Northern Premier League 2004-05
Encyclopedia
The 2004–05 Northern Premier League season was the 37th in the history of the Northern Premier League
, a football competition in England
. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First. This was the first Northern Premier League system after the creation of Conference North
and Conference South
and Conference South
, the league featured 14 new teams promoted from Division One:
.
* After extra time
. Bishop Auckland, Bridlington Town, Bamber Bridge and Spennymoor United were relegated to the First Division; these four clubs were replaced by relegated Conference North sides Runcorn Halton
, Ashton United
and Bradford Park Avenue
, First Division
winners North Ferriby United, second placed Ilkeston Town
and play-off winners A.F.C. Telford United
. In the First Division Rocester were relegated and were replaced by Goole
and Fleetwood Town
.
: Teams from both leagues.
President's Cup
: 'Plate' competition for losing teams in the NPL Cup.
Chairman'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.
fail to fulfil nine of their league fixtures after folding. The Northern Premier League's Board of Directors met on 24 April 2005 to consider how these unplayed games would be treated in the fairest possible manner to all Premier Division member clubs. At this meeting it was decided to expunge the record of Spennymoor United from the table. Subsequent to this meeting the member clubs of Gateshead
, Radcliffe Borough
, Hyde United and Workington
appealed to the Football Association
(the FA) against the decision.
One of the grounds of appeal was that the meeting did not have a quorum
and the FA recommended that the Northern Premier League withdraw their decision to expunge the record of Spennymoor United from the table and for the issue to be considered by a meeting that had a quorum.
Gateshead, Hyde United, Radcliffe Borough and Workington followed up their appeal to the FA and on 4 May 2005 the FA overturned the Northern Premier League Board's decision to expunge the playing record of Spennymoor United. The FA ruled that the Northern Premier League was bound by an undertaking, duly minuted at its management committee meeting in January 2005, that Spennymoor United would not be expelled, nor its record for the season expunged.
The FA decided that Spennymoor United’s playing record would re-instated into the league records and, in addition, three points would be awarded to other teams for each game outstanding against Spennymoor United, although no goals for or against will be allocated. Hyde United were one of the teams awarded three points which awarded them the 2004-05 Northern Premier League Premier Division Championship.
Farsley Celtic celebrated winning the Championship on the last day of the season, ignoring the fact that the original meeting on 24 April 2005 did not have a quorum however, as a result of the new overruling finished third in the table. Burscough
, who had slipped from fifth to sixth, and out of the final promotion playoff place, thanks to Prescot Cables being awarded six points due to their two unplayed games against Spennymoor United, were aggrieved by this decision and, on 11 May 2005, attempted to get the FA to go to arbitration. This was rejected outright by the FA, and so Farsley Celtic and Burscough attempted to get the FA Appeal Board decision on 4 May overturned by the High Court of Justice in London on the 12 May 2005.
Workington, who had finished first on the last day of the season having played a game more than Hyde United, were promoted along with Hyde United having beaten Farsley Celtic in a penalty shootout in the play-off final.
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. This was the first Northern Premier League system after the creation of Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
and Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
Premier Division
Due to a restructuring of the league system in which the new leagues Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
and Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
, the league featured 14 new teams promoted from Division One:
- Bamber BridgeBamber Bridge F.C.Bamber Bridge F.C. are an English football club based in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association. They play their home games at the QED Stadium in Bamber Bridge...
- Bishop AucklandBishop Auckland F.C.Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
- Bridlington TownBridlington Town F.C.Bridlington Town A.F.C. are an English football club, based in Bridlington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. They were founded in 1918 and currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. The club's reserve team play in the Humber Premier League.-History:The club was founded in...
- Farsley Celtic
- GatesheadGateshead F.C.Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
- Guiseley
- Hyde United promoted as champions of Division One
- Leek TownLeek Town F.C.Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
- Lincoln UnitedLincoln United F.C.Lincoln United F.C. is an English football team which plays in the Northern Premier League. The club is based in Lincoln. 'The Whites', as they are commonly known, play at the Ashby Avenue ground, which backs on to Hartsholme Country Park.-History:...
