The 2017–18 season was the 50th season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the eleventh and last season of the Division One North and South. The league sponsors for 2017–18 were Evo-Stik.
Premier Division
Team changes The following 6 clubs left the Premier Division before the season - Blyth Spartans – promoted to National League North Corby Town – relegated to NPL Division One South Frickley Athletic – relegated to NPL Division One South Ilkeston – relegated to NPL Division One South, and were subsequently wound up in the high court. A New Ilkeston Town Replaced in Midland League Division One. Skelmersdale United – relegated to NPL Division One North Spennymoor Town – promoted to National League North
The following 6 clubs joined the Premier Division before the season - Altrincham – relegated from National League North Farsley Celtic – promoted from NPL Division One North Lancaster City – promoted from NPL Division One North Shaw Lane – promoted from NPL Division One South Stalybridge Celtic – relegated from National League North Witton Albion – promoted from NPL Division One South
League table
Top scorers Up to games played 28 April 2018. RankPlayerClubGoals1 Liam HardyBuxton342 Lee ShawGrantham Town293 Jordan HulmeAltrincham264 Steven TamesWitton Albion255 Rob HopleyWitton Albion216 James WalshawFarsley Celtic207 Andy DalesMickleover Sports19 Nathan WatsonCoalville Town Shaun HarradMatlock Town10 Joshua HancockAltrincham18 Matthew StensonBarwell Daniel WaldronRushall Olympic
Results
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
ClubGroundCapacityAltrinchamMoss Lane6,085Ashton UnitedHurst Cross4,500BarwellKirkby Road2,500BuxtonThe Silverlands5,200Coalville TownOwen Street Sports Ground2,000Farsley CelticThrostle Nest3,900Grantham TownSouth Kesteven Sports Stadium7,500Halesowen TownThe Grove5,000Hednesford TownKeys Park6,500Lancaster CityGiant Axe3,500MarineRossett Park3,185Matlock TownCauseway Lane2,214Mickleover SportsStation Road1,500Nantwich TownThe Weaver Stadium3,500Rushall OlympicDales Lane1,400Shaw LaneSheerien Park2,000Stafford RangersMarston Road4,000Stalybridge CelticBower Fold6,500StourbridgeWar Memorial Athletic Ground2,014Sutton Coldfield TownCentral Ground2,000Warrington TownCantilever Park3,500Whitby TownTurnbull Ground3,500Witton AlbionWincham Park4,813WorkingtonBorough Park3,101
Division One North
Team changes The following 3 clubs left Division One North before the season - Burscough – relegated to North West Counties League Premier Division Farsley Celtic – promoted to NPL Premier Division Lancaster City – promoted to NPL Premier Division
The following 3 clubs joined Division One North before the season - Atherton Collieries – promoted from North West Counties League Premier Division Skelmersdale United – relegated from NPL Premier Division South Shields – promoted from Northern League Division One
League table
Top scorers Up to games played 28 April 2018. RankPlayerClubGoals1 Michael CoulsonScarborough Athletic332 Kurt WilloughbyClitheroe263 Alex CurranColne214 Liam CaddickDroylsden19 James WalshawScarborough Athletic6 Aaron MartinBrighouse Town187 Astley MulhollandColwyn Bay17 Christopher AlmondPrescot Cables Alex NewbyClitheroe10 Thomas CornerTadcaster Albion16 Carl FinniganSouth Shields12 Brad CarsleyBamber Bridge15
Results
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity Atherton Collieries Alder Street 2,500 Bamber Bridge Irongate 2,264 Brighouse Town St Giles' Road 1,000 Clitheroe Shawbridge 2,000 Colne Holt House 1,800 Colwyn Bay Llanelian Road 2,500 Droylsden Butcher's Arms Ground 3,000 Glossop North End The Arthur Goldthorpe Stadium 1,350 Goole Victoria Pleasure Grounds 3,000 Hyde United Ewen Fields 4,250 Kendal Town Parkside Road 2,400 Mossley Seel Park 4,000 Ossett Albion Queen's Terrace 3,000 Ossett Town Ingfield 2,000 Prescot Cables Valerie Park 3,200 Radcliffe Borough Stainton Park 3,500 Ramsbottom United The Harry Williams Riverside 2,000 Scarborough Athletic Flamingo Land Stadium 2,070 Skelmersdale United Valerie Park 3,200 South Shields Mariners Park 3,500 Tadcaster Albion Ings Lane 1,500 Trafford Shawe View 2,500
Division One South
Team changes The following 5 clubs left Division One South before the season - Northwich Victoria – relegated to North West Counties League Premier Division Rugby Town – relegated to Midland League Premier Division Shaw Lane – promoted to NPL Premier Division Witton Albion – promoted to NPL Premier Division AFC Rushden & Diamonds – transferred to Southern League Division One Central
