Counties chief praises league as Fulwood Amateurs step up

Paul Lawler, the North West Counties League chairman, said he was unsurprised another club is ready to step up after Fulwood Amateurs’ promotion was confirmed on Thursday when the FA published its allocations for the 2025-26 season.

The Preston-based outfit will make their debut in an 18-strong First Division North.

“The [West Lancs] league is very supportive of progression”, said Lawler, (pictured below)

“That gives us confidence that Fulwood, the latest to join this time around, will already be in a strong position by the time it comes to kick a ball.”

Thornton Cleveleys made the same move 12 months ago – finishing 14th in their maiden campaign – following a path trodden before them by the likes of Euxton Villa (2022), Garstang (2018), and Longridge Town (2018).

In contrast, the Cheshire League and the Manchester League haven’t had a member transition into the National League System since FC St Helens and Stockport Georgians respectively three years ago.

MSB Woolton are graduating from the Liverpool County Premier League as champions this summer – the first to do so from that competition since Lower Breck stormed to the title unbeaten back in 2018.

Meanwhile, Maghull (2024), Ashville (2022), and South Liverpool (2021) have made successful applications from the West Cheshire Amateur League in the same period.

Lawler cites Charnock Richard, after claiming five West Lancashire League Premier Division titles in the previous eight seasons, as a seminal case following their promotion in 2016.

He said: “We worked with Charnock Richard for more than a decade to help them prepare to join us.

“It can feel like a daunting prospect for those clubs that haven’t had to think about ground grading or development plans in the past.

“They might consider themselves as ambitious, but don’t know where to start.

“While as a league we have a part to play in that process, we’ve noticed a real spirit of collaboration between clubs in that area.

“For example, we know Charnock Richard talked a lot to Euxton Villa and that relationship has really borne fruit when you look at the improvements that have been made at the latter’s ground.

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if either of those two have had a conversation with Fulwood to advise them.”

Fulwood, under the management of Phil Blackwell after he succeeded Tony Hesketh in the dugout last summer, ended their centenary campaign with a fourth-place finish in the league’s top flight.

Supported by assistant Dean Crossen, that duo will lead the club into a new chapter in the North West Counties League just over 30 years on from Fulwood’s West Lancashire League bow in the 1993-94 season.

They were promoted from Division Two on goal difference at the first attempt.