Northern Counties East Football League

Northern Counties East Football League
Founded1982
CountryEngland
Number of clubs44
20 (Premier Division)
24 (Division One)
Level on pyramid9 and 10
Promotion toLevel 8
Northern Premier League Division One East
Relegation toLevel 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
Domestic cup(s)National
FA Cup
FA Vase
League
League Cup
Current championsEmley (Premier Division) 2023-24
Parkgate (Division One)
(2023-24)
Websitencefl.org.uk
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)

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
1999–2000 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
2015–16 Tadcaster Albion Hemsworth Miners Welfare
2016–17 Cleethorpes Town Hall Road Rangers
2017–18 Pontefract Collieries Knaresborough Town
2018–19 Worksop Town Grimsby Borough
2019–20 Season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic
2020–21 Season curtailed due to local lockdown regulations
2021–22 Grimsby Borough Hallam
2022-23 North Ferriby Campion
2023-24 Emley Parkgate

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 –

Season Club Position Promoted to
1982–83 Shepshed Charterhouse 1st Southern League Midland Division
1986–87 Alfreton 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
1988–89 Emley 1st Northern Premier League Division One
1989–90 Bridlington Town 1st Northern Premier League Division One
1990–91 Guiseley 1st Northern Premier League Division One
1992–93 Spennymoor United 1st Northern Premier League Division One
1994–95 Lincoln United 1st Northern Premier League Division One
1995–96 Stocksbridge Park Steels 2nd Northern Premier League Division One
1996–97 Belper Town 2nd Northern Premier League Division One
1997–98 Hucknall Town 1st Northern Premier League Division One
1998–99 Ossett Town 2nd Northern Premier League Division One
1999–2000 North Ferriby United 1st Northern Premier League Division One
2000–01 Ossett Albion 2nd Northern Premier League Division One
2001–02 Alfreton Town 1st Northern Premier League Division One
2003–04 Ossett Albion 1st Northern Premier League Division One
2004–05 Goole 1st Northern Premier League Division One
2005–06 Buxton
Harrogate Railway Athletic		 1st
3rd		 Northern Premier League Division One
Northern Premier League Division One
2006–07 Retford 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
2007–08 Glapwell 2nd Northern Premier League Division One South
2008–09 Mickleover Sports 1st Northern Premier League Division One South
2009–10 Rainworth Miners Welfare 2nd Northern Premier League Division One South
2010–11 Farsley 1st Northern Premier League Division One North
2012–13 Scarborough Athletic 1st Northern Premier League Division One South
2013–14 Brighouse Town 1st Northern Premier League Division One North
2014–15 Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1st Northern Premier League Division One South
2015–16 Tadcaster Albion 1st Northern Premier League Division One North
2016–17 Cleethorpes Town 1st Northern Premier League Division One South
2017–18 Pontefract 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
2018–19 Worksop Town 1st Northern Premier League Division One South-East
2019–20 No promotions
2020–21 Bridlington Town
Liversedge
Yorkshire Amateur		 Top 3
[a]		 Northern Premier League Division One East
2021–22 Grimsby Borough 1st Northern Premier League Division One East
2022–23 North Ferriby
Winterton Rangers		 1st
2nd		 Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One East
2023–24 Emley
Garforth Town		 1st
2nd		 Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One East
  1. ^ Ranked according to total points per game between 2019 and 2021.

Cup competitions

League Cup

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

Finals

Season Winner Result Runner-up Venue Attendance
1982–83 Shepshed Charterhouse 1–0 Sutton Town
1983–84 Ossett Albion 2–1 Ilkeston Town Eastwood
1984–85 Alfreton Town 2–1 Long Eaton United Eastwood
1985–86 Sutton Town 1–0 Bradley Rangers Denaby
1986–87 Harrogate Railway Athletic 5–0 Woolley Miners Welfare Pontfract
1987–88 York Railway Institute 2–1 Rowntree Mackintosh Bootham Crescent
1988–89 Bridlington Town 3–1 Emley Pontefract
1989–90 Ossett Town 1–0 Bridlington Town North Ferriby
1990–91 Guiseley 1–0 North Ferriby United Ossett - Ingfield
1991–92 North Shields 5–0 Armthorpe Welfare Ossett - Queen's Terrace
1992–93 Spennymoor United 2–1 Thackley Ossett - Ingfield
1993–94 Hucknall Town 4–1 Thackley Ossett - Ingfield
1994–95 Stocksbridge Park Steels 3–0 North Ferriby United Ossett - Queen's Terrace
1995–96 Ashfield United 8–2 Ossett Albion Belper
1996–97 Hucknall Town 3–1 Pontefract Collieries Millmoor
1997–98 Hucknall Town 1–0 North Ferriby United Hatfield
1998–99 Denaby United 1–0 Selby Town Garforth
1999–00 Garforth Town 3–1 Glapwell Ossett - Queen's Terrace
2000–01 Sheffield 2–1 Gedling Town Alfreton
2001–02 Alfreton Town 4–0 Armthorpe Welfare Worksop
2002–03 Ossett Albion 3–0 Sheffield Brigg
2003–04 Hallam 1–0 Mickleover Sports Buxton
2004–05 Sheffield 2–1 Harrogate Railway Athletic Ossett - Queen's Terrace 250
2005–06 Liversedge 5–1(agg) Sheffield 1L: Sheffield
2L: Liversedge 		1L:
2L:
2006–07 Mickleover Sports 1–1(p) Garforth Town Sheffield 243
2007–08 Winterton Rangers 3–1 Parkgate Staveley 213
2008–09 Long Eaton United 4–0 Selby Town Staveley 260
2009–10 Dinnington Town 5–2 Armthorpe Welfare Staveley 195
2010–11 Farsley 3–0 Winterton Rangers Staveley 235
2011–12 Thackley 3–2 Shirebrook Town Parkgate 272
2012–13 Thackley 3–1 Louth Town Staveley 225
2013–14 Knaresborough Town 2–2(p) Eccleshill United Valley Parade 390
2014–15 Handsworth Parramore 4–3 Cleethorpes Town Staveley 376
2015–16 Cleethorpes Town 3–2 Tadcaster Albion Garforth 423
2016–17 Penistone Church 4–1 Bridlington Town Bramall Lane 485
2017–18 Cup withdrawn; final abandoned[3]
2018–19 Worksop Town 3–1 Liversedge Doncaster 1,075
2019–20 Final not played
2020–21 Cancelled
2021–22 Barton Town 3–2 Garforth Town Doncaster 718
2022–23 Winterton Rangers 1–1 Golcar United Doncaster 810
2023–24 Parkgate 3–0 Emley Scunthorpe 667

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 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

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 Club Round Venue Result Opponents
1982–83 Shepshed Charterhouse 1st Away Lost 1–5 Preston North End
1990–91 Spennymoor United 1st Away Lost 2–3 Chesterfield
2001–02 Brigg Town 1st Away Lost 1–4 Tranmere Rovers
2002–03 Harrogate Railway Athletic 1st
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 Club Result Opponents
1987–88 Emley Lost 0–1 Colne Dynamoes
1989–90 Bridlington Town Lost 0–1 Yeading
1990–91 Guiseley Won 3–1 Gresley Rovers
1995–96 Brigg Town Won 3–0 Clitheroe
1996–97 North Ferriby United Lost 0–3 Whitby Town
2002–03 Brigg Town Won 2–1 AFC Sudbury
2016–17 Cleethorpes Town Lost 0–4 South Shields

References

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