The fixtures for the 2024/25 North West Counties season have been published their opening matches as clubs around Merseyside learn their fate.
Wythenshawe FC and Wythenshawe Town earned promotion to the Northern Premier League West after winning the league and playoffs respectively. Bury FC suffered disappointment in the playoff final on penalties to Town as they earned a route into step four after a first inter-league playoff for the Counties.
The upcoming season is billed to be an exciting one as a host of local clubs look to be competitive across the Premier Division, First Division North and First Division South. Maghull are in step five for the first time since 1999 ahead of a landmark first campaign back in the division for the town.
FC St Helens and South Liverpool will be in the Premier Division after their success in the First Division North. Michael Smith’s side earned their place in the league after a dominant campaign saw them lift the title, while South endured a dramatic route to the playoff final – where they beat Ashton United on penalties.
Lower Breck had their best performance in the league, finishing 11th, ahead of Litherland REMYCA who started strong before fading away. The Remy will be back in the FA Cup and FA Vase after being fined £500 and banned in 2022 for fielding an ineligible player in the Vase against Charnock Richard.
Burscough will be looking to have a strong campaign after having an extended build-up under manager Dave Dempsey, who took the reigns in November with the club fighting relegation. AFC Liverpool managed a credible 14th place in Phil Stafford’s first season back in Counties management.
The Reds had a tumultuous pre-season after Matt Potter led them to a league-best finish a season earlier, however, he was prized away from Rossett Park in a sensational switch to Skelmersdale United. They faced a large turnover of players, as well as staff, but will be looking to keep ahold of their standout performers this season.
Joining Maghull in the Division One North is Skelmersdale United following their relegation in a hectic period. The Blues will be under the guidance of managerial stalwart Tommy Lawson, who returns to the helm at Skem for the first time since he was sacked in 2014.
The first two rounds of fixtures until Wednesday, July 31 have been confirmed while the remainder of the schedule will be published when organisations higher up the pyramid ratify their fixtures. There will be a gap in the league fixtures for Premier Division clubs on August 3 as the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup gets underway, which will be drawn on July 5.
The National League fixtures will be revealed on July 10 while Off The Park understands the Northern Premier League will be released on July 15, there is a hope that the rest of the NWCFL fixtures will be released by next weekend (July 13).
North West Counties Premier Division fixtures
AFC Liverpool
Saturday, July 27 – Colne (A)
Tuesday, July 30 – Prestwich Heys (A)
Burscough
Saturday, July 27 – Longridge Town (A)
Tuesday, July 30 – Squires Gate (H)
FC St Helens
Saturday, July 27 – Abbey Hey (H)
Wednesday, July 31 – Cheadle Town (A)
Litherland REMYCA
Saturday, July 27 – Padiham (H)
Wednesday, July 31 – Pilkington (H)
Lower Breck
Saturday, July 27 – Barnoldswick Town (A)
Wednesday, July 31 – South Liverpool (A)
Pilkington
Saturday, July 27 – Ramsbottom United (H)
Wednesday, July 31 – Litherland REMYCA (A)
South Liverpool
Saturday, July 27 – Charnock Richard (H)
Wednesday, July 31 – Lower Breck (H)
North West Counties First Division North fixtures
Maghull
Saturday, July 27 – Darwen (H)
Tuesday, July 30 – Ashton Athletic (A)
Saturday, August 3 – Euxton Villa (A)
Skelmersdale United
Saturday, July 27 – Atherton LR (H)
Wednesday, July 31 – Darwen (A)
Saturday, August 3 – Ashton Athletic (A)
North West Counties First Division South fixtures
Ashville
Saturday, July 27 – Market Drayton Town (H)
Tuesday, July 30 – Winsford United (A)
Saturday, August 3 – Foley Meir (H)
Cammell Laird
Saturday, July 27 – Foley Meir (A)
Tuesday, July 30 – Stockpot Georgians (A)
Saturday, August 3 – Winsford United (H)
Runcorn Town
Saturday, July 27 – New Mills (H)
Tuesday, July 30 – Cheadle Heath Nomads (H)
Saturday, August 3 – Market Drayton Town (A)
North West Counties opening day fixtures:
Premier Division
Barnoldswick Town v Lower Breck
Cheadle Town v Prestwich Heys
Colne v AFC Liverpool
FC Isle of Man v Chadderton
FC St Helens v Abbey Hey
Irlam v Stockport Town
Litherland REMYCA v Padiham
Longridge Town v Burscough
Pilkington v Ramsbottom United
South Liverpool v Charnock Richard
Squires Gate v Bury
West Didsbury & Chorlton v Glossop North End
First Division North
Ashton Town v AFC Blackpool
Bacup Borough v Ashton Athletic
Droylsden v Euxton Villa
Holker Old Boys v Daisy Hill
Maghull v Darwen
Maine Road v Steeton
Route One Rovers v Garstang
Skelmersdale United v Atherton LR
Thornton Cleveleys v Nelson
First Division South
Allscott Heath v Abbey Hulton United
Ashville v Market Drayton Town
Barnton v Wolverhampton SC
Foley Meir v Cammell Laird 1907
Runcorn Town v New Mills
Sandbach United v Stafford Town
Shawbury United v Cheadle Heath Nomads
Stockport Georgians v Eccleshall
Winsford United v Alsager Town
