Eastern Counties 1
Current season or competition: 2019–20 Eastern Counties 1 | |
Sport | Rugby union |
---|---|
Instituted | 1987 |
Number of teams | 24 (8 per divisional league) |
Country | England |
Holders | Beccles (2nd title) (2018–19) (promoted to London 3 Eastern Counties) |
Most titles | Thetford (3 titles) |
Website | englandrugby.com |
Eastern Counties 1 is an English level 9
The division was split across three geographic areas (North, South & West) for the 2017-18 as part of an
Participating Clubs 2021-22
North
- Beccles
- Diss II
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth
- North Walsham II
- Norwich II
- Southwold II
- Watton
- Wymondham II
South
- Braintree II
- Brightlingsea
- Colchester III
- Hadleigh
- Mistley
- Ipswich II
- Stowmarket II
- Sudbury II
West
- Bury St Edmunds III
- Cambridge III
- Cantabrigian II
- Cottenham Renegades
- Haverhill and District
- Mildenhall & Red Lodge
- Shelford III
Season 2020–21
On 30 October the RFU announced [1] that a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Eastern Counties 1 was not contested.
Participating Clubs 2019-20
North
- Diss II
- Holt
- North Walsham II
- Norwich II
- Norwich Medics
- Norwich Union
- Watton
- Wymondham II
South
- Braintree II
- Colchester III
- Hadleigh
- Halstead Templars
- Mersea Island
- Ipswich II
- Stowmarket II
- Sudbury II
West
- Bury St Edmunds III
- Cambridge III
- Cantabrigian II
- Cottenham Renegades
- Newmarket
- Saffron Walden II
- Shelford III
Participating Clubs 2018-19
North
- Beccles
- Diss II
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth
- North Walsham II
- Norwich II
- Norwich Medics
- Norwich Union
- Wymondham II
South
- Brightlingsea
- Bury St Edmunds III
- Colchester III
- Hadleigh
- Halstead Templars
- Harwich & Dovercourt II
- Ipswich II
- Sudbury II
West
- Cambridge III
- Cantabrigian II
- Cottenham Renegades
- Ely II
- March Bears
- Newmarket
- Saffron Walden II
- Shelford III
Participating Clubs 2017-18
- Beccles (North)
- Brightlingsea (South)
- Bury St. Edmunds III (West)
- Cambridge Adventurers (West)
- Cantabrigian II (West)
- Colchester III (South)
- Cottenham Renegades (West)
- Diss II (North)
- Fakenham (North)
- Great Yarmouth-Broadland (North)
- Hadleigh (South)
- Haverhill & District (West)
- Ipswich Magpies (South)
- Ipswich Y.M. (South)
- Mistley (South)
- North Walsham II (North)
- Norwich Medics (North)
- Norwich Union (North)
- Saffron Walden II (West)
- Shelford III (West)
- Stowmarket II (South)
- Sudbury Talbots (South)
- Swaffham (North)
- Thurston (West)
Participating Clubs 2016-17
- Beccles (relegated from London 3 North East)
- Bury St Edmunds 3rd XV
- Colchester III
- Crusaders
- Ipswich Y.M.
- Newmarket
- Thetford
- Thurston
- Wisbech
- Woodbridge
- Wymondham
Participating Clubs 2015-16
- Crusaders
- Ely
- Ipswich Y.M.
- Mersea Island
- Newmarket
- Swaffham
- Thetford
- Thurston
- Wisbech
- Woodbridge
- Wymondham
Participating Clubs 2014-15
- Crusaders
- Ely
- Ipswich Y.M.
- Mersea Island
- Newmarket
- Southwold
- Swaffham
- Thetford (promoted from Eastern Counties 2)
- Thurston (promoted from Eastern Counties 2)
- Wisbech (relegated from London 3 North East)
- Woodbridge
- Wymondham (relegated from London 3 North East)
Participating Clubs 2013-14
- Broadland - Great Yarmouth (promoted from Eastern Counties 2)
- Crusaders
- Ely
- Harwich & Dovercourt
- Ipswich Y.M.
