Midlands 3 East (North) Explained

Midlands 3 East (North)
Current Season:2019–20 Midlands 3 East (North)
Sport:Rugby union
Founded: (as Midlands East 2)
Teams:12
Champion:Ashby (2nd title)
Season:2019–20
(promoted to Midlands 2 East (North)
Most Champs:Ashbourne, Ashby, Grimsby, Oakham
Count:2
Website:England RFU

Midlands 3 East (North) is a level 8 English Rugby Union league and level 3 of the Midlands League, made up of teams from the northern part of the East Midlands region including clubs from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the occasional team from Leicestershire, with home and away matches played throughout the season. When this division began in 1992 it was known as Midlands East 2, until it was split into two regional divisions called Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) ahead of the 2000–01 season. Further restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 2009–10 season, led to the current name of Midlands 3 East (North).

Promoted teams tend to move up to Midlands 2 East (North) while demoted teams typically drop to Midlands 4 East (North). Each year all clubs in the division also take part in the RFU Senior Vase - a level 8 national competition.

2021–22

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Ashfield Polly Bowls Sports Ground Relegated from Midlands 2 EN (12th)
Bakewell Mannerians Lady Manners School 8th
Belper Strutts Playing Field 7th
Princess Royal Sports Arena 2,000 Promoted from Midlands 4 EN (champions)
Buxton Sunnyfields 4th
East Retford Ordsall Road Promoted from Midlands 4 EN (runners-up)
Springfield 5th
Kesteven Woodnook 6th
Eakring Road 1,000 9th
Mellish War Memorial Ground 3rd
Nottingham Casuals Weir Field Recreation Ground Relegated from Midlands 2 EN (11th)
Sileby Platts Lane 10th

2020–21

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was cancelled.

2019–20

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Ashby Nottingham Road Relegated from Midlands 2 EN (12th)
Bakewell Mannerians Lady Manners School 10th
Belper Strutts Playing Field 4th
Buxton Sunnyfields 6th
Springfield Promoted from Midlands 4 EN (champions)
Kesteven Woodnook 5th
Eakring Road 1,000 9th
Mellish War Memorial Ground Promoted from Midlands 4 EN (runners up)
Ferryfields 7th
Moor Lane 8th
Sileby Platts Lane Promoted from Midlands 4 ES (runners up)
Southwell Pentelowes Relegated from Midlands 2 EN (11th)

2018–19

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Ashfield Polly Bowls Sports Ground Promoted from Midlands 4 East (North) (champions)
Bakewell Mannerians Lady Manners School Relegated from Midlands 2 East (North) (12th)
Belper Strutts Playing Field 9th
Buxton Sunnyfields 10th
Kesteven Woodnook 5th
Eakring Road 1,000 3rd
Nottingham Casuals Weir Field Recreation Ground Relegated from Midlands 2 East (North) (11th)
Ferryfields 11th
Moor Lane 4th
Sleaford David Williams Pavilion 6th
Spalding Memorial Field 8th
Tupton North Side Promoted from Midlands 4 East (North) (runners up)

2017–18

Participating teams & locations

TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious season
Ashby Nottingham Road 5th
Belper Strutts Playing Field 3rd
Co-Op Sports Ground 9th
Buxton Sunnyfields 4th
Springfield 10th
Kesteven Woodnook Relegated from Midlands 2 East (North) (11th)
West Park 1,000 Promoted from Midlands 4 East (North) (champions)
Eakring Road 1,000 7th
Ferryfields Promoted from Midlands 4 East (North) (runners up)
Moor Lane 8th
Sileby Town Platts Lane Level transfer from Midlands 3 East (South)
Sleaford David Williams Pavilion 5th
Spalding Memorial Field Relegated from Midlands 2 East (North) (12th)

Teams 2016-17

Teams 2015-16

Teams 2014-15

Teams 2013-14

Teams 2012–13

Teams 2011–12

Teams 2010–11

Teams 2008–09

Original teams

Teams in Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single division called Midlands 2 East, which contained the following sides when it was introduced in 1992:

