Central Midlands Football League

Central Midlands Football League

Founded	1983
Country	England
Divisions	North Division South Division Division 1 (North, South, Central)
Number of teams	59 15 (North Division) 16 (South Division) 9 (Division One North) 9 (Division One South) 10 (Division One Central)
Level on pyramid	11th (North and South Divisions)
Feeder to	Northern Counties East League United Counties League
Promotion to	Northern Counties East League Division One United Counties League Division One
Relegation to	Midlands Regional Alliance
Domestic cup(s)	League Challenge Cup
Current champions	None (2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons abandoned owing to COVID-19 pandemic)
Most championships	Hucknall Town (3 Times, 1990, 1991 and 2019)
Website	Pitchero

The Central Midlands Football League is an English football league covering the northeast-central part of England. Formed in 1971 as the South Derbyshire League, changing name initially to the Derbyshire League before changing to its current name in 1983, it covers parts of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. The league's current sponsor is Abacus Lighting. The number of divisions has varied over time as follows

• 1983–84: Premier, Premier First, Senior and First
• 1984–85 to 1985–86: Premier, Central, Senior and First
• 1986–87 to 1987–88: Supreme, Premier, First and Second
• 1988–89 to 1990–91: Supreme, Premier and First
• 1991–92: Supreme, Premier North and Premier South
• 1992–93 to 2010–11: Supreme and Premier
• 2011–12 to 2012-13: North and South
• 2012–13 to 2014-15: North, South, Reserve Supreme and Reserve Premier
• 2015-16 to 2016-17: North, South, Reserve Division
• 2017-18 to 2018-19: North, South, Reserve Supreme and Division One
• 2018–19 to 2019-20: North, South, Division One North and South
• 2019-20 to Present: North, South, Division One North, South and Central

Within the English football league system, the Central Midlands League's top two divisions, called the North Division and South Division, were considered part of the National League System (at Step 7) until 2020, when they were redesignated as NLS county feeders. Four clubs from the previously-named Premier Division had the distinction of being the lowest-ranked clubs, and only ones outside the NLS, accepted for the 2006–07 FA Vase. For the 2008–09 season, eight of the leading sides left the Central Midlands League to join forces with eight clubs from the Leicestershire Senior League to form a new league, the East Midlands Counties League, at Step 6 of the National League System. For the 2015–16 season reserve teams of clubs who play higher up the pyramid were allowed to participate in the league for the first time.

Champions of the North Division are eligible (if they meet ground standards) for promotion to the Northern Counties East League Division One and champions of the South Division are eligible for promotion to the United Counties League and until 2019, East Midlands Counties League, and some clubs have progressed from the CML to the National League North and Northern Premier League. A representative side from the league takes part in the FA Inter-League Cup.

Local leagues below the Central Midlands League on the pyramid include the Midlands Regional Alliance. In most cases these have multiple divisions or feeder leagues of their own.

At the 2017 AGM it was agreed for the Reserve Division to become Division One and confirmed the new teams which would join the league for the forthcoming season. The North Division welcomed Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves (promoted from Reserve Division), and Renishaw Rangers, the South Division welcomed Hilton Harriers, AFC Kilburn and Aslockton & Orston.

Member clubs 2021–22[]

North Division[]

• AFC Bentley
• AFC Phoenix
• Askern Miners
• Clay Cross Town
• Club Thorne Colliery
• Collingham
• Crowle Colts
• Dearne and District
• Dinnington Town
• Glapwell
• Harworth Colliery
• Kiverton Miners Welfare
• Newark Town
• Retford United
• Sheffield Reserves
• St Josephs Rockware of Worksop
• Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves
• Sutton Rovers

South Division[]

• Arnold Town
• Ashland Rovers
• Blidworth Welfare
• Hilton Harriers
• Holbrook St Michaels
• Linby Colliery Welfare
• Long Eaton United Community
• Mansfield Hosiery Mills
• Mickleover Reserves
• Mickleover Royal British Legion
• Nottingham
• Pinxton
• Rowsley 86
• Sherwood Colliery Reserves
• South Normanton Athletic
• Teversal Reserves
• Wirksworth Ivanhoe

Division One North

• 780 JLC
• Bessacarr
• Bottesford Town Development
• Club Thorne Colliery Development
• Dearne & District Development
• Harworth Colliery Reserves
• Newark Town Development
• Ollerton Town Reserves
• Retford FC Development

Division One South

• Ballers
• Carlton Town B
• Castle Donington
• Derby Singh Brothers
• Heanor Town Reserves
• Linby Colliery Reserves
• Melbourne Dynamo F.C.
• Pass Move Grin Academy
• Ripley Town F.C.

Division One Central

• Ashland Rovers Reserves
• Bakewell Town F.C.
• Blidworth Welfare Reserves
• Cromford & Wirksworth Town
• Holbrook St Michaels Reserves
• Kilburn
• Mansfield Hosiery Mills Reserves
• South Normanton Athletic Reserves
• Woodhouse Colts

League champions[]

League Challenge Cup[]

The league also runs the Central Midlands League Challenge Cup, which is contested by every club in the league. Since 2001 every final has been played at Alfreton Town's North Street stadium.

Finals[]

References[]

External links[]

• North Division current table at NonLeagueMatters
• South division current table at NonLeagueMatters
• Central Midlands League on Mitoo (to 2012–13)
• Central Midlands League on FA Full-Time (2013–14 onwards)