The Essex Senior Football League is an English men's football league. It contains clubs from the Essex FA, Hertfordshire FA, London FA, Middlesex FA and the Amateur Football Alliance. It is a feeder league to Division One North of the Isthmian League and has a single division which sits at Step 5 (or Level 9) of the National League System.
Founder members The Essex Senior League was formed in 1971 with nine founder members. The finishing positions for the 1971–72 season were as follows:
1Witham Town2Billericay Town3Pegasus Athletic4Tiptree United5Saffron Walden Town6Basildon United7Heybridge Swifts8Southend United 'A'9Stansted
Promotion and relegation The Essex Senior League states that a club must finish in the top 3 to be considered for promotion to the Isthmian League Division One North. However the process is governed by the FA Leagues Committee who regulate relegations and promotions throughout the National League System. As of the 2014–15 season FA rules for Step 5 divisions such as the Essex Senior League stipulate that the champions should be offered the first chance of promotion. If the champions do not wish to be promoted or are not able to meet the entry requirements for promotion then the 2nd or 3rd placed team may be considered for promotion. Under normal circumstances, only one club can be promoted from a Step 5 league (e.g., the Essex Senior League) to a Step 4 league (e.g., the Isthmian League Division One).
In exchange for the promoted club, the Essex Senior League would typically receive a relegated club from a Step 4 league. Relegated clubs of Step 4 leagues are allocated an appropriate league based on their geographical locations. Thus the Essex Senior League is most likely to receive one of the relegated clubs from the Isthmian League Division One North.
There was no relegation from the Essex Senior League into a lower league since there was no Step 6 equivalent to the ESL until the 2017–18 season. Leagues including the Essex Olympian League (Step 7) sometimes acted as a feeder league to the Essex Senior League but promotion and relegation between the two leagues was not automatic. A Step 6 division for Essex and East Anglia was announced in October 2017 to solve the relegation problem. Since 2018–19, the Eastern Counties League controls this new division.
Current Essex Senior League members
Barking Basildon United Benfleet Clapton Community Frenford Great Wakering Rovers Hackney Wick Halstead Town Harwich & Parkeston Heybridge Swifts Hullbridge Sports Hutton Ilford Romford Saffron Walden Town Soul Tower Hamlets Sporting Bengal United West Essex White Ensign Woodford Town
Champions, runners up and third place finishers SeasonWinnerRunners-upThird place1971–72Witham TownBillericay TownPegasus Athletic1972–73Billericay TownBasildon UnitedStansted1973–74Saffron Walden TownBillericay TownCoggeshall Town1974–75Billericay TownBasildon UnitedCoggeshall Town1975–76Billericay TownTiptree UnitedBasildon United1976–77Basildon UnitedBrentwoodBillericay Town1977–78Basildon UnitedTiptree UnitedFord United1978–79Basildon UnitedCanvey IslandEton Manor1979–80Basildon UnitedWivenhoe TownCanvey Island1980–81Bowers UnitedHeybridge SwiftsWivenhoe Town1981–82Heybridge SwiftsWivenhoe TownBrentwood1982–83Heybridge SwiftsStanstedHalstead Town1983–84Heybridge SwiftsBowers UnitedWitham Town1984–85Maldon TownWitham TownStansted1985–86Witham TownWivenhoe TownFord United1986–87Canvey IslandWitham TownPurfleet1987–88PurfleetBrentwoodHalstead Town1988–89Brightlingsea UnitedEast Thurrock UnitedFord United1989–90Brightlingsea UnitedWoodford TownEast Thurrock United1990–91Southend ManorBrentwoodBurnham Ramblers1991–92Ford UnitedBrentwoodEast Thurrock