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
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 championsJolof Sports
(2018-19)

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 DivisionPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four
Blue MarlinAll ProspectsBarkingside AEmerson & Upminster ReservesASAAvondale Rangers
Chadwell Heath SpartansAthletic Newham Under 23sBelfryFairlop RoversBuckhurst WayChingford Harriers
Chigwell TownCrookz UnitedCowley CommunityFHN AthleticFC Baresi Under 23sCollier Row A
CSM LondonDagenham UnitedForest GreenLoughton LionsFlyers Under 23sDagenham United Reserves
DTFCEastsideFrancis LukeNewbury EastGlendaleEmerson & Upminster A
FC BaresiFrenford AIlford ReservesOld EsthameiansHarlow InterFairlop Rovers Reserves
FC PetrocubLondon CranesKwanzas London SportRainham Working Mens ClubLymore Gardens ReservesFlyers Under 21s
Jolof SportsLondon Park CityNewham WanderersRedbridge CommunityMelbourne SportsNewham & Havering Borough
Kit Out LondonMarcelonaRCXIRoyal ForestOld Barkabbeyans ReservesNewham Royals
Leyton RoyalNorth East LionsRenegadeRyan Under 23sRoyal Forest ReservesSporting Pillars
Lymore GardensOaksideSomething From NothingSt FrancisTerinWest Essex Under 23s
Rapid ChingfordWappingWansteadUniteyTogether United
Tower United
Woodford East

Champions
SeasonPremier/Senior 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

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.
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