A 4th place finish in the Mid-Cheshire League Second Division and winning the Second Division cup beating Knutsford 1-0 in the final was not a bad first season in the new league.

The 1980/81 season was a disappointment as the club finished in it's worst league position.The cup competitions though were a success,the new Staffordshire FA Vase was introduced by the Staffordshire FA to replace the Intermediate Cup,16 clubs from North and South of the County were invited to take part.Hanley Town had the honour of being the first winners defeating Chasetown over two legs,the first leg away at Chasetown ended 0-0,the return leg at Abbey Lane in front of 1000 spectators Hanley winning 2-1.The League Cup was also retained after beating Linotype 2-1.

In the 1981/82 season the club finally became Mid-Cheshire League Champions by a six point margin and only two defeats in the league all season.The clubs attempt to defend the Staffordshire FA Vase was almost successful as we reached the final again,only to lose over two legs 2-0 to neighbours Eastwood Hanley.

The following three seasons were mediocre, but in 1986/87 and 1987/88 season under the managerial reins of Peter Ward the seasons provided the club with some success. Two third place finishes in the Mid-Cheshire League, a League Cup success beating Kidsgrove Athletic 3-1 after extra-time in the final, the Leek Cup, the Newcastle Charities Cup were won, and the club were inaugural winners of the Congleton Floodlit Cup. The reserves during this period were Staffordshire Alliance League Premier Division Runners-Up, Premier Division Cup winners. The club started a youth team, the team playing in the Staffordshire County Minor Youth League, they finished Runners-Up in the league, won the Subsidiary Cup and won the Sentinel Shield.

In 1988 the club applied for membership of the North West Counties League, but with new ground grading being introduced at the time the club failed in it's application. With club's the application to join the North West Counties League being turned down the first team left to play at a higher level for Nantwich Town who were in the North West Counties League at the time. In 1988/89 ex Stoke City, Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra player Terry Lees was given the task of rebuilding an entire new first team, and over the next few years began to assemble a team that were gradually climbing the table, but Terry had to step down in 1993 due to other commitments outside of football.
And so began a slow decline by the club to which the club in 1995 nearly folded.

HANLEY TOWN FC