L&C Ready for new horizons

After an excllent season in 2025.26 the Lancashire and Cheshire Football League has been working hard and making great progress in the close season.

L&C Chairman Mike Yates (Pictured with new President Antony Lockley) said: “I gave  a warm welcome to the 117th AGM for the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League for the season 2025-26.

“I am now in my 17th season coming up and in all my time I have never had the pleasure of introducing so many new clubs (fourteen) and teams at an AGM so that is fantastic news for the future of the league .

“It shows what a healthy position it is in - word gets around about how our committee goes the extra mile to help clubs so they can provide football to the young adults of Greater  Manchester and beyond.

“We are going to stay with the six divisions but increase the numbers in each division as we now have seventy-nine teams -  we finished last season on sixty-four teams , so there will be no need for supplementary cups to provide extra games . “We have a new President from Village Manchester FC Antony Lockley and two new members to committee Fintan Jordan, referee administration and Rob O’Connor club grants/liaison.

“To summarise season 2025-26 we had some outstanding club performances; without doubt Rushford Park firsts were the team of the season doing the double winning the Premier Division and the Rhodes Cup. “Bollington and AFC Oldham chased them all the way in the league and in one of the best cup finals in many years they beat East Manchester Galaxy .

“Rushford Park as a club then won the Aggregate Cup as their reserves were runners up in Division A, a truly memorable season for them, but unfortunately the squad is breaking up as some players are leaving and the remainder are joining new club Wythenshawe Wanderers .

“In Division One, East Manchester Galaxy won the title narrowly beating Didsbury and Oldham Hulmeians by odd points . Moorside finished comfortable winners of Division Two, great news for a new club to the league and finishing with a goal difference of eighty-seven, runners up were Heywood St James Reserves .

“Waterhead were worthy winners of division three beating Fitton Hill All Stars into runners-up spot by three points.

“It was a memorable season for Signol Athletic not only undefeated champions of Division A winning by ten points but completing the treble by winning the Whitehead Cup and the Keith Marsden Supplementary Cup .

“Finally Division B saw Oldham Hulmeians reserves as worthy champions, undefeated all season and winning by eight points from runners up Stoconians reserves .

“The Rhodes Cup won by Rushford Park and the Wray Cup won by Saddleworth were both played at the excellent West Didsbury and Chorlton FC .

“We hired a similar high standard facility at Prestwich Heys for the Whitehead Cup Final.

“A great day was also had at Bedians FC, courtesy of Rob O’Connor, where the two Supplementary Cup Finals were played simultaneously, Oldham Hulmeians winning the Geoff Garnett Cup in a penalty shoot-out. “Other notable winners of awards were Trafford United - Fair Play, Secretary of the Year - Emma Miller AFC Stockport, Referee of the Year - Bradley Williams, Young Referee of the Year- Daniel Matson

 “Moving forward we are pleased to say we won’t be putting up any of the fees for next season, in fact we haven’t done since 2012 , however we are doing some cost-cutting exercises.

“We had an enjoyable Sunday presentation afternoon at South West Manchester Cricket Club where lots of trophies and medals were given out.

“It’s good to meet with clubs in an informal setting over a drink and buffet and we will continue with this presentation format next season- upwards and onwards!!”