The following 5 clubs joined Division One South before the season - Alvechurch – promoted from the Midland League Premier Division Cleethorpes Town – promoted from the Northern Counties East League Premier Division Corby Town – relegated from NPL Premier Division Frickley Athletic – relegated from NPL Premier Division Peterborough Sports – promoted from United Counties League Premier Division
League table
Top scorers Up to games played 28 April 2018. RankPlayerClubGoals1 Liam HearnBasford United392 Jacob HazelFrickley Athletic353 Joe LumsdenStocksbridge Park Steels 284 Gavin AllottFrickley Athletic255 Anthony MalbonKidsgrove Athletic22 Timothy GriceLeek Town7 Jordan JohnsonLeek Town17 Matthew MelbourneGresley Jack LangstonChasetown10 Luke KeenBedworth United16
Results
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity Alvechurch Lye Meadow 3,000 Basford United Greenwich Avenue 1,000 Bedworth United The Oval Ground 3,000 Belper Town Christchurch Meadow 2,400 Carlton Town Bill Stokeld Stadium 1,500 Chasetown The Scholars Ground 2,000 Cleethorpes Town Bradley Football Centre 3,000 Corby Town Steel Park 3,893 Gresley The Moat Ground 2,400 Frickley Athletic Westfield Lane 2,087 Kidsgrove Athletic The Seddon Stadium 2,000 Leek Town Harrison Park 3,600 Lincoln United Ashby Avenue 2,200 Loughborough Dynamo Nanpantan Sports Ground 1,500 Market Drayton Town Greenfields Sports Ground 1,000 Newcastle Town Lyme Valley Stadium 4,000 Peterborough Sports Lincoln Road Unknown Romulus The Central Ground (groundshare with Sutton Coldfield Town) 2,000 Sheffield Coach and Horses Ground 2,000 Spalding United Sir Halley Stewart Field 3,500 Stamford Borderville Sports Centre 2,000 Stocksbridge Park Steels Bracken Moor 3,500
Challenge Cup
The 2017–18 Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, known as the 17–18 Integro Doodson League Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 48th season of the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, the main cup competition in the Northern Premier League. It was sponsored by Doodson Sport for a seventh consecutive season. 67 clubs from England and one from Wales entered the competition, beginning with the preliminary round, and all ties ended after 90 minutes and concluded with penalties.
The defending champions were Bamber Bridge, who defeated Grantham Town in the 2017 final and who lost to the eventual champions Atherton Collieries in the second round.
Calendar Round Clubsremaining Clubsinvolved Winners fromprevious round New entriesthis round Scheduledplaying date Preliminary round 68 8 0 8 5 to 6 September 2017 First round 64 64 4 60 15 to 18 October 2017 Second round 32 32 32 none 28 to 29 November 2017 Third round 16 16 16 none 29 to 30 January 2018 Quarter-finals 8 8 8 none 22 to 29 March 2018 Semi-finals 4 4 4 none 12 April 2018 Final 2 2 2 none 2 May 2018
Preliminary round
First round
Second round
Third round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Level 6 & 7 Summary
Level 6 Summary 2017-18 LeagueChampionPromoted via Play-offDefeated in Play-offRelegatedSouthern Premier DivisionHerefordSlough TownWeymouth Kettering TownDunstable TownNorthern Premier DivisionAltrinchamAshton UnitedWarrington Town Grantham Town
Farsley CelticSutton Coldfield TownIsthmian Premier DivisionBillericay TownDulwich HamletFolkestone Invicta LeistonThurrock Tooting & Mitcham United.
Level 7 Summary 2017-18 LeagueChampionPromotedPromoted via Play-offDefeated in Play-offRelegatedSouthern Division One EastBeaconsfield Town F.C.AFC Rushden & DiamondsHartley Wintney F.C.AFC Dunstable Hayes & Yeading United F.C.Arlesey Town F.C.Southern Division One WestTaunton Town F.C.Salisbury City F.C.Swindon Supermarine F.C.Evesham United F.C. Didcot Town F.C.Shortwood United F.C. Bishop's Cleeve F.C.Northern Division One NorthSouth Shields F.C.Scarborough Athletic F.C. Hyde United F.C.Bamber Bridge F.C.Prescot Cables F.C. Trafford F.C.
Tadcaster Albion A.F.C.Goole A.F.C.Northern Division One SouthBasford United F.C.Alvechurch F.C.Bedworth United F.C.Stamford A.F.C. Chasetown F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C.Romulus F.C.Isthmian Division One NorthA.F.C. HornchurchPotters Bar Town F.C.Haringey Borough F.C.Bowers & Pitsea F.C. Heybridge Swifts F.C.Norwich United F.C.Isthmian Division One SouthCarshalton Athletic F.C.Lewes F.C.Walton Casuals F.C. Corinthian-Casuals F.C.Greenwich Borough F.C. Cray Wanderers F.C.Shoreham F.C.Note: Corinthian-Casuals were promoted as the Level 8 play-off final loser with the highest PPG, after Thurrock's resignation from the Isthmian Premier Division.
See also Northern Premier League 2017–18 Isthmian League 2017–18 Southern League
References
External links Official website