Northern Counties East Football League Explained

Northern Counties East Football League
Pixels:160
Founded:1982
Country:England
Promotion:Level 8
Northern Premier League Division One East
Relegation:Level 10
United Counties League Division One
Level 11
Central Midlands League North Division
Humber Premier League Premier Division
Lincolnshire League
Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
West Yorkshire League Premier Division
York League Premier Division
Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division
Teams:44
20 (Premier Division)
24 (Division One)
Levels:9 and 10
Domest Cup:National
FA Cup
FA Vase
League
League Cup
Season:2023-24
Champions:Emley (Premier Division) 2023-24
Parkgate (Division One)
Current:2024–25 season

The Northern Counties East Football League is a semi-professional English football league. It has two divisions – Premier Division and Division One – which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the English football pyramid respectively.

History

The league was formed in 1982 following the merger of the Yorkshire League and Midland League.[1] For its inaugural season, the league consisted of five divisions. Since then, the league has undergone several changes to the point where since 2018 it has two divisions of 20 teams.

The league has maintained promotion and relegation between its divisions since its beginning. In 2015 a series of play-offs were introduced for the first time to determine a third promotee from Division One.[2]

The competition has several feeder leagues at level 11 of the pyramid, which may provide new member clubs each year:

Clubs are also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deems it geographically suitable to do so.

Current clubs (2024–25)

Premier Division

Division One

Honours

Champions

Season Premier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
align=centre1982–83Shepshed CharterhouseNorth Scarborough Reserves
South Lincoln United		North Rowntree Mackintosh
South Woolley Miners Welfare
align=centre1983–84Spalding UnitedNorth Pontefract Collieries
South Borrowash Victoria		North Harrogate Railway Athletic
South Retford Town
align=centre1984–85Belper TownCentral Armthorpe Welfare
North Farsley Celtic
South Long Eaton United
align=centre1985–86ArnoldNorth Ferriby UnitedLincoln UnitedCollingham
align=centre1986–87Alfreton TownOssett AlbionFrecheville Community Association
align=centre1987–88EmleyYork Railway InstitutePickering Town
align=centre1988–89EmleySheffieldOssett Town
align=centre1989–90Bridlington TownRowntree MackintoshWinterton Rangers
align=centre1990–91GuiseleySheffieldHall Road Rangers
align=centre1991–92North ShieldsStocksbridge Park Steels
align=centre1992–93Spennymoor UnitedLincoln United
align=centre1993–94Stocksbridge Park SteelsArnold Town
align=centre1994–95Lincoln UnitedHatfield Main
align=centre1995–96Hatfield MainSelby Town
align=centre1996–97Denaby UnitedEccleshill United
align=centre1997–98Hucknall TownGarforth Town
align=centre1998–99Ossett AlbionHarrogate Railway
align=centre1999–2000North Ferriby UnitedGoole
align=centre2000–01Brigg TownBorrowash Victoria
align=centre2001–02Alfreton TownGedling Town
align=centre2002–03Bridlington TownMickleover Sports
align=centre2003–04Ossett AlbionShirebrook Town
align=centre2004–05GooleSutton Town
align=centre2005–06BuxtonCarlton Town
align=centre2006–07Retford UnitedParkgate
align=centre2007–08Winterton RangersDinnington Town
align=centre2008–09Mickleover SportsScarborough Athletic
align=centre2009–10Bridlington TownTadcaster Albion
align=centre2010–11FarsleyStaveley Miners Welfare
align=centre2011–12Retford UnitedHandsworth
align=centre2012–13Scarborough AthleticAlbion Sports
align=centre2013–14Brighouse TownCleethorpes Town
align=centre2014–15Shaw Lane AquaforceClipstone
align=centre2015–16Tadcaster AlbionHemsworth Miners Welfare
align=centre2016–17Cleethorpes TownHall Road Rangers
align=centre2017–18Pontefract CollieriesKnaresborough Town
align=centre2018–19Worksop TownGrimsby Borough
align=centre2019–20Season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic
align=centre2020–21Season curtailed due to local lockdown regulations
align=centre2021–22Grimsby BoroughHallam
align=centre2022-23North FerribyCampion
align=centre2023-24EmleyParkgate

