The 2012–13 North West Counties Football League season was the 31st in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England.

The league comprised two divisions, the Premier Division and the First Division (at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system, Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System respectively). Additionally there were two cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup knockout competition open to all the league's clubs; and the First Division Trophy, a knockout trophy competition for First Division clubs only. The league also had a reserves team section.

Premier Division

The Premier Division featured 22 clubs, 19 remaining from the previous season plus 3 additions:[2]

Following an initiative by Football Association to standardise rules, to vet and approve clubs for promotion and direct them into the various leagues of the National League System the promotion/relegation process was formalised and more centrally controlled.[4] Ten clubs from this league registered (by the 30 November 2012 deadline) for prospective promotion, they were: Barnoldswick Town, Bootle, Colne, Congleton Town, Glossop North End, Maine Road, Padiham, Runcorn Linnets, Runcorn Town and Winsford United.[5][6]

At the end of the season only the champions Padiham were promoted to the Northern Premier League First Division North. With no club to be relegated into the division for next season Squires Gate were reprieved from relegation and only one club, bottom placed Stone Dominoes, were to be relegated – but they resigned at the end of the season:[7] they had conceded 166 goals with a negative goal difference of 135 from 42 matches creating league highest records for both (exceeding the record of Blackpool Mechanics from the 1997–98 Division Two of 165 goals conceded and a 132 negative goal difference from 40 matches).

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Season End Notes
1 Padiham (C, P) 42 26 10 6 92 45 +47 88 Promoted to Northern Premier
League Division One North
2 Maine Road 42 28 3 11 99 57 +42 87
3 Bootle 42 26 8 8 79 43 +36 86
4 Runcorn Town 42 26 9 7 105 45 +60 84[a]
5 Winsford United 42 25 8 9 85 45 +40 83
6 Runcorn Linnets 42 21 9 12 82 58 +24 72
7 Congleton Town 42 20 9 13 85 55 +30 69
8 Colne 42 19 10 13 93 60 +33 67
9 Barnoldswick Town 42 19 9 14 77 57 +20 66
10 AFC Blackpool 42 19 9 14 60 58 +2 66
11 AFC Liverpool 42 18 6 18 69 64 +5 60
12 Wigan Robin Park 42 17 5 20 66 71 −5 56
13 Glossop North End 42 14 11 17 73 71 +2 53
14 Norton United 42 16 7 19 69 83 −14 52[b]
15 Alsager Town 42 14 8 20 66 78 −12 50
16 Stockport Sports 42 14 13 15 72 69 +3 49[c]
17 Bacup Borough 42 13 8 21 51 71 −20 47
18 Silsden 42 11 6 25 58 98 −40 39
19 St Helens Town 42 9 9 24 54 91 −37 36
20 Ashton Athletic 42 10 5 27 58 91 −33 35
21 Squires Gate 42 8 6 28 47 95 −48 30
22 Stone Dominoes 42 3 4 35 31 166 −135 13 Resigned (after the season)[7]
Source: "Final Tables, Season 2012/13". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026., "North West Counties League - North West Counties League Premier Division: 2012 – 13: League Table". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ↑ Runcorn Town had 3 points deducted (fielding an ineligible player)[8][9]
  2. ↑ Norton United had 3 points deducted (breach of league rules)
  3. ↑ Stockport Sports had 6 points deducted (breach of league rules)

