The 2024–25 Eastern Counties Football League was the 82nd 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 (Eastern Senior League), both at Step 6 of the English football league system. The constitution was announced on 17 May 2024.[1]
Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:
- Cornard United, promoted from Division One North
- Great Yarmouth Town, promoted from Division One North
- Stowmarket Town, relegated from the Isthmian League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thetford Town | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 78 | 36 | +42 | 54 | Promotion to the Isthmian League |
| 2 | Downham Town | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 50 | 30 | +20 | 51 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Fakenham Town | 27 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 51 | |
| 4 | Ely City | 29 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 38 | +11 | 50 | |
| 5 | Walsham-le-Willows | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 54 | 30 | +24 | 49 | |
| 6 | Brantham Athletic | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 28 | +22 | 48 | |
| 7 | Woodbridge Town | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 48 | 45 | +3 | 46 | |
| 8 | Mulbarton Wanderers | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 45 | 21 | +24 | 45 | |
| 9 | Dereham Town | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 39 | 24 | +15 | 44 | |
| 10 | Cornard United | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 39 | |
| 11 | Great Yarmouth Town | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 37 | 27 | +10 | 34 | |
| 12 | Soham Town Rangers | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 42 | 46 | −4 | 32 | |
| 13 | Kirkley & Pakefield | 27 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 31 | |
| 14 | Hadleigh United | 23 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 29 | |
| 15 | Stowmarket Town | 27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 44 | 69 | −25 | 28 | |
| 16 | Heacham | 27 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 26 | |
| 17 | Harleston Town | 25 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 30 | 44 | −14 | 25 | |
| 18 | Lakenheath | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 41 | 61 | −20 | 25 | |
| 19 | Sheringham | 27 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 29 | 75 | −46 | 11 | Relegation to Division One North or Division One South |
| 20 | Long Melford | 26 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 63 | −46 | 11 |
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2025. 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[2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[2]
Stadia and locations
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Brantham Athletic | Brantham Leisure Centre | 1,200 |
| Cornard United | Blackhouse Lane | |
| Dereham Town | Aldiss Park | 3,000 |
| Downham Town | Memorial Field | 1,000 |
| Ely City | Unwin Sports Ground | 1,500 |
| Fakenham Town | Clipbush Park | 2,000 |
| Great Yarmouth Town | Wellesley Recreation Ground | 3,600 |
| Hadleigh United | Millfield | 3,000 |
| Harleston Town | Wilderness Lane | |
| Heacham | Station Road | |
| Kirkley & Pakefield | Walmer Road | 2,000 |
| Lakenheath | The Nest | |
| Long Melford | Stoneylands | |
| Mulbarton Wanderers | The Common | |
| Sheringham | Weybourne Road | |
| Soham Town Rangers | Julius Martin Lane | 2,000 |
| Stowmarket Town | Greens Meadow | 1,000 |
| Thetford Town | Mundford Road | 1,500 |
| Walsham-le-Willows | Summer Road | 1,000 |
| Woodbridge Town | Notcutts Park | 3,000 |
Division One North
Division One North featured 18 clubs which competed in the previous season, along with two new clubs.
- Gorleston reserves, promoted from the Anglian Combination
- Pinchbeck United, relegated from the United Counties League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haverhill Rovers | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 91 | 25 | +66 | 78 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Stanway Pegasus | 27 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 66 | 25 | +41 | 61 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Harwich & Parkeston | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 73 | 29 | +44 | 58 | |
| 4 | Framlingham Town | 27 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 84 | 27 | +57 | 55 | |
| 5 | Diss Town | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 54 | 31 | +23 | 50 | |
| 6 | Holbeach United | 28 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 57 | 40 | +17 | 48 | |
| 7 | FC Peterborough | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 61 | 50 | +11 | 44 | |
| 8 | Gorleston reserves | 27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 57 | 51 | +6 | 44 | |
| 9 | Pinchbeck United | 25 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 41 | 38 | +3 | 39 | |
| 10 | AFC Sudbury reserves | 27 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 48 | 53 | −5 | 36 | |
| 11 | FC Parson Drove | 26 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 36 | |
| 12 | Holland | 27 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 35 | |
| 13 | Whitton United | 29 | 11 | 1 | 17 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 34 | |
| 14 | Whittlesey Athletic | 29 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 38 | 81 | −43 | 31 | |
| 15 | Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 50 | 64 | −14 | 30 | |
| 16 | Wivenhoe Town | 27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 41 | 58 | −17 | 28 | |
| 17 | Leiston reserves | 25 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 38 | 62 | −24 | 26 | |
