1976–77 Northern Premier League

(Redirected from Northern Premier League 1976–77)

Football league season

Northern Premier League
Season	1976–77
Champions	Boston United
Promoted	None
Relegated	None
Matches played	506
Goals scored	1,494 (2.95 per match)
Biggest home win	Gainsborough Trinity 7–0 Great Harwood (5 February 1977)
Biggest away win	South Liverpool 0-8 Bangor City (2 January 1977)
Highest scoring	Scarborough 5-3 Wigan Athletic (6 November 1976) Bangor City 4-4 Matlock Town (27 November 1976) South Liverpool 0-8 Bangor City (2 January 1977) Worksop Town 1-7 Altrincham (12 March 1977) Frickley Athletic 2-6 Matlock Town (9 April 1977) Great Harwood 4-4 Scarborough (5 May 1977) Gainsborough Trinity 5–3 Stafford Rangers (29 March 1977)
Longest winning run	8 matches Lancaster City (11 September 1976 - 11 October 1976)
Longest unbeaten run	19 matches Northwich Victoria (6 February 1977 – 18 May 1977)
Longest winless run	11 matches Buxton (23 October 1976 – 5 February 1977)
Longest losing run	8 matches Barrow (11 April 1977 – 30 April 1977)
← 1975–76 1977–78 →

The 1976–77 Northern Premier League was the ninth season of the Northern Premier League, a regional football league in Northern England, the northern areas of the Midlands and North Wales. The season began on 21 August 1976 and concluded on 20 May 1977.

Overview

The League featured twenty-three teams for the first time. The systems of goal average was replaced by goal difference.

Team changes

The following club left the League at the end of the previous season:

Skelmersdale United resigned, demoted to Lancashire Combination
Fleetwood folded

The following club joined the League at the start of the season:

Frickley Athletic promoted from Midland League (1889)

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Relegation
1	Boston United (C)	44	27	11	6	82	35	+47	65
2	Northwich Victoria	44	27	11	6	85	43	+42	65
3	Matlock Town	44	26	11	7	108	57	+51	63
4	Bangor City	44	22	11	11	87	52	+35	55
5	Scarborough	44	21	12	11	77	66	+11	54
6	Goole Town	44	23	6	15	64	50	+14	52
7	Lancaster City	44	21	9	14	71	58	+13	51
8	Gateshead United	44	18	12	14	80	64	+16	48	Club Folded. A new club formed Gateshead replaced
9	Mossley	44	17	14	13	74	59	+15	48
10	Altrincham	44	19	9	16	60	53	+7	47
11	Stafford Rangers	44	16	14	14	60	55	+5	46
12	Runcorn	44	15	14	15	58	50	+8	44
13	Worksop Town	44	16	12	16	50	58	−8	44
14	Wigan Athletic	44	14	15	15	62	54	+8	43
15	Morecambe	44	13	11	20	59	75	−16	37
16	Gainsborough Trinity	44	13	10	21	58	74	−16	36
17	Great Harwood	44	11	14	19	63	84	−21	36
18	Buxton	44	11	13	20	48	63	−15	35
19	Macclesfield Town	44	8	15	21	41	68	−27	31
20	Frickley Athletic	44	11	8	25	53	93	−40	30
21	Barrow	44	11	6	27	56	87	−31	28
22	South Liverpool	44	10	8	26	51	104	−53	28
23	Netherfield	44	9	8	27	47	92	−45	26

Updated to match(es) played on 20 May 1977. Source: The Football Archives
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. The points system up until the 1982–83 season: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
(C) Champions

