2021–22 Eastern Counties Football League

The 2021–22 season was the 79th season in the history of the Eastern Counties Football League, a football competition in England. Teams are divided into three divisions, the Premier Division at Step 5, and the geographically separated Division One North and Division One South, both at Step 6 of the English football league system.

The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 this season were announced by the Football Association and published on the league's website on 18 May 2021,[1] subject to appeals. The league constitution was published on 27 June.[2] After the abandonment of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, numerous promotions were decided on a points per game basis over the previous two seasons.[3][4][5]

Gorleston were champions, winning their first Eastern Counties Football League title and were promoted to the Isthmian League for the first time in their history. Wroxham finished second and returned to the Isthmian League after five years as one of ten runners-up from Step 5 with the most points per game.

Premier Division
Eastern Counties
Football League
Premier Division
Season2021–22
ChampionsGorleston
PromotedGorleston
Wroxham
RelegatedSwaffham Town
Matches played380
Goals scored1,220 (3.21 per match)

The Premier Division featured 16 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs, promoted from Division One North:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Gorleston 38 26 6 6 87 36 +51 84 Promoted to the Isthmian League[lower-alpha 1]
2 Wroxham 38 26 5 7 104 28 +76 83
3 Mildenhall Town 38 21 7 10 79 42 +37 70
4 Mulbarton Wanderers 38 20 8 10 67 48 +19 68
5 Norwich United 38 20 7 11 62 45 +17 67
6 Fakenham Town 38 19 6 13 68 56 +12 63
7 Walsham-le-Willows 38 18 7 13 63 47 +16 61
8 Newmarket Town 38 18 6 14 71 59 +12 60
9 Kirkley & Pakefield 38 17 8 13 63 48 +15 59
10 March Town United 38 17 6 15 72 63 +9 57 Transferred to the United Counties League
11 Woodbridge Town 38 15 9 14 64 63 +1 54
12 Lakenheath 38 13 11 14 63 56 +7 50
13 Ely City 38 12 9 17 60 77 −17 45
14 Thetford Town 38 12 8 18 61 60 +1 44
15 Hadleigh United 38 11 10 17 46 62 −16 43
16 Whitton United 38 10 8 20 46 94 −48 38
17 Haverhill Rovers 38 10 6 22 46 71 −25 36
18 Brantham Athletic 38 9 9 20 32 63 −31 36
19 Long Melford 38 6 14 18 46 70 −24 32 Reprieved from relegation[lower-alpha 2]
20 Swaffham Town 38 3 4 31 20 132 −112 13 Relegated to Division One North
Source: The 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[7]
Notes:
  1. Wroxham were automatically promoted as one of ten runners-up from Step 5 with the most points per game (PPG).[6]
  2. Reprieved as one of twelve clubs with the most PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom in Step 5.[6]

Stadia and locations
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
Team Stadium Capacity
Brantham AthleticBrantham Leisure Centre1,200
Ely CityUnwin Sports Ground1,500
Fakenham TownClipbush Park2,000
GorlestonEmerald Park3,000
Hadleigh UnitedMillfield3,000
Haverhill RoversNew Croft3,000
Kirkley & PakefieldWalmer Road2,000
LakenheathThe Nest
Long MelfordStoneylands
March Town UnitedThe GER Sports Ground
Mildenhall TownRecreation Way2,000
Mulbarton WanderersThe Common
Newmarket TownCricket Field Road2,750
Norwich UnitedPlantation Park3,000
Swaffham TownShoemakers Lane
Thetford TownMundford Road1,500
Walsham-le-WillowsSummer Road1,000
Whitton UnitedKing George V Playing Fields1,000
Woodbridge TownNotcutts Park3,000
WroxhamTrafford Park2,000

Division One North
Eastern Counties
Football League
Division One North
Season2021–22
ChampionsSheringham
PromotedHarleston Town
Sheringham
RelegatedPeterborough North End Sports
Wisbech St Mary
Matches played240
Goals scored826 (3.44 per match)

Division One North featured ten clubs which competed in the previous season, along with six new clubs.

Also, Blackstones and Bourne Town were initially moved to this division from the United Counties League but they successfully appealed and their transfers were rescinded.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Sheringham 30 24 3 3 84 28 +56 75 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Harleston Town 30 23 4 3 77 23 +54 73 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
3 Downham Town 30 18 9 3 56 26 +30 63 Qualified for the play-offs
4 Norwich CBS 30 16 4 10 68 48 +20 52
5 Framlingham Town 30 15 4 11 56 43 +13 49
6 Whittlesey Athletic 30 12 9 9 60 52 +8 45
7 Huntingdon Town 30 11 9 10 48 49 −1 42
8 Peterborough North End Sports 30 10 8 12 50 50 0 38 Resigned from the league[lower-alpha 1]
9 Leiston reserves 30 9 9 12 49 54 −5 36
10 Great Yarmouth Town 30 9 9 12 43 51 −8 36
11 Debenham LC 30 10 6 14 50 64 −14 36
12 University of East Anglia 30 10 5 15 41 40 +1 35 Resigned from the league
13 Diss Town 30 8 6 16 46 56 −10 30
14 Needham Market reserves 30 8 5 17 54 71 −17 29
15 FC Parson Drove 30 7 7 16 28 62 −34 28 Reprieved from relegation[lower-alpha 2]
16 Wisbech St Mary 30 0 3 27 16 109 −93 3 Relegated to the Cambridgeshire County League
Source: The 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[7]
Notes:
  1. Peterborough North End Sports requested for a voluntary relegation to the Peterborough and District League at the end of the season.[8] They were placed bottom for relegation purposes.[9]
  2. All third-from-bottom clubs at Step 6 were reprieved from relegation. The top 15 second-from-bottom sides were also reprieved on a PPG basis.[9]

