The 2023–24 Eastern Counties Football League is the 81st season in the history of the Eastern Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions, the Premier Division at Step 5, and the geographically separated Division One North and Division One South (Eastern Senior League), both at Step 6 of the English football league system.
The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the two step 5 divisions in the league will each promote two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaces the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there will be only one club relegated from each of the two step 5 divisions.[2]
Premier Division
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The Premier Division featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:
- Dereham Town, relegated from the Northern Premier League
- Downham Town, promoted from Division One North
- Heacham, promoted from Division One North
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mildenhall Town | 21 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 49 | 11 | +38 | 55 | Promotion to the Isthmian League North |
| 2 | Newmarket Town | 23 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 60 | 31 | +29 | 47 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Harleston Town | 23 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 48 | 33 | +15 | 45 | |
| 4 | Mulbarton Wanderers | 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 45 | 22 | +23 | 42 | |
| 5 | Dereham Town | 20 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 39 | 21 | +18 | 40 | |
| 6 | Thetford Town | 21 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 43 | 31 | +12 | 39 | |
| 7 | Downham Town | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 36 | |
| 8 | Lakenheath | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 34 | |
| 9 | Hadleigh United | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 36 | −5 | 28 | |
| 10 | Fakenham Town | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 25 | +7 | 27 | |
| 11 | Soham Town Rangers | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 26 | |
| 12 | Sheringham | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 25 | |
| 13 | Brantham Athletic | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 23 | |
| 14 | Walsham-le-Willows | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 22 | |
| 15 | Heacham | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 36 | −18 | 22 | |
| 16 | Woodbridge Town | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 33 | −8 | 17 | |
| 17 | Ely City | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 31 | 48 | −17 | 16 | |
| 18 | Kirkley & Pakefield | 20 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 19 | 54 | −35 | 8 | |
| 19 | Long Melford | 19 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 52 | −37 | 3 | |
| 20 | Norwich United[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew from league |
Updated to match(es) played on 6 January 2024. Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Notes:
Stadia and locations
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Brantham Athletic | Brantham Leisure Centre | 1,200 |
| Dereham Town | Aldiss Park | 3,000 |
| Downham Town | Memorial Field | 1,000 |
| Ely City | Unwin Sports Ground | 1,500 |
| Fakenham Town | Clipbush Park | 2,000 |
| Hadleigh United | Millfield | 3,000 |
| Harleston Town | Wilderness Lane | |
| Heacham | Station Road | |
| Kirkley & Pakefield | Walmer Road | 2,000 |
| Lakenheath | The Nest | |
| Long Melford | Stoneylands | |
| Mildenhall Town | Recreation Way | 2,000 |
| Mulbarton Wanderers | The Common | |
| Newmarket Town | Cricket Field Road | 2,750 |
| Norwich United | Plantation Park | 3,000 |
| Sheringham | Weybourne Road | |
| Soham Town Rangers | Julius Martin Lane | 2,000 |
| Thetford Town | Mundford Road | 1,500 |
| Walsham-le-Willows | Summer Road | 1,000 |
| Woodbridge Town | Notcutts Park | 3,000 |
Division One North
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One North featured 15 clubs which competed in the previous season, along with six new clubs.
- Relegated from the Premier Division
- Transferred from Division One South
- Plus:
- Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers, promoted from the Anglian Combination
- FC Peterborough, promoted from the Peterborough and District League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Framlingham Town | 22 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 69 | 29 | +40 | 53 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Stanway Pegasus | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 75 | 20 | +55 | 51 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Holland | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 68 | 51 | +17 | 47 | |
| 4 | Great Yarmouth Town | 21 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 56 | 27 | +29 | 46 | |
| 5 | AFC Sudbury reserves | 25 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 64 | 43 | +21 | 44 | |
| 6 | Holbeach United | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 60 | 40 | +20 | 42 | |
| 7 | Harwich & Parkeston | 24 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 39 | |
| 8 | Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 36 | |
| 9 | FC Parson Drove | 23 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 51 | 52 | −1 | 36 | |
| 10 | Diss Town | 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 40 | 42 | −2 | 35 | |
| 11 | Whittlesey Athletic | 24 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 43 | 54 | −11 | 33 | |
| 12 | Cornard United | 21 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 61 | 54 | +7 | 32 | |
| 13 | FC Peterborough | 27 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 58 | 69 | −11 | 32 | |
| 14 | Wivenhoe Town | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 40 | 51 | −11 | 31 | |
| 15 | Haverhill Rovers | 21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 47 | 51 | −4 | 30 | |
| 16 | Norwich CBS | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 50 | 66 | −16 | 27 | |
| 17 | Swaffham Town | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 24 | |
| 18 | Needham Market under 23s | 25 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 38 | 76 | −38 | 19 | |
| 19 | Leiston reserves | 24 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 34 | 73 | −39 | 18 | Possible relegation to feeder leagues |
| 20 | Haverhill Borough | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 24 | 72 | −48 | 16 | |
