2026/27 FA League Allocations Announced

Thu 14th May 2026 | Announcements | By Martin Fallon

The FA Leagues Committee have confirmed the League Allocations for the 2026/27 season, with the teams now provisionally known for the Premier Division, First Division North and First Division South.

It's quite a change from last season so make sure you have made a brew before reading the below!!

Withdrawal from NWCFL

Before we look at the makeup of each division, there are a couple of Premier Division clubs that will not be in the NWCFL next season whose departure from the league is not related to promotion or relegation.

City of Liverpool have been unable to agree a groundshare in time for the 2026/27 season, and will therefore be placed in Step 7 for the forthcoming season. They were given an extension by The Football Association past the national deadline of 31st March to present a confirmed ground option as they were liaising with prospective landlords. They were subsequently unable to confirm a facility that matches the entry requirement into the National League System. Their new league will be announced at a later date when the Football Association announce the makeup of the Step 7 leagues.

Stockport Town have withdrawn from the league. This news was released last night, with the resignation due to their "consideration of the long-term future and its ability to compete at Step 5 of the National League System". You can read more about that in our News Section or by clicking here. 

Premier Division

The big news in the Premier Division is that we will be running with a 20 team division, down from the 24 we have had for the last three seasons. The FA have long stated its intention is to have 20 teams in the 16 Step 5 divisions across the country as part of the "perfect pyramid", and they look to be going back to this.

As known, Wythenshawe and Padiham both return to the Northern Premier League Division One West as Champions and Promotion Winners respectively. City of Liverpool and Litherland REMYCA finished the season in the relegation spots.

There has also been a some lateral movement of clubs to reduce the number of teams to 20, with Cheadle Town and West Didsbury & Chorlton both moving to the Midland League Premier Division. 

Cheadle Town are one of our longest serving clubs having joined in the 1983/84 season, and have played in excess of 1,500 league games since. They spent much of their tenure in the First Division, but were promoted to the Premier Division three seasons ago. West Didsbury & Chorlton joined in 2012/13 and have played over 500 league games since joining. They have spent ten of the 14 seasons they have been with us in the Premier Division. 

Trafford rejoin the league after being relegated from the Northern Premier League last season. They first joined us in 1992/93 and were with us for five years until they were promoted to the NPL in 1996/97 as Champions. They returned for a second spell in 2003/04 and remained for another five years before being promoted again as Champions. Trafford are on the opposite side of the Manchester Ship Canal from Irlam.  

Promoted from the First Division North are Nelson and Droylsden who has both been placed in the Premier Division.

Nelson were founder members of the NWCFL in 1982/83 and have spend all bar five seasons in the league since then. They were relegated from the Premier Division in 2016/17 and have spent the last nine seasons in our second tier before winning the First Division North Championship this season.

Droylsden were also founder members before stepping up to the NPL in 1986/87 as Champions. They remained there until Covid hit when they took a hiatus from football, returning to the NWCFL three years ago. They were victorious in the First Division North Play-Off's this season.

As well as Cheadle Town and West Didsbury & Chorlton, there will also be a few more familiar names departing the league and playing in the Midland League Premier Division next season. Wythenshawe Town, who were relegated from the Northern Premier League last season, have been laterally moved, along with First Division South Champions Runcorn Town and PlayOff Winners Stockport Georgians. 

Runcorn depart after being with us since the 2010/11 season, and have returned to Step 5 after a four year stay in our First Divisions. They played two seasons in the North Division and two in the South Division before winning the Championship this season. Stockport finished the season in 4th place before winning at New Mills and Eccleshall in the PlayOffs to secure promotion. The Midland League Premier Division will be the highest league they have ever played in.

First Division North

The main talking point from the First Division North is that it has increased in size from 18 clubs to 22 clubs! 

As mentioned above Nelson and Droylsden were promoted. We also say goodbye to Maine Road, who have been relegated from the NWCFL after finishing bottom of the division. Their Points per Game average of 0.62 was amongst the lowest across Step 6, therefore they will be playing at Step 7 next season. Their new league will be announced at a later date when the Football Association announce the makeup of the Step 7 leagues. Maine Road are one of our longest serving clubs having joined in the 1987/88 season and have played over 1500 games in the league. They were relegated from the Premier Division in 2017/18, placed in the First Division South but laterally moved to the North two seasons ago. 

Ashton Athletic and Garstang, who also finished in the relegation spots, have been reprieved thanks to their Points per Game average (both 0.82) so will remain in the First Division North next season. 

Litherland REMYCA have dropped into the First Division North after relegation, ending an eight year stay in the Premier Division for them after getting promoted from the old First Division in 2017/18.

The reason for the 22 clubs in this division is that we welcome six new clubs to the division. Two are lateral movements from the First Division South, three are promotions from the County Feeder Leagues with one clubs being placed with us.

Moved laterally to the First Division North are Ashville and Cammell Laird 1907. 

