Essex and Suffolk Border Football League

Association football league in England

Football league

Essex and Suffolk Border Football LeagueFounded| 1911

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Country| England
Divisions| Premier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three
Division Four
Division Five
Number of teams| 76
15 (Premier Division)
12 (Division One)
12 (Division Two)
11 (Division Three)
14 (Division Four)
12 (Division Five)
Level on pyramid| Level 11 (Premier Division)
Feeder to| Eastern Counties League
Promotion to| Eastern Counties League Division One North/South
League cup(s)| Amos Cup
Covid Cup
League Knock Out Cup
Reserve Knock Out Cup
Tommy Thompson Cup
Current champions| Dunmow Town (Premier Division)
Silver End United (Division One)
Dovercourt Rovers (Division Two)
Gas Recreation (Division Three)
High Roding (Division Four)
Gas Recreation Reserves (Division Five)
(2022-23)
Website| esblfootball.com

The Essex and Suffolk Border Football League is a football competition based in England. The league has a total of four divisions headed by the Premier Division which sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System. The top club may apply for promotion to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.

All member clubs compete in the Border League Knock-Out Cup. The league is affiliated to the Essex County FA and Suffolk County FA.

## History[edit]

The league was officially founded in 1911,[1] although the league includes records of the Colchester Borough League (founded 1893) and Colchester & District League (founded 1903) in its history.[1] Founder members of the Border League in the inaugural 1911–12 season included Clacton Town, Colchester Town, West Bergholt and West Mersea.

Over the last 100 years the league has seen many changes in its status with many clubs progressing to a higher level. The overlying trend has been the migration of the larger clubs and their replacement by smaller clubs with more basic facilities. For much of the last 20 years the Border League has run 4 divisions which included a significant proportion of reserve teams. The league lost several members in 2005–06 when the reserve teams of the Eastern Counties League clubs left for their own competition. There is a high representation of village teams but a new trend has emerged with the acceptance of Barnston from Division Three of the Essex Olympian League and Newbury Forest from the Romford and District Football League in the London Borough of Redbridge.

## Member clubs 2023–24[edit]

The league has 75 teams spread over six divisions for the 2023–24 season:

Premier Division

* Alresford Colne Rangers
* Barnston
* Belle Vue Social
* Brightlingsea Town
* Colne Athletic
* Dedham Old Boys
* Earls Colne
* Hatfield Peverel
* Lawford Lads
* Silver End United
* Stanway Pegasus Reserves
* Stanway Rovers Reserves
* Sudbury Sports
* Tiptree Heath
* White Notley

Division One

* CO4 Ultras
* Cressing United
* Dovercourt Rovers
* FC Clacton Reserves
* Great Bentley
* Kings Park Rangers
* Tavern
* The Rodings
* Thorpe Athletic
* Tiptree Jobserve
* Wormingford Wanderers

Division Two

* Boxted Lodgers
* Bradfield Rovers
* Cavendish
* Colne Athletic Reserves
* Cornard United Reserves
* Frinton & Walton
* Gas Recreation
* Hatfield Peverel Reserves
* Hedinghams United
* Roman Rovers
* Tiptree Jobserve Reserves
* White Notley Reserves

Division Three

* Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves
* Barnston Reserves
* Dedham Old Boys Reserves
* Flitch United
* Gas Recreation Reserves
* Gosfield United
* Great Bentley Reserves
* Lawford Lads Reserves
* Little Oakley Reserves
* Prettygate
* Tollesbury

Division Four

* Abbey Fields
* Boxford Rovers
* Brantham Athletic 'A'
* FC Clacton 'A'
* Great Bradfords
* Oyster
* Ramsey & Mistley
* Roman Rovers Reserves
* Silver End United Reserves
* Stillwaters
* Tendring District
* The Rodings Reserves
* Tiptree Heath Reserves
* Wormingford Wanderers Reserves

Division Five

* Assington Stanley
* Boxted Lodgers Reserves
* Bradfield Rovers Reserves
* Brooklands
* Elmstead Market
* Great Bentley 'A'
* Hedinghams United Reserves
* Kelvedon Social
* Mersea Island Reserves
* Ramsey & Mistley Reserves
* Roman Rovers 'A'
* West Bergholt Reserves

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## Former clubs[edit]

Among the clubs that have left the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League to compete at a higher level are:

* Brantham Athletic
* Brightlingsea Regent
* Bury Town
* Clacton Town
* Coggeshall Town
* Coggeshall United
* Colchester Town
* Cornard United
* Crittall Athletic
* Dunmow Town
* Felixstowe Town
* Haverhill Rovers
* Halstead Town
* Harwich & Parkeston
* Heybridge Swifts
* Holland
* Little Oakley
* Long Melford
* Maldon Town
* Saffron Walden Town
* Stanway Pegasus
* Stanway Rovers
* Stowmarket Town
* Sudbury Town
* Sudbury Wanderers
* Team Bury
* Tiptree United
* Whitton United
* Witham Town
* Wivenhoe Town

## List of champions[edit]

Season  | Senior Division

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1893–94 | St Peter's Institute
Season  | Senior Division  | Division II (Junior)

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1894–95 | Colchester Town | Colchester United
1895–96 |  | Colchester United
1896–97 |  | Colchester Casuals
1897–98 |  | Colchester Albions
1898–99 | Royal Irish Fusiliers | Colchester Albions
1899–1900 |  | New Town Athletic
1900–01 | Colchester Crown | New Town Athletic
1901–02 | Colchester Crown | St Leonards
1902–03 | Colchester Crown | Colchester Rovers
1903–04 | 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment | Manningtree United
1904–05 | 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment | Albion Rovers
1905–06 | 2nd Bn. K.O.S.B. | Albion Rovers
1906–07 | 4th K.R.R.C. | Colchester Athletic
1907–08 | Colchester Town | Colchester Excelsiors
Season  | Senior Division  | Division II (Junior)  | Division II (Section B)

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1908–09 | Harwich & Parkeston | Colchester Athletic | Brightlingsea Town
1909–10 | 2nd Bn. Scottish Rifles | Clacton Town | Coggeshall
1910–11 | 2nd Bn. Scottish Rifles | Colchester Athletic | Coggeshall
1911–12 | 1st Bn. East Lancs Regiment | 1st Bn. East Lancs Regiment Reserves | Colchester St Nicholas
1912–13 | Colchester Town | Maldon Town | 1st Bn. East Lancs III
1913–14 | Harwich & Parkeston | 1st Bn. Hampshire Reserves | Colchester Junior Athletic
Season  | Senior Division  | Division II (Junior)  | Division II (Section B)  | Division II (Western)

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1919–20 |  |  | Wivenhoe Town | Haverhill Rovers
1920–21 | Harwich & Parkeston | Colchester St Nicholas | Wivenhoe Town | Heybridge
1921–22 | Harwich & Parkeston | Paxmans Athletic | Brightlingsea | Maldon St Mary's
1922–23 | Harwich & Parkeston | Severalls Athletic | Wivenhoe Town | Crittall Athletic
1923–24 | Colchester Town | 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Reserves | Colchester Juniors | Crittall Athletic
1924–25 | 2nd Bn. Royal Scots | 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Reserves | Frinton Town | 11th Field Brigade R.A.
Season  | Senior Division  | Division II (Junior)  | Division II (Section B)

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1925–26 | 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regiment | 11th Field Brigade R.A. | Wimpole Road Wesleyans
1926–27 | 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | Severalls Athletic | Colchester Town 'A'
1927–28 | 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | Wimpole Road Wesleyans | Stanway Rovers
Season  | Senior Division  | Division I (Junior)  | Division II (Junior)  | Division III

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1928–29 | Harwich & Parkeston | 4th Div. Royal Corps Signals | Great Bentley | Clacton Athletic
Season  | Senior Division  | Division I (Junior)  | Division II (Junior)

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1929–30 | 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | 4th Div. Royal Corps Signals | Paxmans Athletic
1930–31 | 4th Div. Royal Corps Signals | Heybridge | Clacton Rovers
1931–32 | Harwich & Parkeston | – | Great Bentley
Season  | Senior Division  | Division I (Junior)  | Division II (Junior)  | Division III

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1932–33 | Harwich & Parkeston | 2nd Bn. K.S.L.I. | Parkside Rangers | 1st Colchester Scouts
1933–34 | Harwich & Parkeston | – | 2nd Bn. K.S.L.I. Reserves | Colchester Old Scouts
1934–35 | 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers | – | Clacton Athletic | 5th Inniskilling D.G. Reserves
1935–36 | Critall Athletic | – | Walton Town | Frinton Juniors
1936–37 | Critall Athletic | – | Great Bentley | 9th Company R.A.M.C.
1937–38 | Critall Athletic | – | Parkeston Railway | 7th Field Company R.E.
Season  | Senior Division  | Division I (Junior)  | Division II (Junior)

