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Northern Premier League#Premier Division

{{Short description|Association Football league}}

{{About|the English association football league|the Tasmanian association football league|Northern Premier League (Tasmania)|the English rugby union league|North Premier}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}

{{Infobox football league

| logo =

| pixels =

| organiser =

| country = England

| founded = {{start date and age|1968}}

| teams = 88{{plainlist|

  • Premier Division: 22
  • Division One East: 22
  • Division One West: 22
  • Division One Midlands: 22

}}

| confed =

| promotion = National League North

| relegation = {{plainlist|

}}

| levels = 7 and 8

| domest_cup = National
FA Cup
FA Trophy
League
League Challenge Cup

| confed_cup =

| champions = Radcliffe {{small|(Premier Division)}}
Leek Town {{small|(Division One West 2023–24)}}
Hebburn Town {{small|(Division One East 2023–24)}}
Spalding United {{small|(Division One Midlands 2023–24)}}

| current = 2025–26

| website = {{URL|https://www.thenpl.co.uk/|thenpl.co.uk}}

}}

The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.

Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England and the northern, central areas of the Midlands, and western parts of East Anglia. Originally a single-division competition, a second division was added in 1987: Division One, and in 2007 a third was added when Division One split into two geographic sections - Division One North and Division One South. In 2018 Division One was re-aligned as East and West Divisions, then North West and South East in 2019. In 2021, the FA restructured the non-League football pyramid and created Division One East, West, and Midlands.

Successful teams at the top of the NPL Premier Division are promoted to level 6 of the pyramid (either National League North or National League South), and at the bottom end of the competition, teams are relegated down to level 9, where several regional feeder leagues promote clubs into the league.

History

The Northern Premier League (NPL) was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, decades after the other two leagues at what is now the seventh tier of the English football league system, the Isthmian League and the Southern League. At that time they were the highest level non-League division below the English Football League, the same level as the other league in Northern England, the Cheshire League.{{cite web|title=The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier History|url=http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/articles.php?id=67|work=The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier|publisher=Pitch Hero Ltd|access-date=23 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103253/http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/articles.php?id=67|archive-date=24 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}

Over the next two decades, the NPL successfully displaced its older rival to become the pre-eminent regional competition in Northern England, with the Cheshire League eventually forced to accept status as feeder league to the NPL. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League (which later became the Conference and is now the National League), the NPL became a feeder league and fell down one level in the English football league system, and with the then-Conference's addition of regional divisions in 2004 the NPL was demoted by a further tier and there are now two levels between it and the English Football League.

From 1992–93 to 1994–95 the league's Division One included two non-English clubs, Caernarfon Town from Wales and Gretna from Scotland, who later joined their countries' league systems. Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Newtown, and Rhyl have also played in the league.

In 2018, the NPL's member clubs voted 37–27, with one abstention and three clubs' absence, to split Step 4 (level 8) divisions from east to west starting from the 2018–19 season,{{cite news|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/evo-stik-northern-premier-league-vote-east-west-split/|title=Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Vote For East/West Split|work=Pitchero.com|date=9 March 2018}} and one year later, the league published its successful bid to add another division at Step 4 initially in 2020, further altering Division One into northwest and southeast for travel reasons.{{cite news|url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/npl-to-expand-with-additional-division-at-step-4-56567|title=NPL to expand with additional division at Step 4 |work=The Evo-Stik League|publisher=Pitch Hero Ltd|date=24 April 2019}}{{cite news |title=2019/20 Club Allocations Confirmed |url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/201920-club-allocations-confirmed-56978 |work=The Evo-Stik League |publisher=Pitch Hero Ltd |date=19 May 2019}} After the Football Association (FA) deferred its implementation of changes to the NLS, the NPL's additional division was created in 2021 instead.{{cite news |title=Update on non-League, women's & grassroots football seasons |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/mar/26/national-league-system-womens-football-pyramid-grassroots-covid-19-update-260320 |access-date=27 March 2020 |publisher=The Football Association |date=26 March 2020}}

  • 1968–69 to 1986–87: Premier Division
  • 1987–88 to 2006–07: Premier Division, Division One
  • 2007–08 to 2017–18: Premier Division, Division One North, Division One South
  • 2018–19: Premier Division, Division One East, Division One West
  • 2019–20 to 2020–21: Premier Division, Division One North West, Division One South East
  • 2021–22 onwards: Premier Division, Division One West, Division One East, Division One Midlands

=Sponsorship=

Owing to title sponsorship deals, the league has been billed under various names, including a sixteen-year spell as the Unibond League, the longest such deal in world football.{{cite web|last=Allcock|first=Alan|title=Evo-Stik New Sponsors From 2010–2011|url=http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/evo-stik-new-sponsors-from-2010-2011-1618|work=The Evo-Stik League Website|publisher=Pitch Hero Ltd|access-date=23 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308061111/http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/evo-stik-new-sponsors-from-2010-2011-1618|archive-date=8 March 2011|date=2 May 2010}}

