Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 2
Thu 13th August 2026 | Five Things | By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. The World's Oldest Cup Competition
The FA Cup returned last weekend for 2026/27! All 20 Premier Division sides made their bows across Saturday and Sunday, with eight winning their matches in the Extra-Preliminary round outright, with a ninth, Droylsden, getting the job done in a replay.
Highlights were many, include Euxton Villa hitting Atherton LR for six without reply, South Liverpool edging out Ramsbottom United 4-2 in a back-and-forth thriller, and Nelson taking one step closer to big Wembley from Little Wembley, outdoing Stockport Georgians in a 3-2 win.
2. The Edward Case Cup is here!
This past weekend didn't just see the return of the FA Cup, but also, the Edward Case! The NWCFL's ol' reliable First Division Trophy saw a few interesting scorelines be recorded in Saturday's Preliminary Round.
By far the most eye-popping was Fulwood Amateurs 8-2 demolition of tournament debutants Halewood Apollo at Lightfoot Green Lane. But they weren't the only big winners - Flixton and Maine Road also scored four without reply against Ashton Athletic and AFC Blackpool respectively.
3. Droylsden's 12th man returns
After Saturday's FA Cup EP round finished as a tie at Burscough's Community Ground for visiting Droylsden, their replay fixture that took place on Tuesday emanated from their Butchers Arms stadium. Now that they have played their first two competitive home games of the season, their next will see the return of their fans!
After some unsavoury scenes following their play-off final victory on home soil against Maghull in the First Division North last season, Droylsden were ordered to play their first two competitive home games of the new campaign behind closed doors. Following Tuesday's 3-0 replay victory over the Linnets, and ahead of next Tuesday's home fixture against FC Isle of Man, those doors will be opened once more.
4. Nobody's perfect in the North
The campaign is only two weeks old, and we might already have all the evidence in front of us for a tense and unpredictable season of football in the First Division North. Already, every perfect record that previously existed in the division has been extinguished.
As of the time of writing, joint leaders Maghull and Holker Old Boys have one each in the loss column, with all the unbeaten teams remaining (Woolton, Daisy Hill, Ashton Athletic and, interestingly, 13th placed Darwen FC) having a tally in their draw column. If anyone can beat anyone, we might be in for a topsy-turvy season.
5. Flixton the place to be for thrillers
Flixton already bagged plenty of headlines with their re-emergence into semi-pro football before the season started, and now they're bagging even more by virtue of the sheer number of goals that seem to be scored in every game they play.
Since their opening day 1-1 draw against Squires Gate, the Valley Road side haven't featured in a game where one side has failed to score at least four. They shipped so many against Cammell Laird 1907 in a 4-3 defeat; scored so many in a 4-0 clean sheet against Ashton Athletic in the ECC, and went one better in a 5-2 win against Halewood Apollo in midweek.
Five Things We Learned 2026/27: Week 2
Thu 13th August 2026 | Five Things
By Jay Cooper
Another week, another series of matches from the NWCFL. Let's run through the best and worst of what the last week has had to offer.
1. The World's Oldest Cup Competition
The FA Cup returned last weekend for 2026/27! All 20 Premier Division sides made their bows across Saturday and Sunday, with eight winning their matches in the Extra-Preliminary round outright, with a ninth, Droylsden, getting the job done in a replay.
Highlights were many, include Euxton Villa hitting Atherton LR for six without reply, South Liverpool edging out Ramsbottom United 4-2 in a back-and-forth thriller, and Nelson taking one step closer to big Wembley from Little Wembley, outdoing Stockport Georgians in a 3-2 win.
2. The Edward Case Cup is here!
This past weekend didn't just see the return of the FA Cup, but also, the Edward Case! The NWCFL's ol' reliable First Division Trophy saw a few interesting scorelines be recorded in Saturday's Preliminary Round.
By far the most eye-popping was Fulwood Amateurs 8-2 demolition of tournament debutants Halewood Apollo at Lightfoot Green Lane. But they weren't the only big winners - Flixton and Maine Road also scored four without reply against Ashton Athletic and AFC Blackpool respectively.
3. Droylsden's 12th man returns
After Saturday's FA Cup EP round finished as a tie at Burscough's Community Ground for visiting Droylsden, their replay fixture that took place on Tuesday emanated from their Butchers Arms stadium. Now that they have played their first two competitive home games of the season, their next will see the return of their fans!
After some unsavoury scenes following their play-off final victory on home soil against Maghull in the First Division North last season, Droylsden were ordered to play their first two competitive home games of the new campaign behind closed doors. Following Tuesday's 3-0 replay victory over the Linnets, and ahead of next Tuesday's home fixture against FC Isle of Man, those doors will be opened once more.
4. Nobody's perfect in the North
The campaign is only two weeks old, and we might already have all the evidence in front of us for a tense and unpredictable season of football in the First Division North. Already, every perfect record that previously existed in the division has been extinguished.
As of the time of writing, joint leaders Maghull and Holker Old Boys have one each in the loss column, with all the unbeaten teams remaining (Woolton, Daisy Hill, Ashton Athletic and, interestingly, 13th placed Darwen FC) having a tally in their draw column. If anyone can beat anyone, we might be in for a topsy-turvy season.
5. Flixton the place to be for thrillers
Flixton already bagged plenty of headlines with their re-emergence into semi-pro football before the season started, and now they're bagging even more by virtue of the sheer number of goals that seem to be scored in every game they play.
Since their opening day 1-1 draw against Squires Gate, the Valley Road side haven't featured in a game where one side has failed to score at least four. They shipped so many against Cammell Laird 1907 in a 4-3 defeat; scored so many in a 4-0 clean sheet against Ashton Athletic in the ECC, and went one better in a 5-2 win against Halewood Apollo in midweek.
