imported>Red Jay: Current champions

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Current champions

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{{short description|Association football league in England}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox football league
| image = Eifl.jpg
| country = England
| teams = 91 ''(six senior divisions)''
| feeds = Eastern Counties Football League
| promotion = [[Eastern Counties Football League]] Division One South
| levels = [[English football league system|11–17]]
| founded = 1966
| champions = Old Chelmsfordians
| season = 2024–25
}}

The '''Essex Olympian Football League''' is a football competition based in England, founded in the [[1966-67 in English football|1966–67]] season. It has a total of six senior divisions and one under 21 division. The Premier Division sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the [[National League System]] and it is a feeder to Division One South of the [[Eastern Counties Football League]]. Between 1986 and 2005, the league was known as the Essex Intermediate League.

Clubs to progress up the pyramid from the league include [[Billericay Town F.C.|Billericay Town]], [[Brentwood Town F.C.|Brentwood Town]], [[Bowers & Pitsea F.C.|Bowers United]], [[Sawbridgeworth Town F.C.|Sawbridgeworth Town]], [[Burnham Ramblers F.C.|Burnham Ramblers]], [[Hullbridge Sports F.C.|Hullbridge Sports]] and [[Great Wakering Rovers F.C.|Great Wakering Rovers]].

==History==
In 1966, the Essex Olympian Football League was founded, following a meeting at the Saracens Head pub in [[Chelmsford]]. The first league constitution consisted of Basildon & Pitsea, [[Billericay Town F.C.|Billericay Town]], Bishop's Stortford Swifts, [[Bowers & Pitsea F.C.|Bowers United]], [[Burnham Ramblers F.C.|Burnham Ramblers]], Collier Row, Dorstel Press, Dunmow, Little Waltham, Old Chelmsfordians and [[Sawbridgeworth Town F.C.|Sawbridgeworth]], with Burnham Ramblers winning the first edition of the Essex Olympian League, finishing four points above Little Waltham.<ref>{{cite web |website=Essex Olympian Football League |url=https://eofl.co.uk/club-history/season-1966-67/ |title=Season 1966-67|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> Little Waltham left the league at the end of the inaugural 1966–67 season, with British Mathews, Critalls, [[Essex County Council]] Staff and [[Brentwood Town F.C.|Manor Athletic]] all joining to take the constitution up to 16 clubs.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esol1968.htm |title=1967-68 Essex Olympian League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> In 1981, a Second Division was added with eight clubs (Baddow Royals, Basildon Sports, Caribbean International Sports, Chigwell Villa, Civil Service Olympian, Cossor Sports, [[Ekco F.C.|Ekco]] and Rayleigh Athletic) joining the league system.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esol1982.htm |title=1981-82 Essex Olympian League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref>

