- Northern Premier League Premier Division
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Northern Premier League Premier Division Countries England
Founded 1968 Number of teams 22 Level on pyramid 7 Promotion to Conference North Relegation to NPL Division One North
NPL Division One SouthDomestic cup(s) FA Cup
FA Trophy
Challenge Cup
Peter Swales ShieldCurrent champions FC Halifax Town
(2010-11)Most championships Boston United (4 times) Website Official website 2011-12
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 (or level 7) of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.
The league was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, being the highest level non-League division below The Football League. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League, it became a feeder league and fell down one 'level' in the English football league system. Since then, its prestige has fallen further: there are now two levels between it and the Football League.
The division is at the same level as the Premier Divisions of the Southern League and the Isthmian League. At the end of each season two clubs are promoted to the Conference North: the league champions, and the winners of a play-off competition held between the 2nd through 5th placed clubs. The four lowest placed teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One North or Northern Premier League Division One South, to be replaced by four promoted teams.
All clubs from the Premier Division also compete in the NPL Challenge Cup and the Peter Swales Shield knockout competition, but not in the other two NPL cup competitions (the President's Cup and the Chairman's Cup). Before 2007–08 Premier Division teams did compete in the Chairman's Cup.
Contents
Current clubs 2011–12
Club Home Ground Finishing position 2010–11 Ashton United Hurst Cross 14th Bradford Park Avenue Horsfall Stadium 3rd Burscough Victoria Park 19th Buxton The Silverlands 6th Chasetown The Scholars Ground 10th Chester Exacta Stadium Winners of the Northern Premier League Division One North Chorley The Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium Playoff Winners in Northern Premier League Division One North (3rd) FC United of Manchester Gigg Lane 4th Frickley Athletic Westfield Lane 18th Hednesford Town Keys Park Transferred from Southern League Premier Division (2nd) Kendal Town Lakeland Radio Stadium 7th Marine Arriva Stadium 8th Matlock Town Causeway Lane 11th Mickleover Sports Mickleover Sports Ground 15th Nantwich Town The Weaver Stadium 17th North Ferriby United Church Road 5th Northwich Victoria Victoria Stadium 12th Rushall Olympic Dales Lane Playoff Winners in Northern Premier League Division One South (3rd) Stafford Rangers Marston Road Relegated from Conference North (20th) Stocksbridge Park Steels Bracken Moor 13th Whitby Town Turnbull Ground 16th Worksop Town Cannon Park 9th Past winners
- 1968–69 Macclesfield Town
- 1969–70 Macclesfield Town
- 1970–71 Wigan Athletic
- 1971–72 Stafford Rangers
- 1972–73 Boston United
- 1973–74 Boston United
- 1974–75 Wigan Athletic
- 1975–76 Runcorn
- 1976–77 Boston United
- 1977–78 Boston United
- 1978–79 Mossley
- 1979–80 Mossley
- 1980–81 Runcorn
- 1981–82 Bangor City
- 1982–83 Gateshead
- 1983–84 Barrow
- 1984–85 Stafford Rangers
- 1985–86 Gateshead
- 1986–87 Macclesfield Town
- 1987–88 Chorley
- 1988–89 Barrow
- 1989–90 Colne Dynamoes
- 1990–91 Witton Albion
- 1991–92 Stalybridge Celtic
- 1992–93 Southport
- 1993–94 Marine
- 1994–95 Marine
- 1995–96 Bamber Bridge
- 1996–97 Leek Town
- 1997–98 Barrow
- 1998–99 Altrincham
- 1999–00 Leigh RMI
- 2000–01 Stalybridge Celtic
- 2001–02 Burton Albion
- 2002–03 Accrington Stanley
- 2003–04 Hucknall Town
- 2004–05 Hyde United
- 2005–06 Blyth Spartans
- 2006–07 Burscough
- 2007–08 Fleetwood Town
- 2008–09 Eastwood Town
- 2009–10 Guiseley
- 2010–11 FC Halifax Town
References
External links
Football in England National teams National Football Centre League system Domestic cups FA Cup · Football League Cup · FA Community Shield · Football League Trophy · FA Trophy · Conference League Cup · FA Vase · FA Inter-League CupOthers Masters FootballLists Categories:- Northern Premier League
- 1968 establishments
- Football leagues in England
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