Northern Premier League Premier Division
(3.00 average - 2 votes)

Unibond Premier League logo

Details:

Full Name: The Evo-Stik League Premier Division 
Founded: 1968
Tier: 7
Number of Teams: 22
Previous Names: Northern Premier League (1968-87), Northern Premier League Premier Division (1987-94)

Introduction:

The Northern Premier League was founded in 1968 and was one of two major leagues in northern England when it was created, the other being the Northern League. Unlike the Northern League it was semi-professional from the start and eventually became much more important than the Northern League and in fact the Northern League is now a feeder to the NPL. For the 1987-88 season a second division was added, leading to an NPL Premier Division and NPL First Division setup. In 1994 the Northern Premier League took on sponsorship from Unibond, a British sealing products company, and carried that name until the 2010-11 season, when the name changed to the Evo-Stik League. For 2007-08 the First Division was split into two leagues, First Division North and First Division South.

 

Many NPL clubs have gone on to achieve Football League status, those being Wigan Athletic, Scarborough, Macclesfield Town, Boston United, Accrington Stanley and Morecambe. Wigan Athletic went on to reach the English Premier League, the top of the English football pyramid. Another former member is Gretna, who eventually reached the Scottish Premier League, though the club has since gone bankrupt and restarted in Scottish non-league football.

League Format:

  • The Northern Premier League Premier Division season begins in August and ends in May with no winter break.
  • The 20 teams play each other twice (home and away) for a total of 38 matches.
  • 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
  • Final league position is based on the total number of points earned over the full season.
  • The team with the most points is considered the league champion and is promoted to the Football Conference North.
  • The teams finishing 2nd - 5th enter a playoff to determine one additional promoted team.
  • The bottom four teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League First Division North or South.
  • To maintain geographic balance, the promoted clubs might end up in the Football Conference South and the relegated clubs might end up in the Southern League Division One Midlands.

Total Northern Premier League Titles:

4 Boston United

 

3 Barrow
3 Macclesfield Town

 

2 Gatesheadd
2 Marine
2 Mossley
2 Runcorn
2 Stafford Rangers
2 Stalybridge Celtic
2 Wigan Athletic

 

1 Accrington Stanley
1 Altrincham
1 Bamber Bridge
1 Bangor City
1 Blyth Spartans
1 Burscough
1 Burton Albion
1 Chorley
1 Colne Dynamoes
1 Eastwood Town
1 Fleetwood Town
1 Guiseley
1 Hucknall Town
1 Hyde United
1 Leek Town
1 Leigh RMI
1 Southport
1 Witton Albion

u

* This includes titles from the Northern Premier League and, after the split into multiple divisions, the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Links:
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 August 2010 15:26
 
Comments (2)
1Wednesday, 05 May 2010 07:17
Andrew Moran
I don't know why this league is featured here instead of the Blue Square Premier aka The Football Conference, which is the 5th tier of English Football, the top of non-league football, where League Two teams get relegated to, and of course where non-league teams can get into the Football League.
2Wednesday, 05 May 2010 07:34
albionroad
Hi Andrew, thanks for the comment. I added a profile for FC United of Manchester last year and decided it made sense to add the league they play in as well, even if it's a bit lower down the pyramid.

I do plan to add a profile for the Conference one of these days, hopefully soon.

Add your comment

Your name:
Comment:
yvComment v.1.25.3