Midlands 3 East (North) honours

Midlands East 2 (1992–1993)

Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South) were originally part of a single tier 8 division called Midlands East 2. Promotion was to Midlands East 1 and relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands East 2
SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference
1992–93 14 Kettering [1]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands East 2 (1993–1996)

The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North, meaning that Midlands 2 East dropped to become a tier 9 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands East 2
SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference
1993–94 13 Long Buckby [2]
1994–95 13 Ilkeston [3]
1995–96 13 Lutterworth No relegation [4]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands East 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands East 2 returned to being a tier 8 league. Promotion continued to Midlands East 1 while relegation was to either East Midlands/Leicestershire 1 or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands East 2
SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference
1996–97 17 Northampton Men's Own [5]
1997–98 17 Dunstablians [6]
1998–99 17 Luton
1999–2000 17 Market Bosworth No relegation
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 4 East (North) (2000–2006)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands East 2 split into two tier 8 regional leagues - Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South). Promotion was now to Midlands 3 East (North) and relegation to either Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West.

Midlands East 4 East (North)
SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference
2000–01 10 Matlock [7]
2001–02 10 Loughborough Students [8]
2002–03 10 Mellish [9]
2003–04 10 Grimsby [10]
2004–05 10 Oakham [11]
2005–06 10 Ashbourne No relegation [12]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 4 East (North) (2006–2009)

Midlands 4 East (North) continued to be a tier 8 league with promotion up into Midlands 3 East (North). However, the cancellation of Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 East and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire/Leicestershire 1 West at the end of the 2005–06 season meant that relegation was now to the newly introduced Midlands 5 East (North).

Midlands East 4 East (North)
SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference
2006–07 12 Grimsby [13]
2007–08 12 Bakewell Mannerians [14]
2008–09 12 Market Rasen & Louth No relegation [15]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Midlands 3 East (North) (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 4 East (North) and Midlands 4 East (South) were renamed as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South), with both leagues remaining at tier 8. Promotion was now to Midlands 2 East (North) (formerly Midlands 3 East (North)) and relegation to Midlands 4 East (North) (formerly Midlands 5 East (North)).

Midlands East 3 (North)
SeasonNo. of teamsChampionsRunners-upRelegated teamsReference
2009–10 11 Oakham [16]
2010–11 12 Ashbourne [17]
2011–12 12 Dronfield [18]
2012–13 12 Melbourne [19]
2013–14 12 Ashby [20]
2014–15 12 Melton Mowbray M[21]
2015–16 12 Kesteven [22]
2016–17 12 Lincoln [23]
2017–18 13 Long Eaton [24]
2018–19 12 Nottingham Casuals [25]
2019–20 12 Ashby [26]
2020–21 12
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. 1993. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
  2. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. 1994. Headline. 0-7472-7891-1. 164–167.
  3. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. 1995. Headline. 0-7472-7850-4. 176–179.
  4. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline. 0-7472-7816-4. 192–195.
  5. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. 1997. Headline. 0-7472-7771-0. 156–159.
  6. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99. 1998. Headline. 0-7472-7653-6. 90–93.
  7. Web site: 2000-2001 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  8. Web site: 2000-2001 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  9. Web site: 2002-2003 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  10. Web site: 2003-2004 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  11. Web site: 2004-2005 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  12. Web site: 2005-2006 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  13. Web site: 2006-2007 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  14. Web site: 2007-2008 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  15. Web site: 2008-2009 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  16. Web site: 2009-2010 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  17. Web site: 2010-2011 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  18. Web site: 2011-2012 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  19. Web site: 2012-2013 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  20. Web site: 2013-2014 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 7 March 2015.
  21. Web site: 2014-2015 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2015.
  22. Web site: 2015-2016 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2016.
  23. Web site: 2016-2017 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 22 April 2017.
  24. Web site: 2017-2018 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 28 April 2018.
  25. Web site: 2018-19 Midlands Division. England Rugby. RFU. 13 April 2019.
  26. Web site: Men's Midlands Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20. England Rugby. 25 April 2020.