Northern Counties East Football League
 | |
| Founded | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Country |
 |
| Number of teams |
44 22 (Premier Division) 22 (Division One) |
| Level on pyramid | 9 and 10 |
| Promotion to |
Level 8 Northern Premier League Division One East |
| Relegation to |
Level 10 East Midlands Counties League Premier Division Level 11 Central Midlands League North or South Division Humber Premier League Premier Division Lincolnshire League Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division West Yorkshire League Premier Division York League Premier Division |
| Domestic cup(s) |
National FA Cup FA Vase League League Cup |
| Current champions |
Pontefract Collieries (Premier Division) Knaresborough Town (Division One) (2017–18) |
| Website |
ncefl |
 | |
The Northern Counties East Football League is a semi-professional English football league. It has two divisions – the Premier Division and Division One – which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the 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 it currently (2017) has two divisions of 22 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 provide new member clubs each year:
- Central Midlands League North Division
- Humber Premier League Premier Division
- Lincolnshire League
- Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division
- Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
- West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division
- West Yorkshire League Premier Division
- York League Premier Division
Clubs are also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deems it geographically suitable to do so.
Current clubs (2018–19)
|
Premier Division
|
Division One
|
  Albion Sports Athersley Recreation Barton Town Bottesford Town Bridlington Town Eccleshill United Garforth Town Goole Hall Road Rangers Handsworth Parramore & Worksop Town Harrogate RA Hemsworth MW Knaresborough Town Liversedge Maltby Main Penistone Church Staveley Miners Welfare Thackley Yorkshire Amateur AFC Emley Armthorpe Welfare Campion Dronfield Town East Yorkshire Carnegie Glasshoughton Welfare Grimsby Borough Hallam Harworth Colliery Nostell Miners Welfare Ollerton Town Parkgate Rossington Main Selby Town Shirebrook Town & Bolsover Skegness Town Swallownest Winterton Rangers Worsbrough Bridge Athletic Location of the NCEL member clubs for the 2018–19 season
|
Honours
Champions
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.
Finals
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 |
| 1990–01 | 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
- ↑ "Northern Counties (East) League". Nozdrul. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ↑ "Division One Play-off Details Announced". Northern Counties East Football League. Retrieved 21 June 2017.