When this deal ended in 2010, a new deal was announced which saw the competition billed as the Evo-Stik League{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/amateur-football/2010/05/01/northern-premier-league-secures-new-sponsor-100252-26353631/|title=Northern Premier League secures new sponsor|work=Liverpool Echo|first=Philip|last=Kirkbride|date=1 May 2010|access-date=7 May 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/sponsor-commits-to-three-more-years-on-night-of-national-honours-and-celebration-9473/ |title=Sponsor commits to three more years on night of national honours and celebration |date=18 May 2012 |access-date=19 May 2012 |first=David |last=Watters |work=The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier |publisher=Pitch Hero Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622182044/http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/sponsor-commits-to-three-more-years-on-night-of-national-honours-and-celebration-9473/ |archive-date=22 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last=Watters|first=David|title=Christmas comes early for League!|url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/christmas-comes-early-for-league-17568/|work=The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier|publisher=Pitch Hero Ltd|access-date=23 December 2013|date=22 December 2013}} until the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/headlines/evo-stik-continue-northern-premier-league-backing/|title=Evo-Stik Continue Northern Premier League Backing|work=Pitchero.com|date=17 June 2017}}

The League announced on 8 July 2019 that a two-year deal for seasons 2019-20 and 2020-21 had been agreed with new sponsor BetVictor.{{cite web |title=New League sponsor |url=https://www.betvictornorthernpremier.co.uk/betvictor-is-new-npl-title-sponsor-57697 |website=BetVictor Northern Premier |publisher=NPL |access-date=8 July 2019}} This sponsorship agreement with BetVictor was subsequently terminated early in April 2020 with a replacement, Entain's Pitching In, announced as the next sponsor for 2020–21. At the time of announcement, Entain went by its former name GVC Holdings. Under this partnership, the NPL is marketed as one of the three Trident Leagues, alongside its Isthmian and Southern counterparts.{{cite news |title=Introducing 'Pitching In' - the new partner of the Northern Premier League |url=https://www.whitbytownfc.com/news/introducing-pitching-in--the-new-partner-of-the-northern-premier-league-2564312.html |access-date=4 March 2021 |work=Whitby Town FC |date=3 September 2020}}

Structure

Since 2021, the NPL has had four divisions: the Premier Division, Division One Midlands, Division One West and Division One East. Prior to 2007 there was just a single Division One, and from 2018 to 2021 Division One was arranged on a north-south, then east-west basis.

The Premier Division has 22 clubs, with the champions promoted to the National League along with the winners of a playoff between the second to fifth place clubs. Theoretically, clubs from the NPL could be promoted into either of the National League's two regional divisions, but the geographical footprint of the NPL has never overlapped with that of the National League South, so (as of 2015) all promoted NPL clubs have been placed in the National League North. The bottom three teams are usually relegated to Division One North West or South East, but NPL Premier Division clubs in the most southerly locales could be relegated to the Southern League Division One Central.

From the 2019–20 season, Division One North West and South East have 20 clubs each. In each division, the champions are promoted to the Premier Division, along with the winners of a divisional playoff. The bottom two clubs in each division are relegated to one of the feeder leagues below provided there are enough suitable promotion candidates from those leagues. The champions of the three feeder leagues covering the NPL area are promoted each season. These are the Northern League, the Northern Counties East League, and the North West Counties League. Clubs in the northern extremities of the Midland League and the United Counties League may also be promoted to the Northern Premier League.

Should there be an unusually large or small number of clubs relegated to and/or promoted to the level of the NPL from Northern England, the National League System (NLS) Committee can order one or more of the NPL's southernmost clubs to transfer to the Southern League (or vice versa) to maintain numerical balance between the leagues.

Division One North West and South East teams receive a bye to the preliminary round of FA Cup Qualification. Premier Division teams receive a bye to the first round of Qualification.

The league currently runs one cup competition, with all member clubs competing in the League Challenge Cup. In the past, the league has run other competitions, such as the Chairman's Cup, the President's Cup and the Peter Swales Shield.

Current members

=Premier Division=

class="wikitable sortable"

|colspan="4" class="unsortable"|

{{location map+ |UK Northern England|float=center |width=500 |caption=Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
8px – Premier Division |places=

