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 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: Central Midlands League North Division Humber Premier League Premier Division Lincolnshire League Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division West Yorkshire League Premier Division York League Premier Division Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division Clubs are also liable to be transferred to other leagues if the FA deems it geographically suitable to do so.
Current clubs (2025–26)
Premier Division
ClubStadiumLocationCapacityAlbion SportsMyra ShayBradford500Barton TownEuronics GroundBarton on Humber3,000Beverley TownNorwood Recreation GroundBeverley 1,000Bottesford TownBirch ParkScunthorpe1,000Campion Scotchman RoadBradford 1,000Eccleshill UnitedCougar ParkKeighley7,800Frickley Athletic Westfield Lane South Elmsall 2,087Golcar United Longfield Avenue Huddersfield 1,200HandsworthOliver's MountSheffield 2,500Horbury TownSlazengers Sports ComplexWakefield 800Knaresborough TownManse LaneKnaresborough1,000Liversedge Clayborn Liversedge 2,000ParkgateRoundwood Sports ComplexRotherham 1,000Penistone ChurchChurch View RoadPenistone 1,000Pickering Town Mill Lane Pickering2,000Rossington MainWelfare GroundDoncaster 2,000Sheffield Home of Football Ground Dronfield2,089Tadcaster Albion Ings Lane Tadcaster2,000ThackleyDennyfieldBradford3,000Wombwell TownRecreation GroundBarnsley 2,000
Division One
ClubStadiumLocationCapacityAppleby FrodinghamBrumby Hall Sports Ground Scunthorpe 1,100Armthorpe WelfareWelfare GroundDoncaster 2,500Athersley RecreationSheerien ParkBarnsley 2,000Brigg TownThe HawthornsBrigg 2,500Club Thorne CollieryChesterfield Poultry StadiumDoncaster 1,200 Crowle Colts Windsor ParkCrowle 500Dearne & DistrictWelfare Ground, Goldthorpe Goldthorpe 1,000Doncaster CityWelfare Ground, Armthorpe Doncaster 2,500Glasshoughton WelfareGlasshoughton CentreCastleford 2,000GooleVictoria Pleasure GroundsGoole 3,000Harrogate Railway AthleticStation ViewHarrogate3,500Ilkley Town Ben Rhydding Sports club Ilkley 700Leeds UCFA Crofton Community Centre Wakefield 1,500Louth Town The MKM Louth Stadium Saltfleetby 500Maltby MainMuglet LaneRotherham 2,000Nostell Miners WelfareCrofton Community CentreCrofton, West YorkshireWakefield 1,500Route One RoversMyra ShayBradford500Selby TownRichard StreetSelby5,000South Leeds South Leeds StadiumLeeds 3,450WakefieldBeechnut LanePontefract1,200Winterton RangersThe MKM Stadium, WintertonWinterton3,000Worsbrough Bridge AthleticPark RoadBarnsley 2,000
Honours
Champions Season Premier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1982–83Shepshed CharterhouseNorth Scarborough ReservesSouth Lincoln UnitedNorth Rowntree MackintoshSouth Woolley Miners Welfare1983–84Spalding UnitedNorth Pontefract CollieriesSouth Borrowash VictoriaNorth Harrogate Railway AthleticSouth Retford Town1984–85Belper TownCentral Armthorpe WelfareNorth Farsley CelticSouth Long Eaton United1985–86ArnoldNorth Ferriby UnitedLincoln UnitedCollingham1986–87Alfreton TownOssett AlbionFrecheville Community Association1987–88EmleyYork Railway InstitutePickering Town1988–89EmleySheffieldOssett Town1989–90Bridlington TownRowntree MackintoshWinterton Rangers1990–91GuiseleySheffieldHall Road Rangers1991–92North ShieldsStocksbridge Park Steels1992–93Spennymoor UnitedLincoln United1993–94Stocksbridge Park SteelsArnold Town1994–95Lincoln UnitedHatfield Main1995–96Hatfield MainSelby Town1996–97Denaby UnitedEccleshill United1997–98Hucknall TownGarforth Town1998–99Ossett AlbionHarrogate Railway1999–2000North Ferriby UnitedGoole2000–01Brigg TownBorrowash Victoria2001–02Alfreton TownGedling Town2002–03Bridlington TownMickleover Sports2003–04Ossett AlbionShirebrook Town2004–05GooleSutton Town2005–06BuxtonCarlton Town2006–07Retford UnitedParkgate2007–08Winterton RangersDinnington Town2008–09Mickleover SportsScarborough Athletic2009–10Bridlington TownTadcaster