# 1978–79 Northern Premier League

The 1978–79 Northern Premier League was the eleventh 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 19 August 1978 and concluded on 21 May 1979.

## Overview

The League featured twenty-three clubs.

### Team changes

The following two clubs left the League at the end of the previous season:
* Wigan Athletic promoted to Football League Fourth Division
* Great Harwood folded
The following club joined the League at the start of the season:
* Southport demoted from Football League Fourth Division

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Mossley (C) | 44 | 32 | 5 | 7 | 117 | 48 | +69 | 69 | |
| 2 | Altrincham (P) | 44 | 25 | 11 | 8 | 93 | 39 | +54 | 61 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 3 | Matlock Town | 44 | 24 | 8 | 12 | 100 | 59 | +41 | 56 | |
| 4 | Scarborough (P) | 44 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 52 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 5 | Southport | 44 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 52 | |
| 6 | Boston United (P) | 44 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 40 | 33 | +7 | 52 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 7 | Runcorn | 44 | 21 | 9 | 14 | 79 | 54 | +25 | 51 | |
| 8 | Stafford Rangers (P) | 44 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 67 | 41 | +26 | 50 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 9 | Goole Town | 44 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 56 | 61 | −5 | 49 | |
| 10 | Northwich Victoria (P) | 44 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 64 | 52 | +12 | 47 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 11 | Lancaster City | 44 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 62 | 54 | +8 | 46 | |
| 12 | Bangor City (P) | 44 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 65 | 66 | −1 | 44 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 13 | Worksop Town | 44 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 55 | 67 | −12 | 40 | |
| 14 | Workington | 44 | 16 | 7 | 21 | 62 | 74 | −12 | 39 | |
| 15 | Netherfield | 44 | 13 | 11 | 20 | 39 | 69 | −30 | 37 | |
| 16 | Barrow (P) | 44 | 14 | 9 | 21 | 47 | 78 | −31 | 37 | Promoted to Alliance Premier League |
| 17 | Gainsborough Trinity | 44 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 52 | 67 | −15 | 36 | |
| 18 | Morecambe | 44 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 55 | 65 | −10 | 35 | |
| 19 | Frickley Athletic | 44 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 58 | 70 | −12 | 35 | |
| 20 | South Liverpool | 44 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 85 | −37 | 34 | |
| 21 | Gateshead | 44 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 42 | 63 | −21 | 33 | |
| 22 | Buxton | 44 | 11 | 9 | 24 | 50 | 84 | −34 | 31 | |
| 23 | Macclesfield Town | 44 | 8 | 10 | 26 | 40 | 92 | −52 | 26 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ALT | BAN | BRW | BOS | BUX | FRK | GAI | GAT | GOO | LNC | MAC | MAT | MOR | MOS | NET | NOR | RUN | SCA | SLI | SOU | STA | WRK | WOK |
| Altrincham | | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 |
| Bangor City | 1–1 | | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Barrow | 1–6 | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Boston United | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Buxton | 0–4 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–6 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 |
| Frickley Athletic | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 6–0 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 |
| Gateshead United | 0–3 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| Goole Town | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Lancaster City | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | | 5–3 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Macclesfield Town | 1–5 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| Matlock Town | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Morecambe | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Mossley | 1–1 | 3–0 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 |
| Netherfield | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–6 | 0–0 | 1–3 | | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Northwich Victoria | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Runcorn | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Scarborough | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| South Liverpool | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Southport | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Stafford Rangers | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 7–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Workington | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 6–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | | 3–0 |
| Worksop Town | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–5 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | |

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium |
| Altrincham | Moss Lane |
| Bangor City | Farrar Road |
| Barrow | Holker Street |
| Boston United | York Street |
| Buxton | The Silverlands |
| Frickley Athletic | Westfield Lane |
| Gainsborough Trinity | The Northolme |
| Gateshead United | Gateshead Youth Stadium |
| Goole Town | Victoria Pleasure Ground |
| 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 |
| South Liverpool | Holly Park |
| Southport | Haig Avenue |
| Stafford Rangers | Marston Road |
| Workington | Borough Park |
| Worksop Town | Central Avenue |

## Cup results
### Challenge Cup

| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| Mossley | 4–1 | Northwich Victoria |

### Northern Premier League Shield

Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup. As Mossley won both the Northern Premier League and the Challenge Cup, Altrincham qualified as 2nd placed team of the NPL.
| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| Altrincham | beat | Mossley |

### FA Cup

Only two of the twenty-four Northern Premier League clubs reached the second round:
Second Round
| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| Droylsden | 0–2 | Altrincham |
| York City | 3–0 | Scarborough |
Third Round
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Altrincham | |
| Altrincham | 0–3 | Tottenham Hotspur | Replay |

### FA Trophy

Two of the twenty-four Northern Premier League clubs reached the fourth round:
Fourth Round
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | |
| Bishop Auckland | 1–1 | Stafford Rangers | |
| Stafford Rangers | 3–1 | Bishop Auckland | Replay |
| Runcorn | 2–1 | Hayes | |
Semi-finals
| Stage | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| 1st Leg | Runcorn | 1–2 | Stafford Rangers |
| 2nd Leg | Stafford Rangers | 1–1 | Runcorn |
| Aggregate | Stafford Rangers | 3–2 | Runcorn |
Final
| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| Stafford Rangers | 2–0 | Kettering Town |

## End of the season

At the end of the eleventh season of the Northern Premier League, Altrincham who was put forward for election did not receive enough votes to be promoted to the Football League.
The Alliance Premier League was established as a new, national top division of non-League football. Seven Northern Premier League clubs and thirteen clubs from the Premier Division of the Southern League joined the newly created Alliance Premier League. The remaining clubs in the Northern Premier League had effectively been relegated down one tier in the English football league system.

### Football League elections

Alongside the four Football League clubs facing re-election, two non-League clubs, one from the Northern Premier League and the other from the Southern League, applied to be elected. All four Football League clubs were re-elected.
| Club | League | Votes |
| Doncaster Rovers | Football League Division Four | 50 |
| Crewe Alexandra | Football League Division Four | 49 |
| Darlington | Football League Division Four | 43 |
| Halifax Town | Football League Division Four | 37 |
| Altrincham | Northern Premier League | 13 |
| Kettering Town | Southern League Premier Division | 12 |

### Promotion and relegation

The number of clubs reduced from twenty-three to twenty-two for the following season.
The following seven clubs left the league at the end of the season:
* Altrincham promoted to Alliance Premier League
* Bangor City promoted to Alliance Premier League
* Barrow promoted to Alliance Premier League
* Boston United promoted to Alliance Premier League
* Northwich Victoria promoted to Alliance Premier League
* Scarborough promoted to Alliance Premier League
* Stafford Rangers promoted to Alliance Premier League
The following six clubs joined the league the following season:
* Burton Albion promoted from Southern League Division One North
* Grantham promoted from Southern League Division One North
* Marine promoted from Cheshire County League Division One
* Oswestry Town promoted from Southern League Division One North
* Tamworth promoted from Southern League Division One North
* Witton Albion promoted from Cheshire County League Division One