2021–22 United Counties League
Season | 2021–22 |
---|---|
Champions | |
Promoted |
|
Relegated | |
← 2020–21 2022–23 → |
The United Counties League operated three divisions in the English football league system for the first time since the 1979–80 season. These are the Premier Divisions North and South at Step 5, both firsts in the league, and Division One at Step 6.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 were announced by The Football Association on 18 May 2021,[1] and were subject to appeal.
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.[2][3][4] As part of the National League System's restructure, the FA's Alliance and Leagues Committees recommended the league's expansion to gain another Step 5 division.[5] At the end of the past season, Shepshed Dynamo left the league through promotion to the new Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, the only former Premier Division club to do so.
Premier Division North
The remaining nine teams from the old Premier Division, together with the following, formed the Premier Division North for 2021–22:
Promoted from Division One Promoted from the East Midlands Counties League Promoted from the Northern Counties East League |
Transferred from the Midland League
|
Premier Division North table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Long Eaton United (C, P) | 34 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 106 | 20 | +86 | 89 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
2 | Gresley Rovers[a] (P) | 34 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 91 | 31 | +60 | 86 | |
3 | Anstey Nomads | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 95 | 33 | +62 | 75 | |
4 | Loughborough University | 34 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 90 | 35 | +55 | 68 | |
5 | Deeping Rangers | 34 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 53 | 56 | −3 | 53 | |
6 | Heather St John's | 34 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 66 | 70 | −4 | 53 | |
7 | Melton Town | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 70 | 56 | +14 | 52 | |
8 | Skegness Town | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 52 | |
9 | Boston Town | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 50 | |
10 | Heanor Town | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 47 | |
11 | Leicester Nirvana | 34 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 70 | 72 | −2 | 47 | |
12 | Sleaford Town | 34 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 55 | 63 | −8 | 45 | |
13 | Quorn | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 59 | 62 | −3 | 41 | |
14 | Eastwood Community | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 54 | 77 | −23 | 33 | |
15 | Selston | 34 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 37 | 79 | −42 | 28 | |
16 | Newark | 34 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 49 | 97 | −48 | 24[b] | |
17 | Pinchbeck United | 34 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 33 | 83 | −50 | 23 | Reprieve from relegation[c] |
18 | Holbeach United (R) | 34 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 15 | 120 | −105 | 4 | Relegation to the Eastern Counties League |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[7]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Gresley Rovers were awarded a home win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by Boston Town on 10 December 2021.
- ^ Newark were deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player against Deeping Rangers on 2 October.
- ^ Reprieved as one of 12 clubs with the most PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom at Step 5.[6]
Stadia and locations
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Anstey Nomads | Anstey | Cropston Road | |
Boston Town | Boston | Tattershall Road | 6,000 |
Deeping Rangers | Market Deeping | Haydon Whitham Stadium | 2,000 |
Eastwood | Eastwood | Coronation Park | |
Gresley Rovers | Church Gresley | Moat Ground | 2,400 |
Heather St John's | Heather | St John's Park | |
Heanor Town | Heanor | Town Ground | |
Holbeach United | Holbeach | Carters Park | 4,000 |
Leicester Nirvana | Leicester | Hamilton Park | |
Long Eaton United | Long Eaton | Grange Park | 3,000 |
Loughborough University | Loughborough | Loughborough University Stadium | 3,000 |
Melton Town | Melton Mowbray | Melton Sports Village | |
Newark | Newark-on-Trent | Hawton Lane | |
Pinchbeck United | Spalding | Sir Halley Stewart Field | 2,700 |
Quorn | Quorn | Farley Way Stadium | 1,400 |
Selston | Selston | Mansfield Road | |
Skegness Town | Skegness | Vertigo Stadium | |
Sleaford Town | Sleaford | Eslaforde Park | 1,000 |
Premier Division South
The remaining 10 teams from the old Premier Division, together with the following, formed the Premier Division South for 2021–22:
Promoted from Division One
Promoted from the Midland League
Transferred from the Eastern Counties League
Transferred from the Hellenic League
Transferred from the Midland League
Transferred from the Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division South table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Harborough Town (C, P) | 38 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 119 | 20 | +99 | 102 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
2 | Hinckley LRFC (P) | 38 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 108 | 29 | +79 | 99 | |
3 | Rugby Town | 38 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 82 | 50 | +32 | 79 | |
4 | Coventry Sphinx | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 95 | 44 | +51 | 75 | |
5 | Newport Pagnell Town | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 83 | 44 | +39 | 75 | |
6 | Lutterworth Town | 38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 80 | 58 | +22 | 67 | |
7 | Wellingborough Town | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 68 | 52 | +16 | 66 | |
8 | Coventry United | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 76 | 59 | +17 | 60 | |
9 | Eynesbury Rovers | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 55 | 59 | −4 | 49 | |
10 | Potton United | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 57 | 68 | −11 | 46 | Transfer to the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division |
11 | Godmanchester Rovers | 38 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 64 | 74 | −10 | 45 | |
12 | Cogenhoe United | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 57 | 69 | −12 | 45 | |
13 | Long Buckby | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 64 | 101 | −37 | 42 | |
14 | Easington Sports | 38 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 57 | 71 | −14 | 41 | |
15 | Bugbrooke St Michaels | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 60 | 77 | −17 | 41[a] | |
16 | GNG Oadby Town | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 51 | 74 | −23 | 41 | |
17 | Desborough Town | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 53 | 72 | −19 | 38[b] | |
18 | Rothwell Corinthians | 38 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 36 | 78 | −42 | 23 | |
19 | Biggleswade United | 38 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 38 | 138 | −100 | 21 | Transfer to the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division |
20 | Northampton ON Chenecks (R) | 38 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 30 | 96 | −66 | 20 | Relegation to the Spartan South Midlands League Division One[c] |
21 | Peterborough Northern Star | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Folded midway through the season, record expunged |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[7]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Bugbrooke St Michaels were deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player against Rothwell Corinthians on 3 August 2021 and an additional 3 points for the same infraction against Eynesbury Rovers on 20 November.