In 1986, the league was renamed to the '''Essex Intermediate League''',<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esint1987.htm |title=1986-87 Essex Intermediate League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> adding a Division Three three years later.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esint1990.htm |title=1989-90 Essex Intermediate League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2005, the league renamed itself back to its original Essex Olympian League name.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esol2006.htm|title=2005-06 Essex Olympian League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> In 2008, [[Takeley F.C.|Takeley]] moved up the pyramid into the [[Essex Senior Football League|Essex Senior League]]. Before then the Olympian League had not sent a club to the Essex Senior League for over a decade, causing the Essex Senior League to look elsewhere in Essex for new member clubs, including lower leagues and leagues outside the [[National League System]] such as the now-defunct Essex Business Houses Football League. Clubs from this league have previously been able to jump straight into the Essex Senior League due to the facilities at which they play, not where they finished in the Essex Business Houses League.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esol2008.htm|title=2007-08 Essex Olympian League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> The following year, in 2009, a Division Three was added, taking the number of leagues administered by the Essex Olympian League up to four.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esol2010.htm|title=2008-09 Essex Olympian League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> In 2015, two more leagues were added to the system, being named Division Four and Division Five.<ref>{{cite web |website=Football Club Historical Database|url=https://fchd.info/lghist/esol2016.htm|title=2015-16 Essex Olympian League|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> In 2017, [[The Football Association]] announced a step 6 (level 10) division for Essex and East Anglia in the [[Eastern Counties Football League]] to start playing in the [[2018–19 in English football|2018–19 season]], meaning the Essex Olympian League would drop to step 7 in [[Non-League football|Non-league]].<ref>{{cite news|title=New Step 6 League|url=https://eofl.co.uk/new-step-6-league/|publisher=Essex Olympian Football League|date=8 October 2017}}</ref> In March 2020, as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], the Football Association announced all leagues from step 3 to 7 on the National League System would be cancelled, with all results being expunged.<ref>{{cite web |website=Essex Olympian Football League |url=https://eofl.co.uk/fa-notice-regarding-season-2019-2020/ |title=FA Statement Regarding Season 2019-2020|date=26 March 2020|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> In November 2020, the Essex Olympian League was suspended, owing to a second wave of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |website=Essex Olympian Football League |url=https://eofl.co.uk/06-11-2020-fa-covid-19-update/|title=06-11-2020 FA COVID-19 UPDATE|date=8 November 2020|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref> The league was eventually resumed in April 2021, becoming one of the only leagues in England to resume play after the suspension in November 2020. [[Buckhurst Hill F.C.|Buckhurst Hill]] were promoted at the end of the [[2020–21 in English football|2020–21 season]], after winning the Premier Division, gaining promotion to the [[Eastern Counties Football League|Eastern Counties League]] Division One South.<ref>{{cite web |website=Essex Olympian Football League |url=https://eofl.co.uk/promotion-at-end-of-may-to-go-ahead/|title=Promotion at end of May to Go Ahead|date=16 May 2021|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/thefacom-new/files/competitions/2021-22/nls-5-to-6-club-allocations-2021-22-final.ashx|title=National League System club allocations – steps 5/6, season 2021–22|website=The Football Association|access-date=4 July 2021|format=.pdf}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2024–25 in English football|2024–25 season]], the Southend Borough & District Combination was merged into the Essex Olympian League, resulting in the creation of two regionalised divisions at Division Four and the return of Division Five.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=SBDFCL |author=Southend Borough & District Combination |number=1802652904924266742|date = 17 June 2024 |title=The final AGM of the @SBDFCL is being held on Friday 28th June 2024, 7:30pm at the Len Forge Centre, Main Hall. By that time you should all have been accepted into the constitution of {{as written|th|e the [sic]}} @eofl and looking forward to a new start for season 24/25. }}</ref>

==Member clubs (2024–25)==
The league has 91 teams spread over seven divisions for the 2024–25 season:
{|
|valign=top|'''Premier Division'''
*ACD United
*Bishop's Stortford Swifts
*[[Catholic United F.C.|Catholic United]]
*Harold Wood Athletic
*[[Hashtag United F.C.|Hashtag United]] Development
*Leigh Ramblers
*Old Chelmsfordians
*Old Southendians
*Runwell Sports
*Shenfield
*Springfield
*Sungate
*Toby
*Wakering Sports
|valign=top|
'''Division One'''
*[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]] Reserves
*Beacon Hill Rovers
*[[Canning Town F.C.|Canning Town]]
*[[Catholic United F.C.|Catholic United]] Reserves
*Corinthians
*Galleywood
*[[Harold Hill F.C.|Harold Hill]]
*Harold Wood Athletic Reserves
*Herongate Athletic
*Kelvedon Hatch
*Manford Way
*[[May & Baker F.C.|May & Baker]] 'A'
|valign=top|
'''Division Two'''
*BKS Sports
*[[Burnham Ramblers F.C.|Burnham Ramblers]] Reserves
*[[Epping Town F.C.|Epping Town]]
*[[Hutton F.C.|Hutton]] Reserves
*Leigh Ramblers Reserves
*Leigh Town
*Old Southendian Reserves
*Pitsea Athletic
*[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]] Reserves
*Roydon
*Runwell Sports Reserves
*Shoebury Town
*Wakering Sports Reserves
|valign=top|
'''Division Three'''
*AS Rawreth
*[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]] 'A'
*Bishop's Stortford Swifts Reserves
*Emerson & Upminster
*Galleywood Reserves
*Herongate Athletic Reserves
*[[Hullbridge Sports F.C.|Hullbridge Sports]] 'A'
*Manford Way Reserves
*Rawreth Lane
*Rochford Town
*Shenfield Reserves
*Springfield Reserves
*Toby Reserves
|valign=top|
'''Division Four North West'''
*[[Brentwood Town F.C.|Brentwood Town]] Development
*Broomfield
*[[Canning Town F.C.|Canning Town]] Reserves
*Galleywood 'A'
*Hannakins Farm
*[[Harold Hill F.C.|Harold Hill]] Reserves
*Herongate Athletic 'A'
*[[Hutton F.C.|Hutton]] 'A'
*Leytonstone United
*Old Chelmsfordians Reserves
*South Woodham Ferrers United
*Sungate Reserves
|valign=top|
'''Division Four South East'''
*Ashingdon
*BKS Sports Reserves
*[[Catholic United F.C.|Catholic United]] 'A'
*Corinthians Reserves
*Earls Hall United
*[[Ekco Park F.C.|Ekco Park]]
*Old Southendian 'A'
*Pitsea Athletic Reserves
*Pitsea Town
*[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]] 'A'
*South Essex United
*Southend Collegians
*Wakering Sports 'A'
|valign=top|
'''Division Five'''
*ATF Southend
*Ashingdon Reserves
*[[Ekco Park F.C.|Ekco Park]] Reserves
*HODS
*Leigh Ramblers 'A'
*Leigh Town Reserves
*Pitsea Town Reserves
*Rochford Town Reserves
*South Essex United Reserves
*Southend Collegians 'A'
*Southend Collegians Reserves
*Wakering Sports 'B'
*Wickford Town
*Wickford Wolves

