Since the 2018–19 season the league has comprised three divisions: the Premier Division at level nine in the English football league system (EFLS), (Step 5 in the National League System (NLS)); and two geographic based equal ranked First Divisions, North and South, at level ten in the EFLS, (Step 6 in the NLS).
The league is a member of the Joint Liaison Council which administers the northern arm of the National Football System in England.
Member clubs (2026–27)
The 2026–27 club allocations from the FA Leagues Committee (subject to appeal) were announced on 15 May 2026 and the constitution of the divisions were adopted at the league's AGM on 20 June 2026.
The league was formed in 1982 by the merger of the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination. Originally consisting of 58 eight clubs spread over three divisions, this was reduced to two divisions (comprising 38 clubs) in 1987 when 12 clubs from Division One left to join a newly created division of the higher ranked Northern Premier League (NPL). At the same time, promotion and relegation between the two leagues was introduced, with either the first- or second-placed club in the NWCFL being entitled to a place in the NPL, subject to their ground meeting that league's requirements.
From the 2008-09 season the two divisions, Division One and Two, were renamed the Premier and First Divisions respectively. In 2018, as part of the Football Association's ongoing restructure of the National League System, the single First Division was replaced by two regionalised divisions of equal standing, designated the First Division North and the First Division South; the expansion saw member clubs increase to sixty after fifteen clubs joined from feeder leagues.
There are seven feeder leagues from which clubs are promoted to the First Divisions of the NWCFL theses being the Cheshire Association Football League, Liverpool County Premier League, Manchester Football League, Shropshire County Football League, Staffordshire County Senior League, West Cheshire Association Football League and West Lancashire Football League. The champions of each feeder league are eligible for promotion (should they not take promotion lower placed clubs can take their place) subject to the club organisation and its ground grading meeting requirements. After taking account of promotion and relegation criteria the composition and numbers of clubs in the multiple divisions comprising each Step of the National League System (including those of the NWCFL) is decided by the FA Leagues Committee: their deliberations also result in the lateral movement of clubs across leagues to divisions at the same Step level.
There are two main league cup competitions: the League Challenge Cup which has been contested since the league's inception in 1982, is a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs and has since the 2016–17 season been sponsored by Macron; and for First Division clubs only there is the First Division Cup: this was has been contested since the 1989-90 season (when, owing to the structure of the league, it was known as the Second Division Trophy) and since the 2016–17 season has been known as the Edward Case Cup. Currently a third cup is in place, the First Division Champions Cup: following the splitting of the First Division into North and South sections from the 2018–19 season this is contested by the champions of the two divisions. Previously, from the 1990–91 season until its abandonment mid-competition during the 2000-01 season the midweek Floodlit Trophy competition was contested.
From its beginning in 1982 until 2014 the league operated a Reserves Section comprising up to two divisional levels and associated cup competitions.
Four clubs have won a Premier Division (formerly Division One) championship and League Challenge Cup double: Ashton United in 1992, Kidsgrove Athletic in 1998, F.C. United of Manchester in 2007 and in 2015 Glossop North End. In 2005 Cammell Laird completed a League Challenge Cup, Second Division Trophy and Division Two championship treble; City of Liverpool completed a cup double (League Challenge Cup and First Division Cup) in 2017. The Division Two League championship and Second Division Trophy double has been achieved by two clubs, Fleetwood Freeport in 1999 and Colne in 2004.
Atherton Laburnum Rovers are the only club to have won the same division consecutively, winning Division One in 1993 and 1994. Clitheroe won three different divisions in consecutive seasons, winning Division Three in 1984, Division Two in 1985 and Division One in 1986.
For sixteen years the league's record attendance was 1,353 for a Division Two championship decider between Radcliffe Borough and Caernarfon Town played in 1983 during its inaugural 1982–83 season. This stood until 1999 when a crowd of 2,281 saw Workington's Division One (now Premier Division) championship-deciding match with Mossley at Borough Park. In 2006 a new record was set with 6,023 at Gigg Lane for a Division Two (now First Division) match between FC United of Manchester and Great Harwood Town on 23 April. The following season an evening match attendance record of 4,058 established at Salford City's Division One home game against FC United of Manchester. The league record attendance was extended to 8,719 in 2025 at a Premier Division match, once again at Gigg Lane, between Bury and Burscough.
Three former Football League clubs, Northwich Victoria (Football League members between 1892 and 1894), Nelson (1921 to 1931) and Glossop North End (1899 to 1915, playing as Glossop), are currently members of the league, as well as Darwen F.C., a continuation of Darwen (1891 to 1899). Former league members Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town and Salford City currently play in the English Football League, leaving the league via promotion in 1987, 2005 and 2008 respectively.
