The 1996–97 National Division 4 North was the tenth full season of rugby union within the fourth tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 2 North, and the last using the name National Division 4 North. Changes to the league structure by the RFU at the start of the season saw National Division 4 revert to two regional divisions (National Division 4 North and National Division 4 South), while Courage League Division 5 North and South were split back into regional leagues - North 1, Midlands 1, London 1 and South West 1. This meant that National Division 4 North increased from 10 to 14 teams (28 overall) with multiple teams coming up from the discontinued Division 5.
Worcester were deserving champions, going undefeated in the league to take the title and only promotion spot to the 1997–98 National Division 1 (formerly National Division 3), 11 points clear of runners up Birmingham & Solihull. While Worcester were deserving champions, Stoke-on-Trent and Hereford were easily the worst teams in the division and as a consequence were the two sides to go down, well short of safety. Both sides would drop to Midlands 1. The reason Division 4 North had less relegation places compared to Division 4 North (2 to 4) was that 3 out of 4 of the teams relegated from the division above were based in the south of the country, requiring more places to accommodate for their arrival the following season.
Structure
Each team played home and away matches against each of the other teams, playing a total of twenty-six matches each. The league champions were promoted to the new-look National League 1 while the bottom four sides dropped to either North 1 or Midlands 1 depending on locality.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonAspatria Bower Park3,000 (300 seats) Aspatria, Cumbria9thBirmingham & Solihull Sharmans Cross 4,000 Solihull, West Midlands Promoted from National 5 North (3rd)Hereford Wyeside 3,200 (200 seats)Hereford, Herefordshire Promoted from Midlands 1 (1st)Kendal Mint Bridge 4,600 (600 seats)Kendal, Cumbria Promoted from National 5 North (9th)Lichfield Cooke Fields 5,460 (460 seats) Lichfield, Staffordshire Promoted from National 5 North (12th)Manchester Grove Park 4,000 Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester Promoted from North 1 (1st)Nuneaton Liberty Way3,800 (500 seats)Nuneaton, Warwickshire Promoted from National 5 North (10th)Preston Grasshoppers Lightfoot Green 2,250 (250 seats) Preston, Lancashire Promoted from National 5 North (8th)SandalMilnthorpe Green Sandal Magna, Wakefield, West Yorkshire Promoted from National 5 North (6th)SheffieldAbbeydale Park 3,300 (100 seats) Dore, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Promoted from National 5 North (5th)Stoke-on-Trent Hartwell Lane 2,000Barlaston, Staffordshire Promoted from National 5 North (11th)Stourbridge Stourton Park 3,500 (450 seats) Stourbridge, West Midlands Promoted from National 5 North (7th)Winnington ParkBurrows Hill 5,000Northwich, CheshirePromoted from National 5 North (4th)Worcester Sixways 8,477 Worcester, Worcestershire Promoted from National 5 North (2nd)
League table
Sponsorship National Division 4 North is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery. This was their tenth and final season of sponsorship.
See also 1996–97 National Division 1 1996–97 National Division 2 1996–97 National Division 3 1996–97 National Division 4 South
Notes
References