Results

Home \ Away ABL ALV ALS ASH BAC BAR BTL CLN CON GNE MNR NOR PAD RNL RNT SIL SQG STH STS SDM WRP WNS
AFC Blackpool 2–1 3–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 3–1 0–5 2–1 1–1 2–4 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–2 0–0 3–2 2–0 2–3 1–1
AFC Liverpool 0–0 3–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 3–1 1–2 2–4 2–3 2–3 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 4–1 1–2 0–1
Alsager Town 1–0 0–1 4–1 2–1 2–3 1–3 2–0 1–0 0–0 0–2 5–2 0–1 1–2 0–2 1–2 0–3 2–0 1–2 2–0 4–2 0–4
Ashton Athletic 2–4 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–0 0–3 1–3 2–3 1–0 2–3 0–2 0–3 0–6 0–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 0–4 3–0 3–1 1–2
Bacup Borough 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–6 1–3 2–4 2–2 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 1–2 4–1 1–2 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 4–0 0–1 1–2
Barnoldswick T 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–4 2–3 3–1 4–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 3–5 2–0 3–2 4–2 3–0 2–2 1–1 2–3
Bootle 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–6 2–1 3–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 7–0 2–0 3–1
Colne 4–2 0–3 2–3 3–2 6–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 3–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 3–5 5–0 2–0 1–2 1–1 5–1 3–3 3–2
Congleton Town 5–1 2–2 4–4 3–0 4–2 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 3–0 2–0 3–0 5–0 3–1 0–0
Glossop NE 4–4 6–2 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 1–2 2–3 1–2 3–2 2–0 4–0 3–4 2–2 2–2 1–0 0–3
Maine Road 4–0 1–0 6–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–3 3–0 2–3 1–1 0–1 4–1 2–0 1–2 4–0 2–1 3–0 6–1 3–1 2–1
Norton United 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 2–1 1–1 2–4 5–3 3–4 1–2 0–3 3–9 5–3 2–0 5–2 1–3 7–0 1–2 1–2
Padiham 1–1 0–1 1–2 4–1 2–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–4 4–0 2–4 1–1 6–0 5–4 4–1 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–4
Runcorn Linnets 0–1 2–1 2–2 3–2 5–1 1–1 3–2 2–0 2–4 0–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 1–1 6–1 3–2 4–2 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–3
Runcorn Town 0–2 1–3 3–2 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–2 2–2 4–3 3–2 3–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 5–0 1–1 8–1 10–1 2–0 0–1
Silsden 0–2 1–3 2–1 4–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–4 1–1 1–5 4–2 2–0 0–2 2–1 0–5 2–1 7–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–2
Squires Gate 0–2 2–3 3–3 3–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–1 1–2 0–2 0–1 1–4 1–1 3–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 2–2
St Helens Town 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–3 0–1 1–1 3–4 3–1 2–4 0–1 0–2 2–1 5–0 0–5 1–0 1–4 0–1
Stockport Sports 3–0 0–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–2 2–2 2–0 0–0 1–3 7–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 2–1 4–2 3–1 1–3
Stone Dominoes 2–4 0–6 1–4 0–4 2–3 0–9 0–1 0–7 1–6 3–2 1–4 1–2 0–1 1–3 0–3 3–2 0–3 1–3 2–2 0–8 0–6
Wigan Robin Pk 0–2 1–2 2–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–5 2–3 1–0 3–2 0–2 0–6 0–1 4–0 2–1 3–0 1–1 6–0 1–2
Winsford United 2–0 8–1 0–4 2–0 3–1 0–1 0–2 3–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–2 4–1 3–1 0–0 3–0 5–1
Source: "Premier Division Results 2012/13". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Locations

First Division

The First Division featured 18 teams, 16 remaining from the previous season plus 2 additions:[2]

