"Kent Football League" redirects here. For the league of the same name which existed from 1894 until 1959, see Kent Football League (1894–1959).
The Southern Counties East Football League is an English football league established in 1966, which has teams based in Kent and Southeast London. Until 2013, it was known as the Kent League. There was a previous Kent League, that existed from 1894 to 1959.
The first Kent League was formed in 1894 and folded in 1959. Despite many of the same clubs having spells in membership, there is no direct connection between the two competitions.
The current incarnation of the league was formed in 1966 as the Kent Premier League (changing to Kent Football League in 1968), and in its early years many of its members were reserve sides of Southern League teams. Gradually, the reserve sides were all shifted down into the lower divisions.
In 2013 the league changed its name to the Southern Counties East League, to reflect the fact that many of its member clubs no longer played within the county of Kent.[1]
At the end of the 2015–16 season, the league merged with the Kent Invicta League and the latter became the lower division of the merged league.[2][3]
Sponsorshipedit
For the 2012–13 season, the league was sponsored by Hürlimann Sternbräu lager, brewed by Kentish brewers, Shepherd Neame and was therefore billed as the Kent Hurlimann Football League.[4]
Current structureedit
The league had only one division until the 2015–16 season. In the past it included additional divisions for reserve teams. The league is now at Steps 5–6 of the National League System (which equates to Levels 9–10 of the overall English football league system) since the 2016–17 season, with clubs able to move upwards to the Step 4 divisions of the Isthmian League. Prior to the 2011–12 season, clubs could be relegated to the Kent County League, although in practice this rarely happened. The formation of the new Kent Invicta Football League for the 2011–12 season meant there was a Step 6 league allowing for more frequent promotion/relegation between the Southern Counties East League and the Kent Invicta League. After the merger with the latter league, the Southern Counties East League now has two divisions and is fed by the Kent County League.
List of championsedit
The area covered by the Southern Counties East Football League is coloured in maroon.Cray Wanderers celebrate winning the title in 1981Maidstone United celebrate winning the title in 2006
^"Kent Football League change name to Southern Counties East Football League for 2013/14 season". Kent Online. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
^"Clubs from the Kent Invicta League and Southern Counties East League give go-ahead to merger". Kent Online. 3 December 2015.
^"Rusthall light up Jockey Farm". kentishfootball.co.uk. 6 January 2016.
^"Hurlimann lager agree deal to sponsor the Kent Football League". Kent Online. 3 August 2011.
External linksedit
Official website
October 28, 2023
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Kent Football League redirects here For the league of the same name which existed from 1894 until 1959 see Kent Football League 1894 1959 The Southern Counties East Football League is an English football league established in 1966 which has teams based in Kent and Southeast London Until 2013 it was known as the Kent League There was a previous Kent League that existed from 1894 to 1959 Southern Counties East Football League SCEFL Founded1966 57 years ago 1966 CountryEnglandDivisions2Number of teams37Level on pyramid9 10Feeder toIsthmian League Division One North or SouthRelegation toKent County LeagueDomestic cup s Southern Counties East League Cup Southern Counties East Challenge CupCurrent championsErith amp Belvedere 2022 23 Websitescefl wbr comCurrent 2023 24 season Contents 1 History 2 Sponsorship 3 Current structure 4 List of champions 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe first Kent League was formed in 1894 and folded in 1959 Despite many of the same clubs having spells in membership there is no direct connection between the two competitions The current incarnation of the league was formed in 1966 as the Kent Premier League changing to Kent Football League in 1968 and in its early years many of its members were reserve sides of Southern League teams Gradually the reserve sides were all shifted down into the lower divisions In 2013 the league changed its name to the Southern Counties East League to reflect the fact that many of its member clubs no longer played within the county of Kent 1 At the end of the 2015 16 season the league merged with the Kent Invicta League and the latter became the lower division of the merged league 2 3 Sponsorship editFor the 2012 13 season the league was sponsored by Hurlimann Sternbrau lager brewed by Kentish brewers Shepherd Neame and was therefore billed as the Kent Hurlimann Football League 4 Current structure editThe league had only one division until the 2015 16 season In the past it included additional divisions for reserve teams The league is now at Steps 5 6 of the National League System which equates to Levels 9 10 of the overall English football league system since the 2016 17 season with clubs able to move upwards to the Step 4 divisions of the Isthmian League Prior to the 2011 12 season clubs could be relegated to the Kent County League although in practice this rarely happened The formation of the new Kent Invicta Football League for the 2011 12 season meant there was a Step 6 league allowing for more frequent promotion relegation between the Southern Counties East League and the Kent Invicta League After the merger with the latter league the Southern Counties East League now has two divisions and is fed by the Kent County League List of champions edit nbsp The area covered by the Southern Counties East Football League is coloured in maroon nbsp Cray Wanderers celebrate winning the title in 1981 nbsp Maidstone United celebrate winning the title in 2006 Season Kent Football League1966 67 Margate Reserves1967 68 Margate Reserves1968 69 Brett Sports1969 70 Faversham Town1970 71 Faversham Town1971 72 Chatham1972 73 Sheppey United1973 74 Chatham1974 75 Sheppey United1975 76 Sittingbourne1976 77 Medway1977 78 Faversham Town1978 79 Sheppey United1979 80 Chatham Town1980 81 Cray Wanderers1981 82 Erith amp Belvedere1982 83 Crockenhill1983 84 Sittingbourne1984 85 Tunbridge Wells1985 86 Alma Swanley1986 87 Greenwich Borough1987 88 Greenwich Borough1988 89 Hythe Town1989 90 Faversham Town1990 91 Sittingbourne1991 92 Herne Bay1992 93 Tonbridge1993 94 Herne Bay1994 95 Sheppey United1995 96 Furness1996 97 Herne Bay1997 98 Herne Bay1998 99 Ramsgate1999 2000 Deal Town2000 01 Chatham Town2001 02 Maidstone United2002 03 Cray Wanderers2003 04 Cray Wanderers2004 05 Ramsgate2005 06 Maidstone United2006 07 Whitstable Town2007 08 Thamesmead Town2008 09 VCD Athletic2009 10 Faversham Town2010 11 Hythe Town2011 12 Herne Bay2012 13 Erith amp BelvedereSeason Southern Counties East League2013 14 Whyteleafe2014 15 Phoenix Sports2015 16 Greenwich BoroughSeason Premier Division Division One2016 17 Ashford United Glebe2017 18 Sevenoaks Town Punjab United2018 19 Cray Valley Paper Mills Welling Town2019 20 Season abandoned2020 21 Season curtailed2021 22 Sheppey United Stansfeld2022 23 Erith amp Belvedere Snodland TownReferences edit Kent Football League change name to Southern Counties East Football League for 2013 14 season Kent Online 24 June 2013 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Clubs from the Kent Invicta League and Southern Counties East League give go ahead to merger Kent Online 3 December 2015 Rusthall light up Jockey Farm kentishfootball co uk 6 January 2016 Hurlimann lager agree deal to sponsor the Kent Football League Kent Online 3 August 2011 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern Counties East Football League amp oldid 1179880813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