United1992–93Canvey IslandSawbridgeworth TownBowers United1993–94Basildon UnitedFord UnitedCanvey Island1994–95Great Wakering RoversSawbridgeworth TownRomford1995–96RomfordGreat Wakering RoversConcord Rangers1996–97Ford UnitedGreat Wakering RoversConcord Rangers1997–98Concord RangersBasildon UnitedBowers United1998–99Bowers UnitedGreat Wakering RoversSaffron Walden Town1999–2000Saffron Walden TownSouthend ManorBurnham Ramblers2000–01BrentwoodSaffron Walden TownBarkingside2001–02LeytonEnfield TownBurnham Ramblers2002–03Enfield TownConcord RangersIlford2003–04Concord RangersIlfordSawbridgeworth Town2004–05Enfield TownBurnham RamblersWaltham Abbey2005–06A.F.C. HornchurchWaltham AbbeyTilbury2006–07Brentwood TownRomfordBarkingside2007–08Concord RangersEnfield 1893Barkingside2008–09RomfordEnfield 1893Takeley2009–10StanstedWitham TownBurnham Ramblers2010–11Enfield 1893StanstedWitham Town2011–12Witham TownSouthend ManorTakeley2012–13Burnham RamblersBarkingsideTakeley2013–14Great Wakering RoversHaringey BoroughEnfield 18932014–15Haringey BoroughBowers & PitseaBarking2015–16Bowers & PitseaBasildon UnitedFC Romania2016–17BarkingClaptonFC Romania2017–18Great Wakering RoversBasildon UnitedFC Romania2018–19Hullbridge SportsStanstedWalthamstow2019–20No champions; season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic2020–21No champions; season abandoned due to pandemic-related lockdowns2021–22WalthamstowSaffron Walden TownRedbridge2022–23EnfieldRedbridgeWoodford Town2023–24TilburyWoodford TownRomford2024–25Stanway RoversTakeleyWoodford Town2025–26Little OakleySoul Tower HamletsGreat Wakering Rovers
League winners records 5 times – Basildon United 3 times – Billericay Town, Bowers & Pitsea, Concord Rangers, Great Wakering Rovers, Heybridge Swifts, Witham Town 2 times – Brentwood Town, Brightlingsea United, Canvey Island, Enfield, Enfield Town, Ford United, Romford, Saffron Walden Town 1 time – AFC Hornchurch, Barking, Burnham Ramblers, Haringey Borough, Hullbridge Sports, Leyton, Little Oakley, Maldon Town, Purfleet, Stansted, Stanway Rovers, Southend Manor, Tilbury, Walthamstow
Errington Challenge Cup
The Essex Senior League Challenge Cup is a knock-out tournament competed for by teams in the Essex Senior Football League. As of the 2017–18 season the competition is referred to as the Errington Challenge Cup in recognition of the league's treasurer Margaret Errington who held the post for 26 years before her death in 2016. Brentwood Town and Basildon United hold the record jointly for the most cup wins, each lifting the trophy four times (Brentwood Town in 1975–76, 1978–79, 1990–91, 2006–07, Basildon United in 1977–78, 1993–94, 1997–98, 2015–16).
Final results SeasonWinnerScoreRunners-up1972–73Billericay Town2–1Saffron Walden Town1973–74No competition played1974–75Colchester United 'A'3–1Billericay Town1975–76Brentwood3–0Basildon United1976–77Billericay Town1–0Bowers United1977–78Basildon United3–0Bowers United1978–79Brentwood2–0Brightlingsea United1979–80Canvey Island1–1, 0–0, 2–0Basildon United1980–81Witham Town4–2Sawbridgeworth Town1981–82Bowers United2–0Halstead Town1982–83Heybridge Swifts4–1Bowers United1983–84Stansted1–0Brentwood1984–85Chelmsford City Reserves2–0Maldon Town1985–86Ford United1–0Coggeshall Town1986–87Purfleet2–0Burnham Ramblers1987–88Purfleet2–1Canvey Island1988–89East Thurrock United3–2Ford United1989–90Southend Manor2–0Burnham Ramblers1990–91Brentwood2–0Southend Manor1991–92East Thurrock United2–0Basildon United1992–93Canvey Island3–1Sawbridgeworth Town1993–94Basildon United3–0Sawbridgeworth Town1994–95Sawbridgeworth Town2–0Stansted1995–96Romford2–0Southend Manor1996–97Concord Rangers1–0Ford United1997–98Basildon United1–0Burnham