- Mersea Island
- Newmarket
- Swaffham (promoted from Eastern Counties 2)
- West Norfolk
- Woodbridge
Participating Clubs 2012-13
- Crusaders
- Ely
- Hadleigh
- Harwich & Dovercourt
- Ipswich Y.M.
- Mersea Island
- Newmarket
- Southwold
- Thurston
- West Norfolk
- Woodbridge
- Wymondham
Original teams
When league rugby began in 1987 this division contained the following teams:
- Cambridge
- Crusaders
- Ely
- Harlow
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth
- Met Police Chigwell
- Redbridge
- Rochford Hundred
- Romford & Gidea Park
- Shelford
- Thetford
Eastern Counties 1 honours
Eastern Counties 1 (1987–1993)
The original Eastern Counties 1 was a tier 8 league with promotion up to London 3 North East and relegation down to Eastern Counties 2.[2]
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987–88 | 11 | Met Police Chigwell | Cambridge | Thetford | ||||||||||
1988–89 | 11 | Harlow | Romford & Gidea Park | Lowestoft & Yarmouth | ||||||||||
1989–90 | 11 | Canvey Island | Old Edwardians | Ipswich YMCA | ||||||||||
1990–91 | 11 | Chelmsford | Basildon | Redbridge | ||||||||||
1991–92 | 11 | Rochford Hundred |
Campion[a] | No relegation[b] | ||||||||||
1992–93 | 13 | Bury St Edmunds | Shelford | Met Police Chigwell, Crusaders | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Eastern Counties 1 (1993–1996)
The creation of National 5 South meant that Eastern Counties 1 dropped from a tier 8 league to a tier 9 league for the years that National 5 South was active. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 North East and Eastern Counties 2 respectively.
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993–94 | 13 | Maldon | West Norfolk | Wanstead, Cantabrigian | ||||||||||
1994–95 | 13 | Lowestoft & Yarmouth | Canvey Island | Westcliff, Ravens | ||||||||||
1995–96 | 13 | Diss |
Woodbridge | Loughton, Bancroft | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Eastern Counties 1 (1996–2000)
The cancellation of National 5 South at the end of the 1995–96 season meant that Eastern Counties 1 reverted to being a tier 8 league. Promotion and relegation continued to London 3 North East and Eastern Counties 2 respectively.
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996–97 | 13 | Basildon | Campion[c] | No relegation[d] | ||||||||||
1997–98 | 10 | Hadleigh | Bancroft | Harwich & Dovercourt | ||||||||||
1998–99[3] | 10 | Thetford | Ely | Wanstead, Ilford Wanderers, Met Police Chigwell | ||||||||||
1999–00[4] | 9 | Saffron Walden | Woodbridge | Old Cooperians, Westcliff | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Eastern Counties 1 (2000–2009)
The introduction of London 4 North East ahead of the 2000–01 season meant Eastern Counties 1 dropped to become a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to Eastern Counties 2 - split into north and south regional divisions between 2000 and 2003.
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000–01[5] | 10 | Eton Manor | Upminster | Bancroft, Wanstead, Cantabrigian | ||||||||||
2001–02[6] | 10 | Mersea Island | Beccles | Old Edwardians, Newmarket | ||||||||||
2002–03[7] | 10 | Colchester | Ely | No relegation[e] | ||||||||||
2003–04[8] | 9 | Thetford | Stowmarket | No relegation[f] | ||||||||||
2004–05[9] | 10 | Wisbech | Crusaders | Woodbridge, Southwold, Ely | ||||||||||
2005–06[10] | 10 | Beccles | Mersea Island | Thetford, Ipswich Y.M., Cantabrigian | ||||||||||
2006–07[11] | 10 | Mersea Island | Thurston | Dereham, Newmarket | ||||||||||
2007–08[12] | 11 | Wymondham | West Norfolk | Ely | ||||||||||
2008–09[13] | 10 | Lowestoft & Yarmouth | Wisbech | No relegation[g] | ||||||||||
2009–10[14] | 11 | Newmarket | Stowmarket | Thetford, Fakenham | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Eastern Counties 1 (2009–2017)
Eastern Counties 1 remained a tier 9 league despite national restructuring by the RFU. Promotion was to London 3 North East (formerly London 4 North East) and relegation to Eastern Counties 2, which split into three regional divisions - north, south, west - from the 2014–15 season onward.
