The Football Association have this lunchtime announced the 2025/26 league allocations for the Non-League system.
The allocations cover the Step 1 through 6 on the Non-League system, which includes the Chevrons who currently ply their trade at Step 6 of the pyramid.
Steeton will remain the North West Counties Football League Division One North for an eight consecutive season.
There are a total of four team changes within the division following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season last month.
Colne and Squires Gate, the two sides relegated for the NWCFL Premier Division during the last campaign, both enter Division One North.
Whilst never having a competitive meeting with the Reds, Colne have historically provided Steeton opposition during pre-season.
Squires Gate have also been an historic pre-season opponent for the Chevrons prior to the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs in last season’s Macron Cup, Roy Mason’s side winning 4-2 on an October evening on the Fylde coast.
Joining us from the division below are Fulwood Amateurs.
The Preston based outfit successfully applied for promotion from Step 7 having met the releveant criteria before confirming their step up to the semi-professional ranks with a 4th place finish in the West Lancashire League.
The final new opponent is in the shape of Cheadle Heath Nomads.
Playing out of Stockport, the Nomads are moved laterally from the First Division South on the back of a season in which they finished 6th and narrowly missed on a play-off position.
We look forward to welcoming all four clubs to Marley Stadium during the forthcoming campaign.
Departing the division are Atherton Laburnum Rovers and Euxton Villa, the two sides promoted from the First Division North up into the Premier Divsion.
Skelmersdale United also say their farewells, relegated to Step 7 after finishing bottom of the division.
Finally, Route One Rovers will also not be on the fixture list come July as they have been moved laterally into NCEL Division One following their relocation from Marley Stadium to the new Myra Shay facility within Bradford.
We wish all four of these clubs the very best.
All final league allocations are subject to appeals and ratification to both the Football Association and the North West Counties Football League.
2025/26 NWCFL DIVISION ONE NORTH
AFC Blackpool
Ashton Athletic
Ashton Town
Bacup Borough
Cheadle Heath Nomads (Laterally Moved from Division One South)
Colne (Relegated from Step 5)
Daisy Hill
Darwen FC
Droylsden
Fulwood Amateurs (Promoted from Step 7)
Garstang (Relegation Reprieve)
Holker Old Boys
Maghull
Maine Road
Nelson
Squires Gate (Relegated from Step 5)
STEETON
Thornton Cleveleys
