Northern Premier League Premier Division

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Northern Premier League Premier Division
Country England
Other club(s) from Wales
Founded 1968
Number of teams 24
Level on pyramid 7
Promotion to National League North
Relegation to NPL Division One North
NPL Division One South
Domestic cup(s) FA Cup
FA Trophy
Challenge Cup
Peter Swales Shield
Current champions F.C. United of Manchester
(2014–15)
Most championships Boston United (4 times)
Website Official website
2015–16

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 Premier League. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the Evo-Stik 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 National League 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 from the Premier Division also compete in the NPL Challenge Cup and the Peter Swales Shield knockout competition, but not in the other two NPL cup competitions (the President's Cup and the Chairman's Cup). Before 2007–08 Premier Division teams did compete in the Chairman's Cup.

Current clubs 2015–16

Club
Home Ground Finishing position 2014–15
Ashton United Michael Jefferson Memorial Arena, Hurst Cross 3rd
Barwell Kirkby Road 8th
Blyth Spartans Croft Park 6th
Buxton The Silverlands 10th
Colwyn Bay Llanelian Road Relegated from Conference North, 20th
Darlington 1883 Heritage Park Promoted via play-offs from NPL Division One North, 2nd
Frickley Athletic Westfield Lane 19th
Grantham Town South Kesteven Sports Stadium 12th
Halesowen Town The Grove 11th
Hyde United Ewen Fields Relegated from Conference North, 22nd
Ilkeston New Manor Ground 5th
Marine Arriva Stadium Reprieved from relegation, 21st
Matlock Town Causeway Lane 14th
Mickleover Sports Raygar Stadium Promoted as champions of NPL Division One South, 1st
Nantwich Town Weaver Stadium 15th
Ramsbottom United Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 17th
Rushall Olympic Dales Lane 9th
Salford City Moor Lane Promoted as champions of NPL Division One North, 1st
Skelmersdale United West Lancashire College Stadium 7th
Stamford Kettering Road 20th
Stourbridge War Memorial Athletic Ground 16th
Sutton Coldfield Central Ground Promoted via play-offs from NPL Division One South, 4th
Whitby Town Turnbull Ground 13th
Workington Borough Park 2nd

Past winners

References

External links

  1. REDIRECT Template:Men's football in England