Results

Home \ Away	ALT	BAN	BRW	BOS	BUX	FRK	GAI	GAT	GOO	GHA	LNC	MAC	MAT	MOR	MOS	NET	NOR	RUN	SCA	SLI	STA	WIG	WOK
Altrincham		1–0	3–2	0–0	2–0	2–2	4–1	1–0	4–1	4–1	1–0	1–2	1–0	3–1	1–0	4–1	0–3	0–2	0–1	0–0	0–3	1–3	0–0
Bangor City	1–1		6–0	1–1	1–1	1–0	1–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–0	1–0	4–4	1–0	3–0	3–1	1–2	0–0	1–0	4–1	2–0	0–0	2–0
Barrow	0–1	0–3		0–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–2	1–2	1–0	0–2	4–3	0–3	3–1	2–3	2–2	3–1	0–1	1–2	1–2	1–1	4–1	0–1
Boston United	4–0	1–3	2–0		2–0	3–0	2–0	1–1	1–0	3–0	3–2	1–0	1–5	6–0	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
Buxton	0–0	4–2	0–1	1–5		0–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	0–1	1–0	1–5	3–0	1–1	0–0	0–1	0–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–2
Frickley Athletic	1–1	1–2	4–0	0–3	1–2		3–2	2–0	1–5	3–1	0–1	1–1	2–6	0–2	0–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	4–1	3–0	0–0	2–0	0–0
Gainsborough Trinity	0–1	2–1	4–0	0–2	2–1	3–2		0–0	0–1	7–0	0–3	2–0	0–4	1–2	0–1	2–1	2–2	0–0	2–0	3–2	5–3	0–0	1–0
Gateshead United	1–2	5–1	3–2	3–1	0–1	3–2	4–1		2–1	5–1	3–1	1–1	1–3	3–3	1–1	3–2	3–0	1–0	0–1	5–0	2–0	2–0	0–3
Goole Town	2–1	2–3	1–0	0–2	3–1	3–0	2–0	3–2		0–1	2–0	1–0	0–1	0–0	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	3–2	4–2	0–0	0–1	1–1
Great Harwood	1–3	2–2	0–2	3–0	3–2	5–2	2–2	2–2	0–2		1–0	0–1	2–2	3–2	0–3	0–1	1–1	2–2	4–4	4–1	2–2	2–0	5–0
Lancaster City	1–0	2–1	1–3	1–2	2–1	1–3	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1		3–1	4–3	3–2	2–0	3–0	1–1	3–1	1–2	5–2	1–2	1–1	1–1
Macclesfield Town	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–0	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–1	1–2	1–3	0–0		0–3	1–1	1–3	0–3	2–2	1–1	0–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–0
Matlock Town	5–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–2	4–2	2–2	5–1	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–0		2–1	2–2	3–2	1–4	2–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–1	4–3
Morecambe	3–0	1–3	0–5	0–1	1–1	5–0	1–2	1–1	1–0	0–1	4–1	0–0	0–1		3–2	2–0	0–3	1–1	1–2	3–2	1–2	1–0	5–1
Mossley	2–1	3–2	1–0	2–1	1–1	4–0	5–0	2–2	2–5	2–1	3–0	1–2	1–2	1–1		4–1	1–1	3–2	0–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1
Netherfield	1–0	1–3	3–1	0–3	3–2	1–3	2–1	1–1	0–1	0–0	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–2	1–1		1–3	2–2	0–3	2–3	1–0	1–0	0–1
Northwich Victoria	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–3	1–1	5–0	1–0	2–1	3–0	2–1	1–0	2–0	3–2	2–2	3–1	4–1		1–3	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–0	1–0
Runcorn	2–1	0–0	1–2	0–1	1–1	4–0	2–1	2–1	2–1	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2	4–1	0–4	2–2	1–2		1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–1
Scarborough	1–0	2–3	3–3	2–1	1–0	4–2	3–2	3–3	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–2	3–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1		0–1	1–0	5–3	3–1
South Liverpool	1–0	0–8	1–1	0–0	2–1	3–1	1–1	0–3	1–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–3	3–0	2–5	2–2	1–2	0–4	5–1		2–1	0–3	0–2
Stafford Rangers	1–1	0–5	2–1	0–1	2–0	3–0	1–0	2–2	1–0	3–0	0–2	2–0	0–0	0–1	0–0	6–1	1–1	3–0	3–1	3–2		3–1	1–1
Wigan Athletic	1–2	2–1	5–2	1–1	3–1	4–1	3–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–1	0–0	1–3	3–0	1–2		2–0
Worksop Town	1–7	2–3	2–0	1–1	1–0	2–0	2–0	2–1	0–1	1–1	0–1	4–1	0–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–1	1–0	1–0	0–1	3–2	1–1

