| Manchester Football League |
|---|
 |
| Founded |
| 1893 |
| Country |
| England |
| Feeder To |
| North West Counties League Division One |
| Divisions |
| Premier Division Division One |
| Number of Teams |
| 29 |
| Levels on Pyramid |
| Level 11 to Level 12 |
| Cups |
| Gilcryst Cup Murray Shield |
| Current Champions (2008-09) |
| Gregorians (Premier) Dukinfield Town (Division One) |
| Official Website |
| Manchester Premier League (FA Full-Time) |
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. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. The 2008-09 champions are Gregorians. They will be defending their trophy after choosing not to progress to the North West Counties Division One.
Contents |
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 2009-010 season, 29 clubs competed in the League.
Member clubs for 2009–10 season
Premier Division
- Atherton Town
- Avro
- Chapel Town
- Dukinfield Town
- East Manchester
- Elton Vale
- Hindsford
- Hollinwood
- Leigh Athletic
- Manchester Gregorians
- Old Altrinchamians
- Prestwich Heys
- Rochdale Sacred Heart
- Royton Town
- Springhead
- Stockport Georgians
- Walshaw Sports
- Wythenshawe Amateurs
Division One
- Beechfield United
- Breightmet United
- Bury Amateurs
- Fives Athletic
- Heywood St James
- Monton Amateurs
- Pennington
- Salford Victoria
- West Didsbury & Chorlton
- Wilmslow Albion
- 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 |
External links
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