|
Northern Premier League Premier Division
|
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 FA Premier League. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the UniBond 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 Conference 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 in the Premier Division also compete in the Challenge Cup knockout competition, but not in the other two NPL cup competitions (the President's Cup and the Chairman's Cup) which in 2007–2008 were only open to teams in the lower divisions.
Current clubs
Past winners
External links
|
|
|
Ashton United | Boston United | Bradford Park Avenue | Buxton | Cammell Laird | Eastwood Town | FC United of Manchester | Frickley Athletic | Guiseley | Hednesford Town | Ilkeston Town | Kendal Town | Leigh Genesis | Marine | Matlock Town | Nantwich Town | North Ferriby United | Ossett Town | Prescot Cables | Whitby Town | Witton Albion | Worksop Town
|
| English football league system – Level 7 |
|
|
|
|
| League competitions |
The FA |
Cup competitions |
| Premier League |
England (B) (C) |
FA Cup |
| The Football League (Champ, 1, 2) |
(U-21) (U-20) (U-19) |
Football League Cup |
| Football Conference (Nat, N, S) |
(U-18) (U-17) (U-16) |
FA Community Shield |
| Northern Premier (Prem, 1N, 1S) |
List of clubs |
Football League Trophy |
| Southern League (Prem, 1Mid, 1S&W) |
List of venues |
FA Trophy |
| Isthmian League (Prem, 1N, 1S) |
(by capacity) |
Conference League Cup |
| English football league system |
List of leagues |
FA Vase |
|
Records |
FA NLS Cup |
|
Foreign players |
|
|