Updated to match(es) played on 20 May 1977. Source: The Football Archives
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Worksop Town class=notpageimage| Locations of the 1976–77 Northern Premier League teams

Team	Stadium
Altrincham	Moss Lane
Bangor City	Farrar Road
Barrow	Holker Street
Boston United	York Street
Buxton	The Silverlands
Frickley Athletic	Westfield Lane
Gainsborough Trinity	The Northolme
Gateshead United	Gateshead Youth Stadium
Goole Town	Victoria Pleasure Ground
Great Harwood	The Showground
Lancaster City	Great Axe
Macclesfield Town	Moss Rose
Matlock Town	Causeway Lane
Morecambe	Christie Park
Mossley	Seel Park
Netherfield	Parkside
Northwich Victoria	Drill Field
Runcorn	Canal Street
Scarborough	Athletic Ground
South Liverpool	Holly Park
Stafford Rangers	Marston Road
Wigan Athletic	Springfield Park
Worksop Town	Central Avenue

Cup results

Challenge Cup

Main article: Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Scarborough	1–0	Runcorn

Northern Premier League Shield

Main article: Northern Premier League Shield

Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup.

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Boston United	beat	Scarborough

FA Cup

Main article: 1976–77 FA Cup

Out of the twenty-four clubs from the Northern Premier League, only three teams reached the second round:

Second Round

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Mansfield Town	2–5	Matlock Town
Northwich Victoria	4–0	Peterborough United
Wrexham	1–1	Goole Town
Goole Town	0–1	Wrexham	Replay

Third Round

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Carlisle United	5–1	Matlock Town
Northwich Victoria	3–2	Watford

Fourth Round

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Carlisle United	5–1	Matlock Town
Northwich Victoria	1–3	Oldham Athletic

FA Trophy

Main article: 1976–77 FA Trophy

Out of the twenty-four clubs from the Northern Premier League, three teams reached the fourth round:

Fourth Round

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Scarborough	1-1	Nuneaton Borough
Nuneaton Borough	0-1	Scarborough	Replay
Slough Town	2-0	Morecambe
Weymouth	0-0	Altrincham
Altrincham	2-1	Weymouth	Replay

Semi-finals

Stage	Home Team	Score	Away Team
1st Leg	Scarborough	2-0	Altrincham
2nd Leg	Altrincham	2-0	Scarborough
Aggregate	Scarborough	2-2	Altrincham
Replay	Scarborough	0-0	Altrincham
2nd Replay	Scarborough	2-1	Altrincham

Final

Home Team	Score	Away Team
Scarborough	3-2	Dagenham

End of the season

At the end of the ninth season of the Northern Premier League, Altrincham who put forward for election did not receive enough votes to be promoted to the Football League.

Football League elections

Alongside the four Football League teams facing re-election, two non-League teams, one from the Northern Premier League and the other from the Southern League. Applied to be elected. Three out of the four Football League teams were re-elected. Wimbledon from the Southern League replaced Workington from the Football League as they didn't receive enough votes. Workington was subsequently relegated to the Northern Premier League.

Club	League	Votes
Halifax Town	Football League Division Four	44
Hartlepool	Football League Division Four	42
Southport	Football League Division Four	37
Wimbledon	Southern League Premier Division	27
Workington	Football League Division Four	21
Altrincham	Northern Premier League	12

Promotion and relegation

The following club left the League at the end of the season:

Gateshead United folded. A new club formed Gateshead replaced.