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010–11[15] | 10 | Stowmarket | Holt | Thurston | ||||||||||
2011–12[16] | 11 | Cantabrigian | Wisbech | Broadland - Great Yarmouth | ||||||||||
2012–13[17] | 12 | Wymondham | Ipswich Y.M. | Thurston, Hadleigh, Southwold | ||||||||||
2013–14[18] | 12 | West Norfolk | Newmarket | Broadland - Great Yarmouth, Harwich & Dovercourt | ||||||||||
2014–15[19] | 12 | Southwold | Ely | Woodbridge | ||||||||||
2015–16[20] | 11 | Ely | Wymondham | No relegation[h] | ||||||||||
2016–17[21] | 12 | Thetford | Wymondham[i] | Swaffham | ||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Eastern Counties 1 (2017–present)
The cancellation of London 3 North East and subsequent introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties ahead of the 2017–18 meant that Eastern Counties 1 remained a tier 9 league with promotion to this new division. Relegation continued to the regionalised Eastern Counties 2 (north, south, west).
| ||||||||||||||
Season | No of Teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated Teams | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017–18[22] | 24[j] | Fakenham | Ipswich Y.M.[k] | Broadland-Great Yarmouth, Stowmarket II, Haverhill & District[23] | ||||||||||
2018–19[24] | 24 | Beccles[l] | Hadleigh | Ely II, Harwich & Dovercourt II[m] | ||||||||||
2019–20[25] | 24 | |||||||||||||
2020–21 | 24 | |||||||||||||
Green backgrounds are promotion places. |
Promotion play-offs
Between 2004 and 2017 there was a play-off between the runners-up of Eastern Counties 1 and Essex 1 for the third and final promotion place to London 3 North East. The team with the superior league record had home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2016–17 season the Essex 1 teams had been the most successful with seven wins to the Eastern Counties 1 teams five; and the home team has won promotion on eight occasions compared to the away teams four. Since the introduction of London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex at the end of the 2016–17 season the playoff has been cancelled.
| ||||||||||||||
Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004-05[26] | Crusaders (EC) | 41-24 | Upminster (EX) | Beckhithe, Little Melton, Norfolk | ||||||||||
2005–06[27] | Canvey Island (EX) | 31-18 | Mersea Island (EC) | Tewkes Creek, Canvey Island, Essex | ||||||||||
2006–07[28] | Thurston (EC) | 22-33 | South Woodham Ferrers (EX) | Robinson Field, Thurston, Suffolk | ||||||||||
2007–08[29] | Maldon (EX) | 15-20 | West Norfolk (EC) | Drapers Farm Playing Fields, Heybridge, Essex | ||||||||||
2008–09[30] | Wisbech (EC) | 38-14 | Campion (EX) | Chapel Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire | ||||||||||
2009–10[31] | Bancroft (EX) | 37-29 | Stowmarket (EC) | Buckhurst Way, Buckhurst Hill, Essex | ||||||||||
2010–11[32] | Holt (EC) | HWO[n] | Millwall (EX) | Bridge Road, Holt, Norfolk | ||||||||||
2011–12[33] | Wisbech (EC) | 38-12 | Maldon (EX) | Chapel Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire | ||||||||||
2012–13[34] | Ipswich Y.M. (EC) | 20-27 | Old Cooperians (EX) | The Street, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, Suffolk | ||||||||||
2013–14[35] | Newmarket (EC) | 17-18 | Clacton (EX) | The NSDA Pavilion, Newmarket, Suffolk | ||||||||||
2014–15[36] | Epping Upper Clapton (EX) | 36-22 | Ely (EC) | Upland Road, Thornwood, Essex | 400 | |||||||||
2015–16[37] | Ilford Wanderers (EX) | 66-17 | Wymondham (EC) | Ilford Wanderers Sports Ground, Barkingside, Greater London | ||||||||||
2016–17 | No promotion playoff this season due to restructuring of Eastern Counties and Essex leagues.[38] | |||||||||||||
Green background is the promoted team. EC = Eastern Counties 1 and EX = Essex Canterbury Jack (formerly Essex 1) |
Number of league titles
- Thetford (3)
- Beccles (2)
- Lowestoft & Yarmouth (2)
- Mersea Island (2)
- Wymondham (2)
- Basildon (1)
- Bury St Edmunds (1)
- Cantabrigian (1)
- Canvey Island (1)
- Chelmsford (1)
- Colchester (1)
- Diss(1)
- Ely (1)
- Eton Manor (1)
- Fakenham (1)
- Hadleigh (1)
- Harlow (1)
- Maldon (1)
- Met Police Chigwell (1)
- Newmarket (1)
- Rochford Hundred(1)
- Saffron Walden (1)
- Southwold (1)
- Stowmarket (1)
- West Norfolk (1)
- Wisbech (1)
See also
- London & SE Division RFU
- Eastern Counties RU
- Essex RFU
- English rugby union system
- Rugby union in England
Notes
- ^ 3rd place Braintree also promoted.
