West Lancashire Football League
Encyclopedia
The West Lancashire Football League is a football competition based in northern England
, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams (Premier, One and Two), and two for reserve teams. The top division, the Premier Division, sits at step seven of the National League System
and is a feeder league for the North West Counties Football League
, although promotion and relegation is based upon application to the National League System Panel. Kirkham & Wesham
made a successful application for promotion in 2007.
football clubs, but from the 1920s the membership changed with the league including several Football League club's 'A' teams. This continued through to the early 1950s. However, the creation of the Lancashire League
meant that some of the Football League clubs changed their allegiance. The West Lancashire League struggled along for a few years, until 1954 when it was closed down.
The league was re-established in 1959, with a small membership of clubs from the Blackpool area. Steadily the league grew, and in 1964-65 it expanded to two divisions. The league had a rapidly changing membership, but continued to prosper, with a third senior division being formed for the 1998-99 season. The league now covers the whole of modern Lancashire
, plus areas of Cumbria
, Greater Manchester
, Merseyside
, and even West Yorkshire
.
In past seasons the league has included former Football League club Nelson
and the forerunners of current Football League side Morecambe
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, consisting of five divisions - three for first teams (Premier, One and Two), and two for reserve teams. The top division, the Premier Division, sits at step seven of the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
and is a feeder league for the North West Counties Football League
North West Counties Football League
The North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2011, the league covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Southern Cumbria, Northern Staffordshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire, and the far west of West Yorkshire. In the past, the...
, although promotion and relegation is based upon application to the National League System Panel. Kirkham & Wesham
A.F.C. Fylde
A.F.C. Fylde is a football club based at Warton in the Borough of Fylde in the English county of Lancashire. The club were known as Kirkham & Wesham F.C. until the end of the 2007-08 season...
made a successful application for promotion in 2007.
History
The league was formed in 1904, although 1905-06 was the first season. It was originally known as the Preston & District Combination, with member clubs having to be within ten miles of Preston. It became the West Lancashire League in 1908, and over the years the qualification area was gradually extended. At first it was a competition for minor non-leagueNon-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
football clubs, but from the 1920s the membership changed with the league including several Football League club's 'A' teams. This continued through to the early 1950s. However, the creation of the Lancashire League
Lancashire League (football)
The Lancashire League has been the name of two separate football competitions for clubs based in northern England.-Lancashire League :...
meant that some of the Football League clubs changed their allegiance. The West Lancashire League struggled along for a few years, until 1954 when it was closed down.
The league was re-established in 1959, with a small membership of clubs from the Blackpool area. Steadily the league grew, and in 1964-65 it expanded to two divisions. The league had a rapidly changing membership, but continued to prosper, with a third senior division being formed for the 1998-99 season. The league now covers the whole of modern Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, plus areas of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, and even West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
.
In past seasons the league has included former Football League club Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
and the forerunners of current Football League side Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
.
Premier Division
- Blackpool Wren RoversBlackpool Wren Rovers F.C.Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. are an English football club based in Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire.The club's ground is Bruce Park, which is located on School Road...
- Burnley United
- Charnock Richard
- Coppull United
- EagleyEagley F.C.Eagley F.C. are an association football club based in the village of Eagley, near Bolton in Greater Manchester.They are members of the Lancashire Football Association, and in the 2011–12 season their senior team is playing in the West Lancashire League Premier Division, which is at the 11th level...
- Euxton Villa
- Fleetwood Hesketh
- Fulwood Amateurs
- Garstang
- Lostock St. Gerards
- Poulton Town
- Slyne-with-Hest
- Stoneclough
- Tempest United
- Thornton & Cleveleys
- Vickerstown
Division One
- BAC/EE/Springfields
- Crooklands Casuals
- Dalton UnitedDalton United F.C.Dalton United F.C. is a football club based in Dalton-in-Furness in Cumbria England, currently playing in the West Lancashire League Division One.-Overview:...
- Furness Rovers
- Haslingden St. Mary's
- Hawcoat Park
- Hesketh Bank
- Longridge Town
- Lytham Town
- Mill Hill St. Peters
- Millom
- Norcross & Warbreck
- TurtonTurton F.C.Turton F.C. are an association football club based in Edgworth, in the North Turton district of Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, England.They are members of the Lancashire Football Association, and in the 2011–12 season their senior team is playing in the West Lancashire League Division One,...
