Manchester Football League


The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Manchester FA, covering a 30-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. Currently it consists of five divisions, with the Premier division being at level 11 of the English [football league system].
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Structure

The League consists of six divisions, from Premier Division to Division five. The Premier Division, Division One and Division Two can incorporate both first teams, and reserve teams of clubs who are playing at a higher level, while Divisions Three and Four and Five usually consist entirely of reserve or lower teams.
However, for the 2018–19 season only, the constitution was amended to allow a small number of reserve teams into the bottom division of the first teams to even up the numbers. This was put in place in the hope of keeping all teams playing regularly as opposed to the old structure which meant teams could go without a fixture for a few weeks at a time.
For the 2023-24 season Division 5 will become a new Development Division for U23's teams.
The Premier Division has a promotion and relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League, placing it at level 11 of the football league system">association football">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. The latest teams to make the step up were Prestwich Heys, Avro and most recently Stockport Georgians.
Teams from the Premier Division are relegated to Division One, making Division One the twelfth level of the English league system. However, first teams from Division One could be relegated to Division Two after the realignment of the league structure at the start of the 2017–18 season.
Following the introduction of the Coronavirus pandemic national lockdown restrictions in March 2020, the 2019/20 season was unable to be completed and was therefore declared null and void. The following season suffered the same outcome with only around a third of fixtures being completed.

Current member clubs (2024-25)

Premier Division

  • Atherton Town
  • Baguley Athletic
  • Bolton County
  • Chadderton Reserves
  • Dukinfield Town
  • Elton Vale
  • Govan Athletic
  • Hindsford AFC
  • Moorside Rangers
  • Pennington
  • Rochdale Sacred Heart
  • Royton Town
  • Stockport Georgians
  • Tintwistle Athletic
  • Uppermill
  • Walshaw Sports

Division One

  • Altrincham Hale
  • Avenue
  • Avro Reserves
  • Bolton Borough
  • Bolton Lads & Girls Club
  • Bolton United
  • De La Salle
  • East Manchester
  • Horwich R.M.I.
  • Manchester Corinthians
  • Old Altrinchamians
  • Springhead
  • Tottington United

Division Two

  • Astley & Tyldesley
  • Eccles United
  • Glossop North End Community Club
  • Hollinwood
  • Irlam Steel Rangers
  • Little Lever SC
  • Macclesfield FC Reserves
  • Moston Brook
  • North Walkden
  • Radcliffe Town AFC
  • Wilmslow Albion

Recent champions of Premier Division, Division One & Division Two

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
1982–83Maine RoadMount Pleasant
1983–84Maine RoadShell
1984–85Maine RoadColdhurst United
1985–86Maine RoadAdswood Amateurs
1986–87Adswood AmateursCastleton Gabriels
1987–88Stockport GeorgiansPrestwich Heys
1988–89Abbey HeyAvro
1989–90Wythenshawe AmateursGreater Manchester Police
1990–91Abbey HeyRamsbottom United
1991–92East ManchesterWoodley Sports
1992–93Wythenshawe AmateursAtherton Town
1993–94Abbey HeyWinton United
1994–95Abbey HeyHighfield United
1995–96Little Hulton UnitedStand Athletic
1996–97Highfield UnitedPrestwich Heys
1997–98SpringheadUrmston
1998–99Stand AthleticWillows
1999–00Stand AthleticSacred Heart
2000–01Stand AthleticLeigh Athletic
2001–02Stockport GeorgiansRoyton Town
2002–03Wythenshawe AmateursBreightmet United
2003–04Royton TownAvro
2004–05Prestwich HeysAFC Blackley
2005–06Prestwich HeysWhitworth Valley
2006–07Prestwich HeysWalshaw Sports
2007–08Wigan Robin ParkChapel Town
2008–09GregoriansSpringhead
2009–10AvroBury Amateurs
2010–11Manchester GregoriansAvro
2011–12HindsfordWythenshawe Town
2012–13HindsfordRochdale Sacred Heart
2013–14HindsfordChapel Town
2014–15Stockport GeorgiansOld Altrinchamians
2015–16Prestwich HeysEast Manchester
2016–17Rochdale Sacred HeartPrestwich Heys Reserves
2017–18AvroChadderton ReservesAltrincham Hale
2018-19HindsfordHeywood St JamesMiddleton Colts
2019-20Null & VoidNull & VoidNull & Void
2020-21Null & VoidNull & VoidNull & Void
2021-22HindsfordMoorside RangersBolton United