- ^ As the league was due to increase from 11 to 13 teams for the following season, there was no relegation.
- ^ Due to restructuring of the London & South East leagues for the following season, seven clubs were promoted including Upminster, Holt, Wymondham, Newmarket and Shelford.
- ^ Due to restructuring of the London & South East leagues for the following season, there was no relegation.
- , transfer from Eastern Counties 1 into Essex 1 for the following season, meaning that there was no relegation.
- ^ No relegation as league increased from 9 to 10 teams for the following season.
- ^ No relegation as league increased from 10 to 11 teams for the following season.
- ^ No relegation as league increased from 11 to 12 teams for the following season.
- ^ Due to London 3 North East being split into London 3 Eastern Counties and London 3 Essex, six teams would be promoted this season instead of the usual 1 or 2, including Thetford, Wymondham, Crusaders, Newmarket, Woodbridge and Wisbech.
- ^ Divided into 3 regional divisions (north/south/west) with 8 teams in each.
- ^ 3rd placed Thurston also promoted.
- ^ Beccles were winners of the Eastern Counties 1 Shield - the final promotion stage of the Eastern Counties 1 competition.
- ^ Ely II and Harwich & Dovercourt Rugby Club II were the two lowest ranked sides in the Eastern Counties 1 Salver - the final relegation stage of the Eastern Counties 1 competition.
- ^ Holt were promoted as Millwall did not manage to raise a team for the 2010-11 play-off game.
References
- ^ "RFU Cancels Adult Competitive Leagues for the 2020/21 Season". RFU. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION HANDBOOK 2015/16" (PDF). Eastern Counties RU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ "1998-1999 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "1999-2000 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2000-2001 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2001-2002 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2002-2003 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2003-2004 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2004-2005 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2005-2006 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2006-2007 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2007-2008 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2008-2009 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2009-2010 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2010-2011 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2011-2012 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2012-2013 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2013-2014 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ "2014-2015 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ "2015-2016 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ "2016-2017 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "2017-2018 London South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Broadland - Great Yarmouth were relegated from the north division, Stowmarket II from the south division, and Haverhill & District from the west division.
- ^ "2018-2019 London & South-East Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ "Men's London & South East Level 8 and below leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
- ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2005-06". England Rugby. 29 April 2006.
- ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2006-07". England Rugby. 28 April 2007.
- ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2007-08". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
- ^ "Rugby: Wisbech's fine win secures promotion". Peterborough Today. 27 April 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 24 April 2009.
- ^ "London & SE Division Play-Offs 2010-11". England Rugby. 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Long delighted as Wisbech Rugby Club win promotion play-off in his final game as skipper". Eastern Daily Press. 27 April 2012.
- ^ "OLD COOPERIANS PROMOTED to London North East 3". Old Cooperians RFC (Pitchero). 4 May 2013.
- ^ "Newmarket stay down with a narrow defeat to Clacton". Newmarket Journal. 1 May 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Epping v Ely 25.04.15". Epping Upper Clapton RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Wanderers earn their place in London 3 NE". Ilford Wanderers RFC (Pitchero). 3 May 2016.
- ^ "Wymondham v Wisbech EC1 - Sat 8th Apr". Wymondham RFC (Pitchero). 8 April 2017.[permanent dead link]