The West Riding County Amateur League season of 2012-13 can best be summed up in one word – long!

The 1956-57 campaign was curtailed at the beginning of June without any decision being decided on who were the champions but otherwise the season just completed has been the longest since 1962-63, when no games were played over a three-month period.

With five Saturdays seeing every scheduled fixture postponed, clubs faced a spell of matches over a six-week duration when some were playing three times a week in order to wipe out the backlog.

Steeton moved top of the Premier Division in early September and, apart from the odd weekend, held on to that position until the last Saturday in April.

That date saw them beat Kirkburton 9-0 at home but still slip to second as defending champions Ovenden West Riding hammered relegated Overthorpe 17-0. Yet the title still went to Bay Athletic, who won 13 of their last 15 games over a crowded six weeks – including 2-0 wins over both Ovenden and Steeton, who had to settle for runners-up spot. Tyersal – who managed only one point from their first three games – finished fourth, 11 points adrift of Steeton.

Campion had a forgettable season, finishing third from bottom after winning only seven of their 26 league games and losing in the first round of three cup competitions.

Salts, who had finally gained promotion back to the top flight after being relegated at the end of 1996-97, took their time to get adjusted but finished a creditable ninth.

Huddersfield YMCA easily won Division One after finishing five points ahead of second-placed Hunsworth.

Wibsey, who – along with Lower Hopton – had been hoping to bounce straight back up following relegation, both had to settle for a mid-table finish.

Ventus-Yeadon Celtic won their first three league games and looked serious contenders but fell away to end up in the lower half of the table.

Steeton Reserves gained promotion from Division Two after finishing second behind Bay Athletic Reserves, with Salts Reserves finishing third.

In the league’s knockout competitions, Ovenden West Riding won the Premier Division Cup with a 3-0 victory over Steeton and Halifax Irish put aside their indifferent league form to beat AFC Emley 4-1 in the Division One Cup final, while Ovenden Reserves lifted the Division Two Cup after beating Salts Reserves 3-0.

Salts lifted the Bradford FA Senior Cup with a 4-1 victory over Fields Reserves, Steeton picked up the Keighley FA Cup with a 3-1 win against Silsden White Star and Bay Athletic beat Marsden 2-1 to lift the Huddersfield FA Cup, while Wakefield City sealed the Wakefield FA Cup by defeating Horbury Town 4-2.