| Countries | England |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Divisions | Premier Division (1982–present) Division One (1982–present) Division Two (1982–91) Division Three (1985–86) |
| Number of teams | 41 20 (Premier Division) 20 (Division One) |
| Levels on pyramid | 9–10 |
| Feeder to | Northern Premier League Division One North South |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Vase League: League Cup Presidents Cup Wilkinson Sword Trophy |
| Current champions | Farsley (Premier Division) Staveley Miners Welfare (Division One) (2010–11) |
| Website | Official site |
The Northern Counties East Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1982 by the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland League. The league has two divisions at present; The Premier Division and Division One which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football pyramid respectively. From season 2011–12, the league is sponsored by Baris.
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The league's Premier Division is a feeder to the Northern Premier League First Division North or South, with the championship winning team being promoted. Should they not meet the ground standards to compete in the higher level, the runners-up may be granted promotion instead.
The bottom two clubs of the league's Premier Division at the end of the season are relegated into Division One, while the top two clubs of Division One are promoted to the Premier Division. In recent seasons teams have not always been relegated to a lower level as the league has been running short of maximum.
The Champion club of the Central Midlands League North Division is eligible for promotion to the Northern Counties East League, and other teams from that league and other local leagues such as the West Yorkshire League and the West Riding County Amateur League can be elected to fill any vacancies should their grounds be up to league standards. Additionally, as of the 2008–09 season, the champion of the new East Midlands Counties League is eligible for promotion to the NCEL's Premier Division, based on their location.
Since its founding in 1982 the league has provided some notable moments. From 1982 until 2007, the league hosted the oldest footballing rivalry in the world, between the world's two oldest clubs; Sheffield and Hallam. Hallam's ground Sandygate Road is in the Guinness Book of Records as "The Oldest Ground in the World". Another of the world's oldest teams Brigg Town, who play in Brigg near Scunthorpe, have also competed in the league.
During the league's history the structure has varied over the years, here is a complete description of the system for their respective seasons;
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | South | North | South | ||
| 1982–83 | Shepshed Charterhouse | Scarborough Reserves | Lincoln United | Rowntree Mackintosh | Woolley Miners Welfare |
| 1983–84 | Spalding United | Pontefract Collieries | Borrowash Victoria | Harrogate Railway Athletic | Retford Town |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | North | South | ||
| 1984–85 | Belper Town | Armthorpe Welfare | Farsley Celtic | Long Eaton United |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–86 | Arnold | North Ferriby United | Lincoln United | Collingham |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | Alfreton Town | Ossett Albion | Frecheville Community Association |
| 1987–88 | Emley | York Railway Institute | Pickering Town |
| 1988–89 | Emley | Sheffield | Ossett Town |
| 1989–90 | Bridlington Town | Rowntree Mackintosh | Winterton Rangers |
| 1990–91 | Guiseley | Sheffield | Hall Road Rangers |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | North Shields | Stocksbridge Park Steels |
| 1992–93 | Spennymoor United | Lincoln United |
| 1993–94 | Stocksbridge Park Steels | Arnold Town |
| 1994–95 | Lincoln United | Hatfield Main |
| 1995–96 | Hatfield Main | Selby Town |
| 1996–97 | Denaby United | Eccleshill United |
| 1997–98 | Hucknall Town | Garforth Town |
| 1998–99 | Ossett Albion | Harrogate Railway |
| 1999–2000 | North Ferriby United | Goole |
| 2000–01 | North Ferriby United | Borrowash Victoria |
| 2001–02 | Brigg Town | Gedling Town |
| 2002–03 | Alfreton Town | Mickleover Sports |
| 2003–04 | Bridlington Town | Shirebrook Town |
| 2004–05 | Goole | Sutton Town |
| 2005–06 | Buxton | Carlton Town |
| 2006–07 | Retford United | Parkgate |
| 2007–08 | Winterton Rangers | Dinnington Town |
| 2008–09 | Mickleover Sports | Scarborough Athletic |
| 2009–10 | Bridlington Town | Tadcaster Albion |
| 2010–11 | Farsley | Staveley Miners Welfare |
The league has three cup competitions. The League Cup is contested by all the clubs in the league. The Wilkinson Sword Trophy is only contested by the Division One clubs. The Presidents Cup is contested by the top eight teams in each division from the previous season, provided they remain in the league.
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