The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League is an Englishassociation football league founded in 1909. As of the 2023/24 season, the league consists of seven divisions – Premier, One, Two and Three, then A, B and C. Historically the divisions named A-D were for Reserve sides of teams in the top four divisions, but 1st teams can now play at the lower levels. In 2023-24, three divisions now have this style of name. The Premier Division is (as of 2023) at level 14 in the English football league system, below the 3rd levels of the top county leagues in the area: Manchester League, Cheshire League and West Lancashire League.
About the League
The Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League was founded in 1909. The league, as of 2016, is the biggest of the open age Saturday afternoon men's leagues in the region,[1] having eight Saturday divisions in operation, and a few years earlier operated with nine.[2] Clubs are from the Greater Manchester and northern Cheshire areas.[3] The league is overseen by the local Football Association, the Manchester FA.[4]
The league pioneered the Respect Charter in 2002. When the FA later adopted the Respect programme, the league was a pilot League for this. The launch took place at Chorltonians FC’s Police Club ground, Hough End.[5][6]
One of the league’s success stories are Stalybridge Celtic, who started off as an amateur football club in the league before turning professional two years later.[7][8] As of summer 2022, the most recent teams to move up to the next level are Stretford Paddock, who joined the Cheshire League,[9] Chadderton Cott and De La Salle, who joined the Manchester League for 2022/23.
In 2017, it was a record-breaking season for the Mellor club, who collected a record 5 trophies - the first team winning the Premier Division and the Rhodes Cup, the reserve team the Div 2 title and the Wray Cup, with the club also winning the Aggregate Trophy.[10]
Formation of the League
In 1909, a group of men met and in their own words decided to "Promote an Amateur League of high quality for players who pay to play the genuine sport; also to encourage competition against outside Leagues of similar outlook and standing to the mutual benefit of the amateur game." These "founding fathers" of the league included W. H. Rhodes, A. H. Downes, R. W. Lambert and E. Roscoe.[11]
The first season
The 1909-10 season saw 11 teams join the league.[12]
The first round of matches took place on Saturday 18 September 1909:
Brooklands v Westinghouse
Bolton Wyresdale v Lymm Amateurs
Werneth Amateurs v Denton Corinthians
Dukinfield Astley v Walkden Amateurs
The league made a profit of £19 17s at the end of the opening season. The first champions, Walkden Amateurs, finished two points clear of runners-up Stalybridge Celtic. Third place Bolton Wyresdale were seven points further behind. The league table ended with 1 game unplayed - Lymm Amateurs v Denton Corinthians. The league chairman said that Denton Corinthians "had not treated the league in a very good spirit" by not fulfilling the fixture.
After the season, Denton Corinthians disbanded, while Bolton Wyresdale moved on to the Manchester Section of the Lancashire Amateur League. Two new clubs were accepted for the following season - Nuthurst (Moston) and Manchester Simmarians. A third club was later accepted - Bolton Caledonians.
The league was said to have been so successful in its initial season, that a second division was to be launched for 1910-11.
Notes
^Unknown location of ground in 1909. Current ground for the club is Inverbeg Drive, Bolton
^Unknown location of the ground. References online can only be found in Manchester Grammar School from before 1909 in a newsletter referencing inter-school league games. The ground isn't noted specifically, but can be safely assumed to be somewhere in Denton
^Unconfirmed if this was the address of their ground. However, the college moved to Victoria Park, 2.5 acres of grounds, in 1907 so it is likely the league games were played here
Clubs moving to higher status
A number of clubs that have left the league now play at a higher level.
^Played as Salford Beechfield United from 2003 to 2005
^After resigning from the Manchester League, the Manchester Saturday Morning League team, who were previously considered their Reserve side, has effectively become their 1st team, as their only open age side playing in 2022-23
^They were called Bradford Parish Church for 1922-23 only, then played as Bradford Parish until 1994 when they were renamed Denton Town
^Originally called Birch Vale and Thornsett. In 1983 they took over the ground of the New Mills side that folded and in 1984 changed their name to New Mills
^North Withington changed their name to Wythenshawe Town in 1987, while in the Manchester League
A new Junior Division was launched, and at least eight players had to be under 18.5, with up to 3 open-age players allowed. A second Reserve division "B" was also launched.
Season
Division One
Division Two
Division A
Division B
Junior Division
1930–31
South Salford
Oldham Secondary School Old Boys
South Salford Reserves
Styal Reserves
Denton Russell Scott Old Boys
1931–33
The Junior and B divisions were dropped after one season.
^ abIn later records, the club was known as Urmston Victoria. They were members of the league 1914-1926
^Bradford Parish Church was renamed Bradford Parish in 1923
^South Salford Lads Club continued in the Junior Division, whilst their new Open Age side in Division A (which was mainly the previous Junior players) were called just South Salford
^100 up for biggest amateur league, Manchester Evening News (24 June 2009). "100 up for biggest amateur league". Manchester Evening News.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
