Essex Alliance Football League
 | |
| Founded | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Number of teams | 76 |
| Level on pyramid | 11 to 16 |
| Feeder to | Eastern Counties Football League |
| Promotion to | Eastern Counties Football League Division One South |
| Domestic cup(s) | County level: Essex Premier Cup Essex Junior Cup Essex Junior Trophy London Senior Trophy London Junior Cup Amateur FA Intermediate Cup |
| League cup(s) | Fenton Cup Fenton Trophy Senior Division Cup Premier Division Cup Division 1 Cup Division 2 Cup Division 3 Cup Division 4 Cup |
| Current champions | Jolof Sports (2018-19) |
The Essex Alliance Football League is an English football league for clubs based in Essex and north-eastern Greater London. The league has six divisions (Senior, Premier, Divisions One, Two, Three and Four), of which the Senior Division sits at 11th level in the English football league system, formerly Step 7 in the National League System, following the Football Association's approval to become a Regional NLS Feeder League (Step 7) from season 2021–22 onwards.[1] Teams that finish in the top five of the league can apply for promotion to the Division One South of the Eastern Counties Football League (Step 6), subject to their facilities meeting criteria and other conditions.
History[]
The league was founded in 2014 through the merging of the Ilford and District and the Essex Business House football leagues, which both shared a common aim to support and promote local grassroots football in Essex and East London while bridging the gap with other neighbouring leagues in the region.
The league permits member clubs to play on grounds in the boroughs of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest, Harlow and Epping Forest.
The league currently has a membership of 76 teams, many of whom were existing members of the aforementioned leagues and were joined by many new clubs as the league seek to buck the trend of the local Saturday football scene which had been diminishing in numbers over the past few years.[2]
Member clubs for 2021–22[]
| Senior Division | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Marlin | All Prospects | Barkingside A | Emerson & Upminster Reserves | ASA | Avondale Rangers |
| Chadwell Heath Spartans | Athletic Newham Under 23s | Belfry | Fairlop Rovers | Buckhurst Way | Chingford Harriers |
| Chigwell Town | Crookz United | Cowley Community | FHN Athletic | FC Baresi Under 23s | Collier Row A |
| CSM London | Dagenham United | Forest Green | Loughton Lions | Flyers Under 23s | Dagenham United Reserves |
| DTFC | Eastside | Francis Luke | Newbury East | Glendale | Emerson & Upminster A |
| FC Baresi | Frenford A | Ilford Reserves | Old Esthameians | Harlow Inter | Fairlop Rovers Reserves |
| FC Petrocub | London Cranes | Kwanzas London Sport | Rainham Working Mens Club | Lymore Gardens Reserves | Flyers Under 21s |
| Jolof Sports | London Park City | Newham Wanderers | Redbridge Community | Melbourne Sports | Newham & Havering Borough |
| Kit Out London | Marcelona | RCXI | Royal Forest | Old Barkabbeyans Reserves | Newham Royals |
| Leyton Royal | North East Lions | Renegade | Ryan Under 23s | Royal Forest Reserves | Sporting Pillars |
| Lymore Gardens | Oakside | Something From Nothing | St Francis | Terin | West Essex Under 23s |
| Rapid Chingford | Wapping | Wanstead | Unitey | Together United | |
| Tower United | |||||
| Woodford East |
Champions[]
| Season | Premier/Senior Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Chingford Athletic | Blue Marlin | Grove United | ||
| 2015-16 | Chingford Athletic | Grove United | London ASPA | ||
| 2016-17 | Jolof Sports | Colebrook Royals | Ryan Reserves | Wapping | |
| 2017-18 | Colebrook Royals | Docklands Albion | Chingford Athletic Reserves | FC Baresi | Haver Town Reserves |
| 2018-19 | Jolof Sports | FC Baresi | Chingford Athletic Development | Haver Town Reserves | Sungate Reserves |
| 2019-20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2020-21 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
References[]
- ^ "Regional NLS Feeder League status granted from 2021/22 season". The Essex Alliance Football League. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "About the league". The Essex Alliance Football League. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
External links[]
- Football leagues in England
- Sports leagues established in 2014
- 2014 establishments in England
- Football competitions in London
- Football in Essex