Ramblers1998–99Bowers United2–0Great Wakering Rovers1999-00Saffron Walden Town2–1Southend Manor2000–01Southend Manor2–1Sawbridgeworth Town2001–02Enfield Town1–1(4–2 penalties)Leyton2002–03Ilford1–0Sawbridgeworth Town2003–04Enfield Town3–2Sawbridgeworth Town2004–05Waltham Abbey4–1Enfield Town2005–06AFC Hornchurch2–0Brentwood Town2006–07Brentwood Town1–1(5–4 penalties)Romford2007–08Eton Manor3–2Concord Rangers2008–09Barkingside2–0Burnham Ramblers2009–10Bethnal Green United4–1Burnham Ramblers2010–11Stansted3–0Enfield 18932011–12Witham Town2–1Burnham Ramblers2012–13Barkingside9–1Bowers & Pitsea2013–14Great Wakering Rovers1–0Sporting Bengal United2014–15Bowers & Pitsea7–1Clapton2015–16Basildon United3–0FC Romania2016–17Takeley1–0Sawbridgeworth Town2017–18Great Wakering Rovers1–0Sawbridgeworth Town2018–19Stansted1–0West Essex2019–20Not completed due to coronavirus pandemic2020–21Not played due to coronavirus pandemic2021–22Enfield3–2Cockfosters2022–23Barking1–1(5–4 penalties)Redbridge2023–24Stanway Rovers4–0Romford2024–25Great Wakering Rovers1–1(3–1 penalties)Little Oakley
League and Cup double On 14 occasions a team has won both the Essex Senior League and the Essex Senior League Challenge Cup in the same season. They are:
1972–73 – Billericay Town 1977–78 – Basildon United 1982–83 – Heybridge Swifts 1987–88 – Purfleet 1992–93 – Canvey Island 1993–94 – Basildon United 1995–96 – Romford 1998–99 – Bowers United 1999–00 – Saffron Walden Town 2005–06 – AFC Hornchurch 2006–07 – Brentwood Town 2011–12 – Witham Town 2013–14 – Great Wakering Rovers 2017–18 – Great Wakering Rovers
Former members
AFC Hornchurch Barkingside Basildon United Beaumont Athletic Billericay Town Bowers & Pitsea Brentwood Town Brightlingsea United Burnham Ramblers Bury Academy Canvey Island Chelmsford City reserves Clapton
Cockfosters Colchester United 'A' Concord Rangers East Ham United East Thurrock United Enfield Enfield Town Eton Manor FC Romania Hackney Wick Hadley Haringey Borough
Hashtag United Heybridge Swifts Hoddesdon Town Leyton Leyton Athletic London APSA Maldon Town Pegasus Athletic Purfleet Redbridge Sawbridgeworth Town Southend Manor
Southend United 'A' St Margaretsbury Stambridge Stansted Tiptree United Tower Hamlets Waltham Abbey Walthamstow Witham Town Wivenhoe Town Woodford Town Woodford Town reserves
Notable former Essex Senior League players Several Essex Senior League players have also played for Football League or Premier League teams:
Jimmy Greaves – Played for Brentwood Town after playing for West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Chelsea and England. Alan Brazil – Played for Stambridge after Queens Park Rangers and other teams including Manchester United and Scotland. Kerry Dixon – Played in the Essex Senior League for Basildon after playing for other teams including Chelsea and England. Michael Kightly – left Basildon United to join Southend United circa 2003, playing for Burnley as of April 2016. Dwight Gayle – left Stansted to play for Dagenham & Redbridge, Peterborough United and Crystal Palace. Trevor Putney – left Brentwood to join Ipswich Town in 1980, also played for Norwich City, and Middlesbrough. Stuart Wardley – left Saffron Walden Town to join Queens Park Rangers in 1999. Steve Tilson – left Witham Town to join Southend United in 1989. Gary Hart – left Stansted for £1,000 and a set of kit to join Brighton & Hove Albion in 1998. Ben Barnett – left Southend Manor to briefly join Leyton Orient in 2000. John Warner – left Burnham Ramblers to join Colchester United in 1988. Scott Forbes – left Saffron Walden Town to join Southend United in 2000.
References
External links FA Full-Time League Websites (Essex Senior Football League)