League Sponsorship
For the following periods the North West Counties Football League has for sponsorship reasons been known as:–
1986 to 1993: Bass North West Counties League (named for the Bass Brewery brand)
1993 to 1995: Carling North West Counties League (named for the Carling lager brand)
1998–1999: North Western Trains Football League (named for the train operating company North Western Trains)
1999–2000 First North Western Trains Football League reflecting the takeover of the then current sponsor by FirstGroup
2004 to 2006: Moore & Co Solicitors (named for the construction solicitors business)
2007 to 2011: Vodkat League (named for the vodka-based drink brand)
2016 to 2019: Hallmark Security League (named for the security services business)
Cup Competitions
League Challenge Cup
The League Challenge Cup (known for sponsorship reasons since 2016 as the Macron Cup) has been contested since the formation of the league in 1982. It is a knockout competition open to all the league's clubs.
The trophy awarded to the winners of the competition dates from 1893 and was originally the Lancashire Football League Challenge Cup until 1903, after which that league was absorbed by the Lancashire Combination. The cup was transferred to the NWCFL following its formation in 1982 and since then used as the League Challenge Cup trophy.
For the following periods the competition has for sponsorship reasons been known as:–
1987 to 1992: the Raab Karcher Challenge cup (named for the building materials supplier)
1992–1993: the Bass League cup (incorporating the League sponsor's name)
1993 to 1995: the Carling League cup (incorporating the League sponsor's name)
1998–1999: the North Western Trains League Cup (incorporating the League sponsor's name)
1999–2000: the First North Western Trains League Cup (incorporating the League sponsor's name)
2000 to 2003: the Worthington Challenge Trophy, sponsored by Coors Brewery
2006–2007: the d-zine League Challenge Cup, sponsored by d-zine (Contractors) Ltd
2007 to 2011: the Vodkat League Challenge Cup (incorporating the League sponsor's name)
2014 to 2016: the Men United Cup (named for the campaign to raise awareness of prostrate cancer)
2016 onwards: the Macron Cup (named for the Macron sportswear brand)
First Division Cup
The First Division Cup, known as the Edward Case Cup (the name of the trophy awarded to the winner) is contested by clubs at the league's First Division level. From its inauguration in 1989 until 2008 (when the league's divisions were renamed) the competition was known as the Second Division Trophy.
The trophy awarded is named for the former chairman (between 1919 and 1952) of the Cheshire County League and dates from 1932 – it was originally awarded to the highest placed side in the league that were not a Football League Club reserve side. On formation of the North West Counties League in 1982 the trophy was awarded until 1987 to the Third Division champions. Following a short gap after the discontinuation of that division it became between 1989 to 2008 the Second Division Trophy, thereafter following the renaming of the league's divisions in 2008 it is now used for the First Division Cup competition.
For the following periods the competition has for sponsorship reasons been known as:–
1989 to 1995: the Lamot Pils Trophy
2006–2007: the d-zine Second Division Trophy, sponsored by d-zine (Contractors) Ltd
2014 to 2017: the Reusch First Division Cup (named for the Reusch sportswear brand)
2017–18: LWC Drinks First Division Cup
2019 to 2020: the PlayerMatch.com Cup (named for the PlayerMatch.com networking sports platform)
First Division Champions Cup
The First Division Champions Cup has been contested since the 2018–19 season by the champions of the First Divisions North and South to decide the First Division Champion. It is currently played as a single match at the ground of the eligible club with the best record over the league season.
Floodlit Trophy (discontinued)
The Floodlit Trophy was a tertiary competition contested from the 1990–91 season until its mid-season abandonment (without conclusion) during the 2000–01 season. It was open to member clubs whose grounds were equipped with floodlights with matches scheduled for week-nights.
Owing to the upward movement of 12 clubs from Division One to the expanded Northern Premier League, Divisions One and Two were reconstituted and as a consequence Division Three was disbanded
↑The Fleetwood Town club that won the Division Two title in 1983–84 folded in 1993 and is therefore not the same club who won the Division One Championship in 2004–05 which was formed in 1997 as Fleetwood Wanderers, then became Fleetwood Freeport before taking the Fleetwood Town name in 2002.
Key
†: Completed Premier Division (formerly Division One) championship and League Challenge Cup double
‡: Completed Division Two (now First Division) championship and Division Two Trophy double
●: Completed League Challenge Cup, Division Two (now First Division) championship and Division Two Trophy treble
†: Completed Premier Division (formerly Division One) championship and League Challenge Cup double
‡: Completed First Division (formerly Division Two) championship and First Division Cup double
●: Completed League Challenge Cup, Division Two (now First Division) championship and Division Two Trophy treble
♦: Won the Challenge Cup whilst a First Division (formerly Division Two) club