Promoted

Since the league's formation in 1982, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system – normally to the Northern Premier League –

SeasonClubPositionPromoted to
1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1stSouthern League Midland Division
1986–87Alfreton Town
Farsley Celtic
Sutton Town
Harrogate Town
Eastwood Town		1st
2nd
5th
9th
13th		Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Division One
align=centre1988–89Emley1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1989–90Bridlington Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1990–91Guiseley1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1992–93Spennymoor United1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1994–95Lincoln United1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1995–96Stocksbridge Park Steels2ndNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1996–97Belper Town2ndNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1997–98Hucknall Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1998–99Ossett Town2ndNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre1999–2000North Ferriby United1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre2000–01Ossett Albion2ndNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre2001–02Alfreton Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre2003–04Ossett Albion1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre2004–05Goole1stNorthern Premier League Division One
align=centre2005–06Buxton
Harrogate Railway Athletic		1st
3rd		Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Division One
align=centre2006–07Retford United
Sheffield
Carlton Town
Garforth Town		1st
2nd
3rd
4th		Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One North
align=centre2007–08Glapwell2ndNorthern Premier League Division One South
align=centre2008–09Mickleover Sports1stNorthern Premier League Division One South
align=centre2009–10Rainworth Miners Welfare2ndNorthern Premier League Division One South
align=centre2010–11Farsley1stNorthern Premier League Division One North
align=centre2012–13Scarborough Athletic1stNorthern Premier League Division One South
align=centre2013–14Brighouse Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One North
align=centre2014–15Shaw Lane Aquaforce1stNorthern Premier League Division One South
align=centre2015–16Tadcaster Albion1stNorthern Premier League Division One North
align=centre2016–17Cleethorpes Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One South
align=centre2017–18Pontefract Collieries
Pickering Town
AFC Mansfield		1st
2nd
3rd		Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One East
align=centre2018–19Worksop Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One South-East
align=centre2019–20No promotions
align=centre2020–21Bridlington Town
Liversedge
Yorkshire Amateur		Top 3
Northern Premier League Division One East
align=centre2021–22Grimsby Borough1stNorthern Premier League Division One East
align=centre2022–23North Ferriby
Winterton Rangers		1st
2nd		Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One East
align=centre2023–24Emley
Garforth Town		1st
2nd		Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One East

Cup competitions

League Cup

The league currently has one cup competition, the League Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.

