The 2010–11 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Vodkat League for sponsorship reasons for the final occasion after four seasons) was the 29th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England.
The league comprised two divisions, the Premier Division and the First Division (at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system, Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System respectively). Additionally there were two cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup knockout competition (known as the Vodkat League Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) open to all the league's clubs; and the First Division Trophy, a knockout trophy competition for First Division clubs only. The league also had a reserves team section.
Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 22 clubs, 19 remained from the previous season plus 3 additions:
Barnoldswick Town, promoted as runners up of the First Division Rossendale United, relegated from the Northern Premier League First Division North Stone Dominoes, promoted as champions of the First Division
At the end of the season the champions New Mills were promoted to the Northern Premier League First Division South. Two clubs left the division: eighteenth placed Formby were demoted to the First Division for breaching the league rule concerning notification of the change in ownership/entity; and Rossendale United who finished twenty-first were expelled as they had not renewed their membership or paid fees and fines, and for general maladministration. As no club was to be relegated into this division next season and with the removal of the two clubs for irregularities the bottom club Ashton Athletic were reprieved from relegation. Over the season the average goals scored per match for all Premier Division (formerly Division One) matches increased to a new high of 3.52 goals per match (a slight increase over the 3.50 during the 2006–07 season).
League table
First Division
The First Division featured 18 clubs, 15 remained from the previous season plus 3 additions:
Runcorn Town, from 3rd in the West Cheshire League A.F.C. Darwen, from 8th in the West Lancashire League Abbey Hey, relegated from the Premier Division
At the end of the season A.F.C. Blackpool and Runcorn Town were promoted as champions and runners-up respectively to the Premier Division; owing to three clubs leaving the Premier Division a further promotion position from the this division was available: third placed Holker Old Boys declined the promotion which was taken up by fourth placed A.F.C. Liverpool.
League table
League Challenge Cup The 2010–11 League Challenge Cup (known as the Vodkat League Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs. The final, played at Curzon Ashton F.C. between two Premier Division clubs, was won by the previous season's losing finalist Winsford United who defeated New Mills 1–0 and thus denied them a league and cup double.
Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final
Club's division appended to team name: (PD)=Premier Division; (FD)=First Division source:
First Division Trophy The 2010–11 First Division Trophy was a knockout competition for First Division clubs only. The final, held at Flixton F.C., was won 3–2 after extra time (score at 90 minutes: 2–2) by Atherton Collieries who defeated A.F.C. Liverpool denying them a hat-trick of trophy wins.
Semi-finals and Final
source:
Reserves Section Main honours for the 2010–11 season: Reserves Division Winners: Padiham Reserves Runners-up: Glossop North End Reserves
Reserves Division Cup Winners: Glossop North End Reserves Runners-up: Ashton Athletic Reserves
References
External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League