2023–24 Eastern Counties Football League

The 2023–24 Eastern Counties Football League was the 81st season in the history of the Eastern Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions, the Premier Division at Step 5, and the geographically separated Division One North and Division One South (Eastern Senior League), both at Step 6 of the English football league system.

The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the Premier Division in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from the Step 5 division.[2]

Premier Division

Eastern Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2023–24
ChampionsMildenhall Town
PromotedMildenhall Town
Matches played342
Top goalscorerAshley Jarvis (31)
Biggest home win
Biggest away winSoham Town Rangers 0–6 Mulbarton Wanderers
(20 April 2024)
Highest scoringDereham Town 5–6 Mulbarton Wanderers
(2 March 2024)

The Premier Division featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Mildenhall Town (C, P) 36 29 5 2 73 16 +57 92 Promoted to the Isthmian League North
2 Newmarket Town (O, P) 36 24 6 6 92 44 +48 78 Qualified for the play-offs
3 Mulbarton Wanderers 36 21 7 8 80 46 +34 70
4 Thetford Town 35 20 7 8 67 42 +25 70
5 Dereham Town 36 21 6 9 77 48 +29 69
6 Harleston Town 36 20 5 11 74 53 +21 65
7 Downham Town 36 18 7 11 67 42 +25 61
8 Walsham-le-Willows 36 16 9 11 68 48 +20 57
9 Fakenham Town 36 15 11 10 63 45 +18 56
10 Lakenheath 36 15 4 17 68 74 −6 49
11 Hadleigh United 36 12 8 16 52 68 −16 44
12 Soham Town Rangers 36 14 2 20 56 79 −23 44
13 Woodbridge Town 36 10 6 20 43 59 −16 36
14 Sheringham 36 10 6 20 46 70 −24 36
15 Ely City 36 8 5 23 43 71 −28 29
16 Brantham Athletic 36 7 8 21 36 70 −34 29
17 Long Melford 36 7 9 20 32 70 −38 30
18 Heacham 35 7 7 21 27 67 −40 28
19 Kirkley & Pakefield 36 5 6 25 32 84 −52 21
20 Norwich United[a] (W) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew from league
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (W) Withdrew
Notes:
  1. ^ Norwich United announced their withdrawal from the league on 14 September 2023[3] after multiple scandals.[4]

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Newmarket Town 3
5 Dereham Town 1
2 Newmarket Town 2
3 Mulbarton Wanderers 0
3 Mulbarton Wanderers 2
4 Thetford Town 1

Semifinals

27 April Newmarket Town 3–1Dereham TownNewmarket
15:00
Report
Stadium: Cricket Field Road
Attendance: 386
Referee: Matt Rowling
14 May Mulbarton Wanderers 2–1Thetford Town Mulbarton
19:45 Stadium: Mulberry Park

Final

18 May Newmarket Town 2–0Mulbarton WanderersNewmarket
15:00
Report Stadium: Cricket Field Road
Attendance: 930

Note: Thetford Town played an ineligible player in their play-off semi-final away at Mulbarton Wanderers on 27 April 2024. The league originally removed Thetford from the playoffs and instated Mulbarton into the final. Following an appeal by Thetford, the FA ordered the semi-final to be replayed.[6]

Stadia and locations

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Locations of the Premier Division clubs
Team Stadium Capacity
Brantham Athletic Brantham Leisure Centre 1,200
Dereham Town Aldiss Park 3,000
Downham Town Memorial Field 1,000
Ely City Unwin Sports Ground 1,500
Fakenham Town Clipbush Park 2,000
Hadleigh United Millfield 3,000
Harleston Town Wilderness Lane
Heacham Station Road
Kirkley & Pakefield Walmer Road 2,000
Lakenheath The Nest
Long Melford Stoneylands
Mildenhall Town Recreation Way 2,000
Mulbarton Wanderers The Common
Newmarket Town Cricket Field Road 2,750
Norwich United Plantation Park 3,000
Sheringham Weybourne Road
Soham Town Rangers Julius Martin Lane 2,000
Thetford Town Mundford Road 1,500
Walsham-le-Willows Summer Road 1,000
Woodbridge Town Notcutts Park 3,000

Division One North

Eastern Counties
Football League
Division One North
Season2023–24
ChampionsGreat Yarmouth Town
PromotedGreat Yarmouth Town
Cornard United
Matches played420
Top goalscorerKyle Richardson (36)
Biggest home winAFC Sudbury reserves 10–0 Needham Market under 23s
(26 August 2023)
Biggest away winLeiston reserves 0–7 AFC Sudbury reserves
(1 August 2023)
Highest scoringNorwich CBS 7–4 Haverhill Borough
(9 March 2024)