The following club joined the League the following season:

Workington relegated from Football League Fourth Division

References

^ "The Football Archives 76-77". The Football Archives.
A history of admission to the Football League

External links

Northern Premier League

2024–25
clubs

Premier Division	Ashton United Bamber Bridge Basford United Blyth Spartans FC United of Manchester Gainsborough Trinity Guiseley Hebburn Town Hyde United Ilkeston Town Lancaster City Leek Town Macclesfield Matlock Town Mickleover Morpeth Town Prescot Cables Stockton Town Warrington Rylands 1906 Whitby Town Workington Worksop Town
Division One East	Ashington Belper Town Bishop Auckland Bradford (Park Avenue) Bridlington Town Brighouse Town Carlton Town Cleethorpes Town Consett Dunston UTS Emley Garforth Town Grimsby Borough Heaton Stannington Liversedge Newton Aycliffe North Ferriby Ossett United Pontefract Collieries Sheffield Sherwood Colliery Stocksbridge Park Steels
Division One Midlands	AFC Rushden & Diamonds Anstey Nomads Bedworth United Boldmere St Michaels Coleshill Town Corby Town Coventry Sphinx Darlaston Town (1874) Grantham Town Hinckley LRFC Long Eaton United Loughborough Students Lye Town Quorn Racing Club Warwick Rugby Town Shepshed Dynamo Sporting Khalsa Sutton Coldfield Town Walsall Wood Wellingborough Town Worcester City
Division One West	Atherton Collieries Avro Bootle Chasetown City of Liverpool Clitheroe Congleton Town Hanley Town Hednesford Town Kidsgrove Athletic Mossley Nantwich Town Newcastle Town Runcorn Linnets Stafford Rangers Stalybridge Celtic Trafford Vauxhall Motors Widnes Witton Albion Wythenshawe Wythenshawe Town

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1976–77 in English football

« 1975–76 1977–78 »

National teams

League competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)
Levels 5–6	Isthmian League (One, Two) Northern Premier League (level 5 only) Southern League (Premier, One North, One South)
Levels 7–9	Athenian League (One, Two) Cheshire County League (level 7 only) Eastern Counties League (level 7 only) Essex Senior League (level 7 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Kent League (level 7 only) Lancashire Combination (level 7 only) London Spartan League (One, Two) Midland Football Combination (level 7 only) Midland League (Premier, One) Northern League (level 7 only) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (Premier, One, Two) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 7 only) Western League (Premier, One) Yorkshire League (One, Two, Three)

Cup competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final) Charity Shield FA Trophy (Final) FA Vase
Football League cups	League Cup (Final)

European competitions

Club seasons
First Division	Arsenal Aston Villa Birmingham City Bristol City Coventry City Derby County Everton Ipswich Town Leeds United Leicester City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Middlesbrough Newcastle United Norwich City Queens Park Rangers Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion West Ham United
Second Division	Blackburn Rovers Blackpool Bolton Wanderers Bristol Rovers Burnley Cardiff City Carlisle United Charlton Athletic Chelsea Fulham Hereford United Hull City Luton Town Millwall Nottingham Forest Notts County Oldham Athletic Orient Plymouth Argyle Sheffield United Southampton Wolverhampton Wanderers
Third Division	Brighton & Hove Albion Bury Chester Chesterfield Crystal Palace Gillingham Grimsby Town Lincoln City Mansfield Town Northampton Town Oxford United Peterborough United Port Vale Portsmouth Preston North End Reading Rotherham United Sheffield Wednesday Shrewsbury Town Swindon Town Tranmere Rovers Walsall Wrexham York City
Fourth Division	Aldershot Barnsley Bournemouth Bradford City Brentford Cambridge United Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Doncaster Rovers Exeter City Halifax Town Hartlepool United Huddersfield Town Newport County Rochdale Scunthorpe United Southend United Southport Stockport County Swansea City Torquay United Watford Workington

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