Essex Olympian Football League

Association football league in England

Football league

Essex Olympian Football League

Founded| 1966
Country| England
Number of clubs| 91 (six senior divisions)
Level on pyramid| 11–17
Feeder to| Eastern Counties Football League
Promotion to| Eastern Counties Football League Division One South
Current champions| Rayleigh Town
(2023–24)

The Essex Olympian Football League is a football competition based in England, founded in the 1966–67 season. It has a total of six senior divisions and one under 21 division. The Premier Division sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System and it is a feeder to Division One South of the Eastern Counties Football League. Between 1986 and 2005, the league was known as the Essex Intermediate League.

Clubs to progress up the pyramid from the league include Billericay Town, Brentwood Town, Bowers United, Sawbridgeworth Town, Burnham Ramblers, Hullbridge Sports and Great Wakering Rovers.

## History

[edit]

In 1966, the Essex Olympian Football League was founded, following a meeting at the Saracens Head pub in Chelmsford. The first league constitution consisted of Basildon & Pitsea, Billericay Town, Bishop's Stortford Swifts, Bowers United, Burnham Ramblers, Collier Row, Dorstel Press, Dunmow, Little Waltham, Old Chelmsfordians and Sawbridgeworth, with Burnham Ramblers winning the first edition of the Essex Olympian League, finishing four points above Little Waltham.[1] Little Waltham left the league at the end of the inaugural 1966–67 season, with British Mathews, Critalls, Essex County Council Staff and Manor Athletic all joining to take the constitution up to 16 clubs.[2] In 1981, a Second Division was added with eight clubs (Baddow Royals, Basildon Sports, Caribbean International Sports, Chigwell Villa, Civil Service Olympian, Cossor Sports, Ekco and Rayleigh Athletic) joining the league system.[3]

In 1986, the league was renamed to the Essex Intermediate League,[4] adding a Division Three three years later.[5]

In 2005, the league renamed itself back to its original Essex Olympian League name.[6] In 2008, Takeley moved up the pyramid into the Essex Senior League. Before then the Olympian League had not sent a club to the Essex Senior League for over a decade, causing the Essex Senior League to look elsewhere in Essex for new member clubs, including lower leagues and leagues outside the National League System such as the now-defunct Essex Business Houses Football League. Clubs from this league have previously been able to jump straight into the Essex Senior League due to the facilities at which they play, not where they finished in the Essex Business Houses League.[7] The following year, in 2009, a Division Three was added, taking the number of leagues administered by the Essex Olympian League up to four.[8] In 2015, two more leagues were added to the system, being named Division Four and Division Five.[9] In 2017, The Football Association announced a step 6 (level 10) division for Essex and East Anglia in the Eastern Counties Football League to start playing in the 2018–19 season, meaning the Essex Olympian League would drop to step 7 in Non-league.[10] In March 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Football Association announced all leagues from step 3 to 7 on the National League System would be cancelled, with all results being expunged.[11] In November 2020, the Essex Olympian League was suspended, owing to a second wave of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.[12] The league was eventually resumed in April 2021, becoming one of the only leagues in England to resume play after the suspension in November 2020. Buckhurst Hill were promoted at the end of the 2020–21 season, after winning the Premier Division, gaining promotion to the Eastern Counties League Division One South.[13][14]

Ahead of the 2024–25 season, the Southend Borough & District Combination was merged into the Essex Olympian League, resulting in the creation of two regionalised divisions at Division Four and the return of Division Five.[15]

## Member clubs (2024–25)

[edit]

The league has 91 teams spread over seven divisions for the 2024–25 season:

Premier Division

* ACD United
* Bishop's Stortford Swifts
* Catholic United
* Harold Wood Athletic
* Hashtag United Development
* Leigh Ramblers
* Old Chelmsfordians
* Old Southendians
* Runwell Sports
* Shenfield
* Springfield
* Sungate
* Toby
* Wakering Sports

Division One

* Basildon Town Reserves
* Beacon Hill Rovers
* Canning Town
* Catholic United Reserves
* Corinthians
* Galleywood
* Harold Hill
* Harold Wood Athletic Reserves
* Herongate Athletic
* Kelvedon Hatch
* Manford Way
* May & Baker 'A'

Division Two

* BKS Sports
* Burnham Ramblers Reserves
* Epping Town
* Hutton Reserves
* Leigh Ramblers Reserves
* Leigh Town
* Old Southendian Reserves
* Pitsea Athletic
* Rayleigh Town Reserves
* Roydon
* Runwell Sports Reserves
* Shoebury Town
* Wakering Sports Reserves

