In the past, the league has also hosted clubs from North Wales such as Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay, and Rhyl.

The league is a member of the Joint Liaison Council which administers the Northern arm of the National Football System in England.

As part of the Football Association's ongoing restructure of the National League System,[5] the First Division was regionalised in 2018.

[7] Four clubs have won a Premier Division/Division One and League Challenge Cup double,[8] Ashton United in 1992, Kidsgrove Athletic in 1998, F.C.

[9] For sixteen years the league's record attendance was 1,353 for a Division One championship decider between Radcliffe Borough and Caernarfon Town in 1983.

In 2006, a new record was set, with 6,023 at Gigg Lane for a Division Two match between FC United of Manchester and Great Harwood Town on 23 April.

[11] The following season saw a record 4,058 for an evening match, at Salford City's Division One home game against FC United of Manchester.

A tertiary competition, the Floodlit Trophy, operated on weeknights from 1990 to 2000, as well a reserve league and cup which were disbanded in 2014.