Manchester Football League

Manchester Football League

Founded	1893
Divisions	Premier Division Division One
Number of teams	30
Levels on pyramid	Level 11–12
Feeder to	North West Counties League
Promotion to	North West Counties League First Division
Current champions	AVRO (Premier) West Didsbury & Chorlton (Division One) (2010–11)
Website	Official website

The Manchester Football League, currently known under terms of sponsorship as Bridgewater Office Supplies Football League, is a football league in England, covering a 20-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall.^{[citation needed]} It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2010–11 champions are AVRO. They successfully defended their trophy as champions and will be defending their trophy again after choosing not to progress to the North West Counties Football League Division One.

Structure

The league consists of five divisions: the Premier Division and Division One are exclusively for first teams, while Divisions Two, Three, and Four consist of reserve and lower teams of clubs in the top two divisions. Reserve teams of clubs whose first teams play in other leagues are not permitted to join.

The Premier Division has a promotion/relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League, placing it at level 11 of the English football league system. However, the NWCFL's ground requirements are considerably higher than those of the Manchester League, so meeting them usually requires expensive improvements, and consequently few teams take up the opportunity of promotion. Ashton Athletic took the step up in 2006, despite only finishing 4th in Division One. Teams such as Salford City, Maine Road and Northern Nomads have all played in the league at some point.

For the 2011-12 season, 28 clubs are competing in the League.

Member clubs for 2011–12 season

Premier Division

• AFC Bury
• AFC Monton
• AVRO
• Dukinfield Town
• East Manchester
• Heywood St. James
• Hindsford
• Manchester Gregorians
• Old Altrinchamians
• Prestwich Heys
• Royton Town
• Springhead
• Stockport Georgians
• Walshaw Sports
• West Didsbury & Chorlton
• Wythenshawe Amateurs

Division One

• Atherton Town
• Beechfield United
• Breightmet United
• Chapel Town
• Elton Vale
• Fives Athletic
• Hollinwood
• Leigh Athletic
• Pennington
• Rochdale Sacred Heart
• Salford Victoria
• Wilmslow Albion
• Woodley Sports Reserves
• Wythenshawe Town

Recent Champions of Premier Division and Division One

Season	Premier Division	Division One
1982-83	Maine Road	Mount Pleasant
1983-84	Maine Road	Shell (Carington)
1984-85	Maine Road	Coldhurst United
1985-86	Maine Road	Adswood Amateurs
1986-87	Adswood Amateurs	Castleton Gabriels
1987-88	Stockport Georgians	Prestwich Heys
1988-89	Abbey Hey	Avro
1989-90	Wythenshawe Amateurs	Greater Manchester Police
1990-91	Abbey Hey	Ramsbottom United
1991-92	East Manchester	Woodley Sports
1992-93	Wythenshawe Amateurs	Atherton Town
1993-94	Abbey Hey	Winton United
1994-95	Abbey Hey	Highfield United
1995-96	Little Hulton United	Stand Athletic
1996-97	Highfield United	Prestwich Heys
1997-98	Springhead	Urmston
1998-99	Stand Athletic	Willows
1999-00	Stand Athletic	Sacred Heart
2000-01	Stand Athletic	Leigh Athletic
2001-02	Stockport Georgians	Royton Town
2002-03	Wythenshawe Amateurs	Breightmet United
2003-04	Royton Town	Avro
2004-05	Prestwich Heys	AFC Blackley
2005-06	Prestwich Heys	Whitworth Valley
2006-07	Prestwich Heys	Walshaw Sports
2007-08	Wigan Robin Park	Chapel Town
2008-09	Gregorians	Dukinfield Town
2009-10	AVRO	Bury Amateurs
2010-11	AVRO	West Didsbury & Chorlton

External links

• Official website
• Royton Town Official Website