The Northern Counties Walking Football League

Hope you’re all injury-free from yesterday!

Just a couple of reminders.

As per last season, please play in astroturf trainers only. For player safety, we request that no studs are worn. We will be spot-checking next month. Your managers were all briefed again this season, so please respect player safety.

Squads - remember that we do not permit player transfers. Once you play for a team, you’re in that squad for the season. If you’re short of players, please contact Mick Lowley in advance and he’ll help solve the problem.

Any questions, please ask your manager to contact Mick Lowley on email

Results and tables now available for 50’s and 60’s after Match Day 1 of the NCL

Famous Fives Football Leagues - Northern Counties Walking Football 50s Famous Fives Football Leagues Northern Counties Walking Football 50s Page

Winter Walking Footy in Wakefield

Famous Fives are pleased to announce that the 5th season of The Northern Counties WFL will commence in September/October 2024. Once again, with 2 recently relaid pitches, we will be playing indoor at Wakefield Football Centre, bringing you 3 games of 25 minutes per visit.

Can Leggy Mambos make it 5 in a row? Can one of the Wakefield sides make a claim? Will current NPL champions Denton make a bid? Fellow Mancunian’s Kingsmaid are in great form in the NPL and will fancy themselves. The Lincolnshire sides Grimsby and Gainsborough will have something to say about that, as will Leeds teams Morley and Rothwell and fellow Tykes Doncaster. Our favourite North Easterners Hartlepool might fancy their chances or step up to the newly created 60’s league.

Yes, there will be a 60’s league on the same day.

We are currently working on dates for the season. Last season, each 50’s team had 22 fixtures each, with a 12 team league. We can’t finalise dates until we know the number of teams.

Our venue is just off the M1 in Wakefield, so suitable for entrants from as far south as Nottingham, as far north as Durham, as far west as Liverpool and as far east as Hull.

It would be fantastic to see a Hull team back or some Red Rose challengers. I believe the Nottingham boys enjoyed the Barnsley tournament and we are not much further away. Cone and join us.

For existing teams, please spread the word and let’s make this bigger and better.

For new entrants, message Mick Lowley or myself and we’ll help you.

Remember, it’s 50’s AND 60’s leagues from now on. One Sunday a month over winter in Wakey, 11am to 1pm. What’s not to like?

Looking forward to match day 3 at Wakefield today. Safe travels to everyone. If you want to take any pictures and add comments (be nice!), please do so.

Can Leggy Mambos make it 9/9 wins? 3 Wakefield teams go into battle against them today…

The following is an excerpt from WFLA. Our league is a member and with that, we are entitled to 2 key aspects.

1. You can all enter the National Cup competition (knockout). Nick Young took Leeds to finals day last year

2. Our league winners qualify for the League Champions Cup

The following text gives you more information, including how to register for the National cup and key dates.

The WFLA held a Tournament Committee meeting on Monday 23rd October, where the 2024 tournament formats, dates, entry fees etc were discussed and agreed.

The dates for the three tournaments and registration forms are on the WFLA website - https://wfla.uk/

The Inter League Cup and League Champions Cup entry fees remain at this years £65. We did look at reducing this fee but we have had to take into account, following feedback from competing teams, the cost of a professional first aider at the Grand Finals as well as other increased costs.

The National Cup entry fee is now £15 but where last years £65 fee for the Grand Finals was charged, for the 2024 Grand Finals we hope to reduce this significantly dependant on the number of entries to this tournament.

Please note the following points-

1. The League Champions Cup would be for the champions only and the runners up would no longer be eligible. If the champions didn't enter for whatever reason then the runners up in that league would take their place.

2. The finalists in all three tournaments will be reduced from eight teams to six teams in each age category which would make it a worthwhile six team round robin format.

3. If qualifying rounds were needed it should be on a central venue for those teams involved. No caged pitches are allowed.

4. If a league doesn't run certain age categories they could still enter teams in the Inter League Cup.

5. National Cup - these rounds would now be multi team events staged and organised by our member leagues. It may be possible for the smaller leagues to get together to organise these earlier rounds. Any team that plays in different leagues would need to decide which league they were entering under.

6. Teams may only enter through one entry point. For example Grimsby Corinthians 50s play in two affiliated leagues. They can only enter via one qualifying event and not both.

