Lancashire (North)

Lancashire (North), formerly known as North Lancashire 1 was a regional (tier 8) English Rugby Union league for teams from the South Lancashire and Manchester area. The league champions were promoted to North Lancashire/Cumbria while the runners had a playoff against the runners up from the Cumbria League for the final promotion spot.

Lancashire (North)
Current season or competition:
2016–17 Lancashire (North)
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987)
Ceased2017 (2017)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersTarleton (2nd title) (2016–17)
(promoted to North Lancashire/Cumbria)
Most titlesDe La Salle (Salford) (7 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

The division was initially known as North-West East 1 when it was created in 1987, and had a number of different names since with North Lancashire 1 being the longest running. The most recent version known as Lancashire (North) was set up for the 2015-16 season when the RFU decided to break up the South Lancs/Cheshire league into 3 different zones also included Merseyside (West) and Cheshire (South). The format was not a success and South Lancs/Cheshire was resurrected for the 2016-17 with only Lancashire (North) remaining albeit with 12 teams instead of 14. When it was known as Lancashire Division 1 teams were relegated to North Lancashire 2.

After reinstating the league for one more season, at the end of 2016-17 the RFU again decided to cancel the league. Teams were instead transferred to the new Lancs/Cheshire 3 (North) division - which was created from breaking South Lancs/Cheshire 3 into two regional leagues.[1]

Participating Clubs 2016-17

Participating Clubs 2015-16
Colne & Nelson
Garstang
Hutton
Ormskirk
Pendle
Tarleton
Thornton-Cleveleys
Locations of the 2015-16 Lancashire (North) teams in Lancashire
Bury
Didsbury Toc H
Littleborough
Trafford MV
Locations of the 2015-16 Lancashire (North) teams in Greater Manchester
Team Ground Capacity City/Area Previous season
BurnleyHolden RoadReedley Hallows, Burnley, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (8th)
BuryBury Sports ClubBury, Greater ManchesterTransferred from North Lancashire 2 (3rd)
Colne & NelsonHolt HouseColne, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire 2 (6th)
Didsbury Toc HFord LaneDidsbury, ManchesterTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (4th)
GarstangHudson ParkGarstang, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (6th)
HuttonSaunders' LaneHutton, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire 2 (4th)
LittleboroughRakewood RoadLittleborough, Greater ManchesterTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (3rd)
North ManchesterTudor LodgeMoston, ManchesterTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (10th)
OrmskirkGreen LaneOrmskirk, LancashireTransferred from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (7th)
OrrellSt John Rigby CollegeOrrell, Wigan, Greater ManchesterTransferred from South Lancs/Cheshire 2 (6th)
PendleSwinden Playing FieldsNelson, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire 2 (1st)
TarletonCarr LaneTarleton, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire/Cumbria (13th)
Thornton-CleveleysThornton Sports CentreThornton, LancashireTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (7th)
Trafford MVMacPherson ParkTrafford, Greater ManchesterTransferred from North Lancashire 1 (5th)

Participating Clubs 2014-15

Participating Clubs 2013-14

Participating Clubs 2012-13

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:

Lancashire (North) honours

North-West East 1 (1987–1992)

The original incarnation of North Lancashire 1 was known as North-West East 1, and was a tier 10 league with promotion up to North-West East/North 1 and relegation down to North-West East 2.

North-West East 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1987–8811De La Salle (Salford)MetrovickBowden, North Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne
1988–8911Ashton-on-MerseyOld SaliansCongleton, Calder Vale, Bolton
1989–9011Old SaliansKersalColne & Nelson, Toc H
1990–9110Crewe & NantwichKersalAshton-under-Lyne, Heaton Moor
1991–9211Altrincham Kersal[lower-alpha 3]Metrovick[lower-alpha 4]No relegation[lower-alpha 5]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Lancashire North 1 (1992–1996)

North-West East 1 was renamed as Lancashire North 1 for the start of the 1992–93 season with promotion to Cumbria/Lancs North (formerly North-West East/North 1) and relegation to Lancashire North 2 (formerly North-West East 2). Initially a tier 10 league, the creation of National 5 North for the 1993–94 season meant that Lancashire North 1 dropped to become a tier 11 league.

Lancashire North 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1992–9314FleetwoodBurnageHeaton Moor, Littleborough, Marple, Ashton-under-Lyne[lower-alpha 6]
1993–9413De La Salle (Salford)BoltonClitheroe, Broughton, Old Bedians
1994–9513Trafford MVOldhamBurnage, Chorley
1995–9613Ashton-under-LyneBlackpoolNorth Manchester, Eccles, Oldham
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North Lancashire 1 (1996–2000)

The league system was restructured from top to bottom by the Rugby Football Union for the start of the 1996–97 season. Lancashire North 1 was renamed as North Lancashire 1, and the cancellation of National 5 North and creation of North West 3 meant that it remained a tier 11 league. Promotion was to North Lancs/Cumbria (formerly Cumbria/Lancs North) while relegation was to North Lancashire 2 (formerly Lancashire North 2).

