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Manchester Football League

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Manchester Football League
Founded1893
CountryEngland
DivisionsPremier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three (for reserve teams)
Division Four (for reserve teams)
Division Five (Development Division for U23 teams)
Number of clubs81 (for the purposes of the league system)
Level on pyramidLevel 11 (Premier Division)
Feeder toNorth West Counties League
Promotion toNorth West Counties League
First Division
Domestic cup(s)Gilgryst Cup
Murray Trophy
Open Trophy
Manchester League Cup
Current championsHindsford (Premier Division)
Moorside Rangers (Division One)
TBC (Division Two)
Websitewww.manchesterleague.co.uk

The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Manchester FA, covering a 30-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. Currently it consists of five divisions, with the Premier division being at level 11 of the English football league system.

Structure

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The League consists of six divisions, from Premier Division to Division five. The Premier Division, Division One and Division Two can incorporate both first teams, and reserve teams of clubs who are playing at a higher level, while Divisions Three and Four and Five usually consist entirely of reserve or lower teams.

However, for the 2018–19 season only, the constitution was amended to allow a small number of reserve teams into the bottom division of the first teams (Division Two) to even up the numbers. This was put in place in the hope of keeping all teams playing regularly as opposed to the old structure which meant teams could go without a fixture for a few weeks at a time.

For the 2023-24 season Division 5 will become a new Development Division for U23's teams.

The Premier Division has a promotion and relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL), 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 latest teams to make the step up were Prestwich Heys, Avro and most recently Stockport Georgians.

Teams from the Premier Division are relegated to Division One, making Division One the twelfth level of the English league system. However, first teams from Division One could be relegated to Division Two after the realignment of the league structure at the start of the 2017–18 season.

Following the introduction of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) national lockdown restrictions in March 2020, the 2019/20 season was unable to be completed and was therefore declared null and void. The following season suffered the same outcome with only around a third of fixtures being completed.

Current member clubs (2024-25)

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Premier Division

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  • Atherton Town
  • Baguley Athletic
  • Bolton County
  • Chadderton Reserves
  • Dukinfield Town
  • Elton Vale
  • Govan Athletic
  • Hindsford AFC
  • Moorside Rangers
  • Pennington
  • Rochdale Sacred Heart
  • Royton Town
  • Stockport Georgians
  • Tintwistle Athletic
  • Uppermill
  • Walshaw Sports

Division One

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  • Altrincham Hale
  • Avenue
  • Avro Reserves
  • Bolton Borough
  • Bolton Lads & Girls Club
  • Bolton United
  • De La Salle
  • East Manchester
  • Horwich R.M.I.
  • Manchester Corinthians
  • Old Altrinchamians
  • Springhead
  • Tottington United

Division Two

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  • Astley & Tyldesley
  • Eccles United
  • Glossop North End Community Club
  • Hollinwood
  • Irlam Steel Rangers
  • Little Lever SC
  • Macclesfield FC Reserves
  • Moston Brook
  • North Walkden
  • Radcliffe Town AFC
  • Wilmslow Albion

Recent champions of Premier Division, Division One & Division Two

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Season Premier Division Division One Division Two
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
2008–09 Gregorians Springhead
2009–10 Avro Bury Amateurs
2010–11 Manchester Gregorians Avro
2011–12 Hindsford Wythenshawe Town
2012–13 Hindsford Rochdale Sacred Heart
2013–14 Hindsford Chapel Town
2014–15 Stockport Georgians Old Altrinchamians
2015–16 Prestwich Heys East Manchester
2016–17 Rochdale Sacred Heart Prestwich Heys Reserves
2017–18 Avro Chadderton Reserves Altrincham Hale
2018-19 Hindsford Heywood St James Middleton Colts
2019-20 Null & Void Null & Void Null & Void
2020-21 Null & Void Null & Void Null & Void
2021-22 Hindsford Moorside Rangers Bolton United

References

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https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/ineligibility-probe-fa-may-strip-two-1145609

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