The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League is an English association football league founded in 1909. As of the 2026/27 season, the league consists of six divisions – Premier, One, Two and Three, then A and B. Historically the divisions named A-D were for Reserve sides of teams in the top four divisions, but 1st teams can now play at the lower levels. In 2026/27, only A and B divisions continue to have this style of name. The Premier Division is (as of 2026/27) below the 3rd levels of the top county leagues in the area: Manchester League, Cheshire League and West Lancashire League.
About the League The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League was founded in 1909. The league, as of 2016, is the biggest of the open age Saturday afternoon men's leagues in the region, having eight Saturday divisions in operation, and a few years earlier operated with nine. Clubs are from the Greater Manchester and northern Cheshire areas. The league is overseen by the local Football Association, the Manchester FA.
The league pioneered the Respect Charter in 2002. When the FA later adopted the Respect programme, the league was a pilot League for this. The launch took place at Chorltonians FC's Police Club ground, Hough End.
One of the league's success stories are Stalybridge Celtic, who started off as an amateur football club in the league before turning professional two years later.Stretford Paddock official web site As of summer 2022, the most recent teams to move up to the next level are Stretford Paddock, who joined the Cheshire League,Stretford Paddock official web site Chadderton Cott and De La Salle, who joined the Manchester League for 2022/23.
In 2017, it was a record-breaking season for the Mellor club, who collected a record 5 trophies - the first team winning the Premier Division and the Rhodes Cup, the reserve team the Div 2 title and the Wray Cup, with the club also winning the Aggregate Trophy.
Formation of the League In 1909, a group of men met and in their own words decided to "Promote an Amateur League of high quality for players who pay to play the genuine sport; also to encourage competition against outside Leagues of similar outlook and standing to the mutual benefit of the amateur game." These "founding fathers" of the league included W. H. Rhodes, A. H. Downes, R. W. Lambert and E. Roscoe. Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 7
The first season The 1909–10 season saw 11 teams join the league. Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League 1909-2009; Page 10
League positionTeamActive in the league1909-10 GroundCurrent status (2022)1Walkden Amateurs1909-1915Edge Fold, WalkdenFolded2Stalybridge Celtic1909-1911Bower Fold, Mottram Road, StalybridgeNorthern Premier League3Bolton Wyresdale1909-1910BoltonLancashire Amateur League4Droylsden Corinthians1909-1911Yew Tree Farm, Copperas Lane, DroylsdenFolded5Lymm Amateurs1909-1915Rush Green, LymmFolded6Denton Corinthians1909-1910DentonFolded7Xaverian College1909-1910Victoria Park, RusholmeFolded8Werneth Amateurs1909-1925Block Lane, WernethFolded9Dukinfield Astley1909-1911Bradley Hurst Farm, Dukinfield Hall, DukinfieldFolded10Brooklands1909-1912Atkinson Road, Ashton-on-MerseyFolded11Westinghouse1909-1915Warwick Road, Old TraffordFolded
The first round of matches took place on Saturday 18 September 1909:
Brooklands v Westinghouse Bolton Wyresdale v Lymm Amateurs Werneth Amateurs v Denton Corinthians Dukinfield Astley v Walkden Amateurs
The league made a profit of £19 17s at the end of the opening season. The first champions, Walkden Amateurs, finished two points clear of runners-up Stalybridge Celtic. Third place Bolton Wyresdale were seven points further behind. The league table ended with 1 game unplayed - Lymm Amateurs v Denton Corinthians. The league chairman said that Denton Corinthians "had not treated the league in a very good spirit" by not fulfilling the fixture.
After the season, Denton Corinthians disbanded, while Bolton Wyresdale moved on to the Manchester Section of the Lancashire Amateur League. Two new clubs were accepted for the following season - Nuthurst (Moston) and Manchester Simmarians. A third club was later accepted - Bolton Caledonians.
The league was said to have been so successful in its initial season, that a second division was to be launched for 1910–11.