- ^ Desborough Town were deducted 3 points also for fielding an ineligible player against Long Buckby on 9 October.
- ^ Relegated as one of four clubs with the fewest PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom at Step 5.[6]
Stadia and locations
Division One
At the end of the 2020–21 season, the following teams left the division:
Promoted to Premier Division North Promoted to Premier Division South Transferred to the Eastern Counties League |
Transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League
|
The remaining nine teams, together with the following, formed Division One for 2021–22:
Transferred from the East Midland Counties League |
Transferred from the Midland League
|
Division One table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kimberley Miners Welfare[a] (C, P) | 44 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 137 | 33 | +104 | 112 | Promotion to the Premier Division North |
2 | Hinckley[b] | 44 | 33 | 4 | 7 | 148 | 56 | +92 | 103 | Qualification for the play-offs, then transfer to the Midland League |
3 | Belper United (O, P) | 44 | 31 | 5 | 8 | 126 | 50 | +76 | 98 | Qualification for the play-offs |
4 | Radford | 44 | 32 | 1 | 11 | 105 | 47 | +58 | 97 | |
5 | Hucknall Town | 44 | 28 | 6 | 10 | 120 | 68 | +52 | 90 | |
6 | Aylestone Park | 44 | 25 | 11 | 8 | 144 | 52 | +92 | 86 | |
7 | Dunkirk | 44 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 94 | 77 | +17 | 74 | |
8 | Barrow Town | 44 | 20 | 10 | 14 | 87 | 69 | +18 | 70 | |
9 | Kirby Muxloe | 44 | 21 | 4 | 19 | 107 | 93 | +14 | 67 | |
10 | Harrowby United | 44 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 91 | 80 | +11 | 64 | |
11 | Clifton All Whites | 44 | 18 | 6 | 20 | 84 | 92 | −8 | 60 | |
12 | Birstall United | 44 | 17 | 8 | 19 | 65 | 80 | −15 | 59 | |
13 | Gedling Miners Welfare | 44 | 17 | 4 | 23 | 84 | 103 | −19 | 55 | |
14 | Saffron Dynamo | 44 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 76 | 96 | −20 | 52 | |
15 | St Andrews[c] | 44 | 15 | 7 | 22 | 67 | 83 | −16 | 51 | |
16 | Lutterworth Athletic | 44 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 66 | 90 | −24 | 48 | Transfer to the Spartan South Midlands League |
17 | West Bridgford | 44 | 14 | 5 | 25 | 73 | 104 | −31 | 47 | |
18 | Ingles[d] | 44 | 13 | 6 | 25 | 57 | 96 | −39 | 45 | Transfer to the Midland League |
19 | Bourne Town | 44 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 57 | 100 | −43 | 44 | |
20 | Holwell Sports | 44 | 10 | 5 | 29 | 61 | 108 | −47 | 35 | |
21 | Graham Street Prims (R) | 44 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 57 | 116 | −59 | 32 | Repreive and transfer to Midland League declined, relegation to the Central Midlands League. |
22 | Blackstones | 44 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 54 | 142 | −88 | 31 | Reprieve from relegation[e] |
23 | Borrowash Victoria (R) | 44 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 31 | 156 | −125 | 20 | Relegation to the Nottinghamshire Senior League. |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[7]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Kimberley Miners Welfare were awarded a home win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by Aylestone Park on 18 December.
- ^ Hinckley were awarded a home win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by St Andrews on 17 December.
- ^ St Andrews were awarded a home win due to abandoned fixture against Bourne Town on 19 October 2021. They were then deducted 1 point due to fielding an ineligible player against Aylestone Park on 28 December.
- ^ Ingles were awarded an away win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by Holwell Sports on 4 January 2022.
- ^ 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.[8]
Stadia and locations
References
- ^ "We have provided an update on NLS allocations at Steps 3-6 for the 2021-22 season". The Football Association. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3-6". The Football Association. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "UCL to expand". Uhlsport United Counties Football League. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ a b Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 5 Relegation". Google Docs.
- ^ a b c "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
- ^ Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 6 Relegation". Google Docs.
External links
- United Counties League The FA Full-Time