The teams of the north-west have traditionally dominated English football. While there are currently more southern clubs in the Premier League than northern ones, this does not mean the region is no longer capable of attracting top talent.
Of course, Manchester and Liverpool dominate the scene; inevitable when between them they share four of the most historic and successful football clubs in the country. However, there are also some great non-league clubs in the region, not least Warrington Town, currently enjoying one of the most successful and exciting periods in the club’s history.
Warrington Town
The Yellows began the 2016-17 season as Northern Premier League Division One North champions. Their promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, sees them playing at a higher level than ever before. Unsettled management, and difficulties for semi-professional players in managing a busy fixture list while holding down full-time jobs has meant it’s been a bumpy road, but still one heading towards a bright future.
Liverpool and Everton
In the Premier League, Everton are the ‘best of the rest’, sitting just outside the title-challenging top six. The club’s been spending money on young talent as well as proven players, and manager Ronald Koeman’s side is a formidable one on its day.
Arch rivals Liverpool, meanwhile, have blossomed under Jürgen Klopp, and are contenders for a Premier League title that would be the club’s first in 27 years, and 888sport has previously suggested that the Reds could be the only club that can stop Chelsea this season.
City and United
Manchester City aren’t doing as well as anticipated under new manager Pep Guardiola this season. The Spaniard has a wealth of attacking talent, such as Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Sergio Agüero, at his disposal, yet goals, as well as clean sheets, are proving difficult for his side to come by.
At Manchester United, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimović are the big names; while the former has flattered to deceive, the latter is proving as prolific as ever. Former Evertonian Wayne Rooney, while now a peripheral figure at Old Trafford, is one goal away from becoming United’s record goalscorer.
The pick of the rest
Wigan Athletic are now back in the Championship after a season in League One, but are struggling to keep their heads above water in the second tier, while Altrincham were relegated to National League North, the sixth tier of English football, last season.
Runcorn Linnets finished second in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division – the ninth tier – last season, while Runcorn Town had to make do with 13th. Meanwhile, 1874 Northwich, founded in 2012 and fully-owned by its supporters, has already made its way to fourth in the same league, and look set to go from strength to strength. Warrington Town’s old rivals, Widnes, are currently in the top ten of the Hallmark Security League First Division, which is nine levels below the Premier League.
Although the north-west may not have dominated the top tier over the past few years as it has over the last four or five decades, there’s no shortage of great clubs in the area. The lower leagues provide the opportunity to see football played for the love of it up close and personal, while clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United continue to bring some of the best footballers in the world to the region.
