2025/2026 Pre-Season - Get to know our opponents

Colwyn Bay FC

History

Colwyn Bay FC was founded in 1881 and joined the North Wales Coast League in 1898. Interestingly, the club was one of a few Welsh clubs to play in the English football pyramid. They would originally play between 1931-1937 before resigning, but would rejoin in 1984 as they joined the North West Counties Football League. They would finish as runners-up in their first season and would be promoted to Division Two. In the 1990-1991 season, the club would play in Division One of the Northern Premier League after achieving promotion from the NWCFL Premier Division. In the 2010-2011 season, the club would get promoted from NPL Premier Division to the Conference North and ended up staying in the division for four seasons before eventually getting relegated. Unfortunately, the club would suffer back-to-back relegations, and in 2019, due to financial pressure, the club would end their 35-year stay in the English pyramid as they rejoined the Welsh Pyramid.

Last Season

Last Season, Colwyn Bay finished in first place, winning the Cymru North and earning promotion to the Cymru Premier. The club ended up finishing on 81 points and finished only three points ahead of Airbus UK Broughton. The club also made it to the fourth round of the Welsh Cup before losing to The New Saints.

Pre-Season Fixtures

5th July – Stockport Town, 12th July – Marine, 15th July – Vauxhall, 19th July – Stalybridge, 22nd July – Chester, 26th July – Bootle.

Darwen FC

History

Darwen FC was founded in 1870 and became an early pioneer of professional football in northern England. The club would begin playing in the Blackburn and District League until 1891, as the club would play in the Football League before resigning in 1899. The Salmoners would continue to play their football in the Lancashire and Cheshire Leagues before becoming a founding member of the NWCFL in 1982. Unfortunately, the start of the 21st century was no good for the club as they would be on the brink of liquidation more than once, but eventually, by 2009, the club would cease to exist after 134 years. However, in the same month, a phoenix club called AFC Darwen would form up and start in the West Lancashire. A season later, the club joined the NWCFL. Finally, in 2022, AFC Darwen would take the name and history of Darwen FC, bringing the club back from the dead.

Last Season

Last Season, Darwen FC finished in sixth place in the NWCFL First Division North, missing out on the playoffs. The club ended up finishing on 61 points and four points behind now NWCFL Premier Division side Euxton Villa. The club also made it to the second proper round of the FA Vase before losing to Winsford United.

Pre-Season Fixtures

28th June – CMB, 2nd July – Cheadle Town, 5th July – Irlam, 12th July - Stockport Town, 15th July – Stalybridge, 19th July – Atherton LR.

Denton Town

History

Denton Town was founded in 1920 as Bradford Parish and was not renamed Denton Town until the mid-1990s. The club would begin playing within the Manchester YMCA League, but would only stay in it for a season as they transferred into the Openshaw and District League for the 1921/1922 season, and for the 1922/1923 season, they would transfer leagues once again, joining the Lancashire and Cheshire League. Denton would remain in the Lancashire and Cheshire League until 2008, when they transferred into the Cheshire Football League First Division. In the club's first season in the league, they would finish in 12th place, but only two seasons after joining, they would be crowned champions and would be promoted to the Premier Division. Despite two amazing seasons in the Premier Division, where they came fourth and third, the club would eventually be relegated back to the First Division after they finished in last place for the second season in a row. Denton Town would return to the Premier Division for the 23/24 season after finishing in second place and in a promotion spot during the 22/23 season. Finally, Denton Town would win the Manchester Saturday Trophy and would finish in seventh place in their first season back in the Premier Division.

Last Season

Last Season, Denton Town finished in 12th place and 20 points above the relegation zone. Considering the season prior, it was a bit of a disappointment for the club. The club would not make it past the first round of the J B Parker Premier Division Challenge Cup as they would lose 5-4 on penalties to Whaley Bridge Athletic. Despite winning the competition the season prior, Denton was not re-invited by the Manchester FA to participate in the Saturday Trophy.  

Pre-Season Fixtures

July 2nd – Maine Road, July 5th – East Manchester, July 12th – Manchester Corinthians, 14th July – Stockport Town, July 18th – FC United of Manchester U21s, July 22nd – Droylsden.

Hyde United

History

Hyde United was founded in 1919, two years after the old Hyde FC folded. The club would start in the Manchester League and would remain there till the 1930s when they transferred to the Cheshire County Leagues. Eventually, in the 1960s, the Tigers would become a founding member of the Northern Premier League, but after three years, due to financial issues, they returned to the Cheshire County League. By the 21st century, Hyde United were back in the NPL as a competitive side within the premier division, and in the 04/05 season, the club would earn promotion to the National League North for the first time, but it would cause the club to suffer financially. In 2010, Hyde agreed a deal for Manchester City’s elite development squad to use Hyde’s home stadium, Ewen Fields. This deal helped secure the club's future, but this came at a cost as the club was stripped of wearing their red shirts, the red seats of the stadium were ripped out and replaced with blue ones, and Hyde United had to change their name to Hyde FC. But this helped the club as they would become champions of the National League North and earn automatic promotion to the National League. After two seasons at the top step of non-league, the club would suffer back-to-back relegations, which saw them return to the NPL. The club has since returned to the Hyde United name and readopted the red colour for its badge, kits, and stadium.

Last Season

Last Season, Hyde United finished in ninth place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. The club finished with 57 points and 13 points behind Ashton United in 5th place and the playoff places. The club made it to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup before losing to Southport, and the club made it to the third round qualifying of the FA Trophy before losing to Congleton Town.

Pre-Season Fixtures

5th July – Wythenshawe FC, 8th July – Abbey Hey, 12th July – Runcorn Linnets, 15th July – Morecambe, 19th July – Stockport Town, 22nd July – Curzon Ashton, 26th July – Mossley, 2nd August – Stalybridge.

Stalybridge Celtic

History

Stalybridge Celtic was founded in 1909 and originally participated in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Leagues before becoming a professional side and joining the Lancashire Combination. In their first season as a professional side, they managed to win the second division title. In 1921, Celtic became a founding member of the Football League Third Division (North), but after only two seasons in the Football League, the club resigned and re-joined the Cheshire County League. They would remain within the Cheshire County League until the league merged with the Lancashire Combination to form the NWCFL. Stalybridge would win the NWCFL title in 1984 and 1987, with the 1987 title leading to the club's promotion to the NPL. The club would earn promotion to the Football Conference in 1992, but after six seasons, they would get relegated back to the NPL. For the 04/05 season, Celtic would become a founding member of the Conference North, and they would become a competitive side within the division, where they would fight for the playoffs almost every season, but unfortunately, by 2017, the club would be relegated back to the NPL Premier Division. The club never found its footing back in the NPL Premier Division as they constantly were in a relegation fight until they lost that fight in 2023.

Last Season

Last Season, Stalybridge Celtic finished in sixth place in the Northern Premier League West Division. The club finished with 70 points and four points behind Vauxhall and Chasetown, who both tied on points and finished in the playoff places. The club made it to the FA Cup Preliminary Round before losing to Widnes, and the club didn’t make it past the FA Trophy first qualifying round.

Pre-Season Fixtures

12th July – Cheadle Town, 15th July – Darwen, 19th July – Colwyn Bay, 21st July – Stockport Town, 26th July – Emley, 29th July - Brighouse Town, 2nd August – Hyde United.