7. Players may only represent one club at any single age category. For example AN Other plays with Rovers 60+ in one affiliated league and United 60+ in a second affiliated league. AN Other can only play with one team in the competition NOT both.

8. Finals Dates
Inter League Cup - Sunday 12th May
League Champions Cup - Sunday 16th June
National Cup
Round 1 - 1st January to 31st March
Round 2 - 1st April to 31st May
Round 3 - 1st June to 31st July
Round 4 Finals - Saturday & Sunday 7th & 8th September

The following deadline dates for registration were agreed upon -
League Champions Cup - 29th February 2024
Inter League Cup - 29th February 2024
National Cup - 20th December 2023

News - WFLA Click X Icon For Twitter Login WFLA Cup Tournaments 2024 The registration forms for the 2024 WFLA National Cup, Inter League Cup and League Champions Cup can be found HERE. Calendar 2024 WFLA Announce Three New Appointments The … Continue reading →

Long time, no see everyone! Be seeing you all on Sunday 29 October for season 4 of The Northern Counties. Can Leggy Mambos make it 4 in a row?

We are now affiliated to WFLA and with that, our league winners can qualify for Finals Day.

Furthermore, all league members can also apply for the National Knockout Cup competition.

Please see the official WFLA site for information, dates and entry forms

News - WFLA Click X Icon For Twitter Login WFLA Cup Tournaments 2024 The registration forms for the 2024 WFLA National Cup, Inter League Cup and League Champions Cup can be found HERE. Calendar 2024 WFLA Announce Three New Appointments The … Continue reading →

Premier

The Northern Counties got off to a flier last Sunday, as 14 teams from all over the north of England.

Last season's Premier Champions LEGGY MAMBOS picked up where they left off with victories over ATHLETICO WAKEFIELD 6-0 and KINGSMAID 4-0. Athletico's day was not all lost though as they overcame the dark horses DENTON 1-0. DENTON picked themselves up to beat WEST HARTLEPOOL STROLLERS 1-0 in a game dominated by some great defending. Newcomers BLACKBURN ROVERS WALKING FOOTBALL and WAKEFIELD WANDERERS showed why they have title ambitions, after putting on a thrilling 3-3 draw. Rovers went on to beat GRIMSBY CORINTHIANS 5-2, while Wanderers beat KINGSMAID 2-1. GRIMSBY CORINTHIANS and WEST HARTLEPOOL STROLLERS shared 7 goals, with the Strollers edging it 4-3 in a cracking advert for walking football.

Championship

REDOUBT TERRIERS and GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY set the early pace in the Championship. Terriers overcame the much-fancied LEEDS MORLEY 5-3 before a 5-2 victory over last season's League Cup winners YORK VIKINGS.A much improved Trinity side recorded wins over ROTHWELL OLD BOARS and YORK VIKINGS scoring an impressive 9 goals in the proccess.ROTHWELL OLD BOARS took the spoils against newcomers HARROGATE TOWN WALKING FOOTBALL with a 3-0 victory, and in one of the final games of the day LEEDS MORLEY edged home 2- 1 against the Harrogate boys who suffered a couple of injuries that didn't help the "gate" cause.

We go again on the 4th December boys

Looking for 1 more team to complete the Spedding Goldthorpe Northern Counties 50+ League, held in Wakefield and commencing Sunday 6 November.

13 teams currently registered and 14 would make the fixtures a lot easier to plan! Come and challenge yourselves against some of the best teams in Yorkshire, The North East, Manchester and Lincolnshire over the winter period.

Info
2 x 25 min games, back to back
Kick off around midday
Done within an hour
Food included
4 Indoor pitches
FA rules, with several local additions
Runs Nov-April

Contact me or Mick Lowley for more info.

We go again tomorrow with Match Day 2 at Wakefield, run by Mick Lowley.

There may be opportunities for new sides to come down for a friendly on a ‘try before you buy’ basis. Let Mick Lowley know, if you’re interested.

Fixtures for tomorrow are on the usual place. Please be there 30 mins early and watch out for speed cameras 👀

Famous Fives Football Leagues - Northern Counties Walking Football Prem Famous Fives Football Leagues Northern Counties Walking Football Prem Page

Congratulations to inaugural SGNC winners, Leggy Mambos. Still the team to beat and a great set of lads.