THE Football Association has this lunchtime announced the league allocations for the 2026/27 season.
Steeton will remain in the North West Counties First Division North for a ninth consecutive season.
And the league will be expanded for the forthcoming campaign as the allocations has seen the division increase to 22 teams after being capped at 18 teams since the COVID pandemic affected seasons.
Joining us in the division for the 2026/27 season are a total of seven new teams through relegation, promotion, abeyance, and lateral movement.
Litherland REMYCA come down from Step 5 after finishing in the relegation places in the NWCFL Premier Division last season.
Moving into the league laterally from the First Division South are the Birkenhead based pair of Ashville and Cammell Laird 1907.
Flixton return to the Non-League pyramid following an absence of fourteen years with the club opting to remain in abeyance during that period in which they have only played friendlies and tournaments instead of competitive football.
The league’s line-up is completed by three promoted side from Step 7.
Uppermill of the Manchester League, Halewood Apollo of the Liverpool League, and AFC Knowsley of the Cheshire League, all make the step up to join the pyramid and with it completing the 22 team divisional line-up.
Three teams depart the league from last season with Nelson and Droylsden promoted to the NWCFL Premier Division and Maine Road relegated to the Manchester League.
The two sides who finished within the relegation spaces with Maine Road in Division One North, Ashton Athletic and Garstang, have both been reprieved.
Fixtures for the 2026/27 season are expected in mid to late July following the league AGM and release of fixtures for divisions higher up in the pyramid.
2026/27 NWCFL FIRST DIVISION NORTH
AFC Blackpool
AFC Knowsley (promoted from Cheshire League)
Ashton Athletic (reprieved from relegation)
Ashton Town
Ashville (laterally moved from First Division South)
Bacup Borough
Cammell Laird 1907 (laterally moved from First Division South)
Colne
Daisy Hill
Darwen FC
Flixton (returning from abeyance)
Fulwood Amateurs
Garstang (reprieved from relegation)
Halewood Apollo (promoted from Liverpool League)
Holker Old Boys
Litherland REMYCA (relegated from Premier Division)
Maghull
Squires Gate
STEETON
Thornton Cleveleys
Uppermill (promoted from Manchester League)
Woolton