Division One North featured 15 clubs which competed in the previous season, along with six new clubs.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Great Yarmouth Town (C, P) 40 29 7 4 103 49 +54 94 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Framlingham Town 40 28 5 7 122 48 +74 89 Qualified for the play-offs
3 Holland 40 24 7 9 103 64 +39 79
4 Stanway Pegasus 40 24 5 11 101 40 +61 77
5 Cornard United (O, P) 40 23 6 11 112 84 +28 75
6 Holbeach United 40 20 6 14 84 65 +19 66
7 Harwich & Parkeston 40 20 5 15 80 62 +18 65
8 Diss Town 40 18 8 14 70 69 +1 62
9 Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 40 18 7 15 80 63 +17 61
10 Haverhill Rovers 40 19 4 17 90 89 +1 61
11 FC Peterborough 40 17 3 20 91 95 −4 54
12 Wivenhoe Town 40 15 7 18 71 93 −22 52
13 AFC Sudbury reserves 40 15 6 19 88 90 −2 51
14 FC Parson Drove 40 15 5 20 82 93 −11 50
15 Norwich CBS 40 13 6 21 86 120 −34 45 Folded at the end of the season
16 Whittlesey Athletic 40 12 8 20 66 87 −21 44
17 Whitton United 40 12 5 23 58 83 −25 41
18 Leiston reserves 40 12 3 25 70 107 −37 39
19 Swaffham Town 40 11 5 24 63 94 −31 38
20 Haverhill Borough 40 9 6 25 49 110 −61 33
21 Needham Market under 23s 40 6 6 28 61 125 −64 24 Reprieved from relegation
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Framlingham Town 1
5 Cornard United 2
3 Holland 1
5 Cornard United 3
3 Holland 3
4 Stanway Pegasus 0

Semifinals

27 April Framlingham Town1–2 Cornard United Framlingham
15:00
Report
Stadium: Badingham Road
Attendance: 151
Referee: Andrew Crossley
27 April Holland 3–0Stanway PegasusHolland-on-Sea
15:00
Report Stadium: Dulwich Road
Attendance: 410
Referee: Lee Kendrick

Final

4 May Holland1–3 Cornard United Holland-on-Sea
15:00 Report
Stadium: Dulwich Road
Attendance: 455
Referee: Bruno Marques

Stadia and locations

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Locations of Division One North clubs
Team Stadium Capacity
AFC Sudbury reserves King's Marsh 2,500
Cornard United Blackhouse Lane
Diss Town Brewers Green Lane 2,500
Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers The Nest 1,000
FC Parson Drove Main Road
FC Peterborough The Focus Centre
Framlingham Town Badingham Road
Great Yarmouth Town Wellesley Recreation Ground 3,600
Harwich & Parkeston Royal Oak
Haverhill Borough New Croft (artificial, groundshare with Haverhill Rovers) 3,000
Haverhill Rovers New Croft 3,000
Holbeach United Carters Park 4,000
Holland Dulwich Road
Leiston reserves Victory Road 2,500
Needham Market reserves Bloomfields 4,000
Norwich CBS FDC Bowthorpe
Stanway Pegasus The Stanway School
Swaffham Town Shoemakers Lane
Whittlesey Athletic Feldale Field
Whitton United King George V Playing Fields 1,000
Wivenhoe Town Broad Lane 2,876

Division One South

Eastern Counties
Football League
Division One South
Season2023–24
ChampionsBenfleet
PromotedBenfleet
Wormley Rovers
Matches played462
Top goalscorerStuart Zanone (36)
Biggest home win
Biggest away winBarkingside 1–9 Wormley Rovers
(1 March 2024)
Highest scoringSt Margaretsbury 8–3 Basildon Town
(21 October 2023)

