Manchester Football League
| Founded | 1893 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions |
Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three (for reserve teams) Division Four (for reserve teams) |
| Number of teams | 38 (for the purposes of the league system) |
| Level on pyramid | Level 11 (Premier Division) |
| Feeder to | North West Counties League |
| Promotion to |
North West Counties League First Division |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Gilgryst Cup Murray Trophy Open Trophy Bridgewater Cup |
| Current champions |
Avro (Premier Division) Chadderton Reserves (Division One) Altrincham Hale (Division Two) (2017–18) |
| Website |
Official Website Official Twitter Page Official Facebook Page |
The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Lancashire 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 six divisions, with the Premier division being at level 11 of the English football league system.
Structure
The League consists of five divisions: Premier Division, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Division 4. 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, 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 2) to even up the numbers. This was put in place in the hope to keep 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.
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 latest team to make the step up was Prestwich Heys after the 2015/16 season.
Teams from the Premier Division are relegated to Division One, making Division One the twelfth level of the English football league system. However, first teams from Division One could be relegated to Division Two after the re-alignment of the league structure at the start of the 2017/18 season.
For the 2018-19 season there were 39 clubs competing in Level 11, 12 and 13 of the system.
Member clubs for 2018–19 season
Premier Division
- Beechfield United
- Bolton County
- Chadderton Reserves
- Dukinfield Town
- East Manchester
- Heyside
- Hindsford
- Manchester Central
- Manchester Gregorians
- Old Altrinchamians
- Rochdale Sacred Heart
- Royton Town
- Springhead
- Stockport Georgians
- Walshaw Sports
Division One
- Altrincham Hale
- Atherton LR Reserves
- Atherton Town
- Bolton Lads & Girls Club
- Boothstown
- Elton Vale
- Govan Athletic
- Heywood St James
- Leigh Athletic
- Pennington
- Radcliffe Juniors
- Tintwistle Athletic
- Uppermill
- Wilmslow Albion
Division Two
- Astley & Tyldesley
- Atherton Town Reserves
- Avro Reserves
- Breightmet United
- Hindley Juniors
- Hindsford Reserves
- Hollinwood
- Irlam Steel
- Manchester Gregorians
- Middleton Colts
- Moorside Rangers
- Rochdale Sacred Heart Reserves
- Walshaw Sports Reserves
- Wythenshawe Amateurs Reserves
Recent champions of Premier Division, Division One & Division Two (First Teams)
| 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 | Dukinfield Town | |
| 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 |
External links
- Official website
- Manchester Football League at FA Full-Time
- Mobile Phone App (Apple App Store) (Google Play Store)