1985–86 North West Counties Football League

The 1985–86 North West Counties Football League was the fourth in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. The League comprised three divisions and there was additionally the League Challenge Cup knockout competition open to all clubs and a reserves team section. == Division One == Division One featured 20 clubs, 18 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additional (both promoted from Division Two): Clitheroe as champions Irlam Town as runners-up At the end of the season the champions Clitheroe (who had over the previous two seasons been Division Three and Division Two champions) were unable to achieve their third successive promotion owing to lack of floodlights at their ground; the two bottom clubs Prescot Cables and Formby were relegated to Division Two. === League table === == Division Two == Division Two featured 18 clubs, 15 remaining from the previous season plus 3 additional: Lancaster City, relegated on ground grading criteria from DivisionOne Kirkby Town promoted as champions from Division Three, returning to the division from which they had been expelled two years previously Colwyn Bay promoted as runners-up from Division Three Club movements at the end of the season were straightforward with the champions Kirkby Town (with their second successive promotion) and runners-up Rossendale United promoted to Division One and going in the other direction the two bottom clubs, Ford Motors and Nantwich Town, were relegated to Division Three. === League table === == Division Three == Division Three featured 15 clubs, 13 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additional: Padiham, relegated on ground grading criteria from Division Two Huyton Town, a newly formed club Oldham Dew changed their name to Oldham Town At the end of the season the two top clubs, the champions Blackpool Mechanics and runners-up Oldham Town were promoted to Division Two. Four other clubs left the division; three clubs, Prestwich Heys, Huyton Town and Ashton Athletic were expelled from the league as their grounds were ruled below the required standard and the Bolton ST club folded. === League table === === Divisional Cup === Owing to the reduced number of clubs in the division a subsidiary cup competition, sponsored by Luxor, was organised for its members. Over the two-legged final Atherton Collieries beat Newton 5–2 on aggregate (0–2 at Newton; 5–0 at Atherton). == League Challenge Cup == The 1985–86 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all clubs in the League. The winners were Warrington Town of Division Two who defeated First Division champions Clitheroe 2–0 in the final played at Bury F.C. Semi-finals and Final The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played Club's division appended to team name: (D1)=Division One; (D2)=Division Two source: NWCFL: All Results, 1985/86 Season == Reserves Section == Main honours for the 1985–86 season: Reserves Division Winners: Chadderton Reserves Runners-up: St Helens Town Reserves Reserves Division Cup Winners: Irlam Town Reserves Runners-up: Curzon Ashton Reserves == References == == External links == The official website of the North West Counties Football League North West Counties Football League Tables at RSSSF