Central Midlands Football League


The Central Midlands Football League is an English football league covering the northeast-central part of England. Formed in 1971 as the South Derbyshire League, changing name initially to the Derbyshire League before changing to its current name in 1983, it covers parts of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. The league's current sponsor is Abacus Lighting. The number of divisions has varied over time as follows
Within the English football league system, the Central Midlands League's two divisions, called the North Division and South Division, are considered part of the National League System, while the reserve divisions is not. Four clubs from the previously-named Premier Division had the distinction of being the lowest-ranked clubs, and only ones outside the NLS, accepted for the 2006–07 FA Vase. For the 2008–09 season, eight of the leading sides left the Central Midlands League to join forces with eight clubs from the Leicestershire Senior League to form a new league, the East Midlands Counties League, at Step 6 of the National League System. For the 2015–16 season reserve teams of clubs who play higher up the pyramid were allowed to participate in the league for the first time.
Champions of the North Division are eligible for promotion to the Northern Counties East League Division One and champions of the South Division are eligible for promotion to the East Midlands Counties League, and some clubs have progressed from the CML to the National League North and Northern Premier League. A representative side from the league takes part in the FA Inter-League Cup.
Local leagues below the Central Midlands League on the pyramid are the and the Midlands Regional Alliance. In most cases these have multiple divisions or feeder leagues of their own.
At the 2017 AGM it was agreed for the Reserve Division to become Division One and confirmed the new teams which would join the league for the forthcoming season. The North Division welcomed Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves, and Renishaw Rangers, the South Division welcomed Hilton Harriers, AFC Kilburn and Aslockton & Orston.

Member clubs 2019–20

North Division
South Division
SeasonSupreme DivisionPremier Division
1986–87Hinckley TownStanton
1987–88Harworth Colliery InstituteHuthwaite
1988–89BostonPriory
1989–90Hucknall TownMickleover Royal British Legion
1990–91Hucknall TownMickleover Royal British Legion
1991–92Lincoln UnitedNorth Fryston Colliery Welfare
South Slack & Parr
1992–93Arnold TownSandiacre Town
1993–94GlapwellNuthall
1994–95Heanor TownClipstone Welfare
1995–96Oakham UnitedKillamarsh Juniors
1996–97Heanor TownClipstone Welfare
1997–98Gedling TownGoole AFC
1998–99Mickleover SportsLincoln Moorlands
1999–00Lincoln MoorlandsHolbrook
2000–01Shirebrook TownNorth Notts
2001–02Shirebrook TownRetford United
2002–03Carlton TownPelican
2003–04Retford UnitedRadcliffe Olympic
2004–05DunkirkAFC Barnsley
2005–06Barton Town Old BoysBilborough Pelican
2006–07Bottesford TownHatfield Main
2007–08Askern WelfareOllerton Town
2008–09Radcliffe OlympicLouth Town
2009–10Louth TownChurch Warsop
2010–11Sheffield ParramoreYorkshire Main

League Challenge Cup

The league also runs the Central Midlands League Challenge Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.
Since 2001 every final has been played at Alfreton Town's North Street stadium.

Finals