2019–20 Eastern Counties Football League
The 2019–20 season was the 77th season in the history of Eastern Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions, the Premier Division, Division One North and Division One South.[1]
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to, from, or within the competition.[2] On 30 March 2020, sixty-six non-league clubs sent an open letter to the Football Association requesting that they reconsider their decision.[3] A legal appeal against the decision, funded by the Northern Premier League's South Shields, was dismissed later in June.[4]
Premier Division
[edit]| Season | 2019–20 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 279 |
| Goals scored | 1,052 (3.77 per match) |
← 2018–19 2020–21 → | |
The Premier Division featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:
- Mildenhall Town, relegated from the Isthmian League
- Stanway Rovers, transferred from the Essex Senior League
- Swaffham Town, promoted from Division One North
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stowmarket Town | 28 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 95 | 17 | +78 | 74 |
| 2 | Norwich United | 27 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 73 | 26 | +47 | 59 |
| 3 | Stanway Rovers | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 70 | 32 | +38 | 59 |
| 4 | Newmarket Town | 27 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 69 | 40 | +29 | 51 |
| 5 | Wroxham | 25 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 18 | +19 | 47 |
| 6 | Brantham Athletic | 31 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 44 | 54 | −10 | 47 |
| 7 | Woodbridge Town | 28 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 71 | 61 | +10 | 45 |
| 8 | Mildenhall Town | 28 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 53 | 41 | +12 | 44 |
| 9 | Long Melford | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 51 | 61 | −10 | 43 |
| 10 | Whitton United | 28 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 42 |
| 11 | FC Clacton | 28 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 39 |
| 12 | Godmanchester Rovers | 25 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 51 | 52 | −1 | 38 |
| 13 | Kirkley & Pakefield | 28 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 43 | 48 | −5 | 33 |
| 14 | Haverhill Rovers | 28 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 45 | 65 | −20 | 30 |
| 15 | Swaffham Town | 27 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 33 | 62 | −29 | 29 |
| 16 | Thetford Town | 30 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 52 | 86 | −34 | 29 |
| 17 | Walsham-le-Willows | 28 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 42 | 65 | −23 | 24 |
| 18 | Ely City | 30 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 37 | 72 | −35 | 24 |
| 19 | Hadleigh United | 27 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 36 | 69 | −33 | 20 |
| 20 | Gorleston | 27 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 40 | 80 | −40 | 20 |
Updated to match(es) played on 10 March 2020. Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
Stadia and locations
[edit]
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Brantham Athletic | Brantham Leisure Centre | 1,200 |
| Ely City | Unwin Sports Ground | 1,500 |
| Clacton | The Rush Green Bowl | 3,000 |
| Godmanchester Rovers | Bearscroft Lane | 1,050 |
| Gorleston | Emerald Park | 3,000 |
| Hadleigh United | Millfield | 3,000 |
| Haverhill Rovers | New Croft | 3,000 |
| Kirkley & Pakefield | Walmer Road | 2,000 |
| Long Melford | Stoneylands | |
| Mildenhall Town | Recreation Way | 2,000 |
| Newmarket Town | Cricket Field Road | 2,750 |
| Norwich United | Plantation Park | 3,000 |
| Stanway Rovers | Hawthorns | 1,500 |
| Stowmarket Town | Greens Meadow | 1,000 |
| Swaffham Town | Shoemakers Lane | |
| Thetford Town | Mundford Road | 1,500 |
| Walsham-le-Willows | Summer Road | 1,000 |
| Whitton United | King George V Playing Fields | 1,000 |
| Woodbridge Town | Notcutts Park | 3,000 |
| Wroxham | Trafford Park | 2,000 |
Division One North
[edit]| Season | 2019–20 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 278 |
| Goals scored | 1,100 (3.96 per match) |
← 2018–19 2020–21 → | |
Division One North featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:
- Framlingham Town, relegated from the Premier Division
- Great Yarmouth Town, relegated from the Premier Division
- Sheringham, promoted from the Anglian Combination
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mulbarton Wanderers | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 78 | 30 | +48 | 67 | |
| 2 | Lakenheath | 28 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 66 | 32 | +34 | 61 | |
| 3 | Downham Town | 29 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 70 | 37 | +33 | 59 | |
| 4 | March Town United | 28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 77 | 37 | +40 | 55 | |
| 5 | Fakenham Town | 28 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 72 | 37 | +35 | 53 | |
| 6 | Norwich CBS | 27 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 67 | 34 | +33 | 52 | |
| 7 | Sheringham | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 66 | 52 | +14 | 48 | |
| 8 | Ipswich Wanderers | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 65 | 36 | +29 | 45 | |
| 9 | Debenham LC | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 44 | |
| 10 | Great Yarmouth Town | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 40 | |
| 11 | Diss Town | 28 | 13 | 1 | 14 | 50 | 54 | −4 | 40 | |
| 12 | Needham Market reserves | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 51 | 72 | −21 | 33 | |
| 13 | AFC Sudbury reserves | 29 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 60 | 66 | −6 | 32 | |
| 14 | Leiston reserves | 27 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 56 | 86 | −30 | 31 | |
| 15 | Cornard United | 27 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 41 | 60 | −19 | 30 | |
| 16 | Framlingham Town | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 55 | 70 | −15 | 28 | |