North Lancashire 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
1996–9710BlackpoolBroughtonColne & Nelson
1997–9810OldhamBuryLittleborough
1998–99[3]10De La Salle (Salford)BuryChorley
1999–00[4]10Bolton[lower-alpha 7]EcclesThornton Cleveleys, Colne & Nelson
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

North Lancashire 1 (2000–2015)

Northern league restructuring by the RFU at the end of the 1999–00 season saw the cancellation of North West 1, North West 2 and North West 3 (tiers 7-9). This meant that North Lancashire 1 became a tier 8 league, with promotion continuing to North Lancs/Cumbria and relegation to North Lancashire 2.

North Lancashire 1 Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2000–01[5]12De La Salle (Salford)TyldesleyBroughton, Ashton-Under-Lyne
2001–02[6]12FleetwoodBuryBurnley
2002–03[7]12Trafford MVDidsbury Toc HFylde Saracens, Old Bedians, Thornton Cleveleys
2003–04[8]12De La Salle (Salford)Didsbury Toc HWest Park Warriors, Chorley
2004–05[9]12Heaton MoorBurnageAshton-Under-Lyne, Blackpool
2005–06[10]11AldwiniansDidsbury Toc HThornton Cleveleys
2006–07[11]12Kirkby LonsdaleTarletonColne & Nelson, Bury
2007–08[12]12Heaton MoorBurnleyBlackpool, Windermere, Garstang
2008–09[13]12FurnessEcclesNo relegation[lower-alpha 8]
2009–10[14]14De La Salle (Salford)Didsbury Toc HOld Bedians, Windermere
2010–11[15]14AldwiniansTrafford MVNewton-le-Willows, Ashton-Under-Lyne
2011–12[16]14LittleboroughTrafford MVBirchfield, Windermere
2012–13[17]14TarletonBoltonBury, North Manchester
2013–14[18]14De La Salle (Salford)Heaton MoorHutton, Mossley Hill
2014–15[19]11OldhamAshton-Under-LyneSt Edward's Old Boys, North Manchester
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Lancashire (North) (2015–2017)

North Lancashire 1 was renamed as Lancashire (North) at the start of the 2015–16 as part of North-West league restructuring by the RFU who decided to break up the North Lancashire and South Lancs/Cheshire leagues into 3 different zones - Cheshire (South), Lancashire (North) and Merseyside (West). Promotion would continue into North Lancashire/Cumbria but the cancellation of North Lancashire 2 meant there would be no relegation. After two seasons Lancashire (North) would be discontinued and all teams transferred into Lancs/Cheshire 3.

Lancashire (North) Honours
Season No of Teams Champions Runners–up Relegated Teams
2015–16[20]14Trafford MVLittleboroughNo relegation
2016–17[21]11TarletonBurnleyNo relegation
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there was a play-off between the runners-up of the Cumbria League and Lancashire (North) for the third and final promotion place to North Lancashire/Cumbria. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season the Lancashire (North) teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Cumbria League teams four; and the home team has won promotion on twelve occasions compared to the away teams three.

Cumbria League v Lancashire (North) promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[22]Tyldesley (L)47-26Hawcoat Park (C)[lower-alpha 9]St George's Park, Tyldesley, Manchester
2001–02[24]Bury (L)20-3Windermere (C)Bury Sports Club, Bury, Greater Manchester
2002–03[25]Didsbury Toc H (L)17-29Upper Eden (C)[lower-alpha 10]Ford Lane, Didsbury, Manchester
2003–04[27]Egremont (C)[lower-alpha 11]27-19Didsbury Toc H (L)Bleach Green, Egremont, Cumbria
2004–05[29]Burnage (L)60-0Moresby (C)Varley Park, Stockport, Greater Manchester
2005–06[30]Kirkby Lonsdale (C)20-23Didsbury Toc H (L)Raygarth, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
2006–07[31]Tarleton (L)28-7Keswick (C)Carr Lane, Tarleton, Lancashire
2007–08[32]Netherhall (C)0-20Burnley (L)Netherhall Road, Maryport, Cumbria
2008–09[33]No promotion playoff[lower-alpha 12]
2009–10[34]Didsbury Toc H (L)42-10Millom (C)[lower-alpha 13]Ford Lane, Didsbury, Manchester
2010–11[36]Egremont (C)19-18Trafford MV (L)Bleach Green, Egremont, Cumbria
2011–12[37]Whitehaven (C)33-22Trafford MV (L)The Playground, Whitehaven, Cumbria
2012–13[38]Bolton (L)27-7Silloth (C)Avenue Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester
2013–14[39]No promotion playoff[lower-alpha 14]
2014–15[40]Ashton-under-Lyne (L)17-5Workington (C)Gambrel Bank, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester
2015–16[41]Littleborough (L)37-3Egremont (C)Rakewood Road, Littleborough, Rochdale, Greater Manchester
2016–17[42]Burnley (L)94-0Whitehaven (C)Holden Road, Burnley, Lancashire
Green background is the promoted team. C = Cumbria League and L = Lancashire (North) (formerly North Lancashire 1)

