The 1982–83 North West Counties Football League was the first in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. The League was formed from a merger between the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination.
The league comprised three divisions with clubs allocated to them based on a grading of their ground's facilities and their finishing positions over the previous two seasons. There was additionally the League Challenge Cup knockout competition open to all clubs and a reserves team section.
Division One
The division featured 20 clubs, 18 from the previous season's Cheshire County League and 1 each transferring from the previous season's Northern League and the Northern Premier League: From the Cheshire County League, Division One Accrington Stanley Ashton United Bootle Burscough Curzon Ashton Darwen Formby Glossop Horwich RMI Leek Town Nantwich Town Prescot Cables St. Helens Town Stalybridge Celtic Winsford United From the Cheshire County League, Division Two Congleton Town Leyland Motors Rhyl From Northern Premier League Lancaster City From Northern League Penrith
At the end of the season the champions Burscough did not apply for promotion to the Northern Premier League and so remained in the division; however, second and third placed Rhyl and Horwich RMI did leave as both were elected to the Northern Premier League Also leaving the division were last placed club Nantwich Town who were relegated to Division Two; owing to two clubs taking promotion from the division St Helens Town were reprieved from relegation.
League table
Division Two
The division featured 20 clubs, 14 from the previous season's Cheshire County League and 6 from the previous season's Lancashire Combination: From the Cheshire County League, Division One Droylsden Fleetwood Town Rossendale United From the Cheshire County League, Division Two Atherton Laburnum Rovers Eastwood Hanley Ellesmere Port & Neston Ford Motors Irlam Town Kirkby Town Prescot BI Radcliffe Borough New Mills Salford Skelmersdale United From the Lancashire Combination Caernarfon Town Chadderton Great Harwood Town Lytham Padiham Wren Rovers
At the end of the season the two top clubs, the champions Radcliffe Borough and runners-up Caernarfon Town, were promoted to Division One and Padiham were relegated to Division Three. Two clubs exited the league: Kirkby Town were expelled (to return a year later) as their ground was adjudged below the required standard for the league and New Mills folded.
League table
Division Three
The division featured 18 clubs, 12 from the previous season's Lancashire Combination, five from the previous season's Cheshire County League and one transferring from the Mid-Cheshire League:
From the Lancashire Combination Ashton Athletic Bacup Borough Blackpool Mechanics Bolton ST Clitheroe Colne Dynamoes Daisy Hill Nelson Oldham Dew Vulcan Newton Whitworth Valley Wigan Rovers
From the Cheshire County League, Division Two Ashton Town Atherton Collieries Maghull Prestwich Heys Warrington Town
From the Mid-Cheshire League Newton
At the end of the season three clubs left the division: the two top clubs, the champions Colne Dynamoes and runners-up Warrington Town, were promoted to Division Two; and Wigan Rovers resigned from the league and joined the West Lancashire League.
League table
League Challenge Cup The 1982–83 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all clubs in the League. The winners were Darwen of Division One who defeated Division Two club Skelmersdale United 2–1 after extra time (1–1 at 90 minutes) in the replayed final at Darwen; the original match held at Bury F.C. finished 2–2 after extra time (1–1 at 90 minutes).
Semi-finals and Final
Club's division appended to team name: (D1)=Division One; (D2)=Division Two; (D3)=Division Three source: NWCFL: All Results, 1982/83 Season
Reserves Section Main honours for the 1982–83 season: Reserves Division Winners: Curzon Ashton Reserves Runners-up: Stalybridge Celtic Reserves
Reserves Division Cup Winners: Irlam Town Reserves Runners-up: Warrington Town Reserves
References
External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League North West Counties Football League Tables at RSSSF