The North West Men's League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a successor league for the Rugby League Conference also comprising clubs from the North West Counties League following most of the latter switching to summer to follow the National Conference League.
The North West Men's League comes from the merger of elements from two strands of rugby league: the British Amateur Rugby League Association and Rugby League Conference.
The British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) was created in 1973 by a group of enthusiasts concerned about the dramatic disappearance of many amateur leagues and clubs. BARLA merged the Leigh, Manchester, St Helens, Warrington, Widnes and Wigan districts into a new North West Counties league and created an elite National Conference League, this saw a revitalisation of the game in heartland areas of the North West of England.
In contrast, the Rugby League Conference (RLC) was born in 1997 as the Southern Conference, a 10-team pilot league for teams in the South of England and English Midlands taking place in the summer time rather than the traditional winter season. It led to the creation of many new teams in non-traditional areas; the first North West team to join the new league were the Chester Wolves; more teams from the North West joined the following season and a Northern Division was set up with teams from the North West and the North Midlands. Following a big expansion to the Rugby League Conference in 2003, the North West got its own regional division.
By 2008, there were enough sides for a higher level North West Premier division to be created and in 2010, a North West Merit League was created out of existing merit leagues.
With the RLC growing rapidly, some BARLA sides chose to leave traditional winter leagues and join the summer-based RLC. However, in 2011, the National Conference League, voted to switch to a summer season and most of the reserve teams followed. There was a short season from September to November in 2011 with teams from British Amateur Rugby League Association league North West Counties league playing in two divisions under the name North West Men's League.
The Rugby League Conference was replaced in 2012 by a series of locally administered leagues. This saw the North West Men's League merge with the RLC North West Premier and regional divisions as well as the North West merit league to create a six division structure.
HindleyClock Face MinersWidnes St Maries VikingsAshton BearsShevington SharksHaydock WarriorsHaresfinchRylands SharksWidnes West BankFolly LaneHeysham AtomeWigan St Cuthbert's (failed to complete the season but results stood)Halton Simms CrossThatto Heath Crusaders AWigan Spring ViewChorley PanthersWigan St Jude's A (failed to complete the season)Hindpool TigersBamber BridgeSt Helens Wildboars (failed to complete the season)Latchford AlbionWigan St Patrick's AHalton Farnworth HornetsLeigh Miners Rangers AAccrington Panthers (failed to complete the season)Bank Quay BullsWoolston Rovers AOldham St Anne's A (failed to complete the season)Rochdale Mayfield AGolborne ParksideLeyland WarriorsWidnes TigersOrrell St JamesBury BroncosLeigh East APilkington Recs ABurtonwood BridgeWigan BulldogsFitton Hill BulldogsLittle Hulton RedsBolton MetsCrosfields ABlackpool ScorpionsEccleston LionsWesthoughton LionsWidnes West Bank A (failed to complete the season)Culcheth EaglesChester GladiatorsRylands Sharks ARochdale CobrasWidnes St Maries Vikings A (failed to complete the season)Manchester RangersCadishead RhinosGarswood StagsRuncornBury Broncos ABurtonwood Bridge A (failed to complete the season)Chester Gladiators AHaresfinch AOrrell St James ASalford City Roosters ALittleboroughLangworthy RedsMancuniansBurnley & PendleLiverpool LionsSouthport StormWigan Bulldogs ABury Broncos BHeysham Atoms ALatchford Albion ABlackbrook AFolly Lane AManchester Rangers ANorth West TigersBank Quay Bulls ARochdale Cobras ABamber Bridge AManchester CanalsidersNB: Other teams in higher divisions can enter as wellBank Quay BullsClock Face MinersHalton Simms CrossWidnes St Maries VikingsAshton BearsShevington SharksHaydock WarriorsHalton Farnworth Hornets (failed to complete the season)HaresfinchWidnes West BankFolly LaneUlverstonThatto Heath Crusaders ALeigh East ABold MinersWigan Spring ViewChorley PanthersWigan St Jude's AHeysham AtomsHindpool TigersBamber BridgeSt Helens WildboarsSaddleworth Rangers A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Irlam Hornets (failed to complete the season, results stood)Latchford AlbionLeigh Miners Rangers AWigan St Patrick's AAccrington PanthersCulcheth EaglesPortico VineWoolston Rovers AOldham St Anne's ARochdale Mayfield AWidnes West Bank A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Blackbrook A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Rylands SharksPilkington Recs ABurtonwood BridgeWesthoughton LionsWigan BulldogsAshton Bears AFitton Hill & Hathershaw BulldogsBury BroncosLittle Hulton RedsBolton MetsWidnes TigersOrrell St JamesLangworthy RedsChester GladiatorsCrosfields AMancunians(failed to complete the season, results stood)New Springs Legion Lions (failed to complete the season, results expunged)Blackpool ScorpionsRylands Sharks ARochdale CobrasWidnes St Maries Vikings AEast Manchester RangersLeyland WarriorsCadishead RhinosEccleston LionsAshton Bears BBamber Bridge ABank Quay Bulls ABlackpool Sea EaglesBolton Mets ABurnley & PendleBurtonwood Bridge ABury Broncos ACadishead Rhinos AChester Gladiators AClock Face Miners AEccles AFolly Lane AGarswood StagsHaresfinch AHeysham Atoms AHigginshawLancashire PoliceLiverpool LionsManchester CanalsidersMancunians ARochdale Cobras ARuncornWigan St Cuthberts AWoolston Rovers Bentered other divisions and entry league:
