2018–19 North West Counties Football League

The 2018–19 North West Counties Football League season (known as the Hallmark Security League for sponsorship reasons ) was the 37th in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England, and the first season following the split of the lower level into two geographically separated divisions. Teams were divided into three divisions: Premier Division, at Step 5, and Divisions One North and South, at Step 6.

The provisional club allocations for steps 5 and 6 were announced by the FA on 25 May. The constitution was ratified by the league at its AGM on 16 June.

Premier Division
At the end of the 2017–18 season, the following teams left the division:
 * Promoted to Step 4
 * Runcorn Linnets, to NPL Division One West
 * Widnes, to NPL Division One West
 * Relegated to Step 6
 * AFC Darwen, to Division One North
 * AFC Liverpool, to Division One North
 * Barnton, to Division One South
 * Maine Road, to Division One South

The remaining 17 teams, together with the following, formed the Premier Division for season 2018–19:
 * Promoted from Step 6
 * Silsden, from Division One
 * Litherland REMYCA, from Division One
 * Whitchurch Alport, from Division One

Results

 * Congleton Town v Padiham: match was abandoned at 65 minutes with the score at 3–0; result was allowed to stand

Division One
At the end of the 2017–18 season, the following teams left the division:
 * Promoted to Step 5
 * Silsden, to the Premier Division
 * Litherland REMYCA, to the Premier Division
 * Whitchurch Alport, to the Premier Division

The remaining 19 teams were split into the two new geographically separated divisions - Division One North and Division One South

Division One North
The newly formed Division One North consisted of 20 clubs:


 * 2 clubs relegated from 2017–18 Premier Division
 * AFC Darwen
 * AFC Liverpool


 * 10 clubs from the 2017–18 Division One
 * AFC Blackpool
 * Atherton Laburnum Rovers
 * Bacup Borough
 * Carlisle City
 * Chadderton
 * Daisy Hill
 * Holker Old Boys
 * Nelson
 * Prestwich Heys
 * St Helens Town


 * 8 clubs promoted from Step 7
 * Ashton Town, from the Cheshire League
 * Avro, from the Manchester League
 * Cleator Moor Celtic, from the Wearside League
 * Garstang, from the West Lancashire League
 * Longridge Town, from the West Lancashire League
 * Lower Breck, from the Liverpool County Premier League
 * Shelley, from the West Yorkshire League
 * Steeton, from the West Riding County Amateur League

Results

 * Ashton Town v Cleator Moor Celtic: match was abandoned with the score at 1–1; result was allowed to stand

Division One South
The newly formed Division One South consisted of 20 clubs:


 * 2 clubs relegated from 2017–18 Premier Division
 * Barnton
 * Maine Road


 * 9 clubs from the 2017–18 Division One
 * Abbey Hulton United
 * Alsager Town
 * Cammell Laird 1907
 * Cheadle Town
 * Eccleshall
 * FC Oswestry Town
 * New Mills
 * Sandbach United
 * Stockport Town


 * 7 clubs promoted from Step 7
 * Cheadle Heath Nomads, from the Cheshire League
 * Rylands, from the Cheshire League
 * St Martins, from the West Midlands (Regional) League
 * Stone Dominoes, from the Staffordshire County Senior League
 * Vauxhall Motors, from the West Cheshire League
 * Wythenshawe Amateurs, from the Manchester League
 * Wythenshawe Town, from the Cheshire League


 * 2 clubs moved laterally from another Step 6 division
 * Ellesmere Rangers, from the West Midlands (Regional) League
 * Stone Old Alleynians, from the West Midlands (Regional) League

Results

 * Abbey Hulton United v Wythenshawe Town: match cancelled due to "legal entity issues" Abbey Hulton United awarded a win and three points.

League Challenge Cup
Also called the Macron Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons. Source for this section: NWCFL web site

First round
† eliminated due to playing ineligible player

The following teams received byes to the second round:
 * Atherton LR
 * Barnoldswick Town
 * Wythenshawe Amateurs
 * Wythenshawe Town

Second round
† eliminated due to playing ineligible player Abbey Hulton United received bye due to both Padiham and Shelley being eliminated in previous round

Second leg
City of Liverpool won 6–2 on aggregate

1874 Northwich won 7–0 on aggregate

Final
Played at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground

First round
All the remaining Division One teams received a bye to the second round.

Second round
† Eliminated due to playing ineligible player

Second leg
Avro won 5–1 on aggregate

Sandbach United won 9–3 on aggregate

Final
Played at Vauxhall Motors' ground