Northern Counties East Football League


The Northern Counties East Football League is a semi-professional English football league. It has two divisions – Premier Division and Division One – which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football league system|English football pyramid] respectively.

History

The league was formed in 1982 following the merger of the Yorkshire League and Midland League. For its inaugural season, the league consisted of five divisions. Since then, the league has undergone several changes to the point where since 2018 it has two divisions of 20 teams.
The league has maintained promotion and relegation between its divisions since its beginning. In 2015 a series of play-offs were introduced for the first time to determine a third promotee from Division One.
The competition has several feeder leagues at level 11 of the pyramid, which may provide new member clubs each year:
Clubs are also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deems it geographically suitable to do so.

Current clubs (2025–26)

Division One

ClubStadiumLocationCapacity
Appleby FrodinghamBrumby Hall Sports GroundScunthorpe1,100
Armthorpe WelfareWelfare GroundDoncaster 2,500
Athersley RecreationSheerien ParkBarnsley 2,000
Brigg TownThe HawthornsBrigg2,500
Club [Thorne Colliery F.C.|Club Thorne Colliery]Chesterfield Poultry StadiumDoncaster 1,200
Crowle ColtsWindsor ParkCrowle500
Dearne & DistrictWelfare Ground, GoldthorpeGoldthorpe1,000
Doncaster CityWelfare Ground, Armthorpe Doncaster 2,500
Glasshoughton WelfareGlasshoughton CentreCastleford 2,000
GooleVictoria Pleasure GroundsGoole3,000
Harrogate Railway AthleticStation ViewHarrogate3,500
Ilkley TownBen Rhydding Sports clubIlkley700
Leeds UCFACrofton Community Centre
Wakefield 1,500
Louth TownThe MKM Louth StadiumSaltfleetby500
Maltby MainMuglet LaneRotherham 2,000
Nostell [Miners Welfare F.C.|Nostell Miners Welfare]Crofton Community Centre
Crofton, West Yorkshire		Wakefield 1,500
Route One RoversMyra ShayBradford500
Selby TownRichard StreetSelby5,000
South [Leeds F.C.|South Leeds]South Leeds StadiumLeeds 3,450
WakefieldPost Office RoadFeatherstone6,954
Winterton RangersThe MKM Stadium, WintertonWinterton3,000
Worsbrough Bridge AthleticPark RoadBarnsley 2,000

Honours

Champions

Promoted

Since the league's formation in 1982, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system – normally to the Northern Premier League –

Cup competitions

League Cup

The league currently has one cup competition, the League Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.

President's Cup and Trophy

In the past the league has had additional cup competitions. The Trophy was contested by the Division One clubs and the President's Cup which featured the top eight teams in each division from the previous season, provided they remain in the league.

Member clubs in national competitions

FA Cup first round

The following NCEL clubs have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup –
SeasonNCEL ClubRoundVenueResultOpponents
1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1stAwayLost 1–5Preston [North End F.C.|Preston North End]
1990–91Spennymoor United1stAwayLost 2–3Chesterfield
2001–02Brigg Town1stAwayLost 1–4Tranmere Rovers
2002–03Harrogate Railway Athletic1st
2nd		Away
Home		Won 2–1
Lost 1–3		Slough Town
Bristol City

FA Vase finalists

The following NCEL clubs have reached the Final of the FA Vase –
SeasonNCEL ClubResultOpponents
1987–88EmleyLost 0–1Colne Dynamoes
1989–90Bridlington TownLost 0–1Yeading
1990–91GuiseleyWon 3–1Gresley Rovers
1995–96Brigg TownWon 3–0Clitheroe
1996–97North Ferriby UnitedLost 0–3Whitby Town
2002–03Brigg TownWon 2–1AFC Sudbury
2016–17Cleethorpes TownLost 0–4South Shields