2003–04 North West Counties Football League

The 2003–04 North West Counties Football League season was the 22nd 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). Additionally there were two cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup knockout competition open to all the league's clubs and the Second Division Trophy, a knockout trophy competition for Division Two clubs only. The league also had a reserves team section. == Division One == Division One featured 22 clubs, 19 remaining from the previous season plus 3 additions: Bacup Borough, promoted as Division Two champions Stone Dominoes, promoted as Division Two runners-up Trafford, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One During the season four clubs suffered points deductions for transgressing league rules: the most notable was Mossley who suffered a three point deduction for an administrative error without which they would have finished equal on points with champions Clitheroe and by reason of a better goal difference have taken the crown themselves. At the end of the season owing to the impending creation of two divisions at levels 6 of the English football league system (the Football Conferences North and South) and the advancement of clubs into those divisions and consequently other clubs moving up the pyramid, four Division One clubs were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One: the champions Clitheroe, runners-up Mossley and fourth and fifth placed clubs Woodley Sports and Warrington Town; third placed club Fleetwood Town were denied promotion as their ground did not meet the grade for the higher division. Owing to the reduction of clubs in the division (with four being promoted) no clubs were relegated. === League table === == Division Two == Division Two featured 20 clubs, 16 remaining from the previous season plus 4 additions: Eccleshall, promoted as champions of the Midland Football League Flixton, relegated from Division One Formby, a league founder member club rejoined from the Liverpool County Football Combination following a one year absence. Winsford United, relegated from Division One At the end of the season the champions Colne (who completed a Division Two league and cup double) and the clubs filling the next three places, Maine Road, Formby and Great Harwood Town, were promoted to Division One to replace those promoted to the Northern Premier League. The latter club benefitted from the late deduction of three points for fielding an ineligble player from Darwen who as a consequence dropped from fourth to sixth position. All the other 16 clubs remained in the division. === League table === == League Challenge Cup == The 2003–04 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs. The all Division One club final, played at Southport F.C., was won 3–0 by Bacup Borough who defeated Newcastle Town. Quarter-finals, 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: "League Challenge Cup Fixtures/Results". nwcfl.co.uk. April 2004. Archived from the original on 19 June 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2026. == Second Division Trophy == The 2003–04 Second Division Trophy was a knockout competition for Division Two clubs only. In the final played at Clitheroe F.C. the winners, completing a league and cup double, were Colne who defeated Great Harwood Town 1–0. Semi-finals and Final (The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played) sources: Semi-finals: "Division Two Trophy Fixtures/Results". nwcfl.co.uk. March 2004. Archived from the original on 30 April 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2026. Final: Phil Simpson (7 May 2004). "Harwood old boy Paul fires Reds to double". Nelson Leader. Nelson. p. 86. == Reserves Section == Main honours for the 2003–04 season: Reserves Division Winners: Flixton Reserves Runners-up: Clitheroe Reserves Reserves Division Cup Winners: Glossop North End Reserves Runners-up: Maine Road Reserves == References == == External links == The official website of the North West Counties Football League Tony's English Football Site: Results & Tables for 2003/04