The 2007–08 is the 40th season for the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the first season for the Northern Premier League Division One North and South.
Created as part of non-league restructuring, the Division One leagues temporarily have 18 teams each, with a targeted number of 22 teams. To help increase the league to 20 teams for next season there will only be one relegation this year per league. Many clubs expressed their concern that a 34-game season would be too short. To remedy this, clubs will play an extra 8 games (4 home, 4 away) against teams within geographically related groups.
Premier Division
The Premier Division featured four new clubs: Buxton, promoted as champions from NPL Division One Eastwood Town, promoted via play-offs from NPL Division One Stamford, transferred from the Southern League Premier Division Worksop Town, relegated from the Conference North
League table
Results
Play-offs
Stadia and Locations
Team Stadium Capacity Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 Hednesford Town Keys Park 6,500 Buxton The Silverlands 5,200 Ashton United Hurst Cross 4,500 Fleetwood Town Highbury Stadium 3,663 Leek Town Harrison Park 3,600 Ilkeston Town New Manor Ground 3,500 Whitby Town Turnbull Ground 3,500 Prescot Cables Valerie Park 3,200 Worksop Town Sandy Lane 3,200 Burscough Victoria Park 3,054 Guiseley Nethermoor Park 3,000 Marine The Arriva Stadium 2,800 North Ferriby United Grange Lane 2,700 Eastwood Town Coronation Park 2,500 Kendal Town Lakeland Radio Stadium 2,400 Matlock Town Causeway Lane 2,214 Lincoln United Ashby Avenue 2,200 Frickley Athletic Westfield Lane 2,087 Ossett Town Ingfield 2,000 Stamford Vic Couzens Stadium 2,000
Division One North
This was the first season of the Northern Premier League Division One North. It Featured six new teams:
Mossley relegated from the Premier Division Radcliffe Borough relegated from the Premier Division Garforth Town promoted as fourth in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division Newcastle Blue Star promoted from the Northern League Division One F.C. United of Manchester promoted as champions of the North West Counties League Division One Curzon Ashton promoted as runners-up of the North West Counties League Division One Lancaster City as reformed club
Fixture increase The following are the groups which decided the extra 8 games for all teams:
Group A Group B Bamber BridgeBradford Park Avenue ChorleyBridlington Town ClitheroeCurzon Ashton F.C. United of ManchesterGarforth Town Lancaster CityHarrogate Railway Athletic Radcliffe BoroughMossley Rossendale UnitedNewcastle Blue Star Skelmersdale UnitedOssett Albion Woodley SportsWakefield
League table
Results
Play-offs
Division One South
This was the first season of the Northern Premier League Division One South. It featured seven new teams: Nantwich Town promoted as third in the North West Counties League Division One Retford United promoted as champions of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division Sheffield promoted as runners-up in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division Carlton Town promoted as third in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division Quorn promoted as third in the Midland Football Alliance Spalding United transferred from the Southern League Division One Midlands Grantham Town relegated from the Premier Division
Fixture increase The following are the groups which decided the extra 8 games for all teams: Group C Group D Alsager TownBrigg Town Belper TownCarlton Town Cammell LairdGoole A.F.C. Colwyn BayGrantham Town Kidsgrove AthleticGresley Rovers Nantwich TownQuorn SheffieldRetford United Stocksbridge Park SteelsShepshed Dynamo Warrington TownSpalding United
League table
Results
Play-offs
Cup results Challenge Cup: Teams from all 3 divisions.
Eastwood Town 3–0 Skelmersdale United
President's Cup: Teams from lower 2 divisions.
FC United of Manchester 2–0 Radcliffe Borough
Chairman's Cup: Between Champions of NPL Division One North and NPL Division One South.
Retford United 2–0 Bradford Park Avenue
Peter Swales Shield: Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the Chairman's Cup.
Fleetwood Town 2–1 Bradford Park Avenue1
1 Retford United qualified but its ground standards were not high enough for it to play in the shield.
References