Albion2010–11FarsleyStaveley Miners Welfare2011–12Retford UnitedHandsworth2012–13Scarborough AthleticAlbion Sports2013–14Brighouse TownCleethorpes Town2014–15Shaw Lane AquaforceClipstone2015–16Tadcaster AlbionHemsworth Miners Welfare2016–17Cleethorpes TownHall Road Rangers2017–18Pontefract CollieriesKnaresborough Town2018–19Worksop TownGrimsby Borough2019–20Season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic2020–21Season curtailed due to local lockdown regulations2021–22Grimsby BoroughHallam2022–23North FerribyCampion2023–24EmleyParkgate2024–25SilsdenHorbury Town2025–26LiversedgeDearne & District
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 – SeasonClubPositionPromoted to1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1stSouthern League Midland Division1986–87Alfreton TownFarsley CelticSutton TownHarrogate TownEastwood Town1st2nd5th9th13thNorthern Premier League Division OneNorthern Premier League Division OneNorthern Premier League Division OneNorthern Premier League Division OneNorthern Premier League Division One1988–89Emley1stNorthern Premier League Division One1989–90Bridlington Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One1990–91Guiseley1stNorthern Premier League Division One1992–93Spennymoor United1stNorthern Premier League Division One1994–95Lincoln United1stNorthern Premier League Division One1995–96Stocksbridge Park Steels2ndNorthern Premier League Division One1996–97Belper Town2ndNorthern Premier League Division One1997–98Hucknall Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One1998–99Ossett Town2ndNorthern Premier League Division One1999–2000North Ferriby United1stNorthern Premier League Division One2000–01Ossett Albion2ndNorthern Premier League Division One2001–02Alfreton Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One2003–04Ossett Albion1stNorthern Premier League Division One2004–05Goole1stNorthern Premier League Division One2005–06BuxtonHarrogate Railway Athletic1st3rdNorthern Premier League Division OneNorthern Premier League Division One2006–07Retford UnitedSheffieldCarlton TownGarforth Town1st2nd3rd4thNorthern Premier League Division One SouthNorthern Premier League Division One SouthNorthern Premier League Division One SouthNorthern Premier League Division One North2007–08Glapwell2ndNorthern Premier League Division One South2008–09Mickleover Sports1stNorthern Premier League Division One South2009–10Rainworth Miners Welfare2ndNorthern Premier League Division One South2010–11Farsley1stNorthern Premier League Division One North2012–13Scarborough Athletic1stNorthern Premier League Division One South2013–14Brighouse Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One North2014–15Shaw Lane Aquaforce1stNorthern Premier League Division One South2015–16Tadcaster Albion1stNorthern Premier League Division One North2016–17Cleethorpes Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One South2017–18Pontefract CollieriesPickering TownAFC Mansfield1st2nd3rdNorthern Premier League Division One EastNorthern Premier League Division One EastNorthern Premier League Division One East2018–19Worksop Town1stNorthern Premier League Division One South-East2019–20No promotions2020–21Bridlington TownLiversedgeYorkshire AmateurTop 3Northern Premier League Division One East2021–22Grimsby Borough1stNorthern Premier League Division One East2022–23North FerribyWinterton Rangers1st2ndNorthern Premier League Division One EastNorthern Premier League Division One East2023–24EmleyGarforth Town1st2ndNorthern Premier League Division One EastNorthern Premier League Division One East2024–25SilsdenHallam1st2ndNorthern Premier League Division One EastNorthern Premier League Division One East2025–26LiversedgeBeverley Town F.C.1st2ndNorthern Premier League Division One EastNorthern Premier League Division One East
Cup competitions
League Cup The league currently has one cup competition, the League Cup, which is contested by every club in the league.