Culcheth EaglesDee Valley DragonsNew Springs LionsWigan Bulldogsentered but did not play:
Hindley AInce Rose Bridge ALatchford Albion AWaterhead ABank Quay BullsClock Face MinersHalton Simms CrossWidnes St Maries VikingsAshton BearsShevington SharksRoose Pioneers (failed to complete the season)Haydock WarriorsHalton Farnworth HornetsHaresfinchFolly LaneRochdale Cobras (dropped down to division 5 part way through season)Thatto Heath Crusaders ALeigh East AWigan St Patrick's A (dropped down to division 2 part way through season)Bold MinersWigan Spring ViewLatchford AlbionLeyland Warriors (failed to complete the season, results stood)Leigh Miners Rangers AChorley PanthersWigan St Jude's AHeysham AtomsUlverstonWigan St Patrick's A (dropped down from division 1 part way through season)Hindpool TigersCadishead Rhinos (failed to complete the season, results stood)Bamber BridgeSt Helens WildboarsNewton Storm (dropped down to division 5 part way through the season)Pilkington Recs AEccleston Lions (failed to complete the season, results stood)Accrington PanthersCulcheth EaglesPortico VineWoolston Rovers AHilton Park (failed to complete the season, results expunged)Oldham St Anne's ARochdale Mayfield AInce Rose Bridge A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Widnes West Bank ABlackbrook AWaterhead A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Wigan St Cuthbert's A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Burtonwood BridgeSaddleworth Rangers ACrosfields AChester GladiatorsWigan BulldogsAshton Bears AFitton Hill & Hathershaw BulldogsHindley A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Bury BroncosLittle Hulton RedsBolton MetsWesthoughton LionsMancuniansLatchford Albion A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Widnes TigersOrrell St JamesNew Springs Legion Lions (failed to complete the season, results stood)Blackpool ScorpionsLiverpool Lions (failed to complete the season, results stood)Bury Broncos ARylands SharksRochdale Cobras (dropped down from division 1)Widnes St Maries Vikings A (failed to complete the season, results stood)Newton Storm (dropped down from division 2, failed to complete the season, results expunged)Bank Quay Bulls A (failed to complete the season, results expunged)Hope Valley Hawks (failed to start the season)Orrell St James A (failed to start the season)Leigh Miners Rangers A (failed to start the season)Eccles A (failed to start the season)All division 5 clubs plus:Burnley & PendleBlackpool Sea EaglesEast Manchester RangersWest Craven WarriorsLeyland Warriors (after dropping out of division 1)Cadishead Rangers (after dropping out of division 2)Eccleston Lions (after dropping out of division 2)Newton Storm (after dropping out of division 5)Eccles A (after dropping out of division 5)Hope Valley Hawks (after dropping out of division 5)Rylands Sharks ABank Quay BullsPilkington RecsBlackbrookClock Face Miners (failed to complete the season, results stood)Halton Simms CrossWidnes St Maries VikingsWigan St CuthbertsAshton BearsBarrow IslandNB: Golborne Parkside withdrew midseasonFolly LaneShevington SharksRoose PioneersHaydock WarriorsRochdale CobrasWalney CentralHindleyThatto Heath Crusaders ALeigh East AWigan St Patrick's AWoolston RoversNB: Rylands Sharks withdrew midseasonOldham St Anne's ABold MinersWigan Spring ViewHalton Farnworth HornetsHaresfinchLatchford AlbionLeyland WarriorsLeigh Miners Rangers ARochdale Mayfield AChorley PanthersWigan St Jude's AInce Rose Bridge AWarrington Wizards A (midseason replacements for Widnes St Maries A; also failed to complete the season but results stood)Heysham AtomsUlverstonHindpool TigersCadishead RhinosBamber BridgeBank Quay Bulls AWidnes West Bank ASt Helens WildboarsBlackbrook A (failed to complete the season but results stood)NB: Higginshaw withdrew midseason.Waterhead A (failed to complete the season but results stood)Newton StormPilkington Recs AEccleston LionsWigan St Cuthbert's ABurtonwood BridgeAccrington PanthersFolly Lane A (failed to complete the season but results stood)Wigan RiversidersEccles & Salford Roosters ASaddleworth Rangers AChester GladiatorsWigan BulldogsWoolston Rovers AAshton Bears AFitton Hill & Hathershaw Bulldogs (failed to complete the season but results stood)Hindley ABury BroncosCulcheth EaglesLittle Hulton RedsCrosfields APortico VineBolton MetsBlackpool StanleyBlackpool ScorpionsBurnley & PendleCrosby St Mary'sHeysham AtomsLiverpool CityBury Broncos AWesthoughton LionsMancuniansManor ParkRochdale Cobras ALatchford Albion ABurtonwood Bridge AChorley Panthers AWarrington Wizards A (called up to division 3 midseason)Wigan RiversidersNB: Heysham Atoms, Wigan Riversiders and Warrington Wizards A also played in higher divisions.Latchford AlbionThatto Heath Crusaders ALeyland WarriorsBank Quay BullsCadishead RhinosBamber BridgeWigan St Patricks AFolly LaneAdlington RangersLeigh East AHindleyBurtonwood BridgeBank Quay Bulls ALittle Hulton RedsChorley PanthersAccrington PanthersChester GladiatorsBury BroncosWigan RiversidersFolly Lane ABolton MetsNewton StormHindley AWidnes West Bank ACulcheth Eagles[1]
NB:
9 National Conference League clubs will reserve their reserve teams in a separate reserve league in the interim season: Leigh Miners Rangers, Wigan St Judes, Ince Rose Bridge, Crosfields, Eccles & Salford Roosters, Rochdale Mayfield, Oldham St Anne's, Waterhead and Saddleworth Rangers2012 Pilkington Recs2013 Haltons Simms Cross 26-19 Widnes St Maries2011201220112012 Halton Farnworth Hornets201220122012