Notes
Clubs moving to higher status A number of clubs that have left the league now play at a higher level.
TeamActive in the leagueLater LeaguesAdswood Amateurs1962-19851985-1987 Manchester LeagueMerged with Stockport Georgians in 1987Beechfield United1997-20082008-2022 Manchester LeagueResigned 2022Boothstown2011-20142014-2023 Manchester LeagueBradford Parish ChurchBradford ParishDenton Town1922-20082008–present Cheshire LeagueChadderton Cott2018-20222022-2023 Manchester LeagueCheadle Heath Nomads1921-19251927-19941994-2018 Cheshire League2018-2022 North West Counties LeagueDe La Salle2006-20072020-20222022-2023 Manchester LeagueFlixton1964-19731973-1986 Manchester League1986-1996 North West Counties League1996-2000 Northern Premier League2000-2012 North West Counties LeagueFolded in 2012Govan Athletic2002-20162016-2023 Manchester LeagueIrlam Steel1993-20122012-2017 Manchester LeagueFolded in 2017Monton Amateurs1924-19851985-2022 Manchester LeagueMoorside Rangers2006-20182018-2023 Manchester LeagueBirch Vale and ThornsettNew Mills1968-19871987-2004 Manchester League2004-2011 North West Counties League2011-2016 Northern Premier League2016-2023 North West Counties LeagueNorth Withington1958-19731973-2014 Manchester League 2015-2018 Cheshire League2018-2023 North West Counties LeaguePoynton1966-19861986-2023 Cheshire LeagueStalybridge Celtic1909-19111911-1912 Lancashire Combination1912-1921 Central League1914-1915 Southern League1919-1920 Lancashire Combination1921-1923 Football League Division Three North1923-1982 Cheshire County League1982-1987 North West Counties League1987-1992 Northern Premier League1992-1998 Football Conference1998-2001 Northern Premier League2001-2002 Football Conference2002-2004 Northern Premier League2004-2019 National League2019-2023 Northern Premier LeagueStand Athletic1981-19931993-2001 Manchester League2001-2003 North West Counties League2003-2009 Manchester LeagueFolded in 2009Stretford Paddock2020-20222022-2023 Cheshire LeagueStockport Georgians1931-19871987-2022 Manchester League2022-2023 North West Counties LeagueStyal1921-19231927-19381952-19771923-1927 Didn't field team1938-1952 Unknown league1977-2023 Cheshire LeagueTintwistle Athletic2007-20172017-2023 Manchester LeagueUnited Manchester HospitalsManchester Royal1978-19921992-2003 Manchester LeagueFolded in 2003West DidsburyWest Didsbury & Chorlton1920-20062006-2012 Manchester League2012-2023 North West Counties LeagueWhalley Range1984-19872004-20201987-2003 Manchester League2020-2023 Cheshire LeagueWilmslow Albion1973-19881988-1998 Mid-Cheshire League1998-2023 Manchester LeagueWoodley AthleticWoodley Sports1973-19881988-1997 Manchester League1997-2004 North West Counties League2004-2012 Northern Premier League2012-2015 North West Counties LeagueFolded in 2015Wythenshawe Amateurs1954-19721972-2018 Manchester League2018-2023 North West Counties League
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Current members 2026-27 Premier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision ADivision BAFC OldhamGrappenhall SportsAbacus MediaAFC SalfordAFC Stockport WarriorsAFC Oldham ReservesAFC StockportHeywood St James ReservesBury AmateurAltrincham Hale ABury Amateur ReservesAFC Stockport U21AFC Urmston Meadowside Red StarManchester RoversDidsburyBarr Hill UnitedEastside UnitedAFC Urmston Meadowside 1977AR EliteManchester South End ReservesElton FoldBoothstownKing Jonny SchmeichelDidsbury ReservesBediansMellorFitton Hill RangersCheadle and GatleyOldham Hulmeians ReservesDidsbury PhoenixBollington UnitedMoorsideKongaGamesleyRichmond Rovers ReservesEagles WilmslowChadderton CottMoston Brook ReservesMilltownIrlam