Northern Premier League Premier Division
From Free net encyclopedia
Tompw (Talk | contribs)
/* Past winners */ footer infobox
Next diff →
Current revision
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 (or level 7) of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the FA Premier League. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the UniBond League Premier Division.
The league was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, being the highest level Non-League division below The Football League. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League, it became a feeder league and fell down one 'level' in the English football league system. Since then, its prestige has fallen further: there are now two levels between it and the Football League.
The division is at the same level as the Premier Divisions of the Southern League and the Isthmian League. At the end of each season two clubs are promoted to the Conference North: the league champions, and the winners of a play-off competition held between the 2nd through 5th placed clubs. The four lowest placed teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League First Division. However, these are all dependent on these teams having adequate stadium-requirements for the higher level league. If not, promotion will be offered to the team below them, or cancelled for a year. In 1995, for example, Morecambe were promoted over champions Marine, whose ground was of an indequate quality.
Current Clubs
| Club | Finishing position last season |
|---|---|
| A.F.C. Telford United | 3rd in Division One |
| Ashton United | 21st in Conference North |
| Blyth Spartans | 12th |
| Bradford Park Avenue | 22nd in Conference North |
| Burscough | 6th |
| Farsley Celtic | 3rd |
| Frickley Athletic | 18th |
| Gateshead | 17th |
| Guiseley | 10th |
| Ilkeston Town | 2nd in Division One |
| Leek Town | 7th |
| Lincoln United | 14th |
| Marine | 15th |
| Matlock Town | 11th |
| North Ferriby United | 1st in Division One |
| Ossett Town | 16th |
| Prescot Cables | 5th |
| Radcliffe Borough | 9th |
| Runcorn FC Halton | 20th in Conference North |
| Wakefield & Emley | 13th |
| Whitby Town | 4th |
| Witton Albion | 8th |
Past winners