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5007 |long=-2.0783 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Ashton United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.7279 |long=-2.6719 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Bamber Bridge |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=55.120833 |long=-1.511111 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Blyth Spartans |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5167 |long=-2.1804 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= FC United of Manchester |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4034 |long=-0.7745 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Gainsborough Trinity |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.8772 |long=-1.7194 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Guiseley |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.968611 |long=-1.523889 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Hebburn Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4506 |long=-2.0682 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Hyde United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England |lat=52.9839 |long=-1.3002 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Ilkeston Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.0511 |long=-2.8109 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Lancaster City |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.109722 |long=-2.039722 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Leek Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.2427 |long=-2.1272 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Macclesfield |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.1370 |long=-1.5517 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Matlock Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.923611 |long=-1.54 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Mickleover |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=55.1560 |long=-1.7086 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Morpeth Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.431944 |long=-2.804722 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Prescot Cables |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.570556 |long=-1.339722 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Stockton Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4004 |long=-2.5755 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Warrington Rylands|label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.9877 |long=-1.1896 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Basford United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.4900 |long=-0.6275 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Whitby Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.6487 |long=-3.5511 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Workington |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.3119 |long=-1.1321 |mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg |label= Worksop Town |label_size=0}}

}}

Id

!Club

!Home ground

!Ground capacity

1

|Ashton United

|Hurst Cross

|4,250 (250 seated)

2

|Bamber Bridge

|Sir Tom Finney Stadium

|3,000 (554 seated)

3

|Basford United

|Greenwich Avenue

|1,950 (300 seated)

4

|Blyth Spartans

|Croft Park

|4,435

5

|FC United of Manchester

|Broadhurst Park

|4,400

6

|Gainsborough Trinity

|The Northolme

|4,340 (504 seated)

7

|Guiseley

|Nethermoor Park

|4,200

8

|Hebburn Town

|The Green Energy Sports Ground

|1,500

9

|Hyde United

|Ewen Fields

|4,250 (530 seated)

10

|Ilkeston Town

|New Manor Ground

|3,029

11

|Lancaster City

|Giant Axe

|3,513 (513 seated)

12

|Leek Town

|Harrison Park

|3,600

13

|Macclesfield

|Leasing.com Stadium

|5,300 (2,095 seated)

14

|Matlock Town

|Causeway Lane

|2,214

15

|Mickleover

|Station Road

|1,500

16

|Morpeth Town

|Craik Park

|1,950 (300 seated)

17

|Prescot Cables

|Valerie Park

|3,200

18

|Stockton Town

|Bishopton Road West

|1,800

19

|Warrington Rylands 1906

|Gorsey Lane

|1,345

20

|Whitby Town

|Turnbull Ground

|3,500 (505 seated)

21

|Workington

|Borough Park

|3,100 (500 seated)

22

|Worksop Town

|Sandy Lane

|2,200 (200 seated)

=Division One West=

class="wikitable sortable"

|colspan="3" class="unsortable"|

{{location map+ |UK Northern England|float=center |width=500 |caption=Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
8px – Division One West |places=

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5235 |long=-2.4848 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Atherton Collieries |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5185 |long=-2.1217 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Avro |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4713 |long=-2.9305 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Bootle |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.6701 |long=-1.9408 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Chasetown |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.2963 |long=-2.9401 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= City of Liverpool |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.8717 |long=-2.3854 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Clitheroe |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.16174 |long=-2.22083 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Congleton Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.0284 |long=-2.1486 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Hanley Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.6976 |long=-1.9887 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Hednesford Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.0811 |long=-2.2506 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Kidsgrove Athletic |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5164 |long=-2.0443 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Mossley |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.9977 |long=-2.2149 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Newcastle Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.0727 |long=-2.5285 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Nantwich Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.3168 |long=-2.6696 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Runcorn Linnets |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4753 |long=-2.0439 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Stalybridge Celtic |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.818542 |long=-2.116858 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Stafford Rangers |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4464 |long=-2.3722 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Trafford |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.2933 |long=-2.9402 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Vauxhall Motors |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.3658 |long=-2.7384 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Widnes |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.2705 |long=-2.4887 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Witton Albion |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.39283 |long=-2.246677 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Wythenshawe |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.400209 |long=-2.29993 |mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label= Wythenshawe Town |label_size=0}}

}}

Club

!Home ground

!Ground capacity

Atherton Collieries

|Skuna Stadium

|2,200

Avro

|Whitebank Stadium

|1,500

Bootle

|New Bucks Park

|2,000

Chasetown

|The Scholars Ground

|2,000

City of Liverpool

|New Bucks Park

|2,000

Clitheroe

|Shawbridge

|2,000

Congleton Town

|Cleric Stadium

|1,450

Hanley Town

|Potteries Park

|1,300

Hednesford Town

|Keys Park

|6,039

Kidsgrove Athletic

|Hollinwood Road

|2,000

Mossley

|Seel Park

|3,000 (200 seated)

Nantwich Town

|Swansway Stadium

|3,500 (300 seated)

Newcastle Town

|Lyme Valley Stadium

|4,000 (300 seated)

Runcorn Linnets

|APEC Taxis Stadium

|1,600

Stafford Rangers

|Marston Road

|4,000

Stalybridge Celtic

|Bower Fold

|6,500 (1,300 seated)

Trafford

|Shawe View

|1,500

Vauxhall Motors

|vanEupen Arena

|3,300

Widnes

|Halton Stadium

|13,350 (all seater stadium)

