Northern Premier League Premier Division
| Country | England |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Level on pyramid | 7 |
| Promotion to | Conference North |
| Relegation to |
NPL Division One North NPL Division One South |
| Domestic cup(s) |
FA Cup FA Trophy Challenge Cup Peter Swales Shield |
| Current champions |
F.C. United of Manchester (2014–15) |
| Most championships | Boston United (4 times) |
| Website | Official website |
 2014–15 | |
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 (or level 7) of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.
The league was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, being the highest level non-League division below The Football League. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League, it became a feeder league and fell down one 'level' in the English football league system. Since then, its prestige has fallen further: there are now two levels between it and the Football League.
The division is at the same level as the Premier Divisions of the Southern League and the Isthmian League. At the end of each season two clubs are promoted to the Conference North: the league champions, and the winners of a play-off competition held between the 2nd through 5th placed clubs. The four lowest placed teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One North or Northern Premier League Division One South, to be replaced by four promoted teams.
All clubs from the Premier Division also compete in the NPL Challenge Cup and the Peter Swales Shield knockout competition, but not in the other two NPL cup competitions (the President's Cup and the Chairman's Cup). Before 2007–08 Premier Division teams did compete in the Chairman's Cup.
Current clubs 2014–15
| Club |
Home Ground | Finishing position 2013–14 |
|---|---|---|
| Ashton United | Michael Jefferson Memorial Arena , Hurst Cross | 5th |
| Barwell | Kirkby Road | 14th |
| Belper Town | Christchurch Meadow | Playoff winners of the 2013–14 NPL Division One South (4th) |
| Blyth Spartans | Croft Park | 8th |
| Buxton | The Silverlands | 13th |
| Curzon Ashton | Tameside Stadium | Winners of 2013–2014 NPL Division One North |
| F.C. United of Manchester | Tameside Stadium (Broadhurst Park from August 2015) | 2nd |
| Frickley Athletic | Westfield Lane | 21st |
| Grantham Town | South Kesteven Sports Stadium | 15th |
| Halesowen Town | The Grove | Winners of 2013–2014 NPL Division One South |
| Ilkeston | New Manor Ground | 17th |
| King's Lynn Town | The Walks | 11th |
| Marine | Arriva Stadium | 20th |
| Matlock Town | Causeway Lane | 12th |
| Nantwich Town | The Weaver Stadium | 19th |
| Ramsbottom United | Harry Williams Riverside Stadium | Playoff winners of the 2013–14 NPL Division One North (5th) |
| Rushall Olympic | Dales Lane | 7th |
| Skelmersdale United | West Lancashire College Stadium | 6th |
| Stamford | Kettering Road | 18th |
| Stourbridge | War Memorial Athletic Ground | Transferred from the Southern League Premier Division (5th) |
| Trafford | Shawe View | 10th |
| Whitby Town | Turnbull Ground | 9th |
| Witton Albion | Wincham Park | 16th |
| Workington | Borough Park (Workington) | Relegated from Conference North (22nd) |
Past winners
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References
External links
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