The 1982âÂÂ83 North West Counties Football League was the first in the history of the North West Counties Football League, a football competition in England. The League was formed from a merger between the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination.
The league comprised three divisions with clubs allocated to them based on a grading of their ground's facilities and their finishing positions over the previous two seasons. There was additionally the League Challenge Cup knockout competition open to all clubs and a reserves team section.
The division featured 20 clubs, 18 from the previous season's Cheshire County League and 1 each transferring from the previous season's Northern League and the Northern Premier League:
At the end of the season the champions Burscough did not apply for promotion to the Northern Premier League and so remained in the division; however, second and third placed Rhyl and Horwich RMI did leave as both were elected to the Northern Premier League Also leaving the division were last placed club Nantwich Town who were relegated to Division Two; owing to two clubs taking promotion from the division St Helens Town were reprieved from relegation.
The division featured 20 clubs, 14 from the previous season's Cheshire County League and 6 from the previous season's Lancashire Combination:
At the end of the season the two top clubs, the champions Radcliffe Borough and runners-up Caernarfon Town, were promoted to Division One and Padiham were relegated to Division Three. Two clubs exited the league: Kirkby Town were expelled (to return a year later) as their ground was adjudged below the required standard for the league and New Mills folded.
The division featured 18 clubs, 12 from the from the previous season's Lancashire Combination, 5 from the previous season's Cheshire County League and 1 transferring from the Mid-Cheshire League:
At the end of the season three clubs left the division: the two top clubs, the champions Colne Dynamoes and runners-up Warrington Town, were promoted to Division Two; and Wigan Rovers resigned from the league and joined the West Lancashire League.
The 1982âÂÂ83 League Challenge Cup was a knockout competition open to all clubs in the League. The winners were Darwen of Division One who defeated Division Two club Skelmersdale United 2âÂÂ1 after extra time (1âÂÂ1 at 90 minutes) in the replayed final at Darwen; the original match held at Bury F.C. finished 2âÂÂ2 after extra time (1âÂÂ1 at 90 minutes).
Semi-finals and Final
<span style="font-size: 90%;">Club's division appended to team name: (D1)=Division One; (D2)=Division Two; (D3)=Division Three</span><br> source: NWCFL: All Results, 1982/83 Season
Main honours for the 1982âÂÂ83 season: