The East Midlands Counties Football League was an English football league that operated from 2008 to 2021, covering the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands. The league had one division, which stood at the tenth level of the football pyramid.
History The league was formed in 2008, drawing clubs from the Northern Counties East League (2), Central Midlands League (8) and Leicestershire Senior League (8) to create a division at level 10 of the English football league system.
On 15 May 2008 The FA Leagues Committee placed the new league at Step 6 in the National League System. The FA, 15 May 2008 Eighteen clubs were invited to form the new league; From the Central Midlands League: Blackwell Miners Welfare, Dunkirk, Gedling Miners Welfare, Graham Street Prims, Greenwood Meadows, Heanor Town, Holbrook Miners Welfare, Radford; From the Leicestershire Senior League: Bardon Hill, Barrow Town, Ellistown, Hinckley Downes, Holwell Sports, Ibstock United, Kirby Muxloe SC, St. Andrews; From the Northern Counties East League: Borrowash Victoria, Gedling Town
The league provided a pathway for successful clubs to higher grade football, with clubs moving up to the Midland League Premier Division, Northern Counties East League Premier Division and United Counties League Premier Division - each at level 9 of the system.
It was not until 2017 that clubs were relegated from the competition, into the Central Midlands League and Leicestershire Senior League.
The competition had several feeder leagues at level 11 of the pyramid: Central Midlands League South Division Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division
Clubs were also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deemed it geographically suitable to do so.
The East Midlands Counties League was disbanded at the end of the 2020–21 season, most of its remaining clubs were assigned to the Northern Counties East and United Counties leagues' Step 6 divisions, as part of reorganising the National League System where the United Counties League added an additional Step 5 division.
Final clubs (2020–21) ClubHome groundBarrow TownRiverside Park Belper UnitedChristchurch MeadowBorrowash VictoriaAsterdale Bowl Clifton All WhitesNorman Archer Memorial GroundClipstoneLido GroundDunkirkRon Steel Sports GroundEastwoodCoronation ParkGedling Miners WelfarePlains Social ClubGraham Street PrimsAsterdale Sports GroundHeanor TownTown GroundHucknall TownWatnall RoadInglesDovecote StadiumKimberley Miners WelfareThe Stag GroundOllerton TownWalesby Lane Sports GroundRadfordSelhurst StreetRainworth Miners WelfareWelfare GroundSherwood CollieryDebdale ParkShirebrook TownLangwith RoadTeversalTeversal Grange Sports and Social CentreWest BridgfordRegatta Way Sports Ground
Honours
Champions
Season2008–09Kirby Muxloe2009–10Dunkirk2010–11Gresley2011–12Heanor Town2012–13Basford United2013–14Thurnby Nirvana2014–15Bardon Hill2015–16St Andrews2016–17West Bridgford2017-18Dunkirk2018-19Selston2019-20None, seasons abandoned **2020–21
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to or from the competition. The next season was also abandoned on 24 February 2021 but promotion proceeded after a one-year postponement.
Promoted SeasonClubPositionPromoted to2008–09Kirby Muxloe1stMidland Alliance2009–10Dunkirk1stMidland Alliance2010–11Gresley1stMidland Alliance2011–12Heanor Town1stNorthern Counties East League Premier Division2012–13Basford United1stNorthern Counties East League Premier Division2013–14Thurnby Nirvana1stUnited Counties League Premier Division2014–15Bardon Hill1stMidland League Premier Division2015–16St Andrews1stMidland League Premier Division2016–17South Normanton Athletic2ndMidland League Premier Division2017–18Dunkirk1stMidland League Premier Division2018–19SelstonNewark Flowserve1st2ndMidland League Premier Division2019–20no promotion, season abandoned**2020–21EastwoodHeanor TownSherwood CollieryTop 3*Eastwood, Heanor:United Countied League Premier Division NorthSherwood: Northern Counties East League Premier Division
* Based on points-per-game averages obtained by adding the accumulated number of games played between 2019 and 2021, and dividing it by total number of points. ** As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to or from the competition.
League Cup The league also ran the East Midlands Counties League Cup, which was contested by every club in the league.
Finals SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upVenue2008–09Borrowash Victoria1 – 0Holbrook Miners WelfareWelby Road, Holwell Sports F.C.2009–10Gedling Town2 - 1*DunkirkBorrowash Road, Borrowash Victoria F.C.2010–11Thurnby Nirvana4 - 2Holbrook SportsMoat Ground, Gresley F.C.2011–12Borrowash Victoria1 - 0Radcliffe OlympicRiverside Park, Barrow Town F.C.2012–13Basford United2 - 0Graham Street PrimsBorrowash Road, Borrowash Victoria F.C.2013–14Graham Street Prims4 - 2Sutton Town AFCBardon Close, Bardon Hill F.C.2014–15South Normanton Athletic1 - 1* (5–4)(p)Radcliffe OlympicPlains Road, Gedling Miners Welfare F.C.2015–16Aylestone Park2 - 1South Normanton AthleticRiverside Park, Barrow Town F.C.2016–17Dunkirk2 - 1Ashby IvanhoeCropston Road, Anstey Nomads F.C.2017–18Radford6 - 0Anstey NomadsCoronation Park, Eastwood C.F.C.2018–19Newark Flowserve0 - 0* (4-1)(p)Clifton All WhitesLido Ground, Clipstone F.C.2019–20Competition abandoned**2020–21Not held
* Result after extra-time ** As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged.
References