The Isuzu FA Vase will be the focus of the weekend, and there's a sampling of league action to bring to your attention, too! Let's see who is facing whom this weekend...
Saturday:
Isuzu FA Vase, 1st Round:
With the return of the Isuzu FA Vase! At this stage the NWCFL has a whopping 21 teams left in this national competition, 13 of whom will be playing against non-NWCFL opponents across the weekend.
Of the sides from the league who will be up against less familiar opponents, there are seven home games to sink your teeth into on Saturday, as: Premier Division side Burscough welcome Billingham Synthonia; Euxton Villa, also from the Prem, host Carlisle City; Irlam, again of the Premier Division, meet Shildon; and Nelson, of the First Division North, face off against Harrogate Railway Athletic.
Elsewhere, Prem outfit Prestwich Heys will go toe to toe with Maltby Main; Ramsbottom United, in the midst of a Premier Division promotion battle, will play hosts to Jarrow FC; and finally, Stafford Town, from the First Division South, will square off with Nuneaton Town.
If you’re a groundhopper and you’re wanting to put some miles on your soul this weekend, your options are: Chadderton, from the Prem, who will travel to Eccleshill United; Charnock Richard, also from the Prem, who will meet Horbury Town; South Liverpool, adding to the top table’s representation, who will be on the road to face Northallerton Town; and finally, Droylsden, who add some diversity with their First Division North status, making the trip to Penistone Church.
That leaves us with four more ties from Saturday, where eight more NWCFL sides will face off with one another. Ashton Town and Darwen FC will battle in an all-First Division North showdown between fourth and sixth in the table; ditto Barnoldswick Town and AFC Liverpool, as 18th meets 23rd from the Prem.
For the first time ever with both teams under the NWCFL umbrella, Runcorn Town, table-toppers in the South, will welcome newly promoted Fulwood Amateurs from the North; and lastly, Wythenshawe, from the Premier Division play-off picture, will meet First Division North stalwarts Holker Old Boys.
Edward Case Cup, 1st Round (South):
This weekend also sees the return of the NWCFL’s own Edward Case Cup for the 2025/26 campaign. Before we get to a full fixture list, there’s one game this weekend to get the ball rolling. Ashville and new boys Wolves Casuals will battle it out at the former’s Ray Parker Stadium for a place in the next round draw.
Premier Division:
Away from national cup competitions, the regular league season carries on this Saturday, with six Prem matches to choose from. Firstly, eight placed Atherton LR will welcome third placed West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Longridge Town and Glossop North End are separated by just four points in the league standings right now, but the away side will be hoping to reduce that gap to one with a first win in six on Saturday.
The headline match from the Prem this Saturday will come from the Ruby Civil Arena, as league leaders Padiham play host to bottom club Litherland REMYCA, whose losing streak stretched to 17 games in all competitions in midweek against Chadderton.
Just six points separate sixth from 14th in the Prem table right now, and right in the middle of that mix is Pilkington. With a handful of teams around them in Vase action, they can climb as high as seventh from 11th with a victory over fourth-bottom City of Liverpool.
In the final 3pm game from the Prem, Stockport Town, right below Pilks in the thick of mid-table, will play host to lowly Abbey Hey. The away side are a mere point above the drop zone going into this weekend, and have suffered defeat in seven of their last eight in all competitions.
First Division North:
There’s also five game to bring you from the First Division North. Despite their status in the bottom half of the league, MSB Woolton are a team to beat right now, and Bacup Borough have been playing nearly non-stop to catch up to their cohorts with their number of games played so far. These two will battle it out on Saturday.
Daisy Hill managed their first league win of the campaign last weekend over Darwen, and will be aiming for two from two as they play host to Maine Road, who are also circling the play-off scene – just like last weekend’s opponents for the side from the Ginge Power Stadium.
Also, in the relegation places with Daisy Hill are Garstang, who are at home this weekend, too. Thornton Cleveleys will be the visitors to the Riverside, who are struggling for consistency right now, and are currently just five points above the drop zone.
Third placed Maghull are on a terrible run right now – they had a blistering start to the campaign, but have lost their last five in all competitions going into this weekend. Hoping to capitalise on their dip in form will be mid-table Steeton.
Squires Gate managed an impressive 3-0 victory last weekend against Fulwood Amateurs to put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three in the league. This Saturday, they will welcome bottom side Ashton Athletic, who have levelled their points total to that of Garstang and Daisy Hill directly above them, and can escape the bottom three with a victory.
First Division South:
There’s a further six games to bring you from the First Division South. Cammell Laird 1907 are sitting precariously in 16th at the time of writing, level on points with Market Drayton Town in the drop zone. They can give themselves a boost when the square off with mid-table Allscott Heath on Saturday, who’ve lost three of their last six in all competitions.
Slightly better off than Laird are Cheadle Heath Nomads, currently 15th in the table with a two point lead on the relegation places. They will be searching for their second win in three when they welcome Eccleshall, who are only outside of the top five on goal difference right now.
Comfortably inside the top five right now are Stockport Georgians. After last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Wolves Sporting, Andy Jenkins’ men have risen to second in the table, and they can tighten their grip on that spot with an away win on Saturday against Foley Meir.
There’s a battle of the bottom two taking place this weekend at Sundorne Sports Village. Haughmond FINALLY bagged their first win in the NWCFL last weekend when they overcame Barnton, and making it two from tow would go a long way for their season if they can knock off visiting Wolves Sporting. However, a win for the away side would be just as impactful in their own fight for survival.
Barnton were the side that suffered defeat to Haughmond, and they’ll be in the mood to course correct and score their fourth win in seven when they battle Sandbach United away from the home. The hosts come into this one in seventh, winning 5-0 most recently against Foley Meir.
Telford Town were usurped in their fight for second place by Georgians last weekend owing to playing in the Macron Cup. This weekend, they’ll be refocusing on their league campaign as they welcome relegation zone side Market Drayton Town to the DRM Aggregate Arena.
Sunday:
Isuzu Fa Vase, 1st Round:
Sunday sees two more Vase matches featuring NWCFL sides to bring the weekend to a close. Premier Division Cheadle Town will be away from home to face off with West Allotment Celtic,; and Colne, from the First Division North, will also be on the road as they travel to Yarm & Eaglescliffe.
![]() | Week 13: Preview |
![]() | Week 12: Preview |
![]() | Week 11: Preview |
![]() | Week 10: Preview |