Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League


The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League is an English association football league founded in 1909. As of the 2023/24 season, the league consists of seven divisions – Premier, One, Two and Three, then A, B and C. Historically the divisions named A-D were for Reserve sides of teams in the top four divisions, but 1st teams can now play at the lower levels. In 2023-24, three divisions now have this style of name. The Premier Division is (as of 2023) at level 14 in the English football league system, below the 3rd levels of the top county leagues in the area: Manchester League, Cheshire League and West Lancashire League.

Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League
Founded1909
CountryEngland
Divisions7
Number of teams75
Level on pyramid14 to 20
Feeder toManchester League
Cheshire League
Domestic cup(s)Rhodes Cup
Wray Cup
Whitehead Cup
Hellawell Shield
Current championsMoston Brook (Premier Div)
Chadderton Park Sports Club (Div 1)
Moston Brook Reserves (Div 2)
Dukinfield Athletic (Div 3)
Milltown (Div A)
Mellor 3rds (Div B)
Websitehttps://landc.org.uk

About the League

The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League was founded in 1909. The league, as of 2016, is the biggest of the open age Saturday afternoon men's leagues in the region,[1] having eight Saturday divisions in operation, and a few years earlier operated with nine.[2] Clubs are from the Greater Manchester and northern Cheshire areas.[3] The league is overseen by the local Football Association, the Manchester FA.[4]

The league pioneered the Respect Charter in 2002. When the FA later adopted the Respect programme, the league was a pilot League for this. The launch took place at Chorltonians FC’s Police Club ground, Hough End.[5][6]

One of the league’s success stories are Stalybridge Celtic, who started off as an amateur football club in the league before turning professional two years later.[7][8] As of summer 2022, the most recent teams to move up to the next level are Stretford Paddock, who joined the Cheshire League,[9] Chadderton Cott and De La Salle, who joined the Manchester League for 2022/23.

In 2017, it was a record-breaking season for the Mellor club, who collected a record 5 trophies - the first team winning the Premier Division and the Rhodes Cup, the reserve team the Div 2 title and the Wray Cup, with the club also winning the Aggregate Trophy.[10]

Formation of the League

In 1909, a group of men met and in their own words decided to "Promote an Amateur League of high quality for players who pay to play the genuine sport; also to encourage competition against outside Leagues of similar outlook and standing to the mutual benefit of the amateur game." These "founding fathers" of the league included W. H. Rhodes, A. H. Downes, R. W. Lambert and E. Roscoe.[11]

The first season

The 1909-10 season saw 11 teams join the league.[12]

League position Team Active in the league 1909-10 Ground Current status (2022)
1 Walkden Amateurs 1909-1915 Edge Fold, Walkden Folded
2 Stalybridge Celtic 1909-1911 Bower Fold, Mottram Road, Stalybridge Northern Premier League
3 Bolton Wyresdale 1909-1910 Bolton[Note 1][13] Lancashire Amateur League
4 Droylsden Corinthians 1909-1911 Yew Tree Farm, Copperas Lane, Droylsden Folded
5 Lymm Amateurs 1909-1915 Rush Green, Lymm Folded
6 Denton Corinthians 1909-1910 Denton[Note 2] Folded
7 Xaverian College 1909-1910 Victoria Park, Rusholme[Note 3][14] Folded
8 Werneth Amateurs 1909-1925 Block Lane, Werneth Folded
9 Dukinfield Astley 1909-1911 Bradley Hurst Farm, Dukinfield Hall, Dukinfield Folded
10 Brooklands 1909-1912 Atkinson Road, Ashton-on-Mersey Folded
11 Westinghouse 1909-1915 Warwick Road, Old Trafford Folded

The first round of matches took place on Saturday 18 September 1909:

  • Brooklands v Westinghouse
  • Bolton Wyresdale v Lymm Amateurs
  • Werneth Amateurs v Denton Corinthians
  • Dukinfield Astley v Walkden Amateurs

The league made a profit of £19 17s at the end of the opening season. The first champions, Walkden Amateurs, finished two points clear of runners-up Stalybridge Celtic. Third place Bolton Wyresdale were seven points further behind. The league table ended with 1 game unplayed - Lymm Amateurs v Denton Corinthians. The league chairman said that Denton Corinthians "had not treated the league in a very good spirit" by not fulfilling the fixture.

