The 2001–02 North West Counties Football League season was the 20th 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 8 and 9 respectively of the English football league system), and there was additionally a single cup competition, the League Challenge Cup knockout competition (known as the Worthington Challenge Trophy for sponsorship reasons) open to all the league's clubs (the Second Division Trophy competition was not contested this season). The league also had a reserves team section.
Division One
Division One featured 23 clubs, 19 remaining from the previous season plus 4 additions:
Atherton Laburnum Rovers, promoted from third place in Division Two Congleton Town, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One Winsford United, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One Warrington Town, promoted as champions of Division Two
At the end of the season the champions Kidsgrove Athletic were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One and the bottom two clubs, Maine Road and Great Harwood Town, were relegated to Division Two. Over this season the divisional record of goals scored per match of 3.42 (established in the 1994–95 season) was extended marginally to 3.48 goals per match.
League table
Division Two
Division Two featured 21 clubs, 17 remaining from the previous season plus 4 additions:
Cheadle Town, relegated from Division One Leek CSOB, relegated from Division One Norton United, promoted as champions of the Midland Football League Stand Athletic, promoted as champions of the Manchester League
At the end of the season champions Stand Athletic were denied promotion as their ground was deemed unacceptable for Division One; consequently the promotion places were taken by runners-up Alsager Town and third placed Squires Gate. Also leaving the division (and subsequently joining the Liverpool County Combination) were Formby and Bootle – both expelled as their ground facilities were below the division's required standard.
League table
League Challenge Cup The 2001–02 League Challenge Cup (known as the Worthington Challenge Trophy for sponsorship reasons) was a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs. The all Division One club final, played at Bury F.C., was won by Prescot Cables who defeated Atherton Collieries 4–2.
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 sources: Semi-finals: ; Final:
Reserves Section Main honours for the 2001–02 season: Reserves Division Winners: Woodley Sports Reserves Runners-up: Skelmersdale United Reserves
Reserves Division Cup Winners: Woodley Sports Reserves Runners-up: Maine Road Reserves
References
External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League North West Counties Football League Tables at RSSSF Results & Tables for 2001/02 (Tony Kempster)