Essex and Suffolk Border Football League

Essex and Suffolk Border Football League
Country England
Founded 1911
Divisions Premier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three
Number of teams 54
15 (Premier Division)
15 (Division One)
15 (Division Two)
9 (Division Three)
Level on pyramid Level 11–14
Feeder to Eastern Counties League
Promotion to Eastern Counties League Division One
Relegation to Colchester & East Essex League
League cup(s) Knock Out Cup
Current champions West Bergholt (Premier Division)
Hatfield Peverel (Division One)
(2014–15)
Website Official website

The Essex and Suffolk Border Football League is a football competition based in England. The league has a total of four divisions headed by the Premier Division which sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System. The top club may apply for promotion to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.

All member clubs compete in the Border League Knock-Out Cup. Despite the league's name, all the current member clubs are situated in Essex except for Bures United whose ground is in Suffolk although the village straddles the border, the majority within 15 miles of Colchester.

The league is affiliated to the Essex County FA and Suffolk County FA.

History

The Essex & Suffolk Border Football League was officially founded in 1911, although records indicate that the league originated from the amalgamation of the Colchester & District League and Colchester Borough League.[1][2] Founder members of the Border League in the inaugural 1911–12 season included Clacton Town, Colchester Town, West Bergholt and West Mersea.

Over the last 100 years the league has seen many changes in its status with many clubs progressing to a higher level. The overlying trend has been the migration of the larger clubs and their replacement by smaller clubs with more basic facilities. For much of the last 20 years the Border League has run 4 divisions which included a significant proportion of reserve teams. The league lost several members in 2005–06 when the reserve teams of the Eastern Counties League clubs left for their own competition. A year later another division was disbanded with the Border League clubs now having their own reserve competition. This leaves two divisions of clubs, with 16 clubs in the Premier Division and 14 teams in Division One. There is a high representation of village teams but a new trend has emerged with the acceptance of Barnston from Division Three of the Essex Olympian League and Newbury Forest from the Romford and District Football League in the London Borough of Redbridge.

Member clubs 2013–14 season

Premier Division

ClubLocation2012–13 Position
Alresford Colne RangersAlresford 6th
Barnston Barnston 8th in Division One (promoted)
Coggeshall TownCoggeshall 2nd in Division One (promoted)
Dedham Old BoysDedham13th
Earls ColneEarls Colne 8th
Gas RecreationColchester 1st
Great BentleyGreat Bentley 11th
Harwich & ParkestonHarwich 5th
HollandHolland-on-Sea 4th
Lawford Lads Lawford 14th
Little OakleyLittle Oakley 7th
Tiptree JobserveTiptree 4th in Division One (promoted)
TollesburyTollesbury 1st in Division One (promoted)
University of Essex Wivenhoe Park, Colchester 9th
West Bergholt West Bergholt 3rd
White Notley White Notley 10th
Source: Mitoo

Division One

ClubLocation2012–13 Position
Alresford Colne Rangers ReservesAlresford 1st in Reserve Premier Division (promoted)
Boxted Lodgers Boxted 10th
Bradfield Rovers Bradfield 11th
Clacton United Clacton 9th
Gosfield United Gosfield 7th
Hatfield PeverelHatfield Peverel 15 in Premier Division (relegated)
Hedinghams UnitedSible Hedingham 12th in Premier Division (demoted)
Kirby Athletic Kirby Cross 13th
Little Oakley ReservesLittle Oakley 3rd in Reserve Premier Division (promoted)
Mersea Island West Mersea 12th
Panfield Bell Panfield 3rd (as combined club with Colne Engaine)
Rayne United Rayne 6th
West Bergholt ReservesWest Bergholt 2nd in Reserve Premier Division (promoted)
Wormingford Wanderers Wormingford 5th
Source: Mitoo

Division Two

Division Three

Former clubs

Among the clubs that have left the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League and now compete at a higher level are:

Gallery

Recent divisional champions

Brightlingsea Regent – 2010-11 champions
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
1995–96Gas RecreationClacton Town ReservesSilver EndKirby
1996–97Gas RecreationIpswich Wanderers reservesCavendishBrightlingsea United reserves
1997–98
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01West BergholtWeeley Athletic
2001–02AFC Sudbury reservesStanway Rovers reservesWhitton United reservesWeeley Athletic reserves
2002–03RowhedgeAlresford Colne RangersBury Town ReservesBradfield Rovers
2003–04Little OakleyBury Town ReservesHatfield PeverelWitham Town reserves
2004–05Gas RecreationHatfield PeverelWitham Town ReservesGosfield United
2005–06Gas RecreationWitham Town ReservesBrightlingsea RegentDivision Three disbanded
2006–07Gas RecreationWest Suffolk CollegeGreat Bradfords
2007–08Gas RecreationWhite NotleyDivision Two disbanded
2008–09West BergholtHolland
2009–10Gas RecreationWormingford Wanderers
2010–11Brightlingsea RegentLawford Lads
2011–12West BergholtHaverhill Sports Association
2012–13Gas RecreationTollesbury
2013–14Gas RecreationAlresford Cone Rangers ReservesGas Recreation ReservesTeam Brantham
2014–15West BergholtHatfield PeverelCinque Port

References

  1. ↑ "goalrun – Stowmarket Town". Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  2. ↑ "Mersea Island FC– Profile". Retrieved 2011-05-12.

External links

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