Ashville joined us ahead of the 2022/23 season and have spent all four seasons with us in the First Division South. After mid-table finishes in their first two seasons, they have improved and have finished in 7th place in each of the last two seasons. Cammell Laird first joined us in 2014/15 and won promotion in their first season. They spent two seasons in the Premier Division before being relegated and have spent the last nine seasons in the First Division / First Division South. They finished 12th this past season in the South.

Promoted to us from the Liverpool County Premier League are Halewood Apollo. They are still playing their season, and are currently in sixth place, two points off the top five but with three games in hand. Presumably they need a top five finish to secure promotion - certainly an incentive! Halewood play at Volair Halewood, situated midway between Runcorn Town and South Liverpool.

Promoted to us from the Manchester Football League are Uppermill. They finished in second position in their league this season behind Dukinfield, winning 18 of their 30 games. Having passed ground grading, this will be the highest league they have ever played in. Uppermill is a village to the east of Oldham heading towards Saddleworth Moor, around seven miles from Chadderton, however they currently share grounds with NPL West side Mossley. 

Promoted to us from the West Cheshire League are AFC Knowsley. They are also still playing their season at the moment with their final game of the season on Saturday. They are in fourth position at present, and could finish anywhere between 3rd and 6th. They play in Knowsley at the Lord Derby Pavilion Playing Fields which is their own ground, minutes from Junction 2 of the M57 Motorway.

The club that have been placed with us in the North is Flixton. 

Flixton return to the league after being with us from 1986/87, and after bouncing between the divisions, won what is now the Premier Division in 1995/96. They returned to us five years later, again bouncing between the divisions before falling on hard times and resigning from the Premier Division at the end of the 2011/12 season. Now under new ownership, their facilities at Valley Road have undergone a major makeover with brand new pitch, perimeter fencing, stand and clubhouse. Flixton is less than two miles away from Trafford who will be rejoining the Premier Division.

First Division South

Like the North, the First Division South has increased in numbers and will run with 20 clubs. As mentioned above Runcorn Town and Stockport Georgians have been promoted to the Midland League. We lost Wolverhampton Sporting Community midway through the season after they withdrew from the league.

We also say goodbye to Haughmond, who have been relegated from the NWCFL after finishing second bottom of the division. Their Points per Game average of 0.71 was amongst the lowest across Step 6 of the second bottom teams, therefore they will be playing at Step 7 next season. Their new league will be announced at a later date when the Football Association announce the makeup of the Step 7 leagues. Haughmond joined us at the start of this season having achieved promotion from the Shropshire League. 

Market Drayton Town, who also finished in the relegation spots in the third from bottom spot, have been reprieved thanks to their Points per Game average of 0.79 so will remain in the First Division South next season. 

Unlike the First Division North, no team is being relegated to the South from the Premier Division. However we get to 20 clubs by welcoming seven new clubs to the league. Three are lateral movements from the Midland League First Division, with three being promotions from the County Feeder Leagues and one new club.

Moved laterally to the First Division South are AFC Bridgnorth, Bilston Town and Wednesfield Community.

AFC Bridgnorth finished in 10th place in the league last season. They play at Crown Meadow in Bridgnorth which is 14 miles further south than Telford Town. Bilston Town finished just above them in 8th place in the league. They play at Queen Street in Bilston, which is to the south east of Wolverhampton. Their ground is seven miles further south than Wolverhampton Casuals. Wednesfield Community, who survived relegation on Points per Game basis. They play at the Cottage Ground in Wednesfield, a suburb of Wolverhampton, which is four miles south of Wolverhampton Casuals and just three miles east of Molyneux Stadium, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Promoted to us from the Cheshire League are Crewe. The league is still going and Crewe have finished their season and are in fourth place in their league, however they can finish no lower than fifth. They play at the Crewe FC Hub in Crewe.

Promoted to us from the Staffordshire County League are Brereton Social. They have walked their league this season, winning 26 of their 34 league games and winning the league by 13 points. They play at the Brereton Sports & Social Club in Brereton, a village just south of Rugeley. This is around ten miles south east from Stafford Town.

Promoted to us from the Salop Leisure League (Shropshire County League) are Dawley Town. Like Brereton, they also won their league this season, although it was closer, winning it by two points. They did have a better record though with 26 wins from 30 league games. They play at the impressively named Hamer Leisure Theatre of Jockeys, which is three miles south from Telford Town.

The club that have been placed with us in the South is Widnes Town. They have risen from the ashes of Widnes who spent five seasons with us from 2013/14 to 2018/19 when they were promoted to the NPL. They won the NPL West in 2024/25 but folded before taking their place in Step 3. The new club will be playing at the Halton Stadium in Widnes, but we hear they will have to spend most of next season at an alternative ground as the pitch at the Stadium is apparently getting re-laid at the end of the Rugby League season.

Notes 

All allocations are subject to appeals; the constitution will be ratified at the League AGM on 20 June 2026. The full initial allocations for the NWCFL can be seen below.