Fixtures
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/14 19:45 | 18 |
FC United of Manchester vs Gainsborough
|
View |
| 01/14 19:45 | 21 |
Hebburn Town vs Morpeth Town
|
View |
| 01/14 19:45 | 26 |
Matlock Town vs Prescot Cables
|
View |
| 01/15 19:45 | 21 |
Stockton Town vs Lancaster City
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Gainsborough vs Macclesfield
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Mickleover Sports vs Warrington Rylands
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Prescot Cables vs Worksop
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Guiseley vs Basford Utd
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Ilkeston vs Morpeth Town
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Ashton Utd vs Whitby
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
Workington vs Matlock Town
|
View |
| 01/18 15:00 | 28 |
FC United of Manchester vs Blyth Spartans
|
View |
Results
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Matlock Town vs Ashton Utd
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Whitby vs Hebburn Town
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Warrington Rylands vs Leek Town
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Morpeth Town vs Guiseley
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Lancaster City vs Prescot Cables
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Hyde Utd vs Ilkeston Town
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Bamber Bridge vs Workington
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 18:00 | 27 |
Worksop Town vs Mickleover FC
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 15:00 | 27 |
Blyth Spartans vs Stockton Town
|
PPT. |
| 01/11 15:00 | 27 |
[21] Basford Utd vs Gainsborough
[17]
|
1-1 |
| 01/11 15:00 | 27 |
[1] Macclesfield FC vs FC United of Manchester
[12]
|
2-0 |
| 01/07 19:45 | 14 |
Blyth Spartans vs Gainsborough
|
PPT. |
Teams
Whitby
Matlock Town
Lancaster City
Ashton Utd
Stafford Rangers
Warrington Town
Bamber Bridge
Nantwich Town
Gainsborough
Hyde Utd
Mickleover Sports
Stalybridge
Marine
Workington
Grantham
Basford Utd
FC United of Manchester
Morpeth Town
Buxton
Witton Albion
Scarborough Athletic
Guiseley
Hednesford
Ilkeston
Farsley Celtic
Stourbridge
Macclesfield
Coalville
Barwell
Halesowen
Rushall Olympic
Sutton Coldfield
Blyth Spartans
Shaw Lane
Altrincham
Spennymoor Town
Belper Town
Bradford P A
Leek Town
Prescot Cables
Corby
Frickley
Skelmersdale Utd
AFC Fylde
Salford City
Curzon Ashton
Bedworth Utd
Gresley FC
Clitheroe
Market Drayton Town
Wikipedia - Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.
Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England and the northern, central areas of the Midlands, and western parts of East Anglia. Originally a single-division competition, a second division was added in 1987: Division One, and in 2007 a third was added when Division One split into two geographic sections - Division One North and Division One South. In 2018 Division One was re-aligned as East and West Divisions, then North West and South East in 2019. In 2021, the FA restructured the non-League football pyramid and created Division One East, West, and Midlands.
Successful teams at the top of the NPL Premier Division are promoted to level 6 of the pyramid (either National League North or National League South), and at the bottom end of the competition, teams are relegated down to level 9, where several regional feeder leagues promote clubs into the league.
History
The Northern Premier League (NPL) was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, decades after the other two leagues at what is now the seventh tier of the English football league system, the Isthmian League and the Southern League. At that time they were the highest level non-League division below the English Football League, the same level as the other league in Northern England, the Northern League.
Over the next two decades, the NPL successfully displaced its older rival to become the pre-eminent regional competition in Northern England, with the Northern League eventually forced to accept status as feeder league to the NPL. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League (which later became the Conference and is now the National League), the NPL became a feeder league and fell down one level in the English football league system, and with the then-Conference's addition of regional divisions in 2004 the NPL was demoted by a further tier and there are now two levels between it and the English Football League.
From 1992–93 to 1994–95 the league's Division One included two non-English clubs, Caernarfon Town from Wales and Gretna from Scotland, who later joined their countries' league systems. Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Newtown, and Rhyl have also played in the league.
In 2018, the NPL's member clubs voted 37–27, with one abstention and three clubs' absence, to split Step 4 (level 8) divisions from east to west starting from the 2018–19 season, and one year later, the league published its successful bid to add another division at Step 4 initially in 2020, further altering Division One into northwest and southeast for travel reasons. After the Football Association (FA) deferred its implementation of changes to the NLS, the NPL's additional division was created in 2021 instead.
- 1968–69 to 1986–87: Premier Division
- 1987–88 to 2006–07: Premier Division, Division One
- 2007–08 to 2017–18: Premier Division, Division One North, Division One South
- 2018–19: Premier Division, Division One East, Division One West
- 2019–20 to 2020–21: Premier Division, Division One North West, Division One South East
- 2021–22 onwards: Premier Division, Division One West, Division One East, Division One Midlands
Sponsorship
Owing to title sponsorship deals, the league has been billed under various names, including a sixteen-year spell as the Unibond League, the longest such deal in world football. When this deal ended in 2010, a new deal was announced which saw the competition billed as the Evo-Stik League until the 2017–18 season. The League announced on 8 July 2019 that a two-year deal for seasons 2019-20 and 2020-21 had been agreed with new sponsor BetVictor. This sponsorship agreement with BetVictor was subsequently terminated early in April 2020 with a replacement, Entain's Pitching In, announced as the next sponsor for 2020–21. At the time of announcement, Entain went by its former name GVC Holdings. Under this partnership, the NPL is marketed as one of the three Trident Leagues, alongside its Isthmian and Southern counterparts.
The NPL is known for its competitive spirit and passionate fan base, showcasing a mix of historic clubs and emerging talent. The league operates at Step 3 of the National League System, just below the National League, and is divided into several divisions, including the Premier Division and various regional divisions. This structure allows for promotion and relegation, providing clubs with the opportunity to ascend to higher levels of competition.
Matches in the Northern Premier League are characterized by intense rivalries, thrilling gameplay, and a strong sense of community. Clubs often have deep-rooted histories and loyal supporters, making match days a vibrant experience filled with local pride. The league also serves as a crucial platform for players looking to make their mark and potentially move up to professional ranks.
In addition to the league competition, teams in the NPL participate in various cup competitions, including the FA Cup and the FA Trophy, further enhancing the excitement and prestige of the tournament. The England Northern Premier League continues to be a significant part of the football landscape, contributing to the development of the sport at grassroots and semi-professional levels.