Heys will once again compete in the NW Counties League Premier Division where clubs will once again face an arduous 46 game season, which is set to commence on 26th July.

Although the big derby against Bury has gone following their promotion, Heys can still look forward to “derby” matches with Ramsbottom, and games against other Manchester area sides Abbey Hey, Chadderton, Cheadle Town, Irlam, Stockport Town, West Didsbury & Chorlton and Wythenshawe, who return to the Counties after a season in the Northern Premier League.

Atherton LR and Euxton Villa have both been promoted to the Premier Division whilst City of Liverpool have come down from the Northern Premier League.

The following has been written by Ben Wilkinson and comes courtesy of the NW Counties League website.

Premier Division

The big news in the Premier Division is that we will once again be running with a 24 team division, for the third season in a row. As known, we lose Bury and Lower Breck, who were both promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One West, plus Colne and Squires Gate who have been relegated to Step 6.

Replacing them are two sides from the NPL Division One West and two promoted sides from the First Division North; City of Liverpool return to the NWCFL after a six-year absence while we welcome Wythenshawe FC back after a one-year stay at Step 4. First Division North Champions Atherton Laburnum Rovers and Play-Off winners Euxton Villa both take their place in the Premier Division in 2025/26.

As expected, First Division South Champions Winsford United and Play-Off winners Abbey Hulton United have both been laterally moved into the Midland League and will play in their Premier Division next season. Good luck to all involved with both clubs.

First Division North

The First Division North will once again run with 18 clubs. As mentioned above, Colne and Squires Gate will be at Step 6 next season and they have both dropped into the First Division North. Joining them will be Fulwood Amateurs, who have won promotion from the West Lancashire League and make their NWCFL debut. Fulwood are based in north Preston and finished 4th in the West Lancashire Premier Division in 2024/25.

All teams across Step 6 finishing second and third bottom were given reprieves, so Garstang and Route One Rovers remain at Step 6. However, Route One Rovers have been laterally moved to the Northern Counties East League while bottom-placed Skelmersdale United have been relegated from Step 6; we wish both clubs well in their new leagues.

Also in the North Division next season are Cheadle Heath Nomads, who have been laterally moved across from the First Division South.

First Division South

We will have one additional club amongst our ranks compared to 2024/25 as the First Division South has been allocated 19 clubs, up from 18 last year. Three clubs have been promoted into this division; MSB Woolton join us from the Liverpool County Premier Division after winning that league in 2024/25 - their first team currently groundshare at South Liverpool's Jericho Lane.

Also promoted from the Regional Feeder Leagues are Haughmond, who finished 3rd in the Salop Leisure Football League last season and return to the National League System after a two-year absence. They play their home games at Shrewsbury Sports Village, a facility to the north-east of the town.

Last but not least are Telford Town, who won promotion by virtue of winning the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division in 2024/25. The club were previously known as Wellington Amateurs and this will be thier first foray into Step 6. They play in the north of Telford, just off the M54 at the Key Worker Nation Stadium.

Joining us from the other direction are Wolverhampton Casuals, who finished bottom of the Midland League Premier Division and have been relegated to Step 6. Their home ground, the Brinsford Stadium, is located roughly 7 miles west of Wolverhampton Sporting Community.

As mentioned above, all teams finishing second and third bottom were reprieved so Foley Meir and Shawbury United remain at Step 6. Some bottom-placed clubs with a good PPG record have also been handed a reprieve, including Wolverhampton Sporting Community, who remain in the First Division South. As above, Cheadle Heath Nomads have been transferred from the South Division to the North.

Allocations by division:

PREMIER DIVISION
Abbey Hey, AFC Liverpool, Atherton LR, Barnoldswick Town, Burscough, Chadderton, Charnock Richard, Cheadle Town, City of Liverpool FC, Euxton Villa, FC Isle of Man, FC St Helens, Glossop North End, Irlam, Litherland REMYCA, Longridge Town, Padiham, Pilkington, Prestwich Heys, Ramsbottom United, South Liverpool, Stockport Town, West Didsbury & Chorlton, Wythenshawe

FIRST DIVISION NORTH
AFC Blackpool, Ashton Athletic, Ashton Town, Bacup Borough, Cheadle Heath Nomads, Colne, Daisy Hill, Darwen FC, Droylsden, Fulwood Amateur, Garstang, Holker Old Boys, Maghull, Maine Road, Nelson, Steeton, Squires Gate, Thornton Cleveleys

FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
Allscott Heath, Alsager Town, Ashville, Barnton, Cammell Laird 1907, Eccleshall, Foley Meir, Haughmond, Market Drayton Town, MSB Woolton, New Mills, Runcorn Town, Sandbach United, Shawbury United, Stafford Town, Stockport Georgians, Telford Town, Wolverhampton Casuals
Wolverhampton Sporting Community