- 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...
- Ossett TownOssett Town F.C.Ossett Town Football Club are an English football club based in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire, playing in the Northern Premier League in the 2011-12 season.-History:...
- Prescot CablesPrescot Cables F.C.Prescot Cables F.C. is a football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town...
- Witton AlbionWitton Albion F.C.Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
- WorkingtonWorkington A.F.C.Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
League Table
Premier League Playoffs
The Premier Division play-offs saw the second to fifth placed sides in the Division compete for one place in the Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
.
Division One
Division One featured 14 new teams due to the creation of Conference North and Conference South:- RocesterRocester F.C.Rocester Football Club is a football club based in Rocester, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England.-History:Rocester Football Club was formed in 1876 and for over a century played in various local leagues including the Stafford Amateur League and Uttoxeter and District League until they became...
from the Midland Football AllianceMidland Football AllianceThe Midland Football Alliance is an English association football league for semi-professional teams. It covers Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and also southern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire... - Willenhall TownWillenhall Town F.C.Willenhall Town F.C. are a football club based in Willenhall, Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, currently playing in the Midland Alliance.-History:...
from the Midland Football Alliance - Brigg TownBrigg Town F.C.Brigg Town Football Club, formed in 1864, are a football team from Brigg, North Lincolnshire. They are the oldest football team in the county and one of the oldest in the world...
from the Northern Counties East League - Eastwood TownEastwood Town F.C.Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
from the Northern Counties East League - Ossett AlbionOssett Albion F.C.Ossett Albion Association Football Club are an English football team who play in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They play at Queen's Terrace in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire , more commonly known as Dimplewells, the area of Ossett the ground is situated...
from the Northern Counties East League - Spalding UnitedSpalding United F.C.Spalding United F.C. is an English football club based in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at Sir Halley Stewart Field.-History:...
from the Northern Counties East League - ClitheroeClitheroe F.C.Clitheroe F.C. are an English football club based in Clitheroe, Lancashire, playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were established in 1877 as Clitheroe Central...
from the North West Counties League - MossleyMossley A.F.C.Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
from the North West Counties League - Warrington TownWarrington Town F.C.Warrington Town F.C. are a football club based in Warrington, Cheshire, England. They were established in 1949 under the name of Stockton Heath Albion. In 1961, they changed to their present name...
from the North West Counties League - Woodley SportsWoodley Sports F.C.Woodley Sports F.C. is a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and play at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. In 1992, they became champions of the Manchester League Division One, and were promoted to the Manchester...
from the North West Counties League - Gresley RoversGresley Rovers F.C.Gresley Football Club are an English football club from Church Gresley, near Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Gresley are currently in the Midland Football Alliance, playing their home games at The Moat Ground...
from the Southern League Western DivisionSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales... - Ilkeston TownIlkeston Town F.C.Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
from the Southern League Western Division - Shepshed DynamoShepshed Dynamo F.C.Shepshed Dynamo F.C. is a football team based in the small town of Shepshed in the North West of Leicestershire, England.Their home ground is called The Dovecote, which is situated on Butthole Lane. Football has been played on this ground for over 100 years...
from the Southern League Western Division - A.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
as a new club
League Table
Division One Playoffs
The First Division play-offs saw the third to sixth placed sides in the First Division compete for a place in the Premier Division.Promotion and relegation
In the thirty-seventh season of the Northern Premier League Hyde United (as champions) and Workington (as play-off winners)were promoted to the Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
. Bishop Auckland, Bridlington Town, Bamber Bridge and Spennymoor United were relegated to the First Division; these four clubs were replaced by relegated Conference North sides Runcorn Halton
Runcorn FC Halton
Runcorn 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...
, Ashton United
Ashton United F.C.
Ashton United Football Club is an English football club, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.-History:The club was originally founded in 1878 as Hurst F.C. and the earliest known match report dates back to March 1879. By 1880 the club were playing at Hurst Cross, their current ground....
and Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, 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 North Ferriby United, second placed Ilkeston Town
Ilkeston Town F.C.
