1996–97 North West Counties Football League

April 2026 April 2026 The 1996–97 North West Counties Football League season was the 15th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. The league comprised two divisions, Division One and Division Two (at levels 8 and 9 respectively of the English football league system), and there were additionally three cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup knockout competition, open to all the league's clubs; the Second Division Trophy, a knockout trophy competition for Division Two clubs only; and the Floodlit Trophy competition for all the league's clubs with floodlights. The league also had a reserves team section. Division One North West CountiesFootball LeagueDivision One 1996–97 22 Trafford Trafford Bootle 462 1422 1995–96 1997–98 Division One featured featured 22 clubs, 20 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additions, both promoted from Division Two: Atherton Collieries, promoted as runners-up Vauxhall GM, promoted as champions At the end of the season the leavers from the division were: the champions Trafford, automatically promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One; Penrith who transferred to the Northern League Division One; Eastwood Hanley who folded and left the league; and Bootle who suffered an enforced relegation to Division Two as their ground did not meet the requirements of Division One.Dennis Wall 18 June 1997 Friendlies kick-off in Vauxhall campaign 48 Ellesmere Port Pioneer Chester Owing to the latter two departures both the bottom clubs were reprieved from relegation. League table main WDL Season End Notes 5 TRA Trafford NEW Newcastle Town CLT Clitheroe PEN Penrith BUR Burscough EWH Eastwood Hanley MOS Mossley BWR Blackpool Rovers PRC Prescot Cables VAU Vauxhall GM NAN Nantwich Town GNE Glossop North End BTL Bootle STH St Helens Town ACO Atherton Collieries KID Kidsgrove Athletic ROS Rossendale United CHA Chadderton HOB Holker Old Boys MNR Maine Road DAR Darwen SLC Salford City 29 7 6 99 38 C,P 27 7 8 71 31 23 14 5 75 36 23 10 9 75 49 22 9 11 68 48 20 10 12 64 51 20 8 14 79 58 17 16 9 70 47 17 11 14 68 60 14 15 13 70 69 14 11 17 74 74 14 11 17 56 67 15 8 19 61 73 R 14 6 22 65 79 12 9 21 63 85 10 14 18 53 73 11 9 22 51 76 10 11 21 49 80 10 9 23 60 80 9 11 22 49 85 9 10 23 49 81 8 12 22 53 82 #ACE1AF Promoted to Northern PremierLeague Division One P #CCCCFF Transferred to the Northern League Division One TRFR #CCCCCC Club folded FLD #FFCCCC Relegated (ground grading) to Division Two R 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. complete NWCFL: Final Tables, Season 1996/97 Division Two North West CountiesFootball LeagueDivision Two 1996–97 20 Ramsbottom United HaslingdenRamsbottom United None 380 1299 1995–96 1997–98 Division Two featured featured 20 clubs, 16 remaining from the previous season plus 4 additions: Garswood United, promoted as champions of the Mid-Cheshire League Division One Leek CSOB, promoted as champions of the Midland League Skelmersdale United, relegated from Division One Colne, a newly formed clubRichard Frost 11 May 1996 'New' Colne chase NWCL place 11 Manchester Evening News: Pink Final Manchester At the end of the season the champions Ramsbottom United (who had joined the league the previous season) and runners-up Haslingden (who were denied promotion three seasons previously on ground grading issues) were promoted to Division One. For the first occasion two Division Two clubs, Ramsbottom United with 100 and Tetley Walker with 105, both scored at least a century of goals over the season. The latter club were involved in setting a new league single match total goal record of 17 on 5 May 1997 when they defeated Nelson 15–2. The bottom two clubs, potentially subject to demotion, both remained in the division. League table main WDL Season End