NPL West welcomes five new teams for next season

The line-up of teams contesting the Pitching In Northern Premier League West in 2025-26 has been announced.

Five new teams will enter the division - these include Bury and Lower Breck, champions and Play-off winners, respectively of the North West Counties Premier Division.

Shifnal Town won the Play-off Final in the Midlands League Premier Division while Darlaston Town and Sporting Khalsa have been moved laterally from fellow Step 4 Division, NPL Midlands.

Khalsa, based in Willenhall, and Darlaston finished just outside the play-off positions in 2024-25, in sixth and seventh places, respectively.

Wythenshawe Town have been retrieved from relegation, having finished fourth from bottom last season.

This results from Farsley Celtic failing to be awarded a Step 1-4 club licence and requesting to be considered for placement at Step 5 or 6.

Title-winning Widnes and Play-off winners Hednesford Town have been promoted to NPL Premier but none of its relegated teams have been allocated a place in the West.

City of Liverpool, Hanley Town and Wythenshawe take the drop.