After the season, Denton Corinthians disbanded, while Bolton Wyresdale moved on to the Manchester Section of the Lancashire Amateur League. Two new clubs were accepted for the following season - Nuthurst (Moston) and Manchester Simmarians. A third club was later accepted - Bolton Caledonians.

The league was said to have been so successful in its initial season, that a second division was to be launched for 1910-11.

Notes
  1. Unknown location of ground in 1909. Current ground for the club is Inverbeg Drive, Bolton
  2. Unknown location of the ground. References online can only be found in Manchester Grammar School from before 1909 in a newsletter referencing inter-school league games. The ground isn't noted specifically, but can be safely assumed to be somewhere in Denton
  3. Unconfirmed if this was the address of their ground. However, the college moved to Victoria Park, 2.5 acres of grounds, in 1907 so it is likely the league games were played here

Clubs moving to higher status

A number of clubs that have left the league now play at a higher level.

Team Active in the league Later Leagues
Adswood Amateurs 1962-1985 1985-1987 Manchester League[15]
Merged with Stockport Georgians in 1987[16]
Beechfield United
[Note 1]		 1997-2008 2008-2022 Manchester League[17]
Resigned 2022[Note 2]
Boothstown 2011-2014[18] 2014-2023 Manchester League[19]
Bradford Parish Church
Bradford Parish
Denton Town
[Note 3]		 1922-2008 2008-2023 Cheshire League[20][21]
Chadderton Cott 2018-2022 2022-2023 Manchester League
Cheadle Heath Nomads 1921-1925[Note 4]
1927-1994		 1994-2018 Cheshire League[Note 5][Note 6]
2018-2022 North West Counties League[22]
De La Salle 2006-2007
2020-2022		 2022-2023 Manchester League
Flixton 1964-1973 1973-1986 Manchester League
1986-1996 North West Counties League[23]
1996-2000 Northern Premier League
2000-2012 North West Counties League
Folded in 2012[24]
Govan Athletic 2002-2016 2016-2023 Manchester League[Note 7][25]
Irlam Steel 1993-2012 2012-2017 Manchester League[26]
Folded in 2017
Monton Amateurs 1924-1985 1985-2022 Manchester League[Note 8][Note 9][27]
Moorside Rangers 2006-2018 2018-2023 Manchester League[28]
Birch Vale and Thornsett
New Mills
[Note 10]		 1968-1987 1987-2004 Manchester League
2004-2011 North West Counties League
2011-2016 Northern Premier League
2016-2023 North West Counties League
North Withington
 1958-1973 1973-2014 Manchester League[29][Note 11][30]
2015-2018 Cheshire League
2018-2023 North West Counties League
Poynton 1966-1986 1986-2023 Cheshire League[Note 6][31]
Stalybridge Celtic 1909-1911 1911-1912 Lancashire Combination[32]
1912-1921 Central League[Note 12]
1914-1915 Southern League[Note 13]
1919-1920 Lancashire Combination[Note 14]
1921-1923 Football League Division Three North
1923-1982 Cheshire County League[Note 15]
1982-1987 North West Counties League
1987-1992 Northern Premier League
1992-1998 Football Conference
1998-2001 Northern Premier League
2001-2002 Football Conference
2002-2004 Northern Premier League
2004-2019 National League[Note 16]
2019-2023 Northern Premier League
Stand Athletic 1981-1993 1993-2001 Manchester League[33]
2001-2003 North West Counties League[Note 17]
2003-2009 Manchester League
Folded in 2009[Note 18]
Stretford Paddock 2020-2022 2022-2023 Cheshire League
Stockport Georgians 1931-1987 1987-2022 Manchester League[16][Note 19]
2022-2023 North West Counties League
Styal 1921-1923
1927-1938
1952-1977		 1923-1927 Didn't field team
1938-1952 Unknown league
1977-2023 Cheshire League[Note 6]
Tintwistle Athletic 2007-2017 2017-2023 Manchester League[34]
United Manchester Hospitals
Manchester Royal
[Note 20]		 1978-1992 1992-2003 Manchester League[35]
Folded in 2003[Note 21]
West Didsbury
West Didsbury & Chorlton
[Note 22]		 1920-2006 2006-2012 Manchester League[36]
2012-2023 North West Counties League
Whalley Range 1984-1987
2004-2020		 1987-2003 Manchester League
2020-2023 Cheshire League
Wilmslow Albion 1973-1988 1988-1998 Mid-Cheshire League
1998-2023 Manchester League
Woodley Athletic
Woodley Sports
[Note 23]		 1973-1988 1988-1997 Manchester League
1997-2004 North West Counties League
2004-2012 Northern Premier League
2012-2015 North West Counties League
Folded in 2015[Note 24][37]
Wythenshawe Amateurs 1954-1972 1972-2018 Manchester League
2018-2023 North West Counties League

