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Essex Alliance Football League

Essex Alliance League
Founded2014
CountryEngland
Number of clubs75
Level on pyramid11 to 16
Feeder toEastern Counties Football League
Promotion toEastern 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
Anagrams Records Trophy
League cup(s)Fenton Cup
Fenton Trophy
Senior Division Cup
Premier Division Cup
Division 1 Cup
Division 2 Cup
Division 3 Cup
Current championsFC Baresi
(2023-24)

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 seeks to buck the trend of the local Saturday football scene which had been diminishing in numbers over the past few years.[2]

In 2022, history was made in the league as the first direct promotion to senior football was confirmed with DT FC, champions of the Senior Division, successfully promoted to Step 6 within the Eastern Counties Football League Division One South. This was followed by Brimsdown in 2023 and by FC Baresi in 2024.

During the 2022/23 season, it was announced by the Football Association that four leagues in England would pilot the first ever referee body worn camera trial, the Essex Alliance League one of those chosen to take part for a period of 18-24 months, alongside leagues in Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Worcestershire. [3]

Member clubs 2024–25

Champions

Season Senior Division Premier 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
2021–22 DTFC Frenford 'A' Belfry Fairlop Rovers FC Baresi U23 Sporting Pillars
2022–23 Brimsdown Chingford Athletic (East)
CSM London (West)
Newham Wanderers Snaresbrook Newbury East Romford U19
2023–24 FC Baresi Fairlop Rovers (East)
Philip United (West)
Saint City Rainham & Barking Phoenix Woodford Town U23

Note: From season 2022/23, the Premier Division was split geographically with East and West divisions

References

  1. ^ "Regional NLS Feeder League status granted from 2021/22 season". The Essex Alliance Football League. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. ^ "About the league". The Essex Alliance Football League. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  3. ^ "FA to trial referee bodycams in Essex Alliance League". The Essex Alliance Football League. Retrieved 1 March 2023.