Counties League Division Two |
Divisions |
Premier Division Division One |
Number of Teams |
33 |
Levels on Pyramid |
Level 11 to Level 12 |
Cups |
Gilcryst Cup Murray Shield |
Current Champions (2007-08) |
Wigan Robin Park (Premier) Chapel Town (Division One) |
The Manchester Football League currently known under terms of sponsorship as Bridgewater Office Supplies Football League is a football league in England, covering a 20-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2006-07 champions were Stockport Georgians.
Structure
The league consists of five divisions: the Premier Division and Division One are exclusively for first teams, while Divisions Two, Three, and Four consist of reserve and lower teams of clubs in the top two divisions. Reserve teams of clubs whose first teams play in other leagues are not permitted to join.
The Premier Division has a promotion/relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League, placing it at level 11 of the English football league system. However, the NWCFL's ground requirements are considerably higher than those of the Manchester League, so meeting them usually requires expensive improvements, and consequently few teams take up the opportunity of promotion. Ashton Athletic took the step up in 2006, despite only finishing 4th in Division One. Teams such as Salford City, Maine Road and Northern Nomads have all played in the league at some point.
The league's sponsors up to the 2005-06 season was Air Miles. For the 2008-09 season, there are 18 clubs competing in the Premier Division. The ugliest player in the league last season was voted as Stockport Georgians Jimmy Ellis
Member clubs for 2008–09 season
Premier Division
- Atherton Town
- Avro
- Breightmet United
- Chapel Town
- East Manchester
- Elton Vale
- Gregorians
- Hindsford
- Hollinwood
- Leigh Athletic
- Pennington
- Prestwich Heys
- Rochdale Sacred Heart
- Royton Town
- Springhead
- Stockport Georgians
- Walshaw Sports
- Wythenshawe Amateurs
Division One
- Beechfield United
- Bury Amateurs
- Dukinfield Town
- Fives Athletic
- Heywood St James
- Manchester Juniors
- Monton Amateurs
- Old Altrinchamians
- Salford Victoria
- Stand Athletic
- Standians
- West Didsbury & Chorlton
- Whitworth Valley
- Wilmslow Albion
- Wythenshawe Town
Recent Champions of Premier Division and Division One
Season | Premier Division | Division One |
---|---|---|
1982-83 | Maine Road | Mount Pleasant |
1983-84 | Maine Road | Shell (Carington) |
1984-85 | Maine Road | Coldhurst United |
1985-86 | Maine Road | Adswood Amateurs |
1986-87 | Adswood Amateurs | Castleton Gabriels |
1987-88 | Stockport Georgians | Prestwich Heys |
1988-89 | Abbey Hey | Avro |
1989-90 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Greater Manchester Police |
1990-91 | Abbey Hey | Ramsbottom United |
1991-92 | East Manchester | Woodley Sports |
1992-93 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Atherton Town |
1993-94 | Abbey Hey | Winton United |
1994-95 | Abbey Hey | Highfield United |
1995-96 | Little Hulton United | Stand Athletic |
1996-97 | Highfield United | Prestwich Heys |
1997-98 | Springhead | Urmston |
1998-99 | Stand Athletic | Willows |
1999-00 | Stand Athletic | Sacred Heart |
2000-01 | Stand Athletic | Leigh Athletic |
2001-02 | Stockport Georgians | Royton Town |
2002-03 | Wythenshawe Amateurs | Breightmet United |
2003-04 | Royton Town | Avro |
2004-05 | Prestwich Heys | AFC Blackley |
2005-06 | Prestwich Heys | Whitworth Valley |
2006-07 | Prestwich Heys | Walshaw Sports |
2007-08 | Wigan Robin Park | Chapel Town |
External links
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