The Manchester Football League is a football league in England, affiliated with Manchester FA, covering a 30-mile radius from Manchester Town Hall. It was formed in 1893, although play ceased between 1912 and 1920. Currently it consists of five divisions, with the Premier division being at level 11 of the English football league system.
Structure The League consists of six divisions, from Premier Division to Division five. The Premier Division, Division One and Division Two can incorporate both first teams, and reserve teams of clubs who are playing at a higher level, while Divisions Three and Four and Five usually consist entirely of reserve or lower teams.
However, for the 2018–19 season only, the constitution was amended to allow a small number of reserve teams into the bottom division of the first teams (Division Two) to even up the numbers. This was put in place in the hope of keeping all teams playing regularly as opposed to the old structure which meant teams could go without a fixture for a few weeks at a time.
For the 2023–24 season Division 5 will become a new Development Division for U23's teams.
The Premier Division had a promotion and relegation arrangement with the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL), placing it at level 11 of the English football league system. However, the NWCFL's ground requirements are considerably higher than those of the Manchester League, so meeting them usually requires expensive improvements, and consequently few teams take up the opportunity of promotion. Ashton Athletic took the step up in 2006, despite only finishing 4th in Division One. Teams such as Salford City, Maine Road and Northern Nomads have all played in the league at some point. The latest teams to make the step up were Prestwich Heys, Avro and most recently Stockport Georgians.
Teams from the Premier Division are relegated to Division One, making Division One the twelfth level of the English league system. However, first teams from Division One could be relegated to Division Two after the realignment of the league structure at the start of the 2017–18 season.
Following the introduction of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) national lockdown restrictions in March 2020, the 2019/20 season was unable to be completed and was therefore declared null and void. The following season suffered the same outcome with only around a third of fixtures being completed.
Current member clubs (2026-27)
Premier Division
Atherton Town De La Salle Dukinfield Town Elton Vale Hindsford Manchester Corinthians Moorside Rangers North Walkden Old Altrinchamians Pennington Rochdale Sacred Heart Royton Town Stockport Georgians Reserves Tottington United University of Manchester Walshaw Sports Club
Division One
Altrincham Hale Avro Reserves Baguley Athletic Bolton County Bolton Lads and Girls Club Bolton United Chadderton Reserves East Manchester Eccles United Heywood St James Horwich RMI Macclesfield Shadow Youth Moston Brook Salford Victoria Springhead Tintwistle Athletic
Division Two
Abbey Hey Reserves AFC Monton Astley and Tyldesley Bacup Borough Shadow Chapel Town Glossop North End Community Hollinwood Little Lever Sports Club Radcliffe Town Ramsbottom United Reserves Stalybridge Celtic Reserves Uppermill Reserves Wilmslow Albion
Recent champions of Premier Division, Division One & Division Two
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two1982–83Maine RoadMount Pleasant1983–84Maine RoadShell (Carington)1984–85Maine RoadColdhurst United1985–86Maine RoadAdswood Amateurs1986–87Adswood AmateursCastleton Gabriels1987–88Stockport GeorgiansPrestwich Heys1988–89Abbey HeyAvro1989–90Wythenshawe AmateursGreater Manchester Police1990–91Abbey HeyRamsbottom United1991–92East ManchesterWoodley Sports1992–93Wythenshawe AmateursAtherton Town1993–94Abbey HeyWinton United1994–95Abbey HeyHighfield United1995–96Little Hulton UnitedStand Athletic1996–97Highfield UnitedPrestwich Heys1997–98SpringheadUrmston1998–99Stand AthleticWillows1999–00Stand AthleticSacred Heart2000–01Stand AthleticLeigh Athletic2001–02Stockport GeorgiansRoyton Town2002–03Wythenshawe AmateursBreightmet United2003–04Royton TownAvro2004–05Prestwich HeysAFC Blackley2005–06Prestwich HeysWhitworth Valley2006–07Prestwich HeysWalshaw Sports2007–08Wigan Robin ParkChapel Town2008–09GregoriansSpringhead2009–10AvroBury Amateurs2010–11Manchester GregoriansAvro2011–12HindsfordWythenshawe Town2012–13HindsfordRochdale Sacred Heart2013–14HindsfordChapel Town2014–15Stockport GeorgiansOld Altrinchamians2015–16Prestwich HeysEast Manchester2016–17Rochdale Sacred HeartPrestwich Heys Reserves2017–18AvroChadderton ReservesAltrincham Hale2018-19HindsfordHeywood St JamesMiddleton Colts2019-20Null & VoidNull & VoidNull & Void2020-21Null & VoidNull & VoidNull & Void2021-22HindsfordMoorside RangersBolton United2022–23Rochdale Sacred HeartGovan & University of ManchesterChadderton Cott2023–24UppermillStockport Georgians ReservesManchester Corinthians2024–25Rochdale Sacred HeartManchester CorinthiansNorth Walkden2025–26Dukinfield TownNorth WalkdenHeywood St James
References
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/ineligibility-probe-fa-may-strip-two-1145609
External links
Manchester Football League at FA Full-Time