Notes
  1. Played as Salford Beechfield United from 2003 to 2005
  2. After resigning from the Manchester League, the Manchester Saturday Morning League team, who were previously considered their Reserve side, has effectively become their 1st team, as their only open age side playing in 2022-23
  3. They were called Bradford Parish Church for 1922-23 only, then played as Bradford Parish until 1994 when they were renamed Denton Town
  4. They were inactive for 1925-26 season
  5. Merged with Linotype and played as Linotype & Cheadle Heath Nomads from 2004 to 2018. They renamed back to Cheadle Heath Nomads in 2018
  6. The League was known as Mid-Cheshire League until 2007
  7. Merged with University Of Manchester in 2022 and became Govan & University Of Manchester
  8. Resigned mid-season 2017-18 but returned for 2018-19 season. Also was set to start Div 2 in 2022-23 but resigned just before the season started
  9. Changed name to AFC Monton in 2011
  10. Originally called Birch Vale and Thornsett. In 1983 they took over the ground of the New Mills side that folded and in 1984 changed their name to New Mills
  11. North Withington changed their name to Wythenshawe Town in 1987, while in the Manchester League
  12. Not including World War 1 years 1915-1919
  13. Played in both the Central League and the Southern League at the same time
  14. Played in both the Central League and the Lancashire Combination at the same time
  15. Not including World War 2 years 1940-1945
  16. Football Conference became National League in 2015
  17. Resigned from the league midway through 2002-03 season
  18. Merged with Standians in summer 2009 before folding in the early stages of 2009-10
  19. Merged with Adswood Amateurs in 1987 and moved to the Manchester League, taking Adswood's place
  20. Originally called United Manchester Hospitals, and changed their name to Manchester Royal in 1988
  21. Resigned mid-season 2002-03
  22. Joined the league as West Didsbury and changed their name to West Didsbury & Chorlton in 2003
  23. Joined the league as Woodley Athletic and changed their name to Woodley Sports in 1980
  24. In 2012 changed name to Stockport Sports, and were expelled from the North West Counties League before the end of 2014-15 season

Current members
Premier Division[38] Division One[39] Division Two[40] Division Three[41] Division A[42] Division B[43] Division B[44]
Abacus Media Bedians Abacus Media Reserves AFC Stockport AFC Oldham AFC Oldham Reserves Bury Amateur A
AFC Monton Bury Amateur AFC Boarshaw Badger Casuals Altrincham Hale A AFC Stockport Warriors Didsbury Reserves
Chadderton Park Sports Club Hazel Grove Bollington Health and Leisure Dom Doyle Bury Amateur Reserves Barr Hill Fitton Hill All-Stars
Hattersley Mellor Dukinfield Athletic Hillgate Didsbury Broadheath Central A Irlam Steel Rangers Development
Irlam Steel Rangers Moston Brook Reserves Elton Hargreaves Jlingz Flixton Juniors Milnrow Juniors Firgrovia Richmond Rovers Reserves
Moston Brook North Walkden Reserves FC Babylon Old Stretfordians Reserves Manchester Rovers Moston Brook B Saddleworth 3Ds Reserves
North Walkden R-Kix Hooley Bridge Celtic Saddleworth 3Ds Mellor Reserves Oldham Saints Athletic Signol Athletic Reserves
Old Stretfordians Rushford Park Richmond Rovers Santos Moston Brook A Prestwich Marauders Stafford Argyle
Sale Amateurs Salford Albion Salford Victoria Reserves South Manchester Rochdalians Timperley Villa Stoconians Reserves
Salford Victoria Stretford Paddock Amateurs Spurley Hey Stoconians Signol Athletic Village Manchester Reserves Sublime Athletic
Trafford United Spurley Hey Reserves Village Manchester A
Village Manchester Trafford United Reserves

Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League winners

1909–10

The number and naming of the divisions has varied throughout the league's history, and the size of the league has grown from its early days.

Season Division One
1909–10 Walkden Amateurs

1910–14

A second division (Division Two) was launched including some reserve sides from Division One.

Season Division One Division Two
1910–11 Stalybridge Celtic Walkden Amateurs Reserves
1911–12 Cranford Old Trafford St Johns Juniors
1912–13 Cranford Refuge Assurance
1913–14 Cranford Bramhall

1919–20

There was no competition 1914/15 to 1919 due to World War One. The league re-started in 1919 with a single division.

Season Division One
1919–20 Barton Hall

1920–21

A second division (Division A) was launched with some reserve sides from Division One.

Season Division One Division A
1920–21 Chorlton Amateurs Urmston Reserves[Note 1]

1921–26

A Junior division was launched for junior players, initially defined as between 14 and 18 and a half, it was later increased up to 20 in 1924.

Season Division One Division A Junior Division
1921–22 Royton Amateurs Styal Sale Juniors
1922–23 Royton Amateurs Bradford Parish Church Didsbury Juniors
1923–24 Bradford Parish[Note 2] Urmston Reserves[Note 1] South Salford Lads Club
1924–25 Bramhall South Salford[Note 3] Chorlton Albion
1925–26 South Salford Mottram Amateurs Monton Amateurs

1926–27

The Junior Division closed down due to problems clubs had recruiting players under 18.

Season Division One Division A
1926–27 South Salford[Note 4] Longsight

1927–30

A new Division Two was launched in place of Division A. Therefore Division A would now effectively become the division for Reserves.

Season Division One Division Two Division A
1927–28 South Salford[Note 5] Cheadle Heath Nomads[Note 6] Royton Amateurs Reserves
1928–29 South Salford Chapelmoor South Salford Reserves
1929–30 South Salford Monton Amateurs Union Chapel Reserves

1930–31

A new Junior Division was launched, and at least eight players had to be under 18.5, with up to 3 open-age players allowed. A second Reserve division "B" was also launched.

Season Division One Division Two Division A Division B Junior Division
1930–31 South Salford Oldham Secondary School Old Boys South Salford Reserves Styal Reserves Denton Russell Scott Old Boys

1931–33

The Junior and B divisions were dropped after one season.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three Division A
1931–32 South Salford Stockport Georgians Old Urmstonians Reserves Styal Reserves
1932–33 South Salford Denton Russell Scott Old Boys Old Urmstonians Reserves Royton Amateurs Reserves

1933–34

Division B was re-introduced.

Season Division One Division Two Division Three Division A Division B
1933–1934 South Salford East Chorlton Amateurs Birchfields East Chorlton Amateurs Reserves Aldermere Reserves

Notes
  1. In later records, the club was known as Urmston Victoria. They were members of the league 1914-1926
  2. Bradford Parish Church was renamed Bradford Parish in 1923
  3. South Salford Lads Club continued in the Junior Division, whilst their new Open Age side in Division A (which was mainly the previous Junior players) were called just South Salford
  4. Won the league with a 100% record
  5. Won the league after a Championship play-off with West Didsbury, winning 4-1 after extra time
  6. This was the original Cheadle Heath Nomads that were formed in 1919, that merged with Linotype in 2004

