The 1977–78 Northern Premier League was the tenth season of the Northern Premier League, a regional football league in Northern England, the northern areas of the Midlands and North Wales. The season began on 21 August 1976 and concluded on 7 May 1978.
Overview The League featured twenty-four teams.
Team changes The following club left the League at the end of the previous season: Gateshead United was Folded. A new club formed Gateshead replaced.
The following club joined the League at the start of the season: Workington relegated from Football League Fourth Division Gateshead (new club formed) replaced to the Gateshead United (club folded).
League table
Results
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Altrincham Moss Lane Bangor City Farrar Road Barrow Holker Street Boston United York Street Buxton The Silverlands Frickley Athletic Westfield Lane Gainsborough Trinity The Northolme Gateshead United Gateshead Youth Stadium Goole Town Victoria Pleasure Ground Great Harwood The Showground Lancaster City Giant Axe Macclesfield Town Moss Rose Matlock Town Causeway Lane Morecambe Christie Park Mossley Seel Park Netherfield Parkside Northwich Victoria Drill Field Runcorn Canal Street Scarborough Athletic Ground South Liverpool Holly Park Stafford Rangers Marston Road Wigan Athletic Springfield Park Workington Borough Park Worksop Town Central Avenue
Cup results Challenge Cup
Home team Score Away teamMatlock Town3–0Boston United
Northern Premier League Shield
Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup. Home team Score Away teamMatlock TownbeatBoston United
FA Cup
Out of the twenty-four clubs from the Northern Premier League, only two teams reached the second round:
Second Round Home team Score Away team Crewe Alexandra0–0ScarboroughScarborough2–0Crewe AlexandraReplayHartlepool United4–2Runcorn
Third Round Home team Score Away teamBrighton & Hove Albion3–0Scarborough
FA Trophy
Out of the twenty-four clubs from the Northern Premier League, two teams reached the fourth round:
Fourth Round Home team Score Away teamAltrincham4–2Winsford United Merthyr Tydfil0–0RuncornRuncorn3–2Merthyr Tydfil
Semi-finals Stage Home team Score Away team1st LegAltrincham0–0Runcorn2nd LegRuncorn0–1AltrinchamAggregateAltrincham1–0Runcorn
Final Home team Score Away team Altrincham3–1Leatherhead
End of the season At the end of the tenth season of the Northern Premier League, Wigan Athletic who was put forward for election, received enough votes, on the second round of voting, to be promoted to the Football League. Great Harwood folded Great Harwood Town replaced in Lancashire Combination
Football League elections Alongside the four Football League teams facing re-election, two non-League teams, one from the Northern Premier League and the other from the Southern League, applied to be elected. Three out of the four Football League teams were re-elected. Wigan Athletic from the Northern Premier League tied with Southport from the Football League on the first round of voting. A second round was then implemented with Wigan Athletic gaining promotion, replacing Southport from the Football League as they did not receive enough votes. Southport was subsequently relegated to the Northern Premier League.
ClubLeagueFirstroundvotesSecondroundvotesYork CityFootball League Division Four49RochdaleFootball League Division Four39Hartlepool UnitedFootball League Division Four37Wigan AthleticNorthern Premier League2629SouthportFootball League Division Four2620Bath CitySouthern League23
Promotion and relegation The number of clubs reduced from twenty-four clubs to twenty-three clubs for the following season.
The following two clubs left the League at the end of the season: Wigan Athletic promoted to Football League Fourth Division Great Harwood folded
The following club joined the League the following season: Southport demoted from Football League Fourth Division
References
External links Northern Premier League official website Northern Premier League tables at RSSSF Football Club History Database