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1938–39 | Hoffman Athletic | Butlin's Athletic | 9 Company R.A.M.C
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One

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1946–47 | Colchester Casuals | Brightlingsea United
1947–48 | Haverhill Rovers | Great Bentley
1948–49 | Sudbury Town | Clacton Hotspurs
1949–50 | Sudbury Town | Halstead Town 'A'
1950–51 | Stowmarket Town | M.C.E.
1951–52 | Sudbury Town | Halstead Town Reserves
1952–53 | Sudbury Town | Stowmarket Town Reserves
1953–54 | Sudbury Town | Clacton Hotspurs
1954–55 | Long Melford | Clacton Hotspurs
1955–56 | Long Melford | Clacton Hotspurs
1956–57 | Long Melford | Parkeston Railway
1957–58 | Halstead Town | Woods Athletic
1958–59 | Long Melford | Clacton Hotspurs
1959–60 | Critalls Athletic | Halstead Town Reserves
1960–61 | Long Melford | Brightlingsea United
1961–62 | Marconi Athletic | Lexden Wanderers
1962–63 | Haverhill Rovers | Coggeshall Town
1963–64 | Haverhill Rovers | Haverhill Rovers Reserves
1964–65 | Witham Town | Lexden Wanderers
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One East  | Division One West

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1965–66 | Maldon Town | Clacton North End | Witham Town Reserves
1966–67 | Coggeshall Town | Rowhedge | Sudbury Wanderers
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two

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1967–68 | Coggeshall Town | Silver End | Tiptree United Reserves
1968–69 | Halstead Town | Eastern Gas | Parkeston Railway
1969–70 | Coggeshall Town | Sudbury Town Reserves | Eastern Gas Reserves
1970–71 | Witham Town | Lexden Wanderers | West End United
1971–72 | Eastern Gas | Parkeston Railway | Wivenhoe Rangers
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One

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1972–73 | Brantham Athletic | Wivenhoe Rangers
1973–74 | Brantham Athletic | Mersea Island
1974–75 | West End United | Shalford Rovers
1975–76 | Brantham Athletic | Harwich & Parkeston Reserves
1976–77 | Brantham Athletic | Sudbury Wanderers
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two

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1977–78 | Halstead Town | Felixstowe Town Reserves | Clacton Town Reserves
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three

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1978–79 | Wivenhoe Town | Shalford Rovers | Wivenhoe Town Reserves | Earls Colne
1979–80 | Mersea Island | West End United | Earls Colne | Tiptree United Reserves
1980–81 | Sudbury Town Reserves | Rowhedge | West Bergholt | Bramston-Crittall Reserves
1981–82 | Harwich & Parkeston Reserves | Tiptree United Reserves | Stanway Rovers | Donyland Swifts
1982–83 | Earls Colne | Haverhill Rovers Reserves | Colchester United 'A' | Boxted Lodgers
1983–84 | Tiptree United Reserves | Bramston CML | Haverhill Meat Products | Dedham Old Boys
1984–85 | Braintree Town Reserves | Long Melford | Donyland Swifts | Royal London
1985–86 | Hatfield Peverel | Little Oakley | Stanway Rovers | Stanway Rovers Reserves
1986–87 | Little Oakley | Stanway Rovers | Long Melford Reserves | Alresford Colne Rangers
1987–88 | Little Oakley | Mistley United | Gas Recreation | West Bergholt Reserves
1988–89 | Cornard United | Alresford Colne Rangers | Royal London | Kelvedon Social
1989–90 | Sudbury Wanderers | Felixstowe Town Reserves | Kelvedon Social | Cavendish
1990–91 | Sudbury Wanderers | Alresford Colne Rangers | Rowhedge | Tiptree Heath
1991–92 | Harwich & Parkeston Reserves | Kelvedon Social | Tiptree Heath | Foxash Social
1992–93 | Little Oakley | Mersea Island | Foxash Social | Hedinghams United
1993–94 | Little Oakley | Halstead Town Reserves | Lawford Lads | Finchingfield Rovers
1994–95 | Halstead Town Reserves | West Bergholt Reserves | Earls Colne | Coggeshall Town
1995–96 | Gas Recreation | Clacton Town Reserves | Silver End | Kirby United
1996–97 | Gas Recreation | Ipswich Wanderers Reserves | Cavendish | Brightlingsea United Reserves
1997–98 | Gas Recreation | St Osyth | Kelvedon Social Reserves | Tiptree Heath
1998–99 | Gas Recreation | St Osyth | Needham Market Reserves | Wivenhoe Town Reserves
1999–00 | AFC Sudbury Reserves | Clacton Town Reserves | Tiptree Heath | Birch United
2000–01 | West Bergholt | Weeley Athletic | Wivenhoe Town Reserves | Bury Town Reserves
2001–02 | AFC Sudbury Reserves | Stanway Rovers Reserves | Whitton United Reserves | Weeley Athletic Reserves
2002–03 | Rowhedge | Alresford Colne Rangers | Bury Town Reserves | Bradfield Rovers
2003–04 | Little Oakley | Bury Town Reserves | Hatfield Peverel | Witham Town Reserves
2004–05 | Gas Recreation | Hatfield Peverel | Witham Town Reserves | Gosfield United
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two