During the season Formby were advised that their ground had failed a ground grading assessment[11][12] and although at the end of the season they were league champions owing to the ruling they were not promoted. To maintain the numerical strength of the Premier Division two clubs were promoted: runners-up Abbey Hey and third placed West Didsbury & Chorlton (who were new to the league this season).[7] No other clubs left the division.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Season End Notes
1 Formby (C) 34 28 2 4 117 42 +75 86 Not Promoted
(ground substandard)[11]
2 Abbey Hey (P) 34 26 3 5 88 25 +63 81 Promoted to Premier Division
3 West Didsbury & Chorlton (P) 34 22 4 8 79 43 +36 70
4 Atherton Collieries 34 21 6 7 78 47 +31 69
5 AFC Darwen 34 20 3 11 79 57 +22 63
6 Ashton Town 34 18 8 8 77 43 +34 62
7 Cheadle Town 34 14 7 13 61 65 −4 49
8 Oldham Boro 34 15 5 14 59 50 +9 47[a]
9 Rochdale Town 34 12 9 13 54 60 −6 45
10 Nelson 34 11 9 14 64 76 −12 42
11 Leek County School Old Boys 34 10 9 15 52 68 −16 39
12 Chadderton 34 10 9 15 52 69 −17 39
13 Atherton Laburnum Rovers 34 8 11 15 37 55 −18 35
14 Irlam 34 9 6 19 47 72 −25 33
15 Eccleshall 34 7 7 20 44 79 −35 28
16 Daisy Hill 34 7 6 21 55 81 −26 27
17 Holker Old Boys 34 7 2 25 31 74 −43 23
18 Northwich Villa 34 6 4 24 38 106 −68 22
Source: "Final Tables, Season 2012/13". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026., "North West Counties League - North West Counties League Division One North: 2012 – 13: League Table". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ↑ Oldham Boro had 3 points deducted (breach of league rules)

Results

Home \ Away ABH ADR AST ACO ALR CHA CHT DSH ECC FOR HOB IRL LCS NEL NWV OLD RCH WDC
Abbey Hey 3–0 2–1 0–1 2–1 5–1 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 5–0 2–1 5–2 5–1 3–0 0–1 0–2 2–1
AFC Darwen 0–4 3–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–3 3–0 0–1 3–1 3–2 6–0 0–2 1–2 2–0
Ashton Town 0–0 4–3 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–3 6–0 4–3 0–3 3–1 2–0 5–2 1–0 7–1 2–0 3–1 0–4
Atherton Colls 2–5 4–3 3–1 1–1 4–1 3–0 3–1 3–0 2–3 2–0 6–1 0–0 5–2 2–0 3–1 0–0 0–2
Atherton Lab. R 2–3 1–0 1–1 0–1 0–6 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–4 0–0 0–0 2–4 3–3 1–2 1–0 2–5 4–1
Chadderton 0–2 5–3 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–4 2–0 1–1 0–0 4–2 2–1 2–8 1–3 0–3
Cheadle Town 2–1 2–2 1–1 4–5 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 0–3 3–0 2–2 5–3 2–3 2–1 3–1 2–1 3–2
Daisy Hill 1–4 3–2 0–5 1–2 0–1 3–3 1–3 2–3 1–3 3–1 1–2 5–1 2–2 7–2 0–2 2–2 0–1
Eccleshall 0–4 1–3 2–6 5–2 1–1 2–3 0–2 2–2 1–7 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–7 1–4 0–1
Formby 0–2 3–3 2–1 3–2 2–0 5–0 6–0 4–3 9–3 3–0 3–1 1–0 3–2 9–0 1–3 3–0 0–1
Holker OB 0–7 1–4 0–1 1–5 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–4 0–2 2–3 0–2 0–1 4–0 3–0 4–2 1–2 1–3
Irlam 0–4 2–3 1–3 0–0 0–2 2–1 3–5 2–1 1–1 2–5 0–2 4–1 1–3 4–1 0–3 1–2 1–1
Leek CSOB 0–2 0–2 0–0 2–3 0–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 3–7 2–1 3–0 2–2 6–0 1–0 2–2 1–2
Nelson 1–3 1–2 1–1 0–3 5–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–4 1–6 3–0 5–1 2–1 4–1 1–0 3–2 2–2
Northwich Villa 1–2 2–4 0–5 1–3 1–2 2–5 0–3 2–2 2–1 0–3 4–0 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–2 0–3 2–0
Oldham Boro 0–0 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–2 3–3 3–3 2–4
Rochdale Town 0–3 0–6 0–1 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–3 0–3 4–0 0–4 3–2 0–0 2–2 2–3 3–1 1–2
W Didsbury & C 2–1 2–3 1–1 4–1 1–2 3–2 4–0 3–0 3–1 2–3 3–0 3–2 8–2 3–2 1–1 4–1 2–0
Updated to match(es) played on complete "First Division Results 2012/13". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.. Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Locations

