Essex Olympian Football League


The Essex Olympian Football League is a football competition based in England, founded in the 1966–67 season. It has a total of six senior divisions and one under 21 division. The Premier Division sits at step 7 of the National League System and it is a feeder to Division One South of the Eastern Counties Football League. Between 1986 and 2005, the league was known as the Essex Intermediate League.
Clubs to progress up the pyramid from the league include Billericay Town, Brentwood Town, Bowers United, Sawbridgeworth Town, Burnham Ramblers, Hullbridge Sports and Great Wakering Rovers.
In 2008 Takeley moved up the pyramid into the ESL. Prior to then the Olympian League had not sent a club to the Essex Senior League for over a decade, causing the ESL to look elsewhere in Essex for new member clubs, including lower leagues and leagues outside the National League System such as the now-defunct Essex Business Houses Football League. Clubs from this league have, in the past, been able to jump straight into the Essex Senior League due to the facilities at which they play not where they finished in the Essex Business Houses League. In 2017 the FA announced a step 6 division for Essex and East Anglia in the Eastern Counties Football League that starts playing in the 2018–19 season.
Clubs that finish in the top three of the Colchester & East Essex League, Romford & District League or the Southend Borough & District Combination can apply to join the lowest level of the Essex Olympian League. Additionally, the top three clubs of the Essex Alliance League can also apply to join the highest level of the Essex Olympian League, subject to conditions and criteria.

Members for the 2019–20 season

Source:

Premier Division

1966–81

The league originally consisted of a single section of 13 clubs, reaching a peak of 18 clubs by 1969–70.
SeasonChampions
1966–67Burnham Ramblers
1967–68Writtle
1968–69Basildon Town
1969–70Billericay Town
1970–71Billericay Town
1971–72Sawbridgeworth
1972–73Chadwell Heath
1973–74Chadwell Heath
1974–75Chadwell Heath
1975–76Essex Police
1976–77Collier Row Motor Gear
1977–78Runwell Hospital
1978–79Rayleigh
1979–80Essex Police
1980–81Rayleigh Town

1981–89

In 1981, a second division was added. The league ran with two divisions for nine years. During this period, the league was renamed the Essex Intermediate League in 1986.
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
1981–82Herongate AthleticRayleigh Athletic
1982–83Herongate AthleticDunmow
1983–84Rayleigh TownEssex Police
1984–85Rayleigh TownShell Club
1985–86Essex PoliceCossor Sports
1986–87Essex PoliceHambros Bank
1987–88TakeleyStandard
1988–89BenfleetUpminster

1989–2007

In 1989, a third division was added. The league reverted to its original name, the Essex Olympian League in 2005.
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
1989–90Rayleigh TownKelvedon HatchGreat Baddow
1990–91Herongate AthleticConcord RangersGreat Wakering Rovers
1991–92Standard Great Wakering RoversLoughton
1992–93Standard South Woodham FerrersDanbury Trafford
1993–94Kelvedon HatchTakeleyOngar Town
1994–95WrittleSporting Club HendersonGreat Baddow
1995–96Kelvedon HatchFrenford SeniorHutton
1996–97Kelvedon HatchRunwell HospitalBishop's Stortford Swifts
1997–98Danbury TraffordBishop's Stortford SwiftsShell Club
1998–99Bishop's Stortford SwiftsSandon RoyalsBasildon Town
1999–2000Bishop's Stortford SwiftsNortel Wanstead Town
2000–01Rayleigh TownCanning TownLinford Wanderers
2001–02TakeleyEppingStambridge United
2002–03Bishop's Stortford SwiftsWhite EnsignDebden Sports
2003–04White EnsignDebden SportsFaces
2004–05White EnsignWhite NotleyLinford Wanderers
2005–06Harold Wood AthleticCanning TownOngar Town
2006–07White EnsignBenfleetPotter Street

2007 to date

In 2007 the divisions were renamed Premier, One and Two.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
2007–08White EnsignPotter StreetLinford Wanderers
2008–09Harold Wood AthleticWesthamiansSungate
2009–10Harold Wood AthleticMay & Baker ClubRomford Reserves

In 2010 a Division Three was added.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
2010–11Kelvedon HatchHuttonWadham LodgeSpringfield
2011–12Frenford SeniorSouthminster St. LeonardsSpringfieldOld Barkabbeyans
2012–13Frenford SeniorBishop's Stortford SwiftsOld BarkabbeyansDebden Sports

In 2013 an Under 21 Division was added.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeUnder 21 Division
2013–14Southminster St LeonardsNewham UnitedOngar TownRochford TownRyan
2014–15Harold Wood AthleticHarold HillBasildon TownCatholic UnitedFrenford Senior

In 2015 the two reserve divisions were promoted to senior status and renamed Divisions Four and Five, along with the three higher divisions, leaving just one Under-21 division below that.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision FourDivision FiveUnder 21 Division
2015–16Kelvedon HatchCanning TownCatholic UnitedBenfleetOld Chelmsfordians ReservesGalleywood ReservesFC Clacton
2016–17SpringfieldBasildon TownSungateMay & Baker Eastbrook ReservesManford Way ReservesBasildon Town ReservesLakeside
2017–18Catholic UnitedBuckhurst HillMay & Baker Eastbrook ReservesManford Way ReservesChingford AthleticWesthamiansCorinthians
2018–19Buckhurst HillShenfield AssociationChingford AthleticOld Southendian ReservesCorinthiansCorinthians Reserves-