North-east Lancashire League
| Founded | 1889 |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 1895 |
| Region | England |
| Teams | 10–12 |
| Most championships | Accrington reserves/Burnley reserves, 2 titles each |
The North-East Lancashire League was an association football competition for clubs in Lancashire, which ran from 1889 to 1894.
History
Original members
The League was founded on 2 May 1889 at a meeting at the Bridge Inn, Accrington, with 12 original members:[1]
- Bell's Temperance
- Brierfield
- Burnley Union Star
- Colne
- Darwen Rovers
- Haslingden Association
- Haslingden Church Institute
- Irwell Springs (changed name to Bacup in 1892)
- Padiham
- Peel Bank Rovers (changed name to Church in 1891, but reverted to Peel Bank Rovers in 1892)[2]
- Ramsbottom
- Rawtenstall
Clitheroe was also meant to be a member, but withdrew before the season started.[3]
The first champion was Brierfield, despite a 4 point deduction for fielding ineligible players,[4] on goal average from Irwell Springs,[5] with an 8–5 win over Burnley Union Star in its final match, coming from 5–1 down at half-time by scoring six goals in ten minutes.[6]
Subsequent seasons
Reserve sides of Football League clubs were allowed into the competition from 1890–91, which caused problems for clubs fielding their first teams - Accrington for instance bolstering their XI with several first-team players when necessary[7] - and the other titles were won by reserve sides. Accrington's reserves win in 1890–91 (having won its first 15 games)[8] and 1891–92, and Burnley's reserve side, Burnley Swifts, took the next two titles.[9] The 1893–94 season was the League's last, as, at the season end, it was absorbed into the Lancashire Combination;[10] the competition had already been undermined when Bacup (the re-named Irwell Springs) had been elevated into the Lancashire League after 11 games in the season, at which point it had won 9 times.[11]
Membership changes
| Year | Teams leaving | Teams joining |
|---|---|---|
| 1890–91 | Bell's Temperance, Burnley Union Star, Haslingden Association, Padiham | Accrington reserves, Blackburn Rovers reserves, Burnley Swifts, Clitheroe |
| 1891–92 | Darwen Rovers, Haslingden Church Institute;[12] Blackburn Rovers reserves and Colne did not complete the previous season | Bell's Temperance, Darwen reserves, Oswaldtwistle Rovers, Padiham |
| 1892–93 | Darwen reserves | Haslingden Association |
| 1893–94 | Peel Bank Rovers, Haslingden Association | none |
References
- ^ "North-east Lancashire Football League". Bacup Times: 5. 4 May 1889.
- ^ "The Football Association". Yorkshire Post: 8. 10 May 1892.
- ^ "Clitheroe Football Club". Burnley Express: 5. 30 August 1890.
- ^ "Brierfield and the North-east Lancashire Football League". Burnley Express: 5. 17 May 1890.
- ^ "The North-east Lancashire League - results of season's competition". Burnley Express: 4. 14 May 1890.
- ^ "Brierfield win the championship of the N. E. League". Burnley Express: 4. 23 April 1890.
- ^ "Football - the League performances of the Burnley reserve". Burnley Gazette: 2. 1 April 1891.
- ^ "North-east Lancashire League". Ramsbottom Observer: 8. 6 February 1891.
- ^ Athletic News Annuals, 1890 to 1894.
- ^ "Brierfield Football Club decision". Burnley Express: 6. 28 July 1894.
- ^ Athletic News Football Annual. Fleet Street: Athletic News. 1894. p. 45.
- ^ "North-east Lancashire Football League". Ramsbottom Observer: 5. 3 July 1891.