League Challenge Cup

The 2012–13 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all the league's 40 clubs. The final, played at Curzon Ashton F.C., was won 3–0 by Premier Division club Runcorn Linnets who defeated Formby of the First Division.[13]

Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final[a]
               
A.F.C. Blackpool (PD) 1
Maine Road (PD) 3
Maine Road (PD) 2 [b] 5p [c]
Formby (FD) 2 [b] 6p [c]
Bacup Borough (PD) 1[d]
Formby (FD) 2[d]
Formby (FD) 0
Runcorn Linnets (PD) 3
Runcorn Linnets (PD) 2
Bootle (PD) 1
Runcorn Linnets (PD) 3 [e] 4p [f]
Cheadle Town (FD) 3 [e] 2p [f]
Cheadle Town (FD) 2
A.F.C. Liverpool (PD) 1
  1. ↑ Played at Curzon Ashton F.C.
  2. 1 2 after extra time, score at 90 minutes: 2–2
  3. 1 2 penalty shoot-out
  4. 1 2 after extra time, score at 90 minutes: 1–1
  5. 1 2 after extra time, score at 90 minutes: 3–3
  6. 1 2 penalty shoot-out

Club's division appended to team name: (PD)=Premier Division; (FD)=First Division
source: "League Challenge Cup: 2012/2013 Season". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.

First Division Trophy

The 2012–13 First Division Trophy was a knockout competition for the 18 First Division clubs only. The final held at Runcorn Linnets F.C. was won 1–0 by West Didsbury & Chorlton who defeated Abbey Hey.[14]

The winners West Didsbury & Chorlton had originally been eliminated 3–1 at the quarter final stage by Ashton Town. However, after Ashton Town had subsequently beaten Daisy Hill 2–0 in the semi-finals (and named as finalists), they were found to have used an ineligible player in the quarter-final tie so were disqualified from the competition a week prior to the scheduled final. Both West Didsbury & Chorlton and Daisy Hill were reinstated to play a restaged semi-final with the former reaching the delayed final.[15]

Semi-finals and Final

Semi-finals Final[a]
          
Abbey Hey 2
AFC Darwen 0
Abbey Hey 0
West Didsbury & Chorlton 1
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
Daisy Hill 0

source: "First Division Trophy: 2012/2013 Season". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.

Reserves Section

Main honours for the 2012–13 season:[16]

  • Reserves Division

References

  1. ↑ "North West Counties League - North West Counties League Premier Division: 2012 – 13: Attendance Statistics". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 Paul Lawler (16 June 2012). "2012/13 League Constitution announced". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 Ian Templeman (27 May 2012). "Update on 2012-13 Club Allocations". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "National League System Step 5 Review". May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Applications For Promotion - Step 5 To Step 4". The Official Website of The North West Counties Football League. 11 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Step 4 applications received". TheFA.com. 6 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Ian Templeman (23 May 2013). "League Constitution for 2013/14 announced". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Runcorn Town Points Deduction". The Official Website of The North West Counties Football League. 16 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "TOWN DEDUCTED THREE POINTS". Runcorn Town Online (Club Official). 16 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "North West Counties League - North West Counties League Division One North: 2012 – 13: Attendance Statistics". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Formby Placed In A Relegation Position". The Official Website of The North West Counties Football League. 17 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Statement on League's Decision to Relegate". Formby FC Official site. 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  13. ↑ Ian Templeman (2 May 2013). "Runcorn Linnets win the League Challenge Cup". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Ian Templeman (30 April 2013). "West Didsbury & Chorlton Lift the First Division Trophy". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Paul Lawler (10 April 2013). "Statement re: First Division Trophy Final". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "League Honours". nwcfl.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012–13_North_West_Counties_Football_League