Witton Albion

|Wincham Park

|2,300 (600 seated)

Wythenshawe

|Hollyhedge Park

|1,500

Wythenshawe Town

|Ericstan Park

|1,000

=Division One East=

class="wikitable sortable"

|colspan="3" class="unsortable"|

{{location map+ |UK Northern England|float=center |width=500 |caption=Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
8px – Division One East |places=

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=55.1846 |long=-1.5512 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Ashington AFC |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.0272 |long=-1.4873 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Belper Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.6382 |long=-1.6937 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Bishop Auckland |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.7589 |long=-1.7762 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Bradford (Park Avenue) |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.0891 |long=-0.1973 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Bridlington Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.7197 |long=-1.8002 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Brighouse Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=52.9714 |long=-1.0627 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Carlton Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5554 |long=-0.0556 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Cleethorpes Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.8503 |long=-1.8238 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Consett AFC |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.9555 |long=-1.6505 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Dunston UTS |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.6126 |long=-1.6319 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Emley AFC |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.7989 |long=-1.3623 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Garforth Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.5460 |long=-0.1227 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Grimsby Borough |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.9990 |long=-1.5905 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Heaton Stannington |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.7040 |long=-1.6784 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Liversedge |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=54.6153 |long=-1.5584 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Newton Aycliffe |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.7173 |long=-0.5001 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= North Ferriby |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.6816 |long=-1.5775 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Ossett United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.6965 |long=-1.3140 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Pontefract Collieries |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.3098 |long=-1.4785 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Sheffield |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.1613 |long=-1.2063 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Sherwood Colliery |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |UK Northern England|lat=53.4771 |long=-1.5869 |mark=Green 008000 pog.svg |label= Stocksbridge Park Steels |label_size=0}}

}}

Club

!Home ground

!Ground capacity

Ashington

|Woodhorn Lane

|2,000 (250 seated)

Belper Town

|Christchurch Meadow

|2,650 (500 seated)

Bishop Auckland

|Heritage Park

|1,950 (500 seated)

Bradford (Park Avenue)

|Horsfall Stadium

|3,500 (1,800 seated)

Bridlington Town

|Queensgate

|3,000 (542 seated)

Brighouse Town

|St Giles Road

|1,350 (150 seated)

Carlton Town

|Bill Stokeld Stadium

|1,968 (150 seated)

Cleethorpes Town

|Linden Club

|1,300 (180 seated)

Consett

|Belle View Stadium

|3,770 (250 seated)

Dunston UTS

|Wellington Road

|2,500 (150 seated)

Emley

|Welfare Ground (Emley)

|2,000 (305 seated)

Garforth Town

|Wheatley Park

|3,000 (278 seated

Grimsby Borough

|Bradley Football Centre

|1,300 (180 seated)

Heaton Stannington

|Grounsell Park

|2,000

Liversedge

|Clayborn

|2,000

Newton Aycliffe

|Moore Lane Park

| 1,300 (100 seated)

North Ferriby

|The Dransfield Stadium

|3,000 (504 seated)

Ossett United

|Ingfield

|1,950 (360 seated)

Pontefract Collieries

|Beechnut Lane

|1,500 (300 seated)

Sheffield

|Home of Football Ground

|2,089 (250 seated)

Sherwood Colliery

|Debdale Park

|1,000

Stocksbridge Park Steels

|Bracken Moor

|3,500 (450 seated)

=Division One Midlands=

class="wikitable sortable"

|colspan="3" class="unsortable"|

{{location map+ |England Midlands|float=center |width=450 |caption=Locations of the Northern Premier League clubs by division
8px – Division One Midlands |places=

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.2912 |long=-0.5872 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= AFC Rushden & Diamonds |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.6757 |long=-1.1802 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Anstey Nomads |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.4766 |long=-1.4713 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Bedworth United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.5418 |long=-1.8424 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Boldmere St. Michaels |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.4826 |long=-1.6985 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Coleshill Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.5066 |long=-0.7185 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Corby Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.4014 |long=-1.4721 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Coventry Sphinx |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.5809 |long=-2.0225 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Darlaston Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~|England Midlands|lat=52.9058 |long=-0.6668 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Grantham Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.5591 |long=-1.3404 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Hinckley LRFC |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.8964 |long=-1.2563 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Long Eaton United |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.7593 |long=-1.2425 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Loughborough Students |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.4566 |long=-2.1200 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Lye Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.7488 |long=-1.1806 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Quorn |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.2755 |long=-1.6016 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Racing Club Warwick |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.3731 |long=-1.2350 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Rugby Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.7701 |long=-1.2924 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Shepshed Dynamo |label_size=0}}

{{location map~|England Midlands|lat=52.5919 |long=-2.0659 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Sporting Khalsa |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.5567 |long=-1.8186 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Sutton Coldfield Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.6312 |long=-1.9295 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Walsall Wood |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.2932 |long=-0.6822 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Wellingborough Town |label_size=0}}

{{location map~ |England Midlands|lat=52.2241 |long=-2.2112 |mark=Purple 8000ff pog.svg |label= Worcester City |label_size=0}}

}}

Club

!Home ground

!Ground capacity

AFC Rushden & Diamonds

|Hayden Road

|2,000 (257 seated)

Anstey Nomads

|Cropston Road

| 1,500 (150 seated)

Bedworth United

|The Oval

|3,000 (300 seated)

Boldmere St Michaels

|Trevor Brown Memorial Ground

|2,000 (230 seated)

Coleshill Town

|Pack Meadow

|2,000

Corby Town

|Steel Park

|3,893 (577 seated)

Coventry Sphinx

|Sphinx Drive

|1,000

Darlaston Town

|Bentley Sports Pavilion

|1,000

Grantham Town

|South Kesteven Sports Stadium

|7,500 (750 seated)

Hinckley LRFC

|Leicester Road Stadium

|4,329 (732 seated)

Long Eaton United

|Grange Park

|1,500 (450 seated)

Loughborough Students

|Loughborough University Stadium

|3,300

Lye Town

|Lye Sports Ground

|1,000

Quorn

|Farley Way Stadium

|1,400 (400 seated)

Racing Club Warwick

|Townsend Meadow

|2,000 (200 seated)

Rugby Town

|Butlin Road

|6,000 (740 seated)

Shepshed Dynamo

|The Dovecote Stadium

|2,500 (500 seated)

Sporting Khalsa

|Noose Lane

| 2,250

Sutton Coldfield Town

|Central Ground

|2,000

Walsall Wood

|Oak Park

|1,000 (272 seated)

Wellingborough Town

|London Road

|5,000 (350 seated)

Worcester City

|Claines Lane

|1,400

Champions

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+1968–87

!Season

!Northern Premier League

1968–69

|Macclesfield Town

1969–70

|Macclesfield Town

1970–71

|Wigan Athletic

1971–72

|Stafford Rangers

1972–73

|Boston United

1973–74

|Boston United

1974–75

|Wigan Athletic

1975–76

|Runcorn

1976–77

|Boston United

1977–78

|Boston United

1978–79

|Mossley

1979–80

|Mossley

1980–81

|Runcorn

1981–82

|Bangor City

1982–83

|Gateshead

1983–84

|Barrow

1984–85

|Stafford Rangers

1985–86

|Gateshead

1986–87

|Macclesfield Town

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+1987–2007

!Season

!Premier Division

!Division One

1987–88

|Chorley

|Fleetwood Town

1988–89

|Barrow

|Colne Dynamoes

1989–90

|Colne Dynamoes

|Leek Town

1990–91

|Witton Albion

|Whitley Bay

1991–92

|Stalybridge Celtic

|Colwyn Bay

1992–93

|Southport

|Bridlington Town

1993–94

|Marine

|Guiseley

1994–95

|Marine

|Blyth Spartans

1995–96

|Bamber Bridge

|Lancaster City

1996–97

|Leek Town

|Radcliffe Borough

1997–98

|Barrow

|Whitby Town

1998–99

|Altrincham

|Droylsden

1999–00

|Leigh RMI

|Accrington Stanley

2000–01

|Stalybridge Celtic

|Bradford Park Avenue

2001–02

|Burton Albion

|Harrogate Town

2002–03

|Accrington Stanley

|Alfreton Town

2003–04

|Hucknall Town

|Hyde United

2004–05

|Hyde United

|North Ferriby United

2005–06

|Blyth Spartans

|Mossley

2006–07

|Burscough

|Buxton

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+2007–18

!rowspan=2|Season

!rowspan=2|Premier Division

!colspan=3|Division One

North

! South

2007–08

|Fleetwood Town

|Bradford Park Avenue

|Retford United

2008–09

|Eastwood Town

|Durham City

|Retford United

2009–10

|Guiseley

|FC Halifax Town

|Mickleover Sports

2010–11

|FC Halifax Town

|Chester

|Barwell

2011–12

|Chester

|AFC Fylde

|Grantham Town

2012–13

|North Ferriby United

|Skelmersdale United

|King's Lynn Town

2013–14

|Chorley

|Curzon Ashton

|Halesowen Town

2014–15

|FC United of Manchester

|Salford City

|Mickleover Sports

2015–16

|Darlington 1883

|Warrington Town

|Stafford Rangers

2016–17

|Blyth Spartans

|Lancaster City

|Shaw Lane

2017–18

|Altrincham

|South Shields

|Basford United

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+2018–Present

!rowspan=2|Season

!rowspan=2|Premier Division

!colspan=3|Division One

West

! East

! Midlands (2021–present)