| 18 | Haverhill Borough | 28 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 40 | 64 | −24 | 21 | Relegation to a feeder league |
| 19 | Needham Market under 23s | 29 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 31 | 62 | −31 | 20 | |
| 20 | Swaffham Town | 28 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 104 | −88 | 9 |
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2025. 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[2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[2]
Stadia and locations
Locations of Division One North clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Sudbury reserves | King's Marsh | 2,500 |
| Diss Town | Brewers Green Lane | 2,500 |
| Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers | The Nest | 1,000 |
| FC Parson Drove | Main Road | |
| FC Peterborough | The Focus Centre | |
| Framlingham Town | Badingham Road | |
| Gorleston reserves | The Nest (groundshare with Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers) | 1,000 |
| Harwich & Parkeston | Royal Oak | |
| Haverhill Borough | New Croft (artificial, groundshare with Haverhill Rovers) | 3,000 |
| Haverhill Rovers | New Croft | 3,000 |
| Holbeach United | Carters Park | 4,000 |
| Holland | Dulwich Road | |
| Leiston reserves | Victory Road | 2,500 |
| Needham Market reserves | Bloomfields | 4,000 |
| Pinchbeck United | Sir Halley Stewart Field | 2,700 |
| Stanway Pegasus | West Street (groundshare with Coggeshall Town) | 2,000 |
| Swaffham Town | Shoemakers Lane | |
| Whittlesey Athletic | Feldale Field | |
| Whitton United | King George V Playing Fields | 1,000 |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad Lane | 2,876 |
Division One South
Division One South featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:
- Coggeshall Town, relegated from the Essex Senior League
- FC Baresi, promoted from the Essex Alliance League
- Rayleigh Town, promoted from the Essex Olympian League
Additionally, Park View was renamed to All Stars London.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlow Town | 29 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 75 | 23 | +52 | 70 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Hackney Wick | 27 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 69 | 29 | +40 | 64 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Cannons Wood | 28 | 16 | 3 | 9 | 74 | 58 | +16 | 51 | |
| 4 | Hutton | 29 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 71 | 46 | +25 | 48 | |
| 5 | All Stars London | 23 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 72 | 26 | +46 | 47 | |
| 6 | Rayleigh Town | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 49 | 36 | +13 | 46 | |
| 7 | Hoddesdon Town | 23 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 47 | 35 | +12 | 40 | |
| 8 | Basildon Town | 25 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 37 | |
| 9 | Dunmow Town | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 34 | |
| 10 | Coggeshall Town | 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 33 | +4 | 33 | |
| 11 | Enfield Borough | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 31 | |
| 12 | FC Baresi | 27 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 54 | 63 | −9 | 30 | |
| 13 | May & Baker | 26 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 50 | 64 | −14 | 30 | |
| 14 | NW London | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 43 | 71 | −28 | 30 | |
| 15 | Brimsdown | 25 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 26 | |
| 16 | Burnham Ramblers | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 25 | |
| 17 | Barkingside | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 33 | 51 | −18 | 23 | |
| 18 | Southend Manor | 25 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 22 | Relegation to a feeder league |
| 19 | Newbury Forest | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 36 | 80 | −44 | 17 | |
| 20 | St Margaretsbury | 24 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 64 | −46 | 12 |
Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2025. 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[2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[2]
Stadia and locations
Barkingside
Cannons Wood
Enfield Borough
May & Baker
Newbury Forest
NW London
AS London
Locations of Division One South clubs
Greater London Division One South football clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| All Stars London | New River Stadium | 5,000 |
| Barkingside | Cricklefield Stadium (groundshare with Ilford) | 3,500 |
| Basildon Town | Gardiners Close (groundshare with Basildon United) | 2,000 |
| Brimsdown | Wormley Playing Fields (groundshare with Wormley Rovers) | 500 |
| Burnham Ramblers | Leslie Fields | 2,000 |
| Cannons Wood | Parkside Stadium (groundshare with Aveley) | 3,500 |
| Coggeshall Town | West Street | 2,000 |
| Dunmow Town | Catons Lane (groundshare with Saffron Walden Town) | 3,000 |
| Enfield Borough | The Maurice Rebak Stadium (groundshare with Wingate & Finchley) | 1,500 |
| FC Baresi | Wodson Park (groundshare with Ware) | 3,300 |
| Hackney Wick | Spa Road (groundshare with Witham Town) | 2,500 |
| Harlow Town | The Harlow Arena | 3,500 |
| Hoddesdon Town | Lowfield | 3,000 |
| Hutton | New Lodge (groundshare with Billericay Town) | 3,500 |
| May & Baker | Parsloes Park | |
| Newbury Forest | Oakside Stadium (groundshare with Redbridge) | 3,000 |
| NW London | Coles Park (groundshare with Haringey Borough) | 2,500 |
| Rayleigh Town | Thames Road (groundshare with Concord Rangers) | 3,300 |
| Southend Manor | Southchurch Park | 2,000 |
| St Margaretsbury | Recreation Ground | 1,000 |
References
- ^ "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 1-6 in 2024-25 term". www.thefa.com. 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.