Finals

SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upVenueAttendance
1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1–0Sutton Town
1983–84Ossett Albion2–1Ilkeston TownEastwood
1984–85Alfreton Town2–1Long Eaton UnitedEastwood
1985–86Sutton Town1–0Bradley RangersDenaby
1986–87Harrogate Railway Athletic5–0Woolley Miners WelfarePontfract
1987–88York Railway Institute2–1Rowntree MackintoshBootham Crescent
1988–89Bridlington Town3–1EmleyPontefract
1989–90Ossett Town1–0Bridlington TownNorth Ferriby
1990–91Guiseley1–0North Ferriby UnitedOssett - Ingfield
1991–92North Shields5–0Armthorpe WelfareOssett - Queen's Terrace
1992–93Spennymoor United2–1ThackleyOssett - Ingfield
1993–94Hucknall Town4–1ThackleyOssett - Ingfield
1994–95Stocksbridge Park Steels3–0North Ferriby UnitedOssett - Queen's Terrace
1995–96Ashfield United8–2Ossett AlbionBelper
1996–97Hucknall Town3–1Millmoor
1997–98Hucknall Town1–0North Ferriby UnitedHatfield
1998–99Denaby United1–0Selby TownGarforth
1999–00Garforth Town3–1GlapwellOssett - Queen's Terrace
2000–01Sheffield2–1Gedling TownAlfreton
2001–02Alfreton Town4–0Armthorpe WelfareWorksop
2002–03Ossett Albion3–0SheffieldBrigg
2003–04Hallam1–0Mickleover SportsBuxton
2004–05Sheffield2–1Harrogate Railway AthleticOssett - Queen's Terrace250
2005–06Liversedge5–1(agg)Sheffield1L: Sheffield
2L: Liversedge		1L:
2L:
2006–07Mickleover Sports1–1(p)Garforth TownSheffield243
2007–08Winterton Rangers3–1ParkgateStaveley213
2008–09Long Eaton United4–0Selby TownStaveley260
2009–10Dinnington Town5–2Armthorpe WelfareStaveley195
2010–11Farsley3–0Winterton RangersStaveley235
2011–12Thackley3–2Shirebrook TownParkgate272
2012–13Thackley3–1Louth TownStaveley225
2013–14Knaresborough Town2–2(p)Eccleshill UnitedValley Parade390
2014–15Handsworth Parramore4–3Cleethorpes TownStaveley376
2015–16Cleethorpes Town3–2Tadcaster AlbionGarforth423
2016–17Penistone Church4–1Bridlington TownBramall Lane485
2017–18Cup withdrawn; final abandoned[3]
2018–19Worksop Town3–1LiversedgeDoncaster1,075
2019–20Final not played
2020–21Cancelled
2021–22Barton Town3–2Garforth TownDoncaster718
2022–23Winterton Rangers1–1Golcar UnitedDoncaster810
2023–24Parkgate3–0EmleyScunthorpe667

President's Cup and Trophy

In the past the league has had additional cup competitions. The Trophy was contested by the Division One clubs and the President's Cup which featured the top eight teams in each division from the previous season, provided they remain in the league.

Winners

Season President's Cup Trophy
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95
1995–96Belper Town
1996–97Hucknall TownGarforth Town
1997–98Glasshoughton WelfareStaveley Miners Welfare
1998–99North Ferriby UnitedYorkshire Amateur
1999–00North Ferriby UnitedGoole
2000–01Selby TownPickering Town
2001–02Alfreton TownBridlington Town
2002–03Harrogate Railway AthleticMickleover Sports
2003–04Eastwood TownHall Road Rangers
2004–05BuxtonLincoln Moorlands
2005–06BuxtonRetford United
2006–07Retford UnitedParkgate
2007–08LiversedgeHall Road Rangers
2008–09NostellStaveley Miners Welfare
2009–10Winterton RangersStaveley Miners Welfare
2010–11Tadcaster AlbionGlasshoughton Welfare
2011–12HandsworthGrimsby Borough

Member clubs in national competitions

FA Cup first round

The following NCEL clubs have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup –

Season NCEL ClubRoundVenueResult Opponents
1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1stAwayLost 1–5Preston North End
1990–91Spennymoor United1stAwayLost 2–3Chesterfield
2001–02Brigg Town1stAwayLost 1–4Tranmere Rovers
2002–03Harrogate Railway Athletic1st
2nd		Away
Home		Won 2–1
Lost 1–3		Slough Town
Bristol City

FA Vase finalists

The following NCEL clubs have reached the Final of the FA Vase –

Season NCEL ClubResult Opponents
1987–88EmleyLost 0–1Colne Dynamoes
1989–90Bridlington TownLost 0–1Yeading
1990–91GuiseleyWon 3–1Gresley Rovers
1995–96Brigg TownWon 3–0Clitheroe
1996–97North Ferriby UnitedLost 0–3Whitby Town
2002–03Brigg TownWon 2–1AFC Sudbury
2016–17Cleethorpes TownLost 0–4South Shields

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern Counties (East) League. Nozdrul. 21 June 2017.
  2. Web site: Division One Play-off Details Announced. Northern Counties East Football League. 21 June 2017.
  3. Web site: BREAKING NEWS! NCEL Release Statement Regarding League Cup! . The Bootiful Game . 14 July 2018.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Northern Counties East Football League".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.