Northern Counties East Football League


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 football pyramid respectively.

History

The league was formed in 1982 following the merger of the Yorkshire League and Midland League. For its inaugural season, the league consisted of five divisions. Since then, the league has undergone several changes to the point where it currently 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.
The competition has several feeder leagues at level 11 of the pyramid, which 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 (2019–20)

Premier Division

ClubHome ground
Albion SportsThe Citadel
Athersley RecreationSheerien Park
Barton TownEasy Buy Stadium
Bottesford TownBirkdale Park
Bridlington TownQueensgate Stadium
Eccleshill UnitedPlumpton Park
Garforth TownWheatley Park
GooleVictoria Pleasure Ground
Grimsby BoroughBradley Football Development Centre
HandsworthSandy Lane, Worksop
Hemsworth Miners WelfareThe Fitzwilliam Stadium
Knaresborough TownManse Lane
LiversedgeClayborn
Maltby MainMuglet Lane
AFC MansfieldForest Town Stadium
Penistone ChurchMemorial Ground
SilsdenKeighley Road Stadium
Staveley Miners WelfareInkersall Road
ThackleyDennyfield
Yorkshire AmateurBracken Edge

Division One

ClubHome ground
Armthorpe WelfareWelfare Ground, Armthorpe
Brigg TownThe Hawthorns
CampionScotchman Road
Dronfield TownStonelow Playing Fields
East HullDunswell Park
Glasshoughton WelfareLeeds Road, Castleford
HallamSandygate Road
Hall Road RangersHaworth Park
Harrogate Railway AthleticStation View
North FerribyThe Dransfield Stadium
Nostell Miners WelfareWelfare Ground, Crofton
Ollerton TownWalesby Lane Sports Ground
ParkgateRoundwood Sports Complex
RetfordThe Rail
Rossington MainOxford Street
Selby TownFairfax Plant Hire Stadium
Skegness TownVertigo Stadium
SwallownestMiners Welfare Ground
Winterton RangersThe Hammond Homes Stadium
Worsbrough Bridge AthleticThe Pinto Property Stadium

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

Member clubs in national competitions

FA Cup First Round

The following NCEL clubs have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup –
SeasonNCEL ClubRoundVenueResultOpponents
1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1stAwayLost 1–5Preston North End
1990–01Spennymoor United1stAwayLost 2–3Chesterfield
2001–02Brigg Town1stAwayLost 1–4Tranmere Rovers
2002–03Harrogate Railway Athletic1st
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 –
SeasonNCEL ClubResultOpponents
1987–88EmleyLost 0–1Colne Dynamoes
1989–90Bridlington TownLost 0–1Yeading
1990–91GuiseleyWon 3–1Gresley Rovers
1995–96Brigg TownWon 3–0Clitheroe
1996–97North Ferriby UnitedLost 0–3Whitby Town
2002–03Brigg TownWon 2–1AFC Sudbury
2016–17Cleethorpes TownLost 0–4South Shields