Essex Alliance Football League

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.

Essex Alliance League
Founded2014
CountryEngland
Number of teams76
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
Division 4 Cup
Current championsBrimsdown
(2022-23)

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 who returned to senior football following relegation the season prior.

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 for 2022–23
Senior DivisionPremier Division EastPremier Division WestDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four
Blue MarlinAveley Under 23sAEK LondonAthollBarking PottersBuckhurst WayAvondale Rangers
BrimsdownBarkingside Under 23sAthletic Newham Under 23sEagles FootballChadwell Heath Spartans ReservesChingford HarriersCollier Row Wheels
Crookz UnitedChingford AthleticCSM LondonForest GreenFC Baresi Under 23sDagenham United ReservesEmerson and Upminster Reserves
Dagenham UnitedCowley CommunityG7Ilford ReservesLymore Gardens ReservesFlyers Under 21sFairlop Rovers Reserves
FC BaresiFairlop RoversLeyton CityKwanzas London SportOld BarkabbeyansFootball Club of RiversideFlyers Under 23s
FC PetrocubFreetownLondon CranesNewham WanderersRainham PhoenixFrenford AInter London
Frenford DevelopmentLondon Park CityNorth East LionsOld EsthameiansRedbridge Community ReservesGlendaleLondon APSA Under 23s
Jolof SportsRCXIPriory Park RangersRedbridge CommunityRoyal ForestJolof Sports ReservesNewham & Havering Borough
Lymore GardensUnderscore UnitedSoulRenegadeSnaresbrookMelbourne SportsOld Esthameians Reserves
May and Baker EC ReservesWaltham Abbey ATower UnitedSomething From NothingSt FrancisNewbury EastRomford Under 19s
OaksideWappingWansteadUniteyWoodford East ReservesRomford Under 21sWest Essex Under 23s
Rapid Chingford
Sporting Hackney
Walthamstow Reserves
Woodford East

Champions
SeasonSenior DivisionPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four
2014–15Chingford AthleticBlue MarlinGrove United
2015-16Chingford AthleticGrove UnitedLondon ASPA
2016-17Jolof SportsColebrook RoyalsRyan ReservesWapping
2017-18Colebrook RoyalsDocklands AlbionChingford Athletic ReservesFC BaresiHaver Town Reserves
2018-19Jolof SportsFC BaresiChingford Athletic DevelopmentHaver Town ReservesSungate Reserves
2019-20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22DTFCFrenford ABelfryFairlop RoversFC Baresi Under 23sSporting Pillars
2022-23BrimsdownChingford Athletic (East)
CSM London (West)		Newham WanderersSnaresbrookNewbury EastRomford Under 19s

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.
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