Notes 5 RAM Ramsbottom United HAS Haslingden GAR Garswood United TET Tetley Walker RCH Castleton Gabriels LCS Leek County School Old Boys FOR Formby MAG Maghull CHT Cheadle Town SKU Skelmersdale United NEL Nelson STA Stantondale MDW Middlewich Athletic SQG Squires Gate DSH Daisy Hill BAC Bacup Borough AST Ashton Town BLK Blackpool Mechanics OLD Oldham Town CLN Colne 27 6 5 100 34 C,P 27 6 5 90 32 P 26 5 7 90 38 24 5 9 105 58 22 8 8 78 39 22 7 9 67 49 21 6 11 86 57 17 7 14 52 50 15 8 15 59 63 14 10 14 72 66 14 10 14 64 72 11 12 15 59 69 13 6 19 54 65 12 4 22 44 79 10 5 23 47 76 9 6 23 48 83 6 14 18 53 77 7 5 26 48 88 6 7 25 48 113 6 5 27 35 91 #ACE1AF Promoted to Division One P P 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. complete NWCFL: Final Tables, Season 1996/97 League Challenge Cup The 1996–97 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs. The final between the two leading Division One clubs, played at Bury F.C., was won 2–1 by Newcastle Town who defeated Trafford the therefore denied them the league and cup double. 26 April 1997 Tough For Trafford in League Cup Final 11 Manchester Evening News: Pink Final Manchester Semi-finals and Final The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played n 2 n 3 score 1 Semi-finals Newcastle Town grey (D1) 1 4 RD1-score1-agg Penrith grey (D1) 0 2 RD1-score2-agg Nantwich Town grey (D1) 0 2 RD1-score3-agg Trafford grey (D1) 2 3 RD1-score4-agg Finalf1 Played at Bury F.C. Newcastle Town grey (D1) 2 Trafford grey (D1) 1 Club's division appended to team name: (D1)=Division One sources: Semi-finals: 31 March 1997 Semi-pro Results, Scorers and Tables: NWC league Cup: Semi Final 2nd Leg 37 Manchester Evening News Manchester Final: 26 April 1997 Tough For Trafford in League Cup Final 11 Manchester Evening News: Pink Final Manchester Second Division Trophy The 1996–97 Second Division Trophy was a knockout competition for Division Two clubs only. The winners were Nelson who defeated league newcomers Garswood United 1–0 in the final played at Darwen F.C.George Embley 25 April 1997 Matt Finish: Shiels goal brings cup glory to Victoria Park 46 Nelson Leader Wigan Semi-finals and Final The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played n 2 n 3 score 1 Semi-finals Garswood United 0 1sf1 After extra time, score at 90 minutes: 0–0 RD1-score1-agg Castleton Gabriels 0 0sf1 RD1-score2-agg Nelson 1 3sf2 After extra time, score at 90 minutes: 2–2 3sf3 Nelson won on the away goal rule Bacup Borough 1 4sf2 RD1-score4-agg Finalf1 Played at Darwen F.C. Garswood United 0 Nelson 1 sources: Semi-finals: 17 March 1997 Semi-pro Soccer – Results, Scorers, Tables: NWCL Div 2 Trophy Semi Finals 2nd Legs 41 Manchester Evening News Manchester Final: George Embley 25 April 1997 Matt Finish: Shiels goal brings cup glory to Victoria Park 46 Nelson Leader Wigan Floodlit Trophy The 1996–97 Floodlit Trophy was a competition open to all the league's clubs with floodlights. The final was played at Clitheroe F.C.and featured Division One clubs at the north and south ends of the area covered by the league. The winners were Penrith (who were shortly to transfer away from the league) they defeated Newcastle Town – who were thus denied a League Challenge and Floodlit cup double and a third Floodlit Trophy win. It was Penrith's second win in the competition, having won it two seasons previously. Reserves Section Main honours for the 1996–97 season:https://www.nwcfl.com/league-honours.php League Honours The NWCFL 8 April 2026 Reserves Division Winners: Trafford Reserves Runners-up: Clitheroe Reserves Reserves Division Cup Winners: Trafford Reserves Runners-up: Clitheroe Reserves References External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League North West Counties Football League Tables at RSSSF Category:North West Counties Football League seasons 8