2018–19

|Farsley Celtic

|Morpeth Town

|Atherton Collieries

|{{n/a}}

2019–201

|South Shields

|Leek Town

|Workington

|{{n/a}}

2020–212

|Mickleover

|Colne

|Leek Town

|{{n/a}}

2021–22

|Buxton

|Warrington Rylands 1906

|Liversedge

|Ilkeston Town

2022–23

|South Shields

|Macclesfield

|Worksop Town

|Stamford

2023–24

|Radcliffe

|Leek Town

|Hebburn Town

|Spalding United

2024–25

|Macclesfield

|Widnes

|Cleethorpes Town

|Quorn

{{small|1 The 2019–20 season was terminated on 26 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic; the teams listed here were in first place in the standings at the time of the termination, but were not recognised as champions.}}

{{small|2 The 2020–21 season was also terminated on 24 February 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic; the teams listed here were in first place in the standings at the time of the termination, but were not recognised as champions.}}

=Promoted=

Since the league's formation in 1968, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system -

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!Seasons

!Promoted to

1958–1979Football League Fourth Division
1979–1986Alliance Premier League
1986–2003Football Conference
2003–2005Football Conference National
2004–2015Football Conference North
2015–PresentNational League North

valign=center|

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=10%|Season

!width=45%|Promoted

!width=45%|To

1977–78Wigan Athletic (2nd)Football League Fourth Division
1978–79Altrincham (2nd)
Scarborough (4th)
Boston United (6th)
Stafford Rangers (8th)
Northwich Victoria (10th)
Bangor City (12th)
Barrow (16th)		All 7 clubs split to form the new Alliance Premier League above the division
1979–80Frickley Athletic (3rd)Alliance Premier League
1980–81RuncornAlliance Premier League
1981–82Bangor CityAlliance Premier League
1982–83GatesheadAlliance Premier League
1983–84BarrowAlliance Premier League
1984–85Stafford RangersAlliance Premier League
1985–86GatesheadFootball Conference
1986–87Macclesfield TownFootball Conference
1987–88ChorleyFootball Conference
1988–89BarrowFootball Conference
1989–90Gateshead (2nd)Football Conference
1990–91Witton AlbionFootball Conference
1991–92Stalybridge CelticFootball Conference
1992–93SouthportFootball Conference
1994–95Morecambe (2nd)Football Conference
1996–97Leek TownFootball Conference
1997–98BarrowFootball Conference
1998–99AltrinchamFootball Conference
1999–00Leigh RMIFootball Conference
2000–01Stalybridge CelticFootball Conference
2001–02Burton AlbionFootball Conference
2002–03Accrington StanleyFootball Conference

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+Play-offs introduced (2003–present)

!Season

!Promoted!!Play-off winner

!To

2003–04Hucknall Town (1st)
Droylsden (2nd)
Barrow (3rd)
Alfreton Town (4th)
Harrogate Town (5th)
Southport (6th)
Worksop Town (7th)
Lancaster City (8th)
Vauxhall Motors (9th)
Gainsborough Trinity (10th)
Stalybridge Celtic (11th)
Altrincham (12th)
Runcorn (13th)
Ashton United (14th)

|Bradford Park Avenue (17th)

Football Conference North created above the division
2004–05Hyde UnitedWorkington (2nd)Football Conference North
2005–06Blyth SpartansFarsley Celtic (4th)Football Conference North
2006–07BurscoughAFC Telford United (4th)Football Conference North
2007–08Fleetwood TownGateshead (3rd)Football Conference North
2008–09Eastwood TownIlkeston Town (2nd)Football Conference North
2009–10GuiseleyBoston United (3rd)Football Conference North
2010–11FC Halifax TownColwyn Bay (2nd)Football Conference North
2011–12ChesterBradford Park Avenue (4th)Football Conference North
2012–13North Ferriby UnitedHednesford Town (2nd)Football Conference North
2013–14ChorleyAFC Fylde (3rd)Football Conference North
2014–15FC United of ManchesterCurzon Ashton (4th)National League North
2015–16Darlington 1883Salford City (3rd)National League North
2016–17Blyth SpartansSpennymoor Town (2nd)National League North
2017–18AltrinchamAshton United (2nd)National League North
2018–19Farsley Celtic{{n/a}}National League North
2019–20

|colspan=3|No promotion to National League North

2020–21

|colspan=3|Step 3 promotion cancelled

2021–22BuxtonScarborough Athletic (3rd)National League North
2022–23South ShieldsWarrington Town (2nd)National League North
2023–24RadcliffeMarine (3rd)National League North
2024–25MacclesfieldWorksop Town (2nd)National League North

|}

Cup competitions

=League Challenge Cup=

The league currently runs one cup competition, the League Challenge Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.{{cite web|url=http://www.unibondleague.com/cup_winners.htm |title=CUP WINNERS CHALLENGE CUP |publisher=The UniBond League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040723091424/http://www.unibondleague.com/cup_winners.htm |access-date=24 April 2013 |archive-date=23 July 2004}}

==Finals==

class="wikitable"

!Season

!Winner

!Result

!Runner-up

!Venue

!Attendance

1968–69

|align="right"|Bangor City

| align="center"|5–2
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Runcorn

|1L:
2L:

|1L:
2L:

1969–70

|align="right"|Altrincham

| align="center"|4–3
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Macclesfield Town

|1L:
2L: Moss Rose

|1L: 4,400
2L: 6,833

1970–71

|align="right"|Fleetwood

| align="center"|1–1
{{small|(agg.)}}
1–0 ({{small|rep.)}}

|Macclesfield Town

|1L:
2L: Moss Rose
rep. Springfield Park

|1L: 1,374
2L: 2,457
rep.