Division One South featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with eight new clubs:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Benfleet (C, P) 42 33 4 5 108 32 +76 103 Promoted to the Essex Senior League
2 Wormley Rovers (O, P) 42 30 7 5 111 37 +74 97 Qualified for the play-offs
3 Harlow Town[a] 42 28 7 7 105 48 +57 91
4 Hutton 42 25 6 11 89 55 +34 81 Qualified for the play-offs
5 Dunmow Town 42 23 7 12 96 73 +23 76
6 Clapton Community 42 19 15 8 78 54 +24 72 Qualified for the play-offs,
then transferred to the Southern Counties East League
7 Cannons Wood 42 20 11 11 103 60 +43 71
8 Hackney Wick 42 19 6 17 84 77 +7 63
9 Brimsdown 42 17 8 17 73 57 +16 59
10 Hoddesdon Town 42 16 10 16 70 66 +4 58
11 May & Baker 42 16 7 19 77 78 −1 55
12 Basildon Town 42 14 11 17 69 78 −9 53
13 Enfield Borough 42 14 9 19 79 95 −16 51
14 Newbury Forest 42 15 2 25 72 102 −30 47
15 Tower Hamlets 42 13 7 22 70 96 −26 46 Transferred to the Southern Counties East League
16 Barkingside 42 13 6 23 58 91 −33 45
17 NW London 42 14 3 25 84 123 −39 45
18 Clapton 42 12 7 23 61 105 −44 43 Transferred to the Southern Counties East League
19 Southend Manor 42 12 5 25 78 107 −29 41
20 Park View 42 12 4 26 65 115 −50 40
21 St Margaretsbury 42 12 2 28 72 110 −38 38
22 Burnham Ramblers 42 11 4 27 73 116 −43 37 Reprieved from relegation
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ Harlow Town are ineligible for promotion due to withdrawal from the national league system midway through last season.

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Wormley Rovers 3
6 Clapton Community 2
2 Wormley Rovers 2
5 Dunmow Town 1
5 Dunmow Town 1
4 Hutton 0

Semifinals

27 April Wormley Rovers 3–2Clapton CommunityWormley
15:00
Report
Stadium: Wormley Playing Fields
Attendance: 328
Referee: James Black
27 April Dunmow Town 1–0HuttonHeybridge
15:00
Report Stadium: Scraley Road
Attendance: 61
Referee: Sam Wigington

Final

4 May Wormley Rovers 2–1Dunmow TownWormley
15:00 Report Stadium: Wormley Playing Fields
Attendance: 358
Referee: Jordan Sandwell

Stadia and locations

2023–24 Eastern Counties Football League is located in East of England
Barkingside
Barkingside
Basildon Town
Benfleet
Brimsdown & Wormley Rovers
Burnham Ramblers
Cannons Wood & May & Baker
Cannons Wood & May & Baker
Clapton
Clapton
Clapton Community
Clapton Community
Dunmow Town
Enfield Borough
Enfield Borough
Hackney Wick
Harlow Town & NW London
Hoddesdon Town
Hutton
Newbury Forest
Newbury Forest
Park View
Park View
Southend Manor
Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets
St Margaretsbury
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Locations of Division One South clubs
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Greater London Division One South football clubs
Team Stadium Capacity
Barkingside Cricklefield Stadium (groundshare with Ilford) 3,500
Basildon Town Rookery Hill (groundshare with East Thurrock United) 3,500
Benfleet Park Lane (groundshare with Canvey Island) 4,100
Brimsdown Wormley Playing Fields (groundshare with Wormley Rovers) 500
Burnham Ramblers Leslie Fields 2,000
Cannons Wood Parkside Stadium (groundshare with Aveley) 3,500
Clapton Terence McMillan Stadium (groundshare with Athletic Newham) 2,000
Clapton Community The Old Spotted Dog Ground 2,000
Dunmow Town Scraley Road (groundshare with Heybridge Swifts) 3,000
Enfield Borough The Maurice Rebak Stadium (groundshare with Wingate & Finchley) 1,500
Hackney Wick Spa Road (groundshare with Witham Town) 2,500
Harlow Town The Harlow Arena 3,500
Hoddesdon Town Lowfield 3,000
Hutton New Lodge (groundshare with Billericay Town) 3,500
May & Baker Parkside Stadium (groundshare with Aveley) 3,500
Newbury Forest Oakside Stadium (groundshare with Redbridge) 3,000
NW London The Harlow Arena (groundshare with Harlow Town) 2,000
Park View New River Stadium 5,000
Southend Manor Southchurch Park 2,000
St Margaretsbury Recreation Ground 1,000
Tower Hamlets Mile End Stadium (groundshare with Sporting Bengal United) 2,000
Wormley Rovers Wormley Playing Fields 500

References

  1. ^ "REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA". The Non-League Football Paper. 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Norwich United FC withdraw from Thurlow Nunn Premier". Norwich Evening News. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Norwich United manager speaks after death threat claims". Norwich Evening News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
  6. ^ @ThetfordTownFC (7 May 2024). "Following today's National FA hearing I can confirm Thetford Town FC have been reinstated into the playoffs. The FA have ordered the leagues decision to be overturned and the semi final vs Mulbarton to be replayed. Dates will be confirmed following consultation with all parties" (Tweet) – via Twitter.