| 21 | Whitton United | 20 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 25 | 49 | −24 | 13 |
Updated to match(es) played on 6 January 2024. Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Stadia and locations
Locations of Division One North clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Sudbury reserves | King's Marsh | 2,500 |
| Cornard United | Blackhouse Lane | |
| Diss Town | Brewers Green Lane | 2,500 |
| Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers | The Nest | 1,000 |
| FC Parson Drove | Main Road | |
| FC Peterborough | The Focus Centre | |
| Framlingham Town | Badingham Road | |
| Great Yarmouth Town | Wellesley Recreation Ground | 3,600 |
| Harwich & Parkeston | Royal Oak | |
| Haverhill Borough | New Croft (artificial, groundshare with Haverhill Rovers) | 3,000 |
| Haverhill Rovers | New Croft | 3,000 |
| Holbeach United | Carters Park | 4,000 |
| Holland | Dulwich Road | |
| Leiston reserves | Victory Road | 2,500 |
| Needham Market reserves | Bloomfields | 4,000 |
| Norwich CBS | FDC Bowthorpe | |
| Stanway Pegasus | The Stanway School | |
| Swaffham Town | Shoemakers Lane | |
| Whittlesey Athletic | Feldale Field | |
| Whitton United | King George V Playing Fields | 1,000 |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad Lane | 2,876 |
Division One South
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One South featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with eight new clubs:
- Brimsdown, promoted from the Essex Alliance League
- Clapton, relegated from the Essex Senior League
- Clapton Community, promoted from the Middlesex County League
- Dunmow Town, promoted from the Essex and Suffolk Border League
- Harlow Town, resigned from the Southern League
- Hoddesdon Town, relegated from the Spartan South Midlands League
- Hutton, promoted from the Essex Olympian League
- Southend Manor, relegated from the Essex Senior League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clapton Community | 29 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 56 | Promotion to the Essex Senior League |
| 2 | Harlow Town | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 59 | 35 | +24 | 51 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Hutton | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 54 | 36 | +18 | 50 | |
| 4 | Benfleet | 22 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 51 | 15 | +36 | 49 | |
| 5 | Dunmow Town | 27 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 47 | |
| 6 | Wormley Rovers | 23 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 52 | 21 | +31 | 46 | |
| 7 | Cannons Wood | 26 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 64 | 40 | +24 | 45 | |
| 8 | Clapton | 25 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 36 | |
| 9 | Southend Manor | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 60 | 65 | −5 | 34 | |
| 10 | Barkingside | 26 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 33 | |
| 11 | Hackney Wick | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 51 | 43 | +8 | 32 | |
| 12 | Tower Hamlets | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 49 | 65 | −16 | 31 | |
| 13 | Brimsdown | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 30 | |
| 14 | May & Baker | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 43 | 40 | +3 | 29 | |
| 15 | Newbury Forest | 23 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 48 | 62 | −14 | 29 | |
| 16 | NW London | 25 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 55 | 70 | −15 | 29 | |
| 17 | Basildon Town | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 38 | 45 | −7 | 25 | |
| 18 | Enfield Borough | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 39 | 57 | −18 | 25 | |
| 19 | Burnham Ramblers | 28 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 52 | 82 | −30 | 25 | |
| 20 | St Margaretsbury | 23 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 22 | Possible relegation to feeder leagues |
| 21 | Hoddesdon Town | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 35 | 43 | −8 | 21 | |
| 22 | Park View | 24 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 28 | 71 | −43 | 17 |
Updated to match(es) played on 6 January 2024. Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[5]
Stadia and locations
Barkingside
Cannons Wood & May & Baker
Clapton
Clapton Community
Enfield Borough
Newbury Forest
NW London
Park View
Tower Hamlets
Locations of Division One South clubs
Greater London Division One South football clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Barkingside | Cricklefield Stadium (groundshare with Ilford) | 3,500 |
| Basildon Town | Rookery Hill (groundshare with East Thurrock United) | 3,500 |
| Benfleet | Park Lane (groundshare with Canvey Island) | 4,100 |
| Brimsdown | Wormley Playing Fields (groundshare with Wormley Rovers) | 500 |
| Burnham Ramblers | Leslie Fields | 2,000 |
| Cannons Wood | Parkside Stadium (groundshare with Aveley) | 3,500 |
| Clapton | Terence McMillan Stadium (groundshare with Athletic Newham) | 2,000 |
| Clapton Community | The Old Spotted Dog Ground | |
| Dunmow Town | Scraley Road (groundshare with Heybridge Swifts) | 3,000 |
| Enfield Borough | The Maurice Rebak Stadium (groundshare with Wingate & Finchley) | 1,500 |
| Hackney Wick | Spa Road (groundshare with Witham Town) | 2,500 |
| Harlow Town | The Harlow Arena | 3,500 |
| Hoddesdon Town | Lowfield | 3,000 |
| Hutton | New Lodge (groundshare with Billericay Town) | 3,500 |
| May & Baker | Parkside Stadium (groundshare with Aveley) | 3,500 |
| Newbury Forest | Oakside Stadium (groundshare with Redbridge) | 3,000 |
| NW London | Brickfield Lane (groundshare with Hadley) | 2,000 |
| Park View | New River Stadium | 5,000 |
| Southend Manor | Southchurch Park | 2,000 |
| St Margaretsbury | Recreation Ground | 1,000 |
| Tower Hamlets | Mile End Stadium (groundshare with Sporting Bengal United) | 2,000 |
| Wormley Rovers | Wormley Playing Fields | 500 |
References
- ↑ "REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA". The Non-League Football Paper. 15 May 2023.
- ↑ "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ↑ "Norwich United FC withdraw from Thurlow Nunn Premier". Norwich Evening News. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ↑ "Norwich United manager speaks after death threat claims". Norwich Evening News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
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