Ilkeston Football Club is an English football club based at the New Manor Ground in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in 1894 as Ilkeston Town F.C.....
and play-off winners A.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
. In the First Division Rocester were relegated and were replaced by Goole
Goole A.F.C.
Goole AFC is a semi-professional English football club based in the town of Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1912. They currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One South, which is at Level 8 on the English football league system pyramid.The club has spent its entire...
and Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-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.
- Matlock Town 2-2 (3-1 Pens) Whitby Town
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.
- Bamber Bridge 2-1 (agg. 2 legs) Witton Albion
Chairman's Cup
Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup
The Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup is currently a one-off game played between the champions of the Northern Premier League Division One North and Division One South. Prior to the creation of these leagues in 2007, the cup was a "plate" competition for teams that lost in the Challenge Cup...
: 'Plate' competition for losing teams in the NPL Cup.
- Kidsgrove Athletic 3-3 4-3 (7-6 agg.) Woodley Sports
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.
- Hyde United bt. Matlock Town
NPL meeting
The end of this season saw Spennymoor UnitedSpennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
fail to fulfil nine of their league fixtures after folding. The Northern Premier League's Board of Directors met on 24 April 2005 to consider how these unplayed games would be treated in the fairest possible manner to all Premier Division member clubs. At this meeting it was decided to expunge the record of Spennymoor United from the table. Subsequent to this meeting the member clubs of Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
, 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...
, Hyde United and Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
appealed to the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
(the FA) against the decision.
One of the grounds of appeal was that the meeting did not have a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
and the FA recommended that the Northern Premier League withdraw their decision to expunge the record of Spennymoor United from the table and for the issue to be considered by a meeting that had a quorum.
Second board meeting
At the emergency board meeting held on 1 May 2005, the Board of the Northern Premier Football League confirmed their decision to expunge Spennymoor United's playing record. This meeting came a day after the final day of the Northern Premier League Premier Division season where Workington had finished in first place, Hyde United in second (having played 41 games to Workington and Farsley's 42) and Farsley in third. The confirmation to expunge Spennymoor United's playing record then saw Farsley finish in first place, Hyde United finish in second and Workington finish in third.Gateshead, Hyde United, Radcliffe Borough and Workington followed up their appeal to the FA and on 4 May 2005 the FA overturned the Northern Premier League Board's decision to expunge the playing record of Spennymoor United. The FA ruled that the Northern Premier League was bound by an undertaking, duly minuted at its management committee meeting in January 2005, that Spennymoor United would not be expelled, nor its record for the season expunged.
The FA decided that Spennymoor United’s playing record would re-instated into the league records and, in addition, three points would be awarded to other teams for each game outstanding against Spennymoor United, although no goals for or against will be allocated. Hyde United were one of the teams awarded three points which awarded them the 2004-05 Northern Premier League Premier Division Championship.
Farsley Celtic celebrated winning the Championship on the last day of the season, ignoring the fact that the original meeting on 24 April 2005 did not have a quorum however, as a result of the new overruling finished third in the table. Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
, who had slipped from fifth to sixth, and out of the final promotion playoff place, thanks to Prescot Cables being awarded six points due to their two unplayed games against Spennymoor United, were aggrieved by this decision and, on 11 May 2005, attempted to get the FA to go to arbitration. This was rejected outright by the FA, and so Farsley Celtic and Burscough attempted to get the FA Appeal Board decision on 4 May overturned by the High Court of Justice in London on the 12 May 2005.
Conclusive finding
On 13 May 2005 the FA and the Northern Premier League confirmed that Hyde United were the champions of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and were presented with the trophy at their end of season party by Northern Premier League Chairman, Duncan Bayley.Workington, who had finished first on the last day of the season having played a game more than Hyde United, were promoted along with Hyde United having beaten Farsley Celtic in a penalty shootout in the play-off final.