Number of league titles
  • De La Salle (Salford) (7)
  • Trafford MV (3)
  • Aldwinians (2)
  • Fleetwood (2)
  • Heaton Moor (2)
  • Oldham (2)
  • Tarleton (2)
  • Altrincham Kersal (1)
  • Ashton-on-Mersey (1)
  • Ashton-under-Lyne (1)
  • Blackpool (1)
  • Bolton (1)
  • Crewe & Nantwich (1)
  • Furness (1)
  • Kirkby Lonsdale (1)
  • Littleborough (1)
  • Old Salians (1)

Notes
  1. Kersal are now known as Altrincham Kersal.
  2. Metrovick would be renamed as Trafford MV RFCC in 1993.[2]
  3. Champions Alterincham Kersal would be promoted and subsequently transferred to Lancs/Cheshire 1 (formerly North-West West 1) instead of Cumbria/Lancs North (formerly North-West East/North 1).)
  4. Calder Vale and Tyldesley would also be promoted.
  5. Reorganisation of the North-West leagues for the following season, which included the cancellation of North-West East 3, meant that was no relegation.
  6. In order to boost the low number of teams in Lancashire North 2 (which only had 5 teams) four teams would be relegated from Lancashire North 1.
  7. Bolton were not promoted due to Northern League restructuring.
  8. No relegation as division due to increase from 12 to 14 teams for the following season.
  9. Despite finishing at the top of the 2000-01 Cumbrian League according to the RFU website, Hawcoat Park actually went into the playoff rather than runners up St Benedicts. Reasons for this are not clear, although St Benedicts did play one less game than Hawcoat Park and were level on points but with a weaker for/against record, so maybe an average points total was used to determine the champions.[23]
  10. Despite finished third in the 2002-03 Cumbrian League, Upper Eden went into the promotion playoff as champions Netherall were not promoted, with second placed Windermere going up instead.[26]
  11. Despite winning the 2003-04 Cumbrian League, Egremont had to take part in the promotion playoff usually reserved for league runners up.[28]
  12. Due to changes to English rugby union league system by the RFU there would be no promotion playoff at the end of 2008-09 season. Instead the champions and runners up from both leagues would be automatically promoted.
  13. Despite finishing the 2009-10 Cumbrian League in third place, Millom went into the promotion playoff game instead of runners up Egremont. Millom had actually played two less games and were only two points off the runner up spot so this may explain why they qualified for the playoff.[35]
  14. Due to restructuring of the north-west leagues by the RFU there would be no promotion playoff at the end of 2013-14 season. Instead the champions and runners up from both leagues would be automatically promoted.

See also

References
  1. "2017-18 Lancs/Cheshire Division 3 (North)". England Rugby. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  2. "HISTORY 3". Trafford MV RFCC. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. "1998–99 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  4. "1999–00 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  5. "2000–01 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  6. "2001–02 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  7. "2002–03 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  8. "2003–04 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  9. "2004–05 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  10. "2005–06 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  11. "2006–07 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  12. "2007–08 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  13. "2008–09 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  14. "2009–10 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  15. "2010–11 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  16. "2011–12 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  17. "2012–13 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  18. "2013–14 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  19. "2014–15 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  20. "2016-17 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. "2016-17 Northern Division". England Rugby. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  22. "2000-01 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 2 June 2001.
  23. "2000-01 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  24. "2001-02 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 18 May 2002.
  25. "2002-03 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  26. "2002-03 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  27. "2003-04 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  28. "2003-04 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  29. "2004-05 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 May 2005.
  30. "2005-06 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 6 May 2006.
  31. "2006-07 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
  32. "2007-08 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  33. "2008-09 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  34. "2009-10 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 8 May 2010.
  35. "2009-10 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  36. "Play-off promotion victory for Egremont". News & Star. 3 May 2011.
  37. "2011-12 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  38. "2012-13 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 27 April 2013.
  39. "2013-14 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 26 April 2014.
  40. "2014-15 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 25 April 2015.
  41. "2015-16 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 7 May 2016.
  42. "2016-17 North Playoffs". England Rugby. 29 April 2017.
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