1975–76 Northern Premier League
# 1975–76 Northern Premier League

The 1975–76 Northern Premier League was the eighth 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 16 August 1975 and concluded on 1 May 1976.

## Overview

The League featured twenty-four teams.

### Team changes

No clubs were promoted, conversely, none of the clubs were relegated.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Runcorn (C) | 46 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 95 | 42 | 2.262 | 68 | |
| 2 | Stafford Rangers | 46 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 81 | 41 | 1.976 | 67 | |
| 3 | Scarborough | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 84 | 43 | 1.953 | 62 | |
| 4 | Matlock Town | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 96 | 63 | 1.524 | 61 | |
| 5 | Boston United | 46 | 27 | 6 | 13 | 95 | 58 | 1.638 | 60 | |
| 6 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 81 | 42 | 1.929 | 57 | |
| 7 | Altrincham | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 77 | 57 | 1.351 | 54 | |
| 8 | Bangor City | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 80 | 70 | 1.143 | 54 | |
| 9 | Mossley | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 70 | 58 | 1.207 | 53 | |
| 10 | Goole Town | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 58 | 49 | 1.184 | 53 | |
| 11 | Northwich Victoria | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 79 | 59 | 1.339 | 51 | |
| 12 | Lancaster City | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 61 | 70 | 0.871 | 45 | |
| 13 | Worksop Town | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 63 | 56 | 1.125 | 44 | |
| 14 | Gainsborough Trinity | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 58 | 69 | 0.841 | 43 | |
| 15 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 50 | 64 | 0.781 | 42 | |
| 16 | Gateshead United | 46 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 64 | 63 | 1.016 | 41 | |
| 17 | Buxton | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 37 | 62 | 0.597 | 35 | |
| 18 | Skelmersdale United (R) | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 45 | 74 | 0.608 | 34 | Relegated to Lancashire Combination |
| 19 | Netherfield | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 55 | 76 | 0.724 | 33 | |
| 20 | Morecambe | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 47 | 67 | 0.701 | 33 | |
| 21 | Great Harwood | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 58 | 86 | 0.674 | 33 | |
| 22 | South Liverpool | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 45 | 78 | 0.577 | 33 | |
| 23 | Barrow | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 47 | 84 | 0.560 | 33 | |
| 24 | Fleetwood | 46 | 3 | 9 | 34 | 36 | 131 | 0.275 | 15 | Club Folded |

The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.

### Results

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

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Stadium |
| - | - |
| Altrincham | Moss Lane |
| Bangor City | Farrar Road |
| Barrow | Holker Street |
| Boston United | York Street |
| Buxton | The Silverlands |
| Fleetwood | Highbury |
| 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 |
| Skelmersdale United | White Moss Park |
| South Liverpool | Holly Park |
| Stafford Rangers | Marston Road |
| Wigan Athletic | Springfield Park |
| Worksop Town | Central Avenue |

## Cup results

### Challenge Cup

| Stage | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1st Leg | Boston United | 4–0 | Mossley Town |
| 2nd Leg | Mossley Town | 1–2 | Boston United |
| Aggregate | Boston United | 5–2 | Mossley |

### Northern Premier League Shield

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

| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| - | - | - |
| Boston United | beat | Runcorn |

### FA Cup

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

Second Round

| Home Team | Score | Away Team | |
| - | - | - | - |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2–0 | Wigan Athletic | |
| Stafford Rangers | 1–3 | Halifax Town | |
| Scarborough | 3–2 | Preston North End | |
| Gateshead United | 1–1 | Rochdale | |
| Rochdale | 3–1 | Gateshead United | Replay |

Third Round

| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| - | - | - |
| Scarborough | 1–2 | Crystal Palace |

### FA Trophy

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

Fourth Round

| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| - | - | - |
| Bedford Town | 1–2 | Runcorn |
| Scarborough | 1–0 | Tooting & Mitcham United |
| Stafford Rangers | 2–0 | Hillingdon Borough |

Semi-finals

| Stage | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1st Leg | Scarborough | 1–0 | Enfield |
| 2nd Leg | Enfield | 0–0 | Scarborough |
| Aggregate | Scarborough | 1–0 | Enfield |
| 1st Leg | Stafford Rangers | 1–0 | Runcorn |
| 2nd Leg | Runcorn | 0–0 | Stafford Rangers |
| Aggregate | Stafford Rangers | 1–0 | Runcorn |

Final

| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| - | - | - |
| Scarborough | 3–2 | Stafford Rangers |

## End of the season

At the end of the eighth season of the Northern Premier League none of the teams put forward for election received enough votes to be promoted to the Football League. Skelmersdale United resigned and Fleetwood folded.

### Football League elections

Alongside the four Football League teams facing re-election, a total of nine non-League teams applied for election, three of which were from the Northern Premier League. All four Football League teams were re-elected.

| Club | League | Votes |
| - | - | - |
| Stockport County | Football League | 42 |
| Newport County | Football League | 41 |
| Southport | Football League | 38 |
| Workington | Football League | 21 |
| Yeovil Town | Southern League | 18 |
| Kettering Town | Southern League | 14 |
| Wigan Athletic | Northern Premier League | 6 |
| Wimbledon | Southern League | 3 |
| Chelmsford City | Southern League | 3 |
| Nuneaton Borough | Southern League | 2 |
| Telford United | Southern League | 2 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | Northern Premier League | 1 |
| Scarborough | Northern Premier League | 1 |

### Promotion and relegation

The number of clubs reduced from twenty-four clubs to twenty-three clubs for the following season.

The following two clubs left the League at the end of the season:

* Skelmersdale United resigned, demoted to Lancashire Combination
* Fleetwood folded

The following club joined the League the following season:

* Frickley Athletic promoted from Midland League (1889)
