The 1998–99 North West Counties Football League season (known as the North Western Trains Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 17th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England.
The league comprised two divisions, Division One and Division Two (at levels 8 and 9 respectively of the English football league system), and there were additionally three cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup knockout competition (known as the North Western Trains League Cup for sponsorship reasons), open to all the league's clubs; the Second Division Trophy, a knockout trophy competition for Division Two clubs only; and the Floodlit Trophy competition for all the league's clubs with floodlights. The league also had a reserves team section.
Division One
Owing to the late withdrawal of Blackpool Rovers in July Division One featured only 21 clubs, 16 remaining from the previous season plus 5 additions (4 of whom had been promoted from Division Two as Division One was intended to be rebuilt back to 22 clubs): Bootle, promoted as seventh place in Division Two Cheadle Town, promoted as fourth place in Division Two Leek CSOB, promoted as third place in Division Two Skelmersdale United, promoted as runners-up of Division Two Workington, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One
At the end of the season the champions Workington who had been relegated the previous season bounced back to the Northern Premier League Division One; in their final home match of the season, a championship decider versus Mossley, a new league single match attendance record of 2,281 was established (exceeding the then record of 1,353 set sixteen seasons previously at the Division Two Radcliffe Borough versus Caernarfon Town match from the 1982–83 season). The bottom club Holker Old Boys were relegated to Division Two – the only club relegated from the division.
League table
Division Two
Division Two featured 19 clubs, 14 remaining from the previous season plus 5 additions: Abbey Hey, joined from the Manchester League Chadderton, relegated from Division One Curzon Ashton, transferred from the Northern Counties East Football League Darwen, relegated from Division One Warrington Town, relegated from Division One
At the end of the season champions (and League and Cup double winners) Fleetwood Freeport and runners-up and league newcomers Abbey Hey were promoted to Division One. Also leaving the division were league founder members Maghull who, unable to finance ground improvements required by the league, resigned to the West Cheshire League.
League table
League Challenge Cup The 1998–99 League Challenge Cup (known as the North Western Trains League Cup for sponsorship reasons) was a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs. The all Division One club final, played at Skelmersdale United F.C., was won 1–0 in a replay by Vauxhall GM who defeated Prescot Cables. The original tie held at Bury F.C. was abandoned owing to floodlight failure prior to deciding penalties being taken with the score 1–1 after extra time (1–1 at 90 minutes). Vauxhall GM were the third club to win the trophy twice (emulating Warrington Town and Burscough).
Semi-finals and Final
The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played
Club's division appended to team name: (D1)=Division One sources: Semi-finals: ; Final: ;
Second Division Trophy The 1998–99 Second Division Trophy was a knockout competition for Division Two clubs only. The winners, as part of a League and Cup double, were Fleetwood Freeport who defeated Warrington Town 2–1 in the final played at Darwen F.C.
Semi-finals and Final
The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played
sources: Semi-finals: ; Final:
Floodlit Trophy The 1998–99 Floodlit Trophy was a competition open to all the league's clubs with floodlights. In the all Division One club final Clitheroe defeated Kidsgrove Athletic 2–1 in the match played at Maine Road F.C.
Reserves Section Main honours for the 1998–99 season: Reserves Division (regionalised competition) North Division Winners: Ramsbottom United Reserves Runners-up: Clitheroe Reserves South Division Winners: Glossop North End Reserves Runners-up: Ashton Town Reserves
Reserves Division Cup Winners: Clitheroe Reserves Runners-up: Maine Road Reserves
References
External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League North West Counties Football League Tables at RSSSF