The 2012–13 North West Counties Football League season was the 31st 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 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 remaining from the previous season plus 3 additions:
Norton United, promoted as runners-up of the First Division Stockport Sports (formerly Woodley Sports), relegated from the Northern Premier League First Division North Wigan Robin Park, promoted as champions of the First Division
Following an initiative by Football Association to standardise rules, to vet and approve clubs for promotion and direct them into the various leagues of the National League System the promotion/relegation process was formalised and more centrally controlled. Ten clubs from this league registered (by the 30 November 2012 deadline) for prospective promotion, they were: Barnoldswick Town, Bootle, Colne, Congleton Town, Glossop North End, Maine Road, Padiham, Runcorn Linnets, Runcorn Town and Winsford United.
At the end of the season only the champions Padiham were promoted to the Northern Premier League First Division North. With no club to be relegated into the division for next season Squires Gate were reprieved from relegation and only one club, bottom placed Stone Dominoes, were to be relegated – but they resigned at the end of the season: they had conceded 166 goals with a negative goal difference of 135 from 42 matches creating league highest records for both (exceeding the record of Blackpool Mechanics from the 1997–98 Division Two of 165 goals conceded and a 132 negative goal difference from 40 matches).
League table
Results
Locations
First Division
The First Division featured 18 teams, 16 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additions: Atherton Laburnum Rovers, relegated from the Premier Division West Didsbury & Chorlton, allocated to the division by the FA Leagues Committee, promoted from the Manchester League
During the season Formby were advised that their ground had failed a ground grading assessment and although at the end of the season they were league champions owing to the ruling they were not promoted. To maintain the numerical strength of the Premier Division two clubs were promoted: runners-up Abbey Hey and third placed West Didsbury & Chorlton (who were new to the league this season). No other clubs left the division.
League table
Results
Locations
League Challenge Cup The 2012–13 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all the league's 40 clubs. The final, played at Curzon Ashton F.C., was won 3–0 by Premier Division club Runcorn Linnets who defeated Formby of the First Division.
Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final
Club's division appended to team name: (PD)=Premier Division; (FD)=First Division source:
First Division Trophy The 2012–13 First Division Trophy was a knockout competition for the 18 First Division clubs only. The final held at Runcorn Linnets F.C. was won 1–0 by West Didsbury & Chorlton who defeated Abbey Hey.
The winners West Didsbury & Chorlton had originally been eliminated 3–1 at the quarter final stage by Ashton Town. However, after Ashton Town had subsequently beaten Daisy Hill 2–0 in the semi-finals (and named as finalists), they were found to have used an ineligible player in the quarter-final tie so were disqualified from the competition a week prior to the scheduled final. Both West Didsbury & Chorlton and Daisy Hill were reinstated to play a restaged semi-final with the former reaching the delayed final.
Semi-finals and Final
source:
Reserves Section Main honours for the 2012–13 season: Reserves Division Winners: Padiham Reserves Runners-up: Irlam Reserves
Reserves Division Cup Winners: Padiham Reserves Runners-up: Cheadle Town Reserves
References
External links The official website of the North West Counties Football League National League System Rules 2012/13 Standardised League Rules 2012/13