Northern Premier League Premier Division
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Northern Premier League Premier Division |
|---|
 |
| Founded |
| 1968 |
| Nation |
 England |
| Feeder To |
| Conference North |
| Relegation To |
| NPL Division One North NPL Division One South |
| Number of Teams |
| 22 |
| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 7 |
| Cups |
| Northern Premier League Challenge Cup |
| Current Champions (2007/08) |
| Fleetwood Town |
| Website |
| Unibond |
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 (or level 7) of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the FA Premier League. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the UniBond League Premier Division.
The league was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, being the highest level non-League division below The Football League. In 1979, upon the creation of the Alliance Premier League, it became a feeder league and fell down one 'level' in the English football league system. Since then, its prestige has fallen further: there are now two levels between it and the Football League.
The division is at the same level as the Premier Divisions of the Southern League and the Isthmian League. At the end of each season two clubs are promoted to the Conference North: the league champions, and the winners of a play-off competition held between the 2nd through 5th placed clubs. The four lowest placed teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One North or Northern Premier League Division One South, to be replaced by four promoted teams.
All clubs in the Premier Division also compete in the Challenge Cup knockout competition, but not in the other two NPL cup competitions (the President's Cup and the Chairman's Cup) which in 2007-2008 were only open to teams in the lower divisions.
[edit] Current clubs
| Club |
Home Ground | Finishing position 2007-08 |
|---|---|---|
| Ashton United F.C. | Hurst Cross | 10th in NPL Premier Division |
| Bradford Park Avenue F.C. | Horsfall Stadium | 1st in the NPL Division 1 North |
| Buxton F.C. | The Silverlands | 5th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Cammell Laird F.C. | Kirklands Stadium | 2nd in the NPL Division 1 South |
| Eastwood Town F.C. | Coronation Park | 4th in the NPL Premier Division |
| F.C. United of Manchester | Gigg Lane | 2nd in the NPL Division 1 North |
| Frickley Athletic F.C. | Westfield Lane | 14th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Guiseley A.F.C. | Nethermoor Park | 6th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Hednesford Town F.C. | Keys Park | 8th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Ilkeston Town F.C. | New Manor Ground | 17th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Kendal Town F.C. | Lakeland Radio Stadium | 11th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Leigh Genesis F.C. | Hilton Park | 22nd in the Conference North |
| Marine F.C. | Rosset Park | 7th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Matlock Town F.C. | Causeway Lane | 16th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Nantwich Town F.C. | The Weaver Stadium | 3rd in the NPL Division 1 South |
| North Ferriby United F.C. | Church Road | 15th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Ossett Town F.C. | Ingfield | 18th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Prescot Cables F.C. | Valerie Park | 13th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Vauxhall Motors F.C. | Rivacre Park | 21st in the Conference North |
| Whitby Town F.C. | Turnbull Ground | 12th in the NPL Premier Division |
| Witton Albion F.C. | Wincham Park | 2nd in the NPL Premier Division |
| Worksop Town F.C. | Sandy Lane | 9th in the NPL Premier Division |
Although the league is saying that the above teams will compete this season, this may change after the Liquidation of Halifax and Gretna, whom both teams may be accepted into any of the 3 Northern Premier League Divisions
[edit] Past winners
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