The 2005–06 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Moore & Co Solicitors North West Counties Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 24th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England.`
The league comprised two divisions, Division One and Division Two (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 open to all the league's clubs and the Second Division Trophy, a knockout trophy competition for Division Two clubs only. The league also had a reserves team section.
Division One
Division One featured 22 clubs, 20 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additions (both promoted from Division Two): Cammell Laird promoted as champions Silsden promoted as runners up
At the end of the season, owing to the forthcoming expansion of the Northern Premier League Division One, three clubs were promoted to it: champions Cammell Laird, runners-up Skelmersdale United and third-placed Alsager Town. Consequently no clubs were relegated from this divsison.
A league record to date for the highest number of victories was established by Cammell Laird with 35 from 42 matches played (the previous best was 33 by Atherton Laburnum Rovers in the 1992–93 season although owing to a six point deduction Cammell Laird did not better their points tally). Each of the bottom three placed clubs conceded in excess of 100 league goals over the season and of those Stone Dominoes created a Division One record for the highest number of goals conceded by a club over a season with 146 goals against over 42 matches played (exceeding the 137 conceded over 42 matches by Blackpool Mechanics in the 1992–93 season).
League table
Division Two
Division Two featured 19 clubs, 17 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additions: F.C. United of Manchester a newly formed club Great Harwood Town relegated from Division One
The start-up club F.C. United of Manchester were responsible for the uplift in average match attendance to 333 from the previous season's 71; from the total league attendance of 113,822, their total home match figure (fixtures played at Bury F.C.) was 55,053 (3,059 per match) and 38,440 (2,136 per match) at away fixtures – representing 82% of the total league attendance. They established a league single match attendance record of 6,023 (on 22 April 2006 v. Great Harwood Town) eclipsing the previous record of 2,281 (from Workington versus Mossley in the 1998–99 season).
Bottom placed club Castleton Gabriels in losing 31 of their 36 matches created a division record for the highest proportion of matches lost in a season and, following an eight point deduction for league rule transgressions, with only one point to their name in the final table they recorded the least season end points for any club in the league (without the deduction their nine points earned would have been the third lowest behind Darwen (Division One, 1983–84) and Newton (Division Two, 1988–89) who after adjusting to a three points for a win basis would have recorded eight points each).
At the end of the season in order to maintain the number of clubs in Division One three clubs were promoted: champions in their first season in the league F.C. United of Manchester, runners-up Flixton and third-placed Nelson. The only club leaving the division were Great Harwood Town (who had been in Division One the previous season) who folded after the season ended.
League table
League Challenge Cup The 2005–06 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs. The all Division One club final, played at Skelmersdale United F.C., was won by Salford City who defeated the cup holders and this season's Division One champions Cammell Laird 3–2.
Semi-finals and Final
(The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played)
Club's division appended to team name: (D1)=Division One; (D2)=Division Two sources: Semi-finals: ; Final:
Second Division Trophy The 2005–06 Second Division Trophy was a knockout competition for Division Two clubs only. In the final, played at Trafford F.C., the previous season's losing finalist Flixton defeated Winsford United 2–1.
Semi-finals and Final
(The semi-finals were decided on aggregate score from two legs played)
sources: Semi-finals: Final:
Reserves Section Main honours for the 2005–06 season: Reserves Division Winners: Formby Reserves Runners-up: Nantwich Town Reserves
Reserves Division Cup Winners: Nelson Reserves Runners-up: Nantwich Town Reserves
References
External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League Tony's English Football Site: Fixtures, Results, Tables, Attendances, Maps & Mileages, 2005/06