Hellenic Football League


The Hellenic Football League, currently known as the uhlsport Hellenic Football League for sponsorship reasons, is an English men's football league covering an area including the English counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and their surrounding areas, such as parts of Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, and Warwickshire.

History

The league was established in 1953. In the 2000–01 season, the Hellenic League absorbed the Chiltonian League. The league now has a Premier Division and Division One as part of the National League System. The league also runs Division Two East, Division Two West, Division Two North and Division Two South below the National League System. In the 2006–07 season the Hellenic League absorbed the Banbury District and Lord Jersey FA Veterans League with three Divisions now under the Hellenic Veterans League title.
Starting with the 2004–05 re-organisation the Hellenic League became a step 5 and 6 league in the National League System. Premier Division clubs play at Step 5 level, which offers progression to the Southern Football League Division One for Premier Division winners who have the required ground status.
Hellenic League Division One teams play at Step 6 level, promotion to the Step 5 Premier Division can be gained by clubs finishing in the top two of Division One dependent on required ground facilities as specified by The Football Association. Acceptance to HL Division One is offered to teams playing in the various Step 7 county leagues of the related Hellenic League area.
38 teams play in the Hellenic Premier and Division One. 18 teams play at Veterans level.

Current Members

Step 5 (Premier Division)

Premier Division is at Level 9 in the [English association football|football league system|football pyramid] above four smaller local leagues below the recognised National League System. There are 20 clubs in this division as of the 25/26 season.
ClubHome GroundGround Capacity
Cirencester TownCorinium Stadium4,500
Corsham TownSouthbank1,200
CribbsThe Lawns1,000
Droitwich SpaKing George V Ground2,000
Fairford TownCinder Lane2,000
Hallen AFCThe Hallen Centre2,000
Hartpury UniversityHartpury University Stadium2,000
Hereford PegasusOld School Lane2,000
Highworth TownThe Elms Recreational Ground2,000
Longlevens AFCSaw Mills End
Lydney TownLydney Recreational Ground700
Mangotsfield UnitedCrossham Street2,500
Pershore TownCommunity Stadium4,000
Roman Glass St GeorgeOaklands Park2,000
Royal Wootton Bassett TownNew Gerard Buxton Sports Ground
SlimbridgeThornbill Park1,500
Thornbury TownMundy Playing FIeld
Tuffley RoversGlevum Park1,000
Westfieldsallpay.park2,000
Worcester RaidersClaines Lane1,400

Step 6 (Division One)

Division One is at Level 10 in the football pyramid. There are 18 clubs in this division as of the 25/26 season.

Division Two - "Alliance Leagues"

Below Division One, there are two divisions, the Alliance League East and the Alliance League West. These two leagues, with a few exceptions, are made up entirely of reserve or development teams. These two leagues are not formally in the league pyramid, and promotion and relegation into/from the Hellenic League happens from Division one.

Champions

The league started with only a Premier Division, before Division One was added in 1956.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
1953–54Didcot Town
1954–55Witney Town
1955–56Headington United 'A'
1956–57Abingdon TownLuton Town Colts
1957–58Witney TownAylesbury Town Corinthians
1958–59Abingdon TownThatcham
1959–60Abingdon TownHazells
1960–61Bicester TownChipping Norton Town
1961–62Thame UnitedBotley United
1962–63Yiewsley reservesAmersham Town
1963–64Amersham TownHenley Town
1964–65Witney TownThatcham
1965–66Witney TownPrinces Risborough Town
1966–67Witney TownPinehurst
1967–68HazellsHenley Town
1968–69Wallingford TownOxford City reserves
1969–70Thame UnitedClanfield
1970–71Witney TownHungerford Town

For the 1971–72 season, Division One was split into Division One A and B.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One ADivision One B
1971–72Witney TownFairford TownChipping Norton Town

The following season, Division One A and B were merged and a Division Two was created.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
1972–73Witney TownThatchamWalcot

The following season, Division One and Division Two were merged.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
1973–74Moreton TownCirencester Town
1974–75Thatcham TownMaidenhead Town
1975–76BurnhamAbingdon Town
1976–77Moreton TownDidcot Town
1977–78Chipping Norton TownBicester Town
1978–79Newbury TownNorthwood
1979–80Bicester TownHazells
1980–81Newbury TownWantage Town
1981–82Forest Green RoversLambourn Sports
1982–83Moreton TownRayners Lane
1983–84Almondsbury GreenwayMorris Motors
1984–85Shortwood UnitedPegasus Juniors
1985–86SharpnessViking Sports
1986–87Abingdon TownBishops Cleeve
1987–88Yate TownCheltenham Town reserves
1988–89Yate TownAlmondsbury Picksons
1989–90NewportCarterton Town
1990–91Milton UnitedCinderford Town
1991–92Shortwood UnitedWollen Sports
1992–93Wollen SportsTuffley Rovers
1993–94Moreton TownCarterton Town
1994–95Cinderford TownEndsleigh
1995–96Cirencester TownPurton
1996–97Brackley TownArdley United
1997–98Swindon SupermarineArdley United
1998–99BurnhamPegasus Juniors
1999–2000Banbury UnitedCheltenham Saracens

In 2000, the league absorbed the Chiltonian League and Division One was regionalised into East and West.
In 2021, Division One East and West were merged again.
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
2021–22Bishop's CleeveStudley
2022–23CribbsPershore Town
2023–24Worcester CityHartpury University
2024–25Hartpury UniversityDroitwich Spa

Cup winners

The Hellenic League football cups are the Supplementary Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Floodlit Cup.