Written by Scott W [Twitter: @ScottMHC14] – Non-League Blogger & GFS Contributor
Hello and a warm welcome to a one-off piece looking at the teams that will compete in the Essex Alliance League in the 2019-20 season, with a small additional preview of the top two divisions. For regular round-up’s of this increasingly popular Grassroots group of divisions, check out their website at http://www.essexallianceleague.com or via Twitter – @EssexAllianceFL
You can also hear the results round-up weekly as part of the Intermediate Football round-up which continues on the Grassroots Football Show on East London Radio from next month. My thanks to Rob Parker for his assistance in this piece.
Key: (P) = Promoted | (R) = Relegated | (NEW) =New/reclassified side
EAL Senior Division Constitution (2019-20) (11 clubs)
- Blue Marlin
- Chigwell (P)
- Chingford Athletic ‘A’ (P)
- East Ham Inter
- FC Baresi (P)
- FC Petrocub (NEW)
- London Cranes
- Lymore Gardens (P)
- Rapid Chingford (P)
- Singh Sabha Barking
- West Essex Res
The top division sees a fair amount of change as the league responds to the loss of two of its stand-out clubs. Firstly, Jolof Sports have taken the plunge and will compete at Step 8 in the Middlesex County League’s Division One Central & East following a superb league campaign which saw them win the EAL Senior Division by three points from ACD Utd. Speaking of ACD Utd, they have also left the Essex Alliance League to try their hand in the Essex Olympian League, where they have been placed in Senior Division Three (the fourth tier).
Back to the clubs that remain in the top-tier from last season. Highest on that list are Singh Sabha Barking who finished in a very good third place, seven points behind ACD Utd. East Ham Inter are next as they fifth last term, with eight wins each in their 18 matches. In sixth and seventh last season, West Essex Res and London Cranes couldn’t be separated in points, West getting that sixth spot by virtue of a better goal difference.
Blue Marlin were eighth last term, 13 points clear of the bottom two and they round out the clubs that haven’t moved tiers. However, there are a number of clubs who have been elevated to the Senior Division. Firstly, last season’s Division One champions FC Baresi are in there after scoring 66 goals in their 18 matches to win the title by a point. Chingford Athletic’s ‘third team’ (aka ‘A’) will take part as well following the placing of the Development team in Essex Olympian League’s Division Four.
Three other clubs have also been promoted from Division One in Chigwell, Lymore Gardens and Rapid Chingford. Chigwell finished six points clear in third spot in D1 last term. Lymore earned a fifth-placed finish after 9 wins in their 18 matches while Rapid were sixth a point behind them. Finally, there is one new club entering the ranks in FC Petrocub, who transition over from Sunday Football. All in all, we have 12 clubs duking it out for the title and it should be another fascinating campaign.
Update (from late August 2019): Docklands Albion have announced they are withdrawing from the EAL for the 2019-20 campaign. We wish them well in the hope they reform for 2020-21.
EAL Division ONE Constitution (2019 -20) (11 clubs)
- All Prospects Academy (NEW)
- All Real (NEW)
- Chingford United
- CSM London (P)
- Eastside (P)
- Forest Green
- Jolof Sports U21 (NEW)
- London Park City (R)
- Sporting Hackney Dev (NEW)
- Tower Hamlets Res (P)
- Tower United (NEW)
- Wapping
Division One also sees a number of club changes with the only survivors from last season’s Div One being Forest Green, Wapping and Chingford Utd. All three of those sides struggled somewhat in 2018 – 19 as ‘Green finished 7th, eight points ahead of Wapping, who in turn were seven points ahead of second-bottom Chingford. London Park City come down from the top-tier after a horrid campaign there in which they acquired only one point all season. Joining them are three promoted sides – CSM London and Eastside who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in Div Two last season. Both teams scored upwards of fifty goals last term so they may be eye-catching here. Tower Hamlets Res are also given a ‘double bubble’ promotion from Division Three after a third-placed success last term, in which they scored 93 goals last season.
Finally, there are four new sides joining the second-tier. With the first team being elevated to Step 8 (see above), Jolof Sports are retaining a side in the EAL with a Under-21 side being placed here. The other new sides are All Prospects Academy, All Real and Tower Utd.
Below are the listing for the remaining divisions, as more new sides have joined the fray.
EAL Division TWO Constitution (2019 -20) (11 clubs)
- Cowley Community
- Flyers
- Melbourne Sports (R)
- Old Esthameians
- Puma Kings
- Rainham Working Men’s Club
- Royal Forest (P)
- Sungate Res (P)
- Three Colts (R)
- Unitey (NEW)
- Upshire Forest
EAL Division THREE Constitution (2019 -20) (11 clubs)
- Avondale Rangers (P)
- Barkingside ‘A’ (NEW)
- Chadwell Heath Spartans (NEW)
- Custom House United
- Debden Park (P)
- Flyers Development (NEW)
- Frenford ‘A’
- Glendale
- Ilford Development (NEW)
- Newham Wanderers (NEW)
- St Francis
EAL Division FOUR Constitution (2019-20) (11 clubs)
- Brentwood Utd Res
- Chingford Harriers
- Dagenham Utd Res
- Fairlop Rovers (NEW)
- Flyers ‘B’ (NEW)
- Loughton Lions
- Lymore Gardens Res (formerly Forest Green Res)
- Newham Royals
- Prospect Protege (NEW)
- Together United (NEW)
- Woodford East (formerly Chigwell Men’s Club)
survivor16b 