Manchester Football League

Manchester Football League
Founded 1893
Divisions Premier Division
Division One
Number of teams 30
Levels on pyramid Level 11–12
Feeder to North West Counties League
Promotion to North West Counties League
First Division
Current champions AVRO (Premier)
West Didsbury & Chorlton (Division One)
(2010–11)
Website Official website

The Manchester Football League, currently known under terms of sponsorship as Bridgewater Office Supplies Football League, is a football league in England, covering a 20-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2010–11 champions are AVRO. They successfully defended their trophy as champions and will be defending their trophy again after choosing not to progress to the North West Counties Football League Division One.

Contents

Structure

The league consists of five divisions: the Premier Division and Division One are exclusively for first teams, while Divisions Two, Three, and Four consist of reserve and lower teams of clubs in the top two divisions. Reserve teams of clubs whose first teams play in other leagues are not permitted to join.

The Premier Division has a promotion/relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League, 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.

For the 2011-12 season, 28 clubs are competing in the League.

Member clubs for 2011–12 season

Premier Division

Division One

Recent Champions of Premier Division and Division One

Season Premier Division Division One
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 Dukinfield Town
2009-10 AVRO Bury Amateurs
2010-11 AVRO West Didsbury & Chorlton

External links