- Wyre Villa
Division two
- Ambleisde
- Askam United
- Bolton County
- Burscough Richmond
- Croston Sports
- Furness Cavaliers
- GSK Ulverston Rangers
- Kendal County
- Ladybridge
- Milnthorpe Corinthians
- Todmorden Borough
- Walney Island
- Whinney Hill
West Lancashire League Champions
| Season | (as Preston & District Combination) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1905-06 | Coppull Central | ||
| 1906-07 | Great Harwood | ||
| 1907-08 | Southport Park Villa | ||
| Season | (as West Lancashire League) | ||
| 1908-09 | Leyland | ||
| 1909-10 | Longridge | ||
| 1910-11 | Horwich RMI | ||
| 1911-12 | Higher Walton Albion | ||
| 1912-13 | Hamilton Central | ||
| 1913-14 | Horwich RMI | ||
| 1914-15 | Leyland | ||
| 1919-20 | Leyland | ||
| 1920-21 | Leyland Motors | ||
| 1921-22 | Croston | ||
| 1922-23 | Accrington Stanley Reserves | ||
| 1923-24 | Croston | ||
| 1924-25 | Fleetwood Reserves | ||
| 1925-26 | Lancaster Town Reserves | ||
| 1926-27 | Breightmet United | ||
| 1927-28 | Burnley 'A' | ||
| 1928-29 | Lancaster Town Reserves | ||
| 1929-30 | Chorley Reserves | ||
| 1930-31 | Bolton Wanderers 'A' | ||
| 1931-32 | Westhoughton | ||
| 1932-33 | Chorley Reserves | ||
| 1933-34 | Calderstones | ||
| 1934-35 | Whittingham CMH | ||
| 1935-36 | Bolton Wanderers 'A' | ||
| 1936-37 | Whittingham CMH | ||
| 1937-38 | Bolton Wanderers 'A' | ||
| 1938-39 | Burnley 'A' | ||
| 1946-47 | Blackpool 'A' | ||
| 1947-48 | Morecambe Reserves | ||
| 1948-49 | Blackpool 'A' | ||
| 1949-50 | Burnley 'A' | ||
| 1950-51 | Blackburn Rovers 'A' | ||
| 1951-52 | Blackburn Rovers 'A' | ||
| 1952-53 | Blackburn Rovers 'A' | ||
| 1953-54 | Preston North End 'A' | ||
| 1959-60 | Fleetwood Reserves | ||
| 1960-61 | Blackpool Mechanics | ||
| 1961-62 | Blackpool Mechanics | ||
| 1962-63 | Vickers Sports | ||
| 1963-64 | Lancashire Constabulary | ||
| Season | Division One | Division Two | |
| 1964-65 | Lancashire Constabulary | Heyhouses | |
| 1965-66 | Vickers Sports | Layton Institute Reserves | |
| 1966-67 | Layton Institute | Lytham St Annes YMCA | |
| 1967-68 | Penwortham Hill Rovers | Norcross & Warbreck | |
| 1968-69 | Great Harwood Reserves | Longridge United | |
| 1969-70 | Wren Rovers | Wigan Technical College | |
| 1970-71 | Wren Rovers | Colne Dynamoes | |
| 1971-72 | Colne Dynamoes | Padiham | |
| 1972-73 | Colne Dynamoes | Trimpell | |
| 1973-74 | Colne Dynamoes | Colne British Legion | |
| 1974-75 | Colne Dynamoes | Corinthians | |
| 1975-76 | Springfields | Dalton United | |
| 1976-77 | Blackpool Rangers | Padiham | |
| 1977-78 | Springfields | Harwood Wellington | |
| 1978-79 | Blackpool Rangers | Penwortham Hill Rovers | |
| 1979-80 | Freckleton | Squires Gate | |
| 1980-81 | Freckleton | Haslingden | |
| 1981-82 | Freckleton | Barnoldswick Park Rovers | |
| 1982-83 | Blackpool Rangers | ICI Thornton | |
| 1983-84 | Dalton United | Colne Dynamoes Reserves | |
| 1984-85 | Dalton United | Anchor Cables | |
| 1985-86 | BAC Preston | Kirkham Town | |
| 1986-87 | Holker Old Boys | Royal Ordnance | |
| 1987-88 | BAC Preston | Turton | |
| 1988-89 | BAC Preston | Wyre Villa | |
| 1989-90 | Colne Dynamoes Reserves | Burnley Bank Hall | |
| 1990-91 | BAC Preston | Eagley | |
| 1991-92 | Burnley Bank Hall | ICI Thornton | |
| 1992-93 | Vickers Sports Club | Leyland DAF | |
| 1993-94 | Burnley United | Lancashire Constabulary | |
| 1994-95 | Fulwood Amateurs | Wyre Villa | |
| 1995-96 | Springfields | Lansil | |
| 1996-97 | Wyre Villa | Fleetwood Hesketh | |
| 1997-98 | Charnock Richard | Vickers Sports Club | |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
| 1998-99 | Fulwood Amateurs | Barnoldswick United | Blackpool Wren Rovers |
| 1999-00 | Kirkham & Wesham | Padiham | Burnley Belvedere |
| 2000-01 | Kirkham & Wesham | Blackpool Wren Rovers | Crooklands Casuals |
| 2001-02 | Kirkham & Wesham | Milnthorpe Corinthians | Coppull United |
| 2002-03 | Charnock Richard | Coppull United | Lytham St. Anne's |
| 2003-04 | Kirkham & Wesham | Hesketh Bank | Crosshills |
| 2004-05 | Kirkham & Wesham | Lytham St Annes | Haslingden St. Mary's |
| 2005-06 | Kirkham & Wesham | Haslingden St. Mary's | Trimpell |
| 2006-07 | Kirkham & Wesham | Poulton Town | Vickerstown Cricket Club |
| 2007-08 | Garstang | Stoneclough | Crooklands Casuals |
| 2008-09 | Charnock Richard | Tempest United | Thornton & Cleveleys |
| 2009-10 | Blackpool Wren Rovers Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. are an English football club based in Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire.The club's ground is Bruce Park, which is located on School Road... |
Thornton & Cleveleys | BAC//EE/Springfields |