Division Three

* AS Rawreth
* Basildon Town 'A'
* Bishop's Stortford Swifts Reserves
* Emerson & Upminster
* Galleywood Reserves
* Herongate Athletic Reserves
* Hullbridge Sports 'A'
* Manford Way Reserves
* Rawreth Lane
* Rochford Town
* Shenfield Reserves
* Springfield Reserves
* Toby Reserves

Division Four North West

* Brentwood Town Development
* Broomfield
* Canning Town Reserves
* Galleywood 'A'
* Hannakins Farm
* Harold Hill Reserves
* Herongate Athletic 'A'
* Hutton 'A'
* Leytonstone United
* Old Chelmsfordians Reserves
* South Woodham Ferrers United
* Sungate Reserves

Division Four South East

* Ashingdon
* BKS Sports Reserves
* Catholic United 'A'
* Corinthians Reserves
* Earls Hall United
* Ekco Park
* Old Southendian 'A'
* Pitsea Athletic Reserves
* Pitsea Town
* Rayleigh Town 'A'
* South Essex United
* Southend Collegians
* Wakering Sports 'A'

Division Five

* ATF Southend
* Ashingdon Reserves
* Ekco Park Reserves
* HODS
* Leigh Ramblers 'A'
* Leigh Town Reserves
* Pitsea Town Reserves
* Rochford Town Reserves
* South Essex United Reserves
* Southend Collegians 'A'
* Southend Collegians Reserves
* Wakering Sports 'B'
* Wickford Town
* Wickford Wolves

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## Past champions

[edit]

### 1966–81

[edit]

The league originally consisted of a single section of 13 clubs, reaching a peak of 18 clubs by 1969–70.

Season  | Champions

|

1966–67  | Burnham Ramblers
1967–68  | Writtle
1968–69  | Basildon Town
1969–70  | Billericay Town
1970–71  | Billericay Town
1971–72  | Sawbridgeworth
1972–73  | Chadwell Heath
1973–74  | Chadwell Heath
1974–75  | Chadwell Heath
1975–76  | Essex Police
1976–77  | Collier Row Motor Gear
1977–78  | Runwell Hospital
1978–79  | Rayleigh Town
1979–80  | Essex Police
1980–81  | Rayleigh Town

### 1981–89

[edit]

In 1981, a second division was added. The league ran with two divisions for nine years. During this period, the league was renamed the Essex Intermediate League in 1986.

Season  | Division One  | Division Two

|
|

1981–82  | Herongate Athletic  | Rayleigh Athletic
1982–83  | Herongate Athletic  | Dunmow
1983–84  | Rayleigh Town | Essex Police
1984–85  | Rayleigh Town | Shell Club
1985–86  | Essex Police  | Cossor Sports
1986–87  | Essex Police  | Hambros Bank
1987–88  | Takeley  | Standard (Harlow)
1988–89  | Benfleet | Upminster

### 1989–2007

[edit]

In 1989, a third division was added. The league reverted to its original name, the Essex Olympian League in 2005.

Season  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three

|
|
|

1989–90  | Rayleigh Town | Kelvedon Hatch  | Great Baddow
1990–91  | Herongate Athletic  | Concord Rangers | Great Wakering Rovers
1991–92  | Standard (Harlow)  | Great Wakering Rovers | Loughton
1992–93  | Standard (Harlow)  | South Woodham Ferrers  | Danbury Trafford
1993–94  | Kelvedon Hatch  | Takeley | Ongar Town
1994–95  | Writtle  | Sporting Club Henderson  | Great Baddow
1995–96  | Kelvedon Hatch  | Frenford Senior | Hutton
1996–97  | Kelvedon Hatch  | Runwell Hospital  | Bishop's Stortford Swifts
1997–98  | Danbury Trafford  | Bishop's Stortford Swifts  | Shell Club
1998–99  | Bishop's Stortford Swifts  | Sandon Royals  | Basildon Town
1999–2000  | Bishop's Stortford Swifts  | Nortel (Harlow)  | Wanstead Town
2000–01  | Rayleigh Town | Canning Town | Linford Wanderers
2001–02  | Takeley | Epping  | Stambridge United
2002–03  | Bishop's Stortford Swifts  | White Ensign | Debden Sports
2003–04  | White Ensign | Debden Sports  | Faces
2004–05  | White Ensign | White Notley | Linford Wanderers
2005–06  | Harold Wood Athletic  | Canning Town | Ongar Town
2006–07  | White Ensign | Benfleet | Potter Street

### 2007 to date

[edit]

In 2007 the divisions were renamed Premier, One and Two.

Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two

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|
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2007–08  | White Ensign | Potter Street  | Linford Wanderers
2008–09  | Harold Wood Athletic  | Westhamians  | Sungate
2009–10  | Harold Wood Athletic  | May & Baker Club | Romford Reserves

In 2010 a Division Three was added.

Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three

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2010–11  | Kelvedon Hatch  | Hutton | Wadham Lodge | Springfield
2011–12  | Frenford Senior | Southminster St. Leonards  | Springfield  | Old Barkabbeyans
2012–13  | Frenford Senior | Bishop's Stortford Swifts  | Old Barkabbeyans  | Debden Sports

In 2013 an Under 21 Division was added.

Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three  | Under 21 Division

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2013–14  | Southminster St Leonards  | Newham United  | Ongar Town  | Rochford Town  | Ryan
2014–15  | Harold Wood Athletic  | Harold Hill  | Basildon Town | Catholic United  | Frenford Senior

In 2015 the two reserve divisions were promoted to senior status and renamed Divisions Four and Five, along with the three higher divisions, leaving just one Under-21 division below that.

Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three  | Division Four  | Division Five  | Under 21 Division

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2015–16  | Kelvedon Hatch  | Canning Town | Catholic United | Benfleet | Old Chelmsfordians Reserves  | Galleywood Reserves  | FC Clacton
2016–17  | Springfield  | Basildon Town | Sungate  | May & Baker Eastbrook Reserves  | Manford Way Reserves  | Basildon Town Reserves  | Lakeside
2017–18  | Catholic United | Buckhurst Hill | May & Baker Eastbrook Reserves  | Manford Way Reserves  | Chingford Athletic  | Westhamians  | Corinthians
2018–19  | Buckhurst Hill | Shenfield  | Chingford Athletic  | Old Southendian Reserves  | Corinthians  | Corinthians Reserves
2019–20  | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |  |  |  |  |  |
2020–21  | Buckhurst Hill | Ongar Town  | Leigh Town  | ACD United  | Catholic United Reserves  | Wakering Sports 'A'  |
2021–22  | Ongar Town  | Toby  | ACD United  | Hashtag United Development  | Chingford Athletic Reserves  | Bishop's Stortford Swifts Reserves  |
2022–23  | Hutton | Old Chelmsfordians  | Shoebury Town  | Basildon Town Reserves  | Leigh Ramblers Reserves  | Manford Way Reserves  |
2023–24  | Rayleigh Town | Wakering Sports  | Basildon Town Reserves  | Runwell Sports Reserves  | Toby Reserves  |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Season 1966-67". Essex Olympian Football League. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
2. ^ "1967-68 Essex Olympian League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
3. ^ "1981-82 Essex Olympian League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
4. ^ "1986-87 Essex Intermediate League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
5. ^ "1989-90 Essex Intermediate League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
6. ^ "2005-06 Essex Olympian League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
7. ^ "2007-08 Essex Olympian League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
8. ^ "2008-09 Essex Olympian League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
9. ^ "2015-16 Essex Olympian League". Football Club Historical Database. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
10. ^ "New Step 6 League". Essex Olympian Football League. 8 October 2017.
11. ^ "FA Statement Regarding Season 2019-2020". Essex Olympian Football League. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
12. ^ "06-11-2020 FA COVID-19 UPDATE". Essex Olympian Football League. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
13. ^ "Promotion at end of May to Go Ahead". Essex Olympian Football League. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
14. ^ "National League System club allocations – steps 5/6, season 2021–22" (.pdf). The Football Association. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
15. ^ Southend Borough & District Combination [@SBDFCL] (17 June 2024). "The final AGM of the @SBDFCL is being held on Friday 28th June 2024, 7:30pm at the Len Forge Centre, Main Hall. By that time you should all have been accepted into the constitution of the the [sic] @eofl and looking forward to a new start for season 24/25" (Tweet) - via Twitter.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
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Football in England

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National teams|

* England
* B
* C
* U-21
* U-20
* U-19
* U-18
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League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* English Football League
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Levels 5–6|

* National League
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Levels 7–8|

* Isthmian League
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Levels 9–10|

* Combined Counties League
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* Hellenic League
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Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup
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|

League cups|

* EFL Cup
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County cups|

* List of county cups

Others|

* National League System
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Lists|

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