SteelSaddleworth 3DsGamesley ReservesCheat DaveOn The BallOld Altrinchamians AKing Jonny SpartansSalford StormKing Jonny CastillasManchester RoseRochdaliansOld Stretfordians GregoriansMoston Brook ASantos U23Manchester VictoriaManchester South EndSantosSouth ManchesterNewton VikingsSpurley HeyMoston Brook BOldham HulmeiansTrafford UnitedStoconiansSale SpartansStoconians ReservesOld Stretfordians Gregorians ReservesWythenshawe WanderersVillage ManchesterTimperley VillaSignol AthleticVillage Manchester ReservesRichmond Rovers AWinton WanderersWithington WanderersSilver BirchWaterheadSaddleworth 3Ds ReservesTrafford United Reserves
Note that teams sometimes officially vary their lower team names, but the above is standardising it to be clear what level it is: Reserves=2nd team, A=3rd team, B=4th team. Some teams have their 1st and 2nd teams in a higher league.
Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League winners
1909–10 The number and naming of the divisions has varied throughout the league's history, and the size of the league has grown from its early days.
Season Division One1909–10 Walkden Amateurs
1910–14 A second division (Division Two) was launched including some reserve sides from Division One.
Season Division OneDivision Two1910–11 Stalybridge CelticWalkden Amateurs Reserves1911–12 CranfordOld Trafford St Johns Juniors1912–13 CranfordRefuge Assurance1913–14 CranfordBramhall
1919–20 There was no competition 1914/15 to 1919 due to World War One. The league re-started in 1919 with a single division.
Season Division One1919–20 Barton Hall
1920–21 A second division (Division A) was launched with some reserve sides from Division One.
Season Division OneDivision A1920–21 Chorlton AmateursUrmston Reserves
1921–26 A Junior division was launched for junior players, initially defined as between 14 and 18 and a half, it was later increased up to 20 in 1924.
Season Division OneDivision AJunior Division1921–22 Royton AmateursStyalSale Juniors1922–23 Royton AmateursBradford Parish ChurchDidsbury Juniors1923–24 Bradford ParishUrmston ReservesSouth Salford Lads Club1924–25 BramhallSouth SalfordChorlton Albion1925–26 South SalfordMottram AmateursMonton Amateurs
1926–27 The Junior Division closed down due to problems clubs had recruiting players under 18.
Season Division OneDivision A1926–27 South SalfordLongsight
1927–30 A new Division Two was launched in place of Division A. Therefore, Division A would now effectively become the division for Reserves.
Season Division OneDivision TwoDivision A1927–28 South SalfordCheadle Heath NomadsRoyton Amateurs Reserves1928–29 South SalfordChapelmoorSouth Salford Reserves1929–30 South SalfordMonton AmateursUnion Chapel Reserves
1930–31 A new Junior Division was launched, and at least eight players had to be under 18.5, with up to 3 open-age players allowed. A second Reserve division "B" was also launched.
Season Division OneDivision TwoDivision ADivision BJunior Division1930–31 South SalfordOldham Secondary School Old BoysSouth Salford ReservesStyal ReservesDenton Russell Scott Old Boys
1931–33 The Junior and B divisions were dropped after one season.
Season Division OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision A1931–32 South SalfordStockport GeorgiansOld Urmstonians ReservesStyal Reserves1932–33 South SalfordDenton Russell Scott Old BoysOld Urmstonians ReservesRoyton Amateurs Reserves
1933–34 Division B was re-introduced.
Season Division OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision ADivision B1933–1934 South SalfordEast Chorlton AmateursBirchfieldsEast Chorlton Amateurs ReservesAldermere Reserves
Notes
2015–2025