2015–23 [45]
Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three
2015–16 Rochdalians Tintwistle Athletic Whalley Range Reserves Chorltonians Town
2016–17 Mellor Moorside Rangers Mellor Reserves Didsbury Reserves
2017–18 Moorside Rangers Waterloo Chorltonians Reserves Dom Doyle
2018–19 Rochdalians Dom Doyle Newton Radclyffe
2019–20 cancelled/records expunged (Covid) cancelled/records expunged (Covid) cancelled/records expunged (Covid) cancelled/records expunged (Covid)
2020–21 cancelled/records expunged (Covid) cancelled/records expunged (Covid) cancelled/records expunged (Covid) cancelled/records expunged (Covid)
2021–22 De La Salle Reds Chadderton Cott Irlam Tiger Rangers Village Manchester
2022–23 Moston Brook Chadderton Park Sports Club Moston Brook Reserves Dukinfield Athletic

References
  1. Harrison, Paul (15 August 2016). "Lancashire and Cheshire League ready for big kick off". South Manchester News.
  2. 100 up for biggest amateur league, Manchester Evening News (24 June 2009). "100 up for biggest amateur league". Manchester Evening News.
  3. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 1 Football Grounds in England | Football Ground Map". www.footballgroundmap.com.
  4. Association, The Football. "11v11 & Transition Leagues in Greater Manchester". www.manchesterfa.com.
  5. Show Respect, Manchester Evening News (19 April 2010). "Show Respect". Manchester Evening News.
  6. ‘Respect’ key to AFL success, Manchester Evening News (16 June 2011). "'Respect' key to AFL success". Manchester Evening News.
  7. Stretford Paddock official web site
  8. "Blink and you'll miss it, part 4: Stalybridge Celtic 1921-23". 27 March 2017.
  9. Stretford Paddock official web site
  10. "LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Mellor celebrate new record". Messenger Newspapers.
  11. ISBN 978-0-9560772-0-2 Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 7
  12. ISBN 978-0-9560772-0-2 Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 10
  13. "Contact Bolton Wyresdale A.F.C". www.boltonwyresdaleafc.com.
  14. "Our Story".
  15. "Football Club History Database - Adswood Amateurs". www.fchd.info.
  16. "Football Club History Database - Stockport Georgians". www.fchd.info.
  17. "Football Club History Database - Beechfield United". fchd.info.
  18. "Club History | Boothstown Football Club". Boothstown Football.
  19. "Tables - Manchester Football League". www.manchesterleague.co.uk.
  20. "Football Club History Database - Denton Town". www.fchd.info.
  21. "Club History". 2 June 2019.
  22. "NWCFL | Cheadle Heath Nomads Club Information Page". www.nwcfl.com.
  23. "NWCFL | Flixton League History 1982-2019". www.nwcfl.com.
  24. "Football Club History Database - Flixton". www.fchd.info.
  25. "Football Club History Database - Govan Athletic". www.fchd.info.
  26. "Football Club History Database - Irlam Steel". fchd.info.
  27. "Football Club History Database - Monton Amateurs". fchd.info.
  28. "Football Club History Database - Moorside Rangers". www.fchd.info.
  29. "Football Club History Database - Wythenshawe Town". www.fchd.info.
  30. "Wythenshawe Town FC History of the club". Wythenshawe Town.
  31. "Football Club History Database - Poynton". fchd.info.
  32. "Football Club History Database - Stalybridge Celtic". www.fchd.info.
  33. "Football Club History Database - Stand Athletic". www.fchd.info.
  34. "Football Club History Database - Tintwistle Athletic". www.fchd.info.
  35. "Football Club History Database - Manchester Royal". fchd.info.
  36. "Records & Honours". 20 June 2017.
  37. "Football Club History Database - Stockport Sports". www.fchd.info.
  38. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Premier Division". fulltime.thefa.com.
  39. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 1". fulltime.thefa.com.
  40. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 2". fulltime.thefa.com.
  41. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division 3". fulltime.thefa.com.
  42. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division A". fulltime.thefa.com.
  43. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division B". fulltime.thefa.com.
  44. "Lancashire and Cheshire AFL Division B". fulltime.thefa.com.
  45. "Football Club History Database - Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur League History". www.fchd.info.
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