Play-offs
Semifinals Final
      
2 Harleston Town 2
5 Framlingham Town 1
2 Harleston Town 3
3 Downham Town 1
3 Downham Town 1
4 Norwich CBS 0

Stadia and locations
Locations of Division One North clubs
Team Stadium Capacity
Debenham LCMaitlands1,000
Diss TownBrewers Green Lane2,500
Downham TownMemorial Field1,000
FC Parson DroveMain Road
Framlingham TownBadingham Road
Great Yarmouth TownWellesley Recreation Ground3,600
Harleston TownWilderness Lane
Huntingdon TownJubilee Park
Leiston reservesVictory Road2,500
Needham Market reservesBloomfields4,000
Norwich CBSFDC Bowthorpe
Peterborough North End SportsLincoln Road (groundshare with Peterborough Sports)2,300
SheringhamWeybourne Road
University of East AngliaAldiss Park (groundshare with Dereham Town)2,500
Whittlesey AthleticFeldale Field
Wisbech St MaryBeechings Close

Division One South
Eastern Counties
Football League
Division One South
Season2021–22
ChampionsIpswich Wanderers
PromotedIpswich Wanderers
Halstead Town
Buckhurst Hill
RelegatedBrimsdown
Matches played380
Goals scored1,473 (3.88 per match)

Division One South featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with six new clubs:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Ipswich Wanderers 38 33 4 1 127 19 +108 103 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Buckhurst Hill 38 31 5 2 144 29 +115 98 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Essex Senior League[lower-alpha 1]
3 Benfleet 38 23 5 10 74 48 +26 74 Qualified for the play-offs
4 Halstead Town 38 23 2 13 99 72 +27 71 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Essex Senior League
5 Wivenhoe Town 38 21 7 10 83 59 +24 70 Qualified for the play-offs
6 Burnham Ramblers 38 21 5 12 91 66 +25 68
7 Wormley Rovers 38 17 7 14 70 75 −5 58
8 Holland 38 17 6 15 72 73 −1 57 Transferred to Division One North
9 Frenford 38 14 9 15 80 77 +3 51
10 May & Baker 38 12 13 13 60 60 0 49
11 Barkingside 38 15 4 19 55 76 −21 49
12 Hackney Wick 38 11 11 16 65 72 −7 44
13 Harwich & Parkeston 38 11 11 16 53 61 −8 44 Transferred to Division One North
14 AFC Sudbury reserves 38 13 5 20 74 103 −29 44
15 Coggeshall United 38 12 7 19 51 67 −16 43
16 Newbury Forest 38 12 2 24 70 104 −34 38
17 Park View 38 10 6 22 65 103 −38 36
18 Cornard United 38 10 5 23 52 93 −41 35 Reprieved from relegation, then transferred to Division One North[lower-alpha 2]
19 Haverhill Borough 38 6 7 25 43 98 −55 25
20 Brimsdown 38 4 7 27 45 118 −73 19 Relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League
Source: The 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[7]
Notes:
  1. Losing play-off finalists Buckhurst Hill promoted to fill a vacancy made by Brislington's voluntary relegation from the Western League Premier Division.
  2. All third-from-bottom clubs at Step 6 were reprieved from relegation. The top 15 second-from-bottom sides were also reprieved on a PPG basis.[9]

Play-offs
Semifinals Final
      
2 Buckhurst Hill 3
5 Wivenhoe Town 2
2 Buckhurst Hill 1
4 Halstead Town 2
3 Benfleet 1
4 Halstead Town (a.e.t.) 2

Stadia and locations
Locations of Division One South clubs
Greater London Division One South football clubs
Team Stadium Capacity
AFC Sudbury reservesKing's Marsh2,500
BarkingsideCricklefield Stadium (groundshare with Ilford)3,500
BenfleetPark Lane (groundshare with Canvey Island)4,100
BrimsdownChadfields (groundshare with Tilbury)4,000
Buckhurst HillRoding Lane
Burnham RamblersLeslie Fields2,000
Coggeshall UnitedWest Street (groundshare with Coggeshall Town)
Cornard UnitedBlackhouse Lane
FrenfordThe Jack Carter Centre2,000
Hackney WickSpa Road (groundshare with Witham Town)2,500
Halstead TownRosemary Lane
Harwich & ParkestonRoyal Oak
Haverhill BoroughNew Croft (groundshare with Haverhill Rovers)3,000
HollandDulwich Road
Ipswich WanderersHumber Doucy Lane
May & BakerParkside Stadium (groundshare with Aveley)3,500
Newbury ForestOakside Stadium (groundshare with Redbridge)3,000
Park ViewNew River Stadium5,000
Wivenhoe TownBroad Lane2,876
Wormley RoversWormley Playing Fields500

References
  1. "League Allocations Announced". Thurlow Nunn League. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. "League Constitution for Season 2021/22". Thurlow Nunn League. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3-6". The Football Association. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  6. Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 5 Promotion". Google Docs.
  7. "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
  8. "Peterborough North End seek a voluntary relegation after one season away from the Peterborough League". Peterborough Telegraph. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  9. Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 6 Relegation". Google Docs.
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