Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 1
Thu 6th August 2026 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
We’re back! After a year off last season, this article series is returning, and will release weekly on a Thursday.
With the first league matches of the season having been played last weekend, let’s run through the best and worst of what the last seven days have had to offer.
1. Goals galore for Burscough
Phil Stafford’s arrival from AFC Liverpool has been the headline story coming out of Burscough over the course of the summer, and it seems as though the board’s decision to appoint the new gaffer is paying dividends.
They began the season with a home game against last season’s play-off near-misses Prestwich Heys, and took them apart, winning 4-1. On Tuesday evening, they went on the road to face FC St Helens in a greater Liverpool derby, and came out on top in a seven-goal thriller, winning 5-2 to top the table.
2. Cammell Laird 1907 hitting and being hit for six
Away from the Premier Division, if you want goals, it seems as though you can find them pretty easily at the OWS Engineering Ltd Stadium.
Cammell Laird 1907, who were laterally moved to the North from the South ahead of the new season, lost their opening game in a five-goal affair, but won their second in a seven-goal outing. You can tell the season is still very new when the same team have the joint-second most goals scored and conceded in the league.
3. False start for the Chevrons
Steeton will want to forget the last seven days of football. The team from the Marley Stadium have had the toughest of starts in their opening two matches of the First Division North, firstly going down 5-0 away from home to first-week table-toppers Daisy Hill.
Hoping for redemption on home soil against Holker Old Bys. They were again beaten and unable to score against their opponents in a 2-0 defeat, leaving them bottom of the table with a -7 goal difference. The only way is up, at least.
4. Welcome to the NWCFL, Halewood Apollo
The First Division North’s newest arrivals, Halewood Apollo, did not exist 13 years ago. And yet, here they are, taking Step Six of the non-league pyramid by storm in their first two games of the season.
Joseph Stocks’ men won 3-1 on the opening day away at reprieved Garstang, before making it two from two, again away from home, defeating laterally moved Ashville 2-1 on Tuesday. Message sent!
5. Welcome to the NWCFL, AFC Bridgnorth
It would seem that Halewood Apollo are not the only ones! AFC Bridgnorth have started their maiden NWCFL campaign with two wins on the trot, both of which were attained in pretty comprehensive fashion.
They began the season with a 3-1 victory over Foley Meir, who finished mid-table last season in the First Division South. On Wednesday, they followed that up with a 4-0 dismantling of fellow new arrivals Bilston Town away from home, to go joint top of the division alongside Eccleshall and Stafford Town.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 1
Thu 6th August 2026 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
We’re back! After a year off last season, this article series is returning, and will release weekly on a Thursday.
With the first league matches of the season having been played last weekend, let’s run through the best and worst of what the last seven days have had to offer.
1. Goals galore for Burscough
Phil Stafford’s arrival from AFC Liverpool has been the headline story coming out of Burscough over the course of the summer, and it seems as though the board’s decision to appoint the new gaffer is paying dividends.
They began the season with a home game against last season’s play-off near-misses Prestwich Heys, and took them apart, winning 4-1. On Tuesday evening, they went on the road to face FC St Helens in a greater Liverpool derby, and came out on top in a seven-goal thriller, winning 5-2 to top the table.
2. Cammell Laird 1907 hitting and being hit for six
Away from the Premier Division, if you want goals, it seems as though you can find them pretty easily at the OWS Engineering Ltd Stadium.
Cammell Laird 1907, who were laterally moved to the North from the South ahead of the new season, lost their opening game in a five-goal affair, but won their second in a seven-goal outing. You can tell the season is still very new when the same team have the joint-second most goals scored and conceded in the league.
3. False start for the Chevrons
Steeton will want to forget the last seven days of football. The team from the Marley Stadium have had the toughest of starts in their opening two matches of the First Division North, firstly going down 5-0 away from home to first-week table-toppers Daisy Hill.
Hoping for redemption on home soil against Holker Old Bys. They were again beaten and unable to score against their opponents in a 2-0 defeat, leaving them bottom of the table with a -7 goal difference. The only way is up, at least.
4. Welcome to the NWCFL, Halewood Apollo
The First Division North’s newest arrivals, Halewood Apollo, did not exist 13 years ago. And yet, here they are, taking Step Six of the non-league pyramid by storm in their first two games of the season.
Joseph Stocks’ men won 3-1 on the opening day away at reprieved Garstang, before making it two from two, again away from home, defeating laterally moved Ashville 2-1 on Tuesday. Message sent!
5. Welcome to the NWCFL, AFC Bridgnorth
It would seem that Halewood Apollo are not the only ones! AFC Bridgnorth have started their maiden NWCFL campaign with two wins on the trot, both of which were attained in pretty comprehensive fashion.
They began the season with a 3-1 victory over Foley Meir, who finished mid-table last season in the First Division South. On Wednesday, they followed that up with a 4-0 dismantling of fellow new arrivals Bilston Town away from home, to go joint top of the division alongside Eccleshall and Stafford Town.
