Manchester Football League
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.
| Founded | 1893 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions | Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three (for reserve teams) Division Four (for reserve teams) Division Five (Development Division for U23 teams) |
| Number of teams | 81 (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 Manchester League Cup |
| Current champions | Hindsford (Premier Division) Moorside Rangers (Division One) TBC (Division Two) |
| Website | www |
Structure
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 (2022–23)
Premier Division
- Atherton Town
- Bolton County
- Chadderton Reserves
- Dukinfield Town
- Heyside
- Heywood St James
- Hindsford
- Manchester Gregorians
- Moorside Rangers
- Old Altrinchamians
- Pennington
- Rochdale Sacred Heart
- Royton Town
- Springhead
- Uppermill
- Walshaw Sports
Division One
- Altrincham Hale
- Avenue
- Avro Reserves
- Bolton Borough
- Bolton Lads & Girls Club
- Bolton United
- Boothstown
- East Manchester
- Elton Vale
- Govan Athletic
- Hindley Juniors
- Manchester Central
- Tintwistle Athletic
- Wilmslow Albion
Division Two
- Ashton Athletic Reserves
- Astley & Tyldesley
- Baguley Athletic
- Breightmet United
- Cavaliers
- Chadderton Cott
- De La Salle
- Eccles United
- Hollinwood
- Horwich RMI
- Leigh Genesis
- Stockport Georgians Reserves
- Tottington United
Recent champions of Premier Division, Division One & Division Two
| 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 |