Finals SeasonWinnerResultRunner-upVenueAttendance1982–83Shepshed Charterhouse1–0Sutton Town1983–84Ossett Albion2–1Ilkeston TownEastwood1984–85Alfreton Town2–1Long Eaton UnitedEastwood1985–86Sutton Town1–0Bradley RangersDenaby1986–87Harrogate Railway Athletic5–0Woolley Miners WelfarePontfract1987–88York Railway Institute2–1Rowntree MackintoshBootham Crescent1988–89Bridlington Town3–1EmleyPontefract1989–90Ossett Town1–0Bridlington TownNorth Ferriby1990–91Guiseley1–0North Ferriby UnitedOssett - Ingfield1991–92North Shields5–0Armthorpe WelfareOssett - Queen's Terrace1992–93Spennymoor United2–1ThackleyOssett - Ingfield1993–94Hucknall Town4–1ThackleyOssett - Ingfield1994–95Stocksbridge Park Steels3–0North Ferriby UnitedOssett - Queen's Terrace1995–96Ashfield United8–2Ossett AlbionBelper1996–97Hucknall Town3–1Pontefract Collieries Millmoor1997–98Hucknall Town1–0North Ferriby UnitedHatfield1998–99Denaby United1–0Selby TownGarforth1999–00Garforth Town3–1GlapwellOssett - Queen's Terrace2000–01Sheffield2–1Gedling TownAlfreton2001–02Alfreton Town4–0Armthorpe WelfareWorksop2002–03Ossett Albion3–0SheffieldBrigg2003–04Hallam1–0Mickleover SportsBuxton2004–05Sheffield2–1Harrogate Railway AthleticOssett - Queen's Terrace2502005–06Liversedge5–1(agg)Sheffield1L: Sheffield2L: Liversedge1L: 2L: 2006–07Mickleover Sports1–1(p)Garforth TownSheffield2432007–08Winterton Rangers3–1ParkgateStaveley2132008–09Long Eaton United4–0Selby TownStaveley2602009–10Dinnington Town5–2Armthorpe WelfareStaveley1952010–11Farsley3–0Winterton RangersStaveley2352011–12Thackley3–2Shirebrook TownParkgate2722012–13Thackley3–1Louth TownStaveley2252013–14Knaresborough Town2–2(p)Eccleshill UnitedValley Parade3902014–15Handsworth Parramore4–3Cleethorpes TownStaveley3762015–16Cleethorpes Town3–2Tadcaster AlbionGarforth4232016–17Penistone Church4–1Bridlington TownBramall Lane4852017–18Cup withdrawn; final abandoned2018–19Worksop Town3–1LiversedgeDoncaster1,0752019–20Final not played2020–21Cancelled2021–22Barton Town3–2Garforth TownDoncaster7182022–23Winterton Rangers1–1Golcar UnitedDoncaster8102023–24Parkgate3–0EmleyScunthorpe6672024–25Beverley Town3–2Knaresborough TownScunthorpe5872025–26Liversedge7–1Rossington MainScunthorpe412
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.
Winners Season President's Cup Trophy 1990–91North Ferriby United 1991–92North Shields 1992–93Maltby Miners Welfare 1993–94Lincoln United 1994–95Arnold Town 1995–96Belper TownPontefract Collieries 1996–97Hucknall TownGarforth Town1997–98Glasshoughton WelfareStaveley Miners Welfare1998–99North Ferriby UnitedYorkshire Amateur1999–00North Ferriby UnitedGoole2000–01Selby TownPickering Town2001–02Alfreton TownBridlington Town2002–03Harrogate Railway AthleticMickleover Sports2003–04Eastwood TownHall Road Rangers2004–05BuxtonLincoln Moorlands2005–06BuxtonRetford United2006–07Retford UnitedParkgate2007–08LiversedgeHall Road Rangers2008–09NostellStaveley Miners Welfare2009–10Winterton RangersStaveley Miners Welfare2010–11Tadcaster AlbionGlasshoughton Welfare2011–12HandsworthGrimsby Borough
Member clubs in national competitions
FA Cup first round