So, the 2016-17 season saw Heys take their place in the North West Counties League years. For a long time, it looked as if promotion was possible but a crippling fixture list and mounting injuries saw Jon Lyons side ultimately finish eighth.

2017-18 however saw the club win their first ever honour at semi-professional level as the LWC Drinks 1st Division Cup was won with a thrilling 2-1 win over Cammell Laird in the Final. This compensated for missing out on the main aim of promotion as defeat in the play-off semi-final to Cammell Laird ended their hopes of making the step up.

Jon Lyons resigned as Manager in November 2019 handing over the reins to his recently appointed Assistant, Matt Barnes. The Coronavirus pandemic then intervened with the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons curtailed.

However, Heys results in those two years were rewarded when in a FA restructure of the Non-League pyramid they were promoted to the North West Counties League Premier Division due to having one of the best points per game ratio’s. Playing at the highest level at which the club has ever played Heys finished 16th in the 2021/22 season.

During the Summer of 2022, Heys parted ways with Barnes and former Youth team player Lee 0’Brien came in with James Hampson as Joint Managers. The duo guided Heys to a 7th placed finish in the NW Counties Premier Division, their highest ever final position in the pyramid structure, a placing they will be looking to build on in the 2023-24 season.