WEST LANCASHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

West Lancashire Football League
'Founded'
1904
'Nation'
'Feeder To'
NWCFL Division Two
'Divisions'
Premier Division Division One Division Two
'Number of Teams'
44
'Levels on Pyramid'
Level 11 to Level 13
'Cups'
''Richardson Cup'' ''Presidents Cup'' ''Challenge Cup
'Current Champions (2006-07)'
''Kirkham & Wesham(Premier Division)'' ''Poulton Town(Division One)'' ''Vickerstown CC(Division Two)'' ''Euxton Villa(Richardson Cup)'' ''Poulton Town(Presidents Cup)'' ''Lostock St Gerards(Challenge Cup)''

The 'West Lancashire Football League' is a football competition based in northern England. Its top division, the Premier Division, sits at step seven of the National League System and is a feeder league for the North West Counties Football League, although promotion and relegation is based upon application to the National League System Panel.
Kirkham & Wesham made a successful application for promotion in 2007. The league runs two additional senior divisions and two reserve divisions.

Contents

History

Member clubs progressed to higher standard leagues

West Lancashire League Champions (since 1959)

History

The league was formed in 1904, although 1905-06 was the first season. It was originally known as the Preston & District Combination, with member clubs having to be within ten miles of Preston. It became the West Lancashire League in 1908, and over the years the qualification area was gradually extended. At first it was a competition for minor non-league football clubs, but from the 1920s the membership changed with the league including several Football League club's 'A' teams. This continued through to the early 1950s, but the creation of the Lancashire League meant that some of the Football League clubs changed their allegiance. The league struggled along for a few years, until 1954 when it was closed down.
The league was re-established in 1959, with a small membership of clubs from the Blackpool area. Steadily the league grew, and from 1964-65 it was able to expand to two divisions. The league had a rapidly changing membership, but continued to prosper, with a third senior division being formed for the 1998-99 season. The West Lancashire League now covers the whole of modern Lancashire, plus areas of Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and even West Yorkshire.
In past seasons the league has included former Football League side Nelson and the forerunners of current Football League side Morecambe.

Member clubs progressed to higher standard leagues

★ Blackpool Mechanics (currently play in North West Counties Football League Division Two)

★ Blackpool Wren Rovers (currently back playing in the West Lancashire League)

★ Colne Dynamoes (club folded in 1990)

★ Great Harwood (club folded in 1978)

★ Holker Old Boys (currently play in North West Counties Football League Division Two)

★ Kirkham & Wesham (currently play in North West Counties Football League Division Two)

★ Nelson (currently play in North West Counties Football League Division One)

★ Padiham (currently play in North West Counties Football League Division Two)

★ Squires Gate (currently play in North West Counties Football League Division One)

West Lancashire League Champions (since 1959)

Season
1959-60	Fleetwood Reserves
1960-61	Blackpool Mechanics
1961-62	Blackpool Mechanics
1962-63	Vickers Sports
1963-64	Lancashire Constabulary
Season	Division One	Division Two
1964-65	Lancashire Constabulary	Heyhouses
1965-66	Vickers Sports	Layton Institute Reserves
1966-67	Layton Institute	Lytham St Annes YMCA
1967-68	Penwortham Hill Rovers	Norcross & Warbreck
1968-69	Great Harwood Reserves	Longridge United
1969-70	Wren Rovers	Wigan Technical College
1970-71	Wren Rovers	Colne Dynamoes
1971-72	Colne Dynamoes	Padiham
1972-73	Colne Dynamoes	Trimpell
1973-74	Colne Dynamoes	Colne British Legion
1974-75	Colne Dynamoes	Corinthians
1975-76	Springfields	Dalton United
1976-77	Blackpool Rangers	Padiham
1977-78	Springfields	Harwood Wellington
1978-79	Blackpool Rangers	Penwortham Hill Rovers
1979-80	Freckleton	Squires Gate
1980-81	Freckleton	Haslingden
1981-82	Freckleton	Barnoldswick Park Rovers
1982-83	Blackpool Rangers	ICI Thornton
1983-84	Dalton United	Colne Dynamoes Reserves
1984-85	Dalton United	Anchor Cables
1985-86	BAC Preston	Kirkham Town
1986-87	Holker Old Boys	Royal Ordnance
1987-88	BAC Preston	Turton
1988-89	BAC Preston	Wyre Villa
1989-90	Colne Dynamoes Reserves	Burnley Bank Hall
1990-91	BAC Preston	Eagley
1991-92	Burnley Bank Hall	ICI Thornton
1992-93	Vickers Sports Club	Leyland DAF
1993-94	Burnley United	Lancashire Constabulary
1994-95	Fulwood Amateurs	Wyre Villa
1995-96	Springfields	Lansil
1996-97	Wyre Villa	Fleetwood Hesketh
1997-98	Charnock Richard	Vickers Sports Club
Season	Premier Division	Division One	Division Two
1998-99	Fulwood Amateurs	Barnoldswick United	Blackpool Wren Rovers
1999-00	Kirkham & Wesham	Padiham	Burnley Belvedere
2000-01	Kirkham & Wesham	Blackpool Wren Rovers	Crooklands Casuals
2001-02	Kirkham & Wesham	Milnthorpe Corinthians	Coppull United
2002-03	Charnock Richard	Coppull United	Lytham St Annes
2003-04	Kirkham & Wesham	Hesketh Bank	Crosshills
2004-05	Kirkham & Wesham	Lytham St Annes	Haslingden St Mary's
2005-06	Kirkham & Wesham	Haslingden St Mary's	Trimpell
2006-07	Kirkham & Wesham	Poulton Town	Vickerstown CC