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2005–06 | Gas Recreation | Witham Town Reserves | Brightlingsea Regent
2006–07 | Gas Recreation | West Suffolk College | Great Bradfords
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One

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2007–08 | Gas Recreation | White Notley
2008–09 | West Bergholt | Holland
2009–10 | Gas Recreation | Wormingford Wanderers
2010–11 | Brightlingsea Regent | Lawford Lads
2011–12 | West Bergholt | Haverhill Sports Association
2012–13 | Gas Recreation | Tollesbury
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three

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2013–14 | Gas Recreation | Alresford Cone Rangers Reserves | Gas Recreation Reserves | Team Brantham
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two

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2014–15 | West Bergholt | Hatfield Peverel | Cinque Port
2015–16 | Coggeshall Town | Wormingford Wanderers | Cressing United
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three

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2016–17 | Little Oakley | Dedham Old Boys | Great Bentley | Flitch United
2017–18 | Gas Recreation | Great Bentley | Tiptree Heath | Colne Athletic
2018–19 | Gas Recreation | Flitch United | Stanway Pegasus | Gosfield United
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three

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2019–20 | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three  | Division Four

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2020–21 | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  | Division Three  | Division Four  | Division Five

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2021–22 | Stanway Pegasus | Stanway Rovers under-23's | Brightlingsea Town | Wormingford Wanderers | Gas Recreation Reserves | Roman Rovers
2022–23 | Dunmow Town | Silver End United | Dovercourt Rovers | Gas Recreation | High Roding | Gas Recreation Reserves
Source: Essex & Suffolk Border League

## Gallery[edit]

Essex and Suffolk Border League grounds

* Forge Lane, Great Bentley

* Lawn Meadow, Hedinghams United

* School Lane, Lawford Lads

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b 2016–2017 Official Handbook Archived 1 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Essex & Suffolk Border League

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Men's football in England

The Football Association

National teams|

* England
* B
* C
* U-21
* U-20
* U-19
* U-18
* U-17
* U-16

League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* English Football League
* EFL Championship
* EFL League One
* EFL League Two

Levels 5–6|

* National League
* National League (division)
* National League North
* National League South

Levels 7–8|

* Isthmian League
* Northern Premier League
* Southern League

Levels 9–10|

* Combined Counties League
* Eastern Counties League
* Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
* Hellenic League
* Midland League
* Northern Counties East League
* Northern League
* North West Counties League
* Southern Combination League
* Southern Counties East League
* South West Peninsula League (level 10 only)
* Spartan South Midlands League
* United Counties League
* Wessex League
* Western League

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup
* FA Community Shield
* FA Trophy
* FA Vase
* FA Sunday Cup
* FA Inter-League Cup

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League cups|

* EFL Cup
* EFL Trophy
* Northern Premier League Cup
* Isthmian League Cup
* Southern League Cup

County cups|

* List of county cups

Others|

* National League System
* Reserve and youth football
* Defunct leagues
* Defunct cups

Lists|

* Appearances (500+)
* Clubs
* Honours won
* Current managers
* Clubs in international competitions
* Goals (200+)
* Record home attendances
* Stadiums by capacity

* Venues
* Competitions
* Trophies and awards
* History
* Records

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