1968–69 Northern Premier League

The 1968–69 Northern Premier League was the inaugural season of the Northern Premier League, a regional football league in Northern England, the northern areas of the Midlands and North Wales. The season began on 10 August 1968 and concluded on 10 May 1969.

Overview
The League featured twenty teams transferred from the Cheshire County League, the Lancashire Combination, the Midland League, the North Regional League and the West Midlands (Regional) League.

Founding teams
Cheshire County League


 * Altrincham
 * Bangor City
 * Hyde United
 * Macclesfield Town
 * Northwich Victoria
 * Runcorn
 * Wigan Athletic

Lancashire Combination


 * Chorley
 * Fleetwood
 * Morecambe
 * Netherfield
 * South Liverpool

Midland League


 * Gainsborough Trinity
 * Goole Town
 * Scarborough
 * Worksop Town

North Regional League


 * Ashington
 * Gateshead
 * South Shields

West Midlands (Regional) League


 * Boston United

FA Cup
Out of the twenty clubs from the Northern Premier League only Morecambe reached for the second round:

Second Round

End of the season
At the end of the first season of the Northern Premier League none of the clubs decided to put their teams forward to be promoted to the Football League. Chorley and Worksop Town were both relegated. Ashington resigned the League, due to financial difficulties.

Football League elections
Alongside the four Football League teams facing re-election, a total of ten non-League teams applied for election, none of which were from the Northern Premier League. All four Football League teams were re-elected.

Promotion and relegation
The following three clubs left the League at the end of the season:
 * Ashington resigned, demoted to Northern Alliance
 * Chorley relegated to Lancashire Combination
 * Worksop Town relegated to Midland League (1889)

The following three clubs joined the League the following season:
 * Stafford Rangers promoted from Cheshire County League
 * Great Harwood promoted from Lancashire Combination
 * Matlock Town promoted from Midland League (1889)