Northern Counties East Football League
 | |
| Country |
 England |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Divisions |
Premier Division (1982–present) Division One (1982–present) Division Two (1982–91) Division Three (1985–86) |
| Number of teams |
45 23 (Premier Division) 22 (Division One) |
| Level on pyramid | 9–10 |
| Feeder to |
Northern Premier League Division One North Northern Premier League Division One South |
| Domestic cup(s) |
National FA Cup FA Vase League League Cup |
| Current champions |
Shaw Lane Aquaforce (Premier Division) Clipstone (Division One) (2014–15) |
| Website | Official site |
 2014–15 Northern Counties East Football League | |
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. Since the 2013–14 season, the league has been sponsored by Toolstation.
History
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.
Structure
During the league's history the structure has varied over the years, here is a complete description of the system for their respective seasons;
- 1982–84: Premier Division, Division One (North), Division One (South), Division Two (North), Division Two (South)
- 1984–85: Premier Division, Division One (North), Division One (Central), Division One (South)
- 1985–86: Premier Division, Division One, Division Two, Division Three
- 1986–91: Premier Division, Division One, Division Two
- 1991–Present: Premier Division, Division One
The league's Premier Division is a feeder to the Northern Premier League Division One North or South, with the championship winning team being promoted. Should they not meet the ground standards to compete at the higher level, the runners-up may be granted promotion instead.
The bottom two clubs of the 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 league membership has been short of capacity.
The champion clubs of the Central Midlands League North Division, the Humber Premier League Premier Division, the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division, the West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division, the West Yorkshire League Premier Division and the York League Premier Division are all eligible for promotion to the Northern Counties East League. Additionally, starting in the 2008–09 season, the champions of the new East Midlands Counties League are eligible for promotion to the NCEL's Premier Division, subject to their location.
Current clubs
Premier Division
|
Division One
|
  Location of the NCEL member clubs for the 2014-15 season |
Honours
Champions
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Shepshed Charterhouse | North Scarborough Reserves South Lincoln United | North Rowntree Mackintosh South Woolley Miners Welfare | |
| 1983–84 | Spalding United | North Pontefract Collieries South Borrowash Victoria | North Harrogate Railway Athletic South Retford Town | |
| 1984–85 | Belper Town | Central Armthorpe Welfare North Farsley Celtic South Long Eaton United | ||
| 1985–86 | Arnold | North Ferriby United | Lincoln United | Collingham |
| 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| 1999–00 | North Ferriby United | Goole | ||
| 2000–01 | Brigg Town | Borrowash Victoria | ||
| 2001–02 | Alfreton Town | Gedling Town | ||
| 2002–03 | Bridlington Town | Mickleover Sports | ||
| 2003–04 | Ossett Albion | 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 | ||
| 2011–12 | Retford United | Handsworth | ||
| 2012–13 | Scarborough Athletic | Albion Sports | ||
| 2013–14 | Brighouse Town | Cleethorpes Town | ||
| 2014–15 | Shaw Lane Aquaforce | Clipstone |
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 -
Cup competitions
League Cup
The league currently has just one cup competition, the League Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.
Winners
President's Cup & 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 | North Ferriby United | |
| 1991–92 | North Shields | |
| 1992–93 | Maltby Miners Welfare | |
| 1993–94 | Lincoln United | |
| 1994–95 | Arnold Town | |
| 1995–96 | Belper Town | Pontefract Collieries |
| 1996–97 | Hucknall Town | Garforth Town |
| 1997–98 | Glasshoughton Welfare | Staveley Miners Welfare |
| 1998–99 | North Ferriby United | Yorkshire Amateur |
| 1999–00 | North Ferriby United | Goole |
| 2000–01 | Selby Town | Pickering Town |
| 2001–02 | Alfreton Town | Bridlington Town |
| 2002–03 | Harrogate Railway Athletic | Mickleover Sports |
| 2003–04 | Eastwood Town | Hall Road Rangers |
| 2004–05 | Buxton | Lincoln Moorlands |
| 2005–06 | Buxton | Retford United |
| 2006–07 | Retford United | Parkgate |
| 2007–08 | Liversedge | Hall Road Rangers |
| 2008–09 | Nostell | Staveley Miners Welfare |
| 2009–10 | Winterton Rangers | Staveley Miners Welfare |
| 2010–11 | Tadcaster Albion | Glasshoughton Welfare |
| 2011–12 | Handsworth | Grimsby Borough |
References
External links
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