The North-East Lancashire League was an association football competition for clubs in Lancashire, which ran from 1889 to 1894.
| Founded | 1889 |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 1895 |
| Region |  England |
| Number of teams | 10–12 |
| Most successful club(s) | Accrington reserves/Burnley reserves, 2 titles each |
History
editThe 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)
- Ramsbottom
- Rawtenstall
The first champion was Brierfield, who beat Burnley Union Star in the final match to leapfrog the Stars into the top spot.[2]
Reserve sides of Football League clubs were allowed into the competition from 1890–91, and the other titles were won by them; Accrington's reserves in 1890–91 (having won its first 15 games)[3] and 1891–92, and Burnley's reserve side, Burnley Swifts, in the next two seasons.[4] The 1893–94 season was the League's last, as, at the season end, it was absorbed into the Lancashire Combination;[5] 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.[6]
Membership changes
edit| Year | Team leaving | Team joining |
|---|---|---|
| 1890–91 | Bell's Temperance, Burnley Union Star, Haslingden Association, Padiham | Accrington reserves, Blackburn Rovers reserves, Burnley Swifts, Clitheroe |
| 1891–92 | Blackburn Rovers reserves, Colne, Darwen Rovers, Haslingden Church Institute[7] | Bell's Temperance, Darwen reserves, Oswaldtwistle Rovers, Padiham |
| 1892–93 | Darwen reserves | Haslingden Association |
| 1893–94 | Church, Haslingden Association | none |
References
edit- ^ "North-east Lancashire Football League". Bacup Times: 5. 4 May 1889.
- ^ "Football". Burnley Express: 4. 14 May 1890.
- ^ "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.