Northern Premier League 1996-97
Encyclopedia
The 1996-97 Northern Premier League season was the 29th in the history of the Northern Premier League
, a football competition in England
. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First. It was known as the Unibond League for sponsorship reasons.
. Witton Albion and Buxton were relegated to the First Division while Knowsley United left the League at the end of the season. Boston United moved to the Southern League. These clubs were replaced by relegated Conference side Altrincham
, First Division
winners Radcliffe Borough
and second placed Leigh RMI
. In the First Division Curzon Ashton, Warrington Town and Atherton Laburnum Rovers left the League at the end of the season and were replaced by newly-admitted Whitby Town
, Belper Town
and Trafford
.
: Teams from both leagues.
President's Cup
: 'Plate' competition for losing teams in the NPL Cup.
Peter Swales Shield
: Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup.
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
, a football competition in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First. It was known as the Unibond League for sponsorship reasons.
Premier Division
The Premier League featured three new teams:- Alfreton TownAlfreton Town F.C.Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
promoted as runners-up from Division One - Lancaster CityLancaster City F.C.Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
promoted as champions from Division One - RuncornRuncorn FC HaltonRuncorn FC Halton was an English football club that played in Runcorn, Widnes and Prescot at various points during its existence.-History:The club was founded in 1918 as Highfield and Camden Tanneries Recreation Club. They became members of the Lancashire Combination in the same year, winning a cup...
relegated from the Conference
League Table
Division One
Division One featured four new teams:- DroylsdenDroylsden F.C.Droylsden F.C. is an English football club based in Droylsden, near Manchester. As of the 2011–12 season, they play in the Conference North.-History:...
relegated from the Premier Division - FlixtonFlixton F.C.Flixton F.C. are an English football club based in Flixton, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are members of the Manchester Football Association. They play their home games at Valley Road in Flixton.-History:The club was formed...
promoted as champions from the NWCFL Division One - Matlock TownMatlock Town F.C.Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
relegated from the Premier Division - Stocksbridge Park SteelsStocksbridge Park Steels F.C.Stocksbridge Park Steels Football Club is a football club based in Stocksbridge, South Yorkshire, England, playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. The club was formed in 1986 after a merger between two other clubs, and initially played in the Northern Counties East League...
promoted as runners-up from the NCEFL Premier Division
League Table
Promotion and relegation
In the twenty-ninth season of the Northern Premier League Leek Town (as champions) were automatically promoted to the Football ConferenceFootball Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. Witton Albion and Buxton were relegated to the First Division while Knowsley United left the League at the end of the season. Boston United moved to the Southern League. These clubs were replaced by relegated Conference side Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, First Division
Northern Premier League First Division
The Northern Premier League First Division was a football league covering the north of England. After the creation of Conference North/South in the 2004-05 season it sat at level 8 of the English football league system....
winners Radcliffe Borough
Radcliffe Borough F.C.
Radcliffe Borough F.C. is an English football club based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. The club was formed on 24 April 1949 and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North...
and second placed Leigh RMI
Leigh RMI F.C.
Leigh Genesis Football Club, formerly known as Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. and Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. , was an English semi-professional association football team that folded after relegation from the Northern Premier League in 2011...
. In the First Division Curzon Ashton, Warrington Town and Atherton Laburnum Rovers left the League at the end of the season and were replaced by newly-admitted Whitby Town
Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football...
, Belper Town
Belper Town F.C.
-History:They were established in 1883 and joined the Midland League in 1961. After the 1981–82 season, Belper Town joined the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, winning the title in 1984–85...
and Trafford
Trafford F.C.
Trafford F.C. is an English football club based in Flixton, Greater Manchester. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Northern Premier League and play at Shawe View.-History:...
.
Cup Results
Challenge CupNorthern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
: Teams from both leagues.
- Gainsborough Trinity bt. Boston United
President's Cup
Northern Premier League President's Cup
The Northern Premier League President's Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League.Teams from both of the Northern Premier League Division One leagues take part in the tournament, with teams that played in the preliminary round of the Northern Premier League...
: 'Plate' competition for losing teams in the NPL Cup.
- Blyth Spartans bt. Runcorn
Peter Swales Shield
Peter Swales Shield
The Peter Swales Shield is an annual one-off game organised by the Northern Premier League. It is named in memory of Peter Swales....
: Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup.
- Gainsborough Trinity bt. Leek Town