# Essex and Suffolk Border Football League

The Essex and Suffolk Border Football League is a football competition in England. The league has a total of four divisions headed by the Premier Division which sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System. The top club may apply for promotion to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.
All member clubs compete in the Border League Knock-Out Cup. The league is affiliated to the Essex County FA and Suffolk County FA.

## History

The league was officially founded in 1911, although the league includes records of the Colchester Borough League (founded 1893) and Colchester & District League (founded 1903) in its history. Founder members of the Border League in the inaugural 1911–12 season included Clacton Town, Colchester Town, West Bergholt and West Mersea.
Over the last 100 years the league has seen many changes in its status with many clubs progressing to a higher level. The overlying trend has been the migration of the larger clubs and their replacement by smaller clubs with more basic facilities. For much of the last 20 years the Border League has run 4 divisions which included a significant proportion of reserve teams. The league lost several members in 2005–06 when the reserve teams of the Eastern Counties League clubs left for their own competition. There is a high representation of village teams but a new trend has emerged with the acceptance of Barnston from Division Three of the Essex Olympian League and Newbury Forest from the Romford and District Football League in the London Borough of Redbridge.

## Member clubs 2024–25

The league has 68 teams spread over five divisions for the 2024–25 season:
| Premier Division Alresford Colne Rangers Barnston Belle Vue Social Club Brightlingsea Town Cressing United Dedham Old Boys Earls Colne East Thurrock Community Hatfield Peverel Kings Park Rangers Stanway Pegasus Reserves Sudbury Sports Thorpe Athletic Tiptree Heath White Notley | Division One Bradfield Rovers Cavendish Cornard United Reserves Dovercourt Rovers Frinton & Walton Gas Recreation Gosfield United Great Bentley Hedinghams United Lawford Lads Little Oakley Reserves | Division Two Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves Boxford Rovers Cressing United Reserves Dedham Old Boys Reserves Earls Colne Reserves Gas Recreation Reserves Great Bentley Reserves Great Bradfords Prettygate Roman Rovers Stillwaters Tavern The Rodings White Notley Reserves | Division Three Barnston Reserves Elmstead Market Flitch United Great Bentley "A" Hatfield Peverel Reserves Oyster Ramsey & Mistley Roman Rovers Reserves Silver End United Tendring District Tiptree Heath Reserves Tiptree Jobserve West Bergholt Wormingford Wanderers | Division Four Abbey Fields Boxted Lodgers Bradfield Rovers Reserves Brooklands Elmstead Market Reserves Harwich & Parkeston "A" Hedinghams United Reserves Kelvedon Social Mersea Island Roman Rovers "A" Silver End United Reserves Tendring Borough Tollesbury West Bergholt Reserves |

## Former clubs

Among the clubs that have left the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League to compete at a higher level are:
* Brantham Athletic
* Brightlingsea Regent
* Bury Town
* Clacton Town
* Coggeshall Town
* Coggeshall United
* Colchester Town
* Cornard United
* Crittall Athletic
* Dunmow Town
* Felixstowe Town
* Haverhill Borough
* Haverhill Rovers
* Halstead Town
* Harwich & Parkeston
* Heybridge Swifts
* Holland
* Little Oakley
* Long Melford
* Maldon Town
* Saffron Walden Town
* Stanway Pegasus
* Stanway Rovers
* Stowmarket Town
* Sudbury Town
* Sudbury Wanderers
* Team Bury
* Tiptree United
* Whitton United
* Witham Town
* Wivenhoe Town

## List of champions

| Season | Senior Division |
| 1893–94 | St Peter's Institute |
| Season | Senior Division | Division II (Junior) |
| 1894–95 | Colchester Town | Colchester United |
| 1895–96 | | Colchester United |
| 1896–97 | | Colchester Casuals |
| 1897–98 | | Colchester Albions |
| 1898–99 | Royal Irish Fusiliers | Colchester Albions |
| 1899–1900 | | New Town Athletic |
| 1900–01 | Colchester Crown | New Town Athletic |
| 1901–02 | Colchester Crown | St Leonards |
| 1902–03 | Colchester Crown | Colchester Rovers |
| 1903–04 | 2nd Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment | Manningtree United |
| 1904–05 | 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment | Albion Rovers |
| 1905–06 | 2nd Bn. K.O.S.B. | Albion Rovers |
| 1906–07 | 4th K.R.R.C. | Colchester Athletic |
| 1907–08 | Colchester Town | Colchester Excelsiors |
| Season | Senior Division | Division II (Junior) | Division II (Section B) |
| 1908–09 | Harwich & Parkeston | Colchester Athletic | Brightlingsea Town |
| 1909–10 | 2nd Bn. Scottish Rifles | Clacton Town | Coggeshall |
| 1910–11 | 2nd Bn. Scottish Rifles | Colchester Athletic | Coggeshall