| 17 | Haverhill Borough | 27 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 45 | 63 | −18 | 27 | |
| 18 | King's Lynn Town reserves | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 25 | |
| 19 | Felixstowe & Walton United reserves | 28 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 21 | 89 | −68 | 17 | Resigned from the league |
| 20 | Wisbech St Mary | 29 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 32 | 106 | −74 | 10 |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 March 2020. Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
Stadia and locations
[edit]Locations of Division One North clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Sudbury reserves | King's Marsh | 2,500 |
| Cornard United | Blackhouse Lane | 2,000 |
| Debenham LC | Maitlands | 1,000 |
| Diss Town | Brewers Green Lane | 2,500 |
| Downham Town | Memorial Field | 1,000 |
| Fakenham Town | Clipbush Park | 2,000 |
| Felixstowe & Walton United reserves | Dellwood Avenue | 2,000 |
| Framlingham Town | Badingham Road | |
| Great Yarmouth Town | Wellesley Recreation Ground | 3,600 |
| Haverhill Borough | New Croft (artificial, groundshare with Haverhill Rovers) | 3,000 |
| Ipswich Wanderers | Humber Doucy Lane | 1,000 |
| King's Lynn Town reserves | The Walks | 5,733 |
| Lakenheath | The Nest | |
| Leiston reserves | Victory Road | 2,500 |
| March Town United | The GER Sports Ground | |
| Mulbarton Wanderers | The Common | |
| Needham Market reserves | Bloomfields | 4,000 |
| Norwich CBS | FDC Bowthorpe | |
| Sheringham | Weybourne Road | |
| Wisbech St Mary | Beechings Close |
Division One South
[edit]| Season | 2019–20 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 221 |
| Goals scored | 841 (3.81 per match) |
← 2018–19 2020–21 → | |
Division One South featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs, relegated from the Essex Senior League:
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Ensign | 25 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 71 | 30 | +41 | 55 | |
| 2 | Lopes Tavares | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 53 | 22 | +31 | 50 | |
| 3 | Little Oakley | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 74 | 31 | +43 | 48 | |
| 4 | May & Baker | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 54 | 38 | +16 | 48 | |
| 5 | Holland | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 39 | +11 | 45 | |
| 6 | Barkingside | 24 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 44 | |
| 7 | Halstead Town | 25 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 52 | 40 | +12 | 42 | |
| 8 | Wormley Rovers | 25 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 39 | |
| 9 | Coggeshall United | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 23 | +23 | 38 | |
| 10 | Harwich & Parkeston | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 37 | |
| 11 | Benfleet | 27 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 59 | 66 | −7 | 37 | |
| 12 | Wivenhoe Town | 25 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 54 | 40 | +14 | 36 | |
| 13 | Frenford | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 35 | |
| 14 | Burnham Ramblers | 28 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 42 | 53 | −11 | 27 | |
| 15 | Hackney Wick | 26 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 32 | 58 | −26 | 20 | |
| 16 | Brightlingsea Regent reserves | 27 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 32 | 88 | −56 | 12 | Resigned from the league |
| 17 | Newbury Forest | 22 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 30 | 67 | −37 | 9 | |
| 18 | Fire United | 20 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 17 | 78 | −61 | 6 | Resigned from the league |
| 19 | Leyton Athletic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[a] | Club folded, record expunged |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 March 2020. Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [5]
Notes:
- ^ Leyton Athletic resigned from the league after playing, and losing, one game. This result had been expunged.[6]
Stadia and locations
[edit]
Barkingside
Fire United & Lopes Tavares
Frenford
Hackney Wick
May & Baker
Newbury Forest
Leyton Athletic
Locations of Division One South clubs
Greater London Division One South football clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Barkingside | Cricklefield Stadium (groundshare with Ilford) | 3,500 |
| Benfleet | Park Lane (groundshare with Canvey Island) | 4,100 |
| Brightlingsea Regent reserves | North Road | 1,000 |
| Burnham Ramblers | Leslie Fields | 2,000 |
| Coggeshall United | West Street (groundshare with Coggeshall Town) | |
| Fire United | Terence MacMillan Stadium (groundshare with Lopes Tavares) | |
| Frenford | Jack Carter Centre | |
| Hackney Wick | Coles Park (groundshare with Haringey Borough) | |
| Halstead Town | Rosemary Lane | 1,000 |
| Harwich & Parkeston | Royal Oak | |
| Holland | Dulwich Road | |
| Leyton Athletic | Wadham Lodge | |
| Little Oakley | Memorial Ground | |
| Lopes Tavares | Terence MacMillan Stadium (groundshare with Fire United) | |
| May & Baker | Gale Street (groundshare with Barking RFC) | 1,000 |
| Newbury Forest | Oakside (groundshare with Redbridge) | 3,000 |
| White Ensign | Basildon Sports Village | |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad Lane | 2,876 |
| Wormley Rovers | Wormley Playing Fields |
References
[edit]- ^ "2019/20 Club Allocations Announced by FA". Thurlow Nunn League. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Sixty-six non-league clubs send open letter to FA over expunging season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "South Shields: Legal challenge to steps three to seven season voiding dismissed". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2019/20 (part 30 Standardised Rules section 12.2)". The FA. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ "Leyton Athletic withdraw from Eastern Counties Football League". Guardian Newspapers. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.