| 2010-11 | Blackpool Wren Rovers Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. are an English football club based in Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire.The club's ground is Bruce Park, which is located on School Road... |
Burnley United | Lytham Town |
Member clubs progressing to higher standard leagues
| Club | Left League | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool Mechanics | 1962 | Left to join the Lancashire Combination Lancashire Combination The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League... . Currently play in North West Counties League Premier Division North West Counties Football League The North West Counties Football League is a football league in North west of England. As of 2011, the league covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Southern Cumbria, Northern Staffordshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire, and the far west of West Yorkshire. In the past, the... and now known as AFC Blackpool. |
| Blackpool Wren Rovers Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. Blackpool Wren Rovers F.C. are an English football club based in Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire.The club's ground is Bruce Park, which is located on School Road... |
1972 | Left to join the Lancashire Combination Lancashire Combination The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League... , and later played in the North West Counties League. Now back playing in the West Lancashire League. |
| Colne Dynamoes Colne Dynamoes F.C. Colne Dynamoes F.C. was a football club based in Colne, Lancashire, England. After spending much of their existence in the lower reaches of Non-League football, heavy financial investment by millionaire chairman-manager, Graham White, saw the club rise rapidly through the leagues in the late 1980s... |
1975 | Left to join the Lancashire Combination Lancashire Combination The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League... , and later played in the North West Counties League and the Northern Premier League Northern Premier League The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one... . Folded in 1990. |
| Holker Old Boys Holker Old Boys F.C. Holker Old Boys are an English football team based in Hawcoat in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Their home ground is at Rakesmoor Lane, just across the road from Barrow Golf Club on the outskirts of the town.... |
1991 | Left to join the North West Counties League. Currently play in North West Counties Football League First Division. |
| Squires Gate Squires Gate F.C. Squires Gate Football Club are a football club based in Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire, England formed in 1948. After spending thirty years in the West Lancashire League in 1991 they were elected to the North West Counties Football League Division Two and are currently in the Premier Division... |
1991 | Left to join the North West Counties League. Currently play in North West Counties Football League Premier Division. |
| Nelson Nelson F.C. Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:... |
1992 | Returned to the North West Counties League. Resigned from the North West Counties Football League Premier Division in 2010. Applied for 2011–12 membership of NWCFL. |
| Padiham Padiham F.C. Padiham Football Club are an English football team based in Padiham, Lancashire. As of 2011–12, they play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League.-History:... |
2000 | Returned to the North West Counties League. Currently play in North West Counties Football League Premier Division. |
| Kirkham & Wesham A.F.C. Fylde A.F.C. Fylde is a football club based at Warton in the Borough of Fylde in the English county of Lancashire. The club were known as Kirkham & Wesham F.C. until the end of the 2007-08 season... |
2007 | Left to join the North West Counties League. Currently play in Northern Premier League Division One North Northern Premier League Division One North Division One North is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at tier 4 of the National League System, tier 8 of the English football league system... , and now known as AFC Fylde. |
| Barnoldswick Town Barnoldswick Town F.C. Barnoldswick Town F.C. are an English football club based in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. Town were formed in 2003 following the merger of existing clubs Barnoldswick United and Barnoldswick Park Rovers.The club currently run three sides, with the East Lancashire League Third XI using the former Park... |
2009 | Left to join the North West Counties League. Currently play in North West Counties Football League Premier Division. |
| AFC Darwen | 2010 | Returned to the North West Counties League. Currently play in North West Counties Football League First Division. |