1971–72

|align="right"|Wigan Athletic

| align="center"|4–2
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Gainsborough Trinity

|1L:
2L:

|1L:
2L:

1972–73

|align="right"|Northwich Victoria

| align="center"|3–2
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Wigan Athletic

|1L:
2L:

|1L:
2L:

1973–74

|align="right"|Boston United

| align="center"|4–3
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Altrincham

|1L:
2L:

|1L:
2L:

1974–75

|align="right"|Runcorn

| align="center"|2–1
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Stafford Rangers

|1L:
2L:

|1L:
2L:

1975–76

|align="right"|Boston United

| align="center"|4–3
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Mossley

|1L: York Street
2L: Seel Park

|1L: 2,212
2L: 711

1976–77

|align="right"|Scarborough

| align="center"|1–0

|Runcorn

|Maine Road

|

1977–78

|align="right"|Matlock Town

| align="center"|3–0

|Boston United

|Maine Road

|

1978–79

|align="right"|Mossley

| align="center"|4–1

|Northwich Victoria

|Maine Road

|5,054

1979–80

|align="right"|Runcorn

| align="center"|2–0

|Lancaster City

|Maine Road

|

1980–81

|align="right"|Runcorn

| align="center"|4–3

|Marine

|Maine Road

|

1981–82

|align="right"|Gainsborough Trinity

| align="center"|1–0

|Mossley

|Maine Road

|1,658

1982–83

|align="right"|Burton Albion

| align="center"|2–1

|Macclesfield Town

|Maine Road

|2,538

1983–84

|align="right"|South Liverpool

| align="center"|1–1 {{small|(wp)}}

|Hyde United

|Maine Road

|

1984–85

|align="right"|Marine

| align="center"|3–2

|Goole Town

|Maine Road

|

1985–86

|align="right"|Hyde United

| align="center"|1–0

|Marine

|Maine Road

|

1986–87

|align="right"|Macclesfield Town

| align="center"|2–0

|Burton Albion

|Maine Road

|2,037

1987–88

|align="right"|Goole Town

| align="center"|2–2 {{small|(wp)}}

|Barrow

|Maine Road

|1,579

1988–89

|align="right"|Mossley

| align="center"|2–1

|Fleetwood

|Maine Road

|2,110

1989–90

|align="right"|Hyde United

| align="center"|1–0

|Gateshead

|Maine Road

|

1990–91

|align="right"|Southport

| align="center"|4–1

|Buxton

|Maine Road

|1,700

1991–92

|align="right"|Marine

| align="center"|1–0

|Frickley Athletic

|Maine Road

|

1992–93

|align="right"|Winsford United

| align="center"|1–1 {{small|(wp)}}

|Warrington Town

|Maine Road

|

1993–94

|align="right"|Spennymoor United

| align="center"|3–1

|Hyde United

|Wetherby Road

|585

1994–95

|align="right"|Bamber Bridge

| align="center"|2–1

|Bishop Auckland

|Burnden Park

|

1995–96

|align="right"|Hyde United

| align="center"|1–1 {{small|(wp)}}

|Leek Town

|Burnden Park

|501

1996–97

|align="right"|Gainsborough Trinity

| align="center"|1–0

|Boston United

|Sincil Bank

|

1997–98

|align="right"|Altrincham

| align="center"|2–1

|Gainsborough Trinity

|Saltergate

|

1998–99

|align="right"|Stalybridge Celtic

| align="center"|2–1

|Guiseley

|

|

1999–00

|align="right"|Lancaster City

| align="center"|1–0

|Worksop Town

|Bower Fold

|669

2000–01

|align="right"|Lancaster City

| align="center"|2–2 {{small|(wp)}}

|Bishop Auckland

|Giant Axe

|530

2001–02

|align="right"|Accrington Stanley

| align="center"|1–1{{small|(wp)
(0-1; 1-0; pens 5-4)}}

|Bradford Park Avenue

|1L: Horsfall Stadium
2L: Crown Ground

|1L: 471
2L: 1,107

2002–03

|align="right"|Marine

| align="center"|3–0
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Gateshead

|1L: Filtrona Park
2L: Rossett Park

|1L: 184
2L: 425

2003–04

|align="right"|Droylsden

| align="center"|4–1
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Hucknall Town

