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Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League
Association football league in England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League is an English association football league founded in 1909. As of the 2024/25 season, the league consists of six divisions – Premier, One, Two and Three, then A and B. 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 2024/25, two divisions now have this style of name. The Premier Division is (as of 2024) 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.
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About the League
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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]
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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
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The 1909-10 season saw 11 teams join the league.[12]
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
- Unknown location of ground in 1909. Current ground for the club is Inverbeg Drive, Bolton
- 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
- 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
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Clubs moving to higher status
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A number of clubs that have left the league now play at a higher level.
Notes
- Played as Salford Beechfield United from 2003 to 2005
- 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
- They were called Bradford Parish Church for 1922-23 only, then played as Bradford Parish until 1994 when they were renamed Denton Town
- They were inactive for 1925-26 season
- Merged with Linotype and played as Linotype & Cheadle Heath Nomads from 2004 to 2018. They renamed back to Cheadle Heath Nomads in 2018
- The League was known as Mid-Cheshire League until 2007
- Merged with University Of Manchester in 2022 and became Govan & University Of Manchester
- 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
- Changed name to AFC Monton in 2011
- 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
- North Withington changed their name to Wythenshawe Town in 1987, while in the Manchester League
- Not including World War 1 years 1915-1919
- Played in both the Central League and the Southern League at the same time
- Played in both the Central League and the Lancashire Combination at the same time
- Not including World War 2 years 1940-1945
- Football Conference became National League in 2015
- Resigned from the league midway through 2002-03 season
- Merged with Standians in summer 2009 before folding in the early stages of 2009-10
- Merged with Adswood Amateurs in 1987 and moved to the Manchester League, taking Adswood's place
- Originally called United Manchester Hospitals, and changed their name to Manchester Royal in 1988
- Resigned mid-season 2002-03
- Joined the league as West Didsbury and changed their name to West Didsbury & Chorlton in 2003
- Joined the league as Woodley Athletic and changed their name to Woodley Sports in 1980
- In 2012 changed name to Stockport Sports, and were expelled from the North West Counties League before the end of 2014-15 season
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Current members
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Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League winners
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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.
1910–14
A second division (Division Two) was launched including some reserve sides from Division One.
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.
1920–21
A second division (Division A) was launched with some reserve sides from Division One.
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.
1926–27
The Junior Division closed down due to problems clubs had recruiting players under 18.
1927–30
A new Division Two was launched in place of Division A. Therefore Division A would now effectively become the division for 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.
1931–33
The Junior and B divisions were dropped after one season.
1933–34
Division B was re-introduced.
Notes
- In later records, the club was known as Urmston Victoria. They were members of the league 1914-1926
- Bradford Parish Church was renamed Bradford Parish in 1923
- 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
- Won the league with a 100% record
- Won the league after a Championship play-off with West Didsbury, winning 4-1 after extra time
- This was the original Cheadle Heath Nomads that were formed in 1919, that merged with Linotype in 2004
2015–2024
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References
External links
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