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.

Northern Counties East Football League

Founded	1982
Country	England
Number of teams	40 20 (Premier Division) 20 (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 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 champions	Worksop Town (Premier Division) Grimsby Borough (Division One) (2018–19)
Website	ncefl.org.uk
Current: 2020–21 season

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 may 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 Yorkshire League Premier Division
• York League Premier Division
• Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division

Clubs are also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deems it geographically suitable to do so.

Current clubs (2020–21)

Premier Division Club Location Home ground Albion Sports Farsley The Citadel (Groundshare with Farsley Celtic) Athersley Recreation Athersley Sheerien Park Barton Town Barton-upon-Humber Easy Buy Stadium Bottesford Town Bottesford The Barrett Steel Stadium Bridlington Town Bridlington Queensgate Stadium Eccleshill United Wrose Plumpton Park Garforth Town Garforth Wheatley Park Goole Goole Victoria Pleasure Ground Grimsby Borough Grimsby Bradley Football Development Centre Handsworth Sheffield Olivers Mount Hemsworth Miners Welfare Hemsworth The Fitzwilliam Stadium Knaresborough Town Knaresborough Manse Lane Liversedge Cleckheaton Clayborn Maltby Main Maltby Muglet Lane AFC Mansfield Forest Town Forest Town Stadium Penistone Church Penistone Memorial Ground Silsden Silsden Keighley Road Stadium Staveley Miners Welfare Staveley Inkersall Road Thackley Thackley Dennyfield Yorkshire Amateur Leeds Bracken Edge Albion Sports Athersley Recreation Barton Town Bottesford Town Bridlington Town Eccleshill United Garforth Town Goole Grimsby Borough Handsworth Hemsworth MW Knaresborough Town Liversedge Maltby Main AFC Mansfield Penistone Church Silsden Staveley Miners Welfare Thackley Yorkshire Amateur Armthorpe Welfare Brigg Town Campion Dronfield Town East Hull Emley Glasshoughton Welfare Hallam Hall Road Rangers Harrogate RA North Ferriby Nostell Miners Welfare Parkgate Retford Rossington Main Selby Town Skegness Town Swallownest Winterton Rangers Worsbrough Bridge Athletic Location of the NCEL member clubs for the 2019–20 season – Premier Division – Division One

Division One

Club Home ground Armthorpe Welfare Welfare Ground, Armthorpe Brigg Town The Hawthorns Campion Scotchman Road Dronfield Town Stonelow Playing Fields East Hull Victoria Pleasure Ground (share with Goole) Emley Welfare Ground Glasshoughton Welfare Leeds Road, Castleford Hallam Sandygate Road Hall Road Rangers Haworth Park Harrogate Railway Athletic Station View North Ferriby The Dransfield Stadium Nostell Miners Welfare Welfare Ground, Crofton Parkgate Roundwood Sports Complex Retford The Rail Rossington Main Oxford Street Selby Town Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium Skegness Town Vertigo Stadium Swallownest Miners Welfare Ground Winterton Rangers The Hammond Homes Stadium Worsbrough Bridge Athletic The Pinto Property Stadium 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 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 – 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 1999–00 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 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 Season Winner Result Runner-up Venue Attendance 1982–83 Shepshed Charterhouse 1–0 Sutton Town 1983–84 Ossett Albion 2–1 Ilkeston Town Coronation Park 1984–85 Alfreton Town 2–1 Long Eaton United Coronation Park 1985–86 Sutton Town 1–0 Bradley Rangers Tickhill Square 1986–87 Harrogate Railway Athletic 5–0 Woolley Miners Welfare Skinner Lane 1987–88 York Railway Institute 2–1 Rowntree Mackintosh Bootham Crescent 1988–89 Bridlington Town 3–1 Emley Skinner Lane 1989–90 Ossett Town 1–0 Bridlington Town Grange Lane 1990–91 Guiseley 1–0 North Ferriby United Ingfield 1991–92 North Shields 5–0 Armthorpe Welfare Queen's Terrace 1992–93 Spennymoor United 2–1 Thackley Ingfield 1993–94 Hucknall Town 4–1 Thackley Ingfield 1994–95 Stocksbridge Park Steels 3–0 North Ferriby United Queen's Terrace 1995–96 Ashfield United 8–2 Ossett Albion Christchurch Meadow 1996–97 Hucknall Town 3–1 Pontefract Collieries Millmoor 1997–98 Hucknall Town 1–0 North Ferriby United Welfare Ground 1998–99 Denaby United 1–0 Selby Town Wheatley Park 1999–00 Garforth Town 3–1 Glapwell Queen's Terrace 2000–01 Sheffield 2–1 Gedling Town North Street 2001–02 Alfreton Town 4–0 Armthorpe Welfare Sandy Lane 2002–03 Ossett Albion 3–0 Sheffield The Hawthorns 2003–04 Hallam 1–0 Mickleover Sports Silverlands 2004–05 Sheffield 2–1 Harrogate Railway Athletic Queen's Terrace 250 2005–06 Liversedge 5–1(agg) Sheffield 1L: Coach & Horses Ground 2L: Clayborn Ground 1L: 2L: 2006–07 Mickleover Sports 1–1(p) Garforth Town Coach & Horses Ground 243 2007–08 Winterton Rangers 3–1 Parkgate Inkersall Road 213 2008–09 Long Eaton United 4–0 Selby Town Inkersall Road 260 2009–10 Dinnington Town 5–2 Armthorpe Welfare Inkersall Road 195 2010–11 Farsley 3–0 Winterton Rangers Inkersall Road 235 2011–12 Thackley 3–2 Shirebrook Town Roundwood Sports Complex 272 2012–13 Thackley 3–1 Louth Town Inkersall Road 225 2013–14 Knaresborough Town 2–2(p) Eccleshill United Valley Parade 390 2014–15 Handsworth Parramore 4–3 Cleethorpes Town Inkersall Road 376 2015–16 Cleethorpes Town 3–2 Tadcaster Albion Brierlands Lane 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 Keepmoat Stadium 1,075 2019–20 Postponed; to be played 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. "BREAKING NEWS! NCEL Release Statement Regarding League Cup!". The Bootiful Game. 14 July 2018. External links Official site NCEFL at the Football Club History Database