|1L: Butcher's Arms Ground
2L: Watnall Road

|1L: 424
2L: 597

2004–05

|align="right"|Matlock Town

| align="center"|5–3
{{small|(agg.)}}

|Whitby Town

|1L: Causeway Lane
2L: Turnbull Ground

|1L: 547
2L: 490

2005–06

|align="right"|Farsley Celtic

| align="center"|1–0

|Stocksbridge Park Steels

|Throstle Nest

|507

2006–07

|align="right"|Fleetwood

| align="center"|1–0

|Matlock Town

|Wincham Park

|426

2007–08

|align="right"|Eastwood Town

| align="center"|3–0

|Skelmersdale United

|Tameside Stadium

|372

2008–09

|align="right"|Guiseley

| align="center"|3–2

|Ilkeston Town

|Tameside Stadium

|227

2009–10

|align="right"|Boston United

| align="center"|2–0

|Retford United

|Ashby Avenue

|503

2010–11

|align="right"|Ashton United

| align="center"|1–0

|Northwich Victoria

|Wincham Park

|489

2011–12

|align="right"|North Ferriby United

| align="center"|4–1

|Rushall Olympic

|Coronation Park

|256

2012–13

|align="right"|North Ferriby United

| align="center"|1–1 {{small|(wp)}}

|Curzon Ashton

|Throstle Nest

|179

2013–14

|align="right"|AFC Fylde

| align="center"|1–0

|Skelmersdale United

|Edgeley Park

|358

2014–15

|align="right"|Warrington Town

| align="center"|0–0 {{small|(wp)}}

|Farsley

|Edgeley Park

|731

2015–16

|align="right"|Marine

| align="center"|2–1

|Scarborough Athletic

|Throstle Nest

|690

2016–17

|align="right"|Bamber Bridge

| align="center"|2–1

|Grantham Town

|Harrison Park

|474

+

|2017–18

|align="right"|Atherton Collieries

| align="center"|2–1

|Coalville Town

|North Street

|374

2018–19

|align="right"|Trafford

| align="center"|2–1

|Farsley Celtic

|Broadhurst Park

|374

2019–20

|colspan=5 align="center"|Competition abandoned due to COVID-19

2020–23

|colspan=5 align="center"|Not contested

=Defunct competitions=

In the past the league has run three other cup competitions - the President's Cup, Chairman's Cup and Peter Swales Shield.{{cite web|last1=Snee|first1=Tom|title=League Statement: President's Cup|url=http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/league-statement-presidents-cup-5314/|website=The Evo-Stik League Northern Premier|publisher=Pitch Hero|access-date=7 November 2014|date=22 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627230915/http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/league-statement-presidents-cup-5314|archive-date=27 June 2011|url-status=dead}}

==Winners==

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!Season

!President's Cup

!Chairman's Cup

!Peter Swales Shield

1970–71--Wigan Athletic
1971–72--Wigan Athletic
1972–73--Boston United
1973–74--Boston United
1974–75--Wigan Athletic
1975–76--Boston United
1976–77--Boston United
1977–78--Matlock Town
1978–79--Altrincham
1979–80--Runcorn
1980–81--Runcorn
1981–82Buxton-Gainsborough Trinity
1982–83King's Lynn-Burton Albion
1983–84Workington-Barrow
1984–85Rhyl-Stafford Rangers
1985–86Worksop Town-Gateshead
1986–87Macclesfield Town-Bangor City
1987–88South Liverpool-Chorley
1988–89Bangor City-Mossley
1989–90Fleetwood Town-Leek Town
1990–91Witton Albion-Witton Albion
1991–92Morecambe-Stalybridge Celtic
1992–93Winsford United-Southport
1993–94Guiseley-Marine
1994–95Lancaster City-Marine
1995–96Worksop Town-Hyde United
1996–97Blyth Spartans-Gainsborough Trinity
1997–98Runcorn-Altrincham
1998–99Droylsden-Altrincham
1999–00TraffordHyde UnitedLeigh RMI
2000–01Stalybridge CelticBarrowStalybridge Celtic
2001–02BarrowWorksop TownAccrington Stanley
2002–03Stalybridge CelticHucknall TownAccrington Stanley
2003–04BarrowHyde UnitedDroylsden
2004–05Bamber BridgeKidsgrove AthleticHyde United
2005–06Bradford Park AvenueBlyth SpartansBlyth Spartans
2006–07BuxtonGuiseleyBurscough
2007–08FC United of ManchesterRetford UnitedFleetwood Town
2008–09TraffordDurham CityEastwood Town
2009–10Belper TownMickleover SportsGuiseley
2010–11Lancaster City-FC Halifax Town
2011–12--Chester
2012–13--Skelmersdale United
2013–14--Halesowen Town

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.thenpl.co.uk/}}

{{Northern Premier League}}

{{Football in England table cells}}

Category:1968 establishments in England

7

Category:Sports leagues established in 1968

Eng