As part of the establishment of the national non-league pyramid, the two senior leagues in the North West, the Cheshire County League (founded 1919) and the Lancashire Combination (founded 1891) agreed to merge to form a single feeder league to the Northern Premier League. Allocation of clubs to the three divisions of the new league was by ground facilities and performances over the previous two seasons. Promotion to the NPL was not automatic initially, the NPL feeder league champions had to apply for election. This remained the situation until 1987 when the NPL, contrary to the wishes of its feeder leagues, formed a new division. This stripped the North West Counties league of many of its strongest clubs and it was forced to re-organise itself into its present two division structure. However automatic promotion to the NPL for the NWC champions was at last granted, subject to the usual ground criteria. Most NWC champions have been accepted for promotion since then.
| From Cheshire County League Division 1 | 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 Cheshire County League Division 2 | Congleton Town, Leyland Motors |
| From Northern Premier League | Lancaster City |
| From Northern League | Penrith |
| From Cheshire County League Division 1 | Droylsden, Fleetwood Town, Rossendale United |
| From Cheshire County League Division 2 | Atherton LR, Eastwood Hanley, Ellesmere Port & Neston, Ford Motors, Irlam Town, Kirkby Town, New Mills, Prescot BI, Radcliffe Borough, Salford, Skelmersdale United |
| From Lancashire Combination | Caernarfon Town, Chadderton, Great Harwood Town, Lytham, Padiham, Wren Rovers |
| From Cheshire County League Division 2 | shton Town, Atherton Collieries, Maghull, Prestwich Heys, Warrington Town |
| From 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 Mid-Cheshire League | Newton |
Hyde United and Chorley who played in the Cheshire League in 1981-82 were elected to the Northern Premier League. Middlewich Athletic, also Cheshire League members in 1981-82, joined the Mid-Cheshire League.
The North West Counties League covers roughly the Western half of the Northern Premier League area, from the Scottish border in the North to North Staffordshire in the South. Its area encompasses Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and North West Derbyshire.
2 divisions, 40 clubs
Division One (22 clubs)
Division Two (18 clubs)
Initially the league had three division, Division Three was abandoned in 1987 when the league lost 14 clubs to the expanded Northern Premier League.
Abbey Hey, Atherton Collieries, Atherton Laburnum Rovers, Bootle, Cheadle Town, Clitheroe, Fleetwood Freeport, Glossop North End, Great Harwood Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Leek CSOB, Maine Road, Mossley, Nantwich Town, Newcastle Town, Prescot Cables AFC, Ramsbottom United, Rossendale United, St. Helens Town, Salford City, Skelmersdale United, Vauxhall GM.
Relegated from UniBond League Division One: Great Harwood Town
Promoted from
Division Two: Fleetwood Freeport, Abbey Hey
Promoted to UniBond League Division One: Workington
Relegated to Division Two:
Holker Old Boys
| 1999 | Workington |
| 1998 | Kidsgrove Athletic |
| 1997 | Trafford |
| 1996 | Flixton |
| 1995 | Bradford Park Avenue |
| 1994 | Atherton LR |
| 1993 | Atherton LR |
| 1992 | Ashton United |
| 1991 | Knowsley United |
| 1990 | Warrington Town |
Alsager, Ashton Town, Bacup Borough, Blackpool Mechanics, Castleton Gabriels, Chadderton, Colne, Curzon Ashton, Daisy Hill, Darwen, Formby, Holker Old Boys, Nelson, Oldham Town, Squires Gate, Tetley Walker, Warrington Town, Woodley Sports.
Relegated from Division One: Holker Old Boys
Elected from Mid-Cheshire League: Alsager
Promoted to Division One: Fleetwood Freeport, Abbey Hey
Resigned: Maghull (joined West Cheshire League)
| 1998 | Oldham Town |
| 1997 | Ramsbottom United |
| 1996 | Vauxhall GM |
| 1995 | Flixton |
| 1994 | Haslingden |
| 1993 | Maghull |
| 1992 | Bamber Bridge |
| 1991 | Great Harwood Town |
| 1990 | Maine Road |
| 1989 | Vauxhall GM |
Prepared and maintained by James M. Ross
Author: James M. Ross Last updated: 20 Apr 2000Copyright © 1997,2000 James M. Ross
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