|}

==Past champions==
===1966–81===
The league originally consisted of a single section of 13 clubs, reaching a peak of 18 clubs by 1969–70.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
|-
!Season
!Champions
|-
|1966–67
|[[Burnham Ramblers F.C.|Burnham Ramblers]]
|-
|1967–68
|Writtle
|-
|1968–69
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]]
|-
|1969–70
|[[Billericay Town F.C.|Billericay Town]]
|-
|1970–71
|[[Billericay Town F.C.|Billericay Town]]
|-
|1971–72
|[[Sawbridgeworth Town F.C.|Sawbridgeworth]]
|-
|1972–73
|Chadwell Heath
|-
|1973–74
|Chadwell Heath
|-
|1974–75
|Chadwell Heath
|-
|1975–76
|Essex Police
|-
|1976–77
|Collier Row Motor Gear
|-
|1977–78
|Runwell Hospital
|-
|1978–79
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|-
|1979–80
|Essex Police
|-
|1980–81
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|}

===1981–89===
In 1981, a second division was added. The league ran with two divisions for nine years. During this period, the league was renamed the Essex Intermediate League in 1986.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!Division One
!Division Two
|-
|1981–82
|Herongate Athletic
|Rayleigh Athletic
|-
|1982–83
|Herongate Athletic
|[[Dunmow Town F.C.|Dunmow]]
|-
|1983–84
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|Essex Police
|-
|1984–85
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|Shell Club
|-
|1985–86
|Essex Police
|Cossor Sports
|-
|1986–87
|Essex Police
|Hambros Bank
|-
|1987–88
|Takeley
|Standard (Harlow)
|-
|1988–89
|[[Benfleet F.C.|Benfleet]]
|Upminster
|}

===1989–2007===
In 1989, a third division was added. The league reverted to its original name, the Essex Olympian League in 2005.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Season
!Division One
!Division Two
!Division Three
|-
|1989–90
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|Kelvedon Hatch
|Great Baddow
|-
|1990–91
|Herongate Athletic
|[[Concord Rangers F.C.|Concord Rangers]]
|[[Great Wakering Rovers F.C.|Great Wakering Rovers]]
|-
|1991–92
|Standard (Harlow)
|[[Great Wakering Rovers F.C.|Great Wakering Rovers]]
|Loughton
|-
|1992–93
|Standard (Harlow)
|South Woodham Ferrers
|Danbury Trafford
|-
|1993–94
|Kelvedon Hatch
|[[Takeley F.C.|Takeley]]
|Ongar Town
|-
|1994–95
|Writtle
|Sporting Club Henderson
|Great Baddow
|-
|1995–96
|Kelvedon Hatch
|[[Frenford F.C.|Frenford Senior]]
|[[Hutton F.C.|Hutton]]
|-
|1996–97
|Kelvedon Hatch
|Runwell Hospital
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts
|-
|1997–98
|Danbury Trafford
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts
|Shell Club
|-
|1998–99
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts
|Sandon Royals
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]]
|-
|1999–2000
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts
|Nortel (Harlow)
|Wanstead Town
|-
|2000–01
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|[[Canning Town F.C.|Canning Town]]
|Linford Wanderers
|-
|2001–02
|[[Takeley F.C.|Takeley]]
|Epping
|[[Stambridge United F.C.|Stambridge United]]
|-
|2002–03
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts
|[[White Ensign F.C.|White Ensign]]
|Debden Sports
|-
|2003–04
|[[White Ensign F.C.|White Ensign]]
|Debden Sports
|Faces
|-
|2004–05
|[[White Ensign F.C.|White Ensign]]
|[[White Notley#Football club|White Notley]]
|Linford Wanderers
|-
|2005–06
|Harold Wood Athletic
|[[Canning Town F.C.|Canning Town]]
|Ongar Town
|-
| 2006–07
|[[White Ensign F.C.|White Ensign]]
|[[Benfleet F.C.|Benfleet]]
|Potter Street
|}

===2007 to date===
In 2007 the divisions were renamed Premier, One and Two.

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Season
!Premier Division
!Division One
!Division Two
|-
|2007–08
|[[White Ensign F.C.|White Ensign]]
|Potter Street
|Linford Wanderers
|-
|2008–09
|Harold Wood Athletic
|Westhamians
|Sungate
|-
|2009–10
|Harold Wood Athletic
|[[May & Baker F.C.|May & Baker Club]]
|[[Romford F.C.|Romford]] Reserves
|}

In 2010 a Division Three was added.

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Season
!Premier Division
!Division One
!Division Two
!Division Three
|-
|2010–11
|Kelvedon Hatch
|[[Hutton F.C.|Hutton]]
|[[Wadham Lodge F.C.|Wadham Lodge]]
|Springfield
|-
|2011–12
|[[Frenford F.C.|Frenford Senior]]
|Southminster St. Leonards
|Springfield
|Old Barkabbeyans
|-
|2012–13
|[[Frenford F.C.|Frenford Senior]]
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts
|Old Barkabbeyans
|Debden Sports
|}

In 2013 an Under 21 Division was added.

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Season
!Premier Division
!Division One
!Division Two
!Division Three
!Under 21 Division
|-
|2013–14
|Southminster St Leonards
|Newham United
|Ongar Town
|Rochford Town
|Ryan
|-
|2014–15
|Harold Wood Athletic
|Harold Hill
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]]
|Catholic United
|[[Frenford F.C.|Frenford Senior]]
|}

In 2015 the two reserve divisions were promoted to senior status and renamed Divisions Four and Five, along with the three higher divisions, leaving just one Under-21 division below that.

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Season
!Premier Division
!Division One
!Division Two
!Division Three
!Division Four
!Division Five
!Under 21 Division
|-
|2015–16
|Kelvedon Hatch
|[[Canning Town F.C.|Canning Town]]
|[[Catholic United F.C.|Catholic United]]
|[[Benfleet F.C.|Benfleet]]
|Old Chelmsfordians Reserves
|Galleywood Reserves
|[[FC Clacton]]
|-
|2016–17
|Springfield
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]]
|Sungate
|[[May & Baker F.C.|May & Baker]] Eastbrook Reserves
|Manford Way Reserves
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]] Reserves
|Lakeside
|-
|2017–18
|[[Catholic United F.C.|Catholic United]]
|[[Buckhurst Hill F.C.|Buckhurst Hill]]
|[[May & Baker F.C.|May & Baker]] Eastbrook Reserves
|Manford Way Reserves
|Chingford Athletic
|Westhamians
|Corinthians
|-
|2018–19
|[[Buckhurst Hill F.C.|Buckhurst Hill]]
|Shenfield
|Chingford Athletic
|Old Southendian Reserves
|Corinthians
|Corinthians Reserves
|-
|2019–20
|Cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]] || || || || || ||
|-
|2020–21
|[[Buckhurst Hill F.C.|Buckhurst Hill]]
|Ongar Town
|Leigh Town
|ACD United
|[[Catholic United F.C.|Catholic United]] Reserves
|Wakering Sports 'A'
|
|-
|2021–22
|Ongar Town
|Toby
|ACD United
|[[Hashtag United F.C.|Hashtag United]] Development
|Chingford Athletic Reserves
|Bishop's Stortford Swifts Reserves
|
|-
|2022–23
|[[Hutton F.C.|Hutton]]
|Old Chelmsfordians
|Shoebury Town
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]] Reserves
|Leigh Ramblers Reserves
|Manford Way Reserves
|
|-
|2023–24
|[[Rayleigh Town F.C.|Rayleigh Town]]
|Wakering Sports
|[[Basildon Town F.C.|Basildon Town]] Reserves
|Runwell Sports Reserves
|Toby Reserves
|
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.eofl.co.uk/}}

{{Football in England table cells}}

[[Category:Essex Olympian Football League| ]]
[[Category:Football in Essex]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Football leagues in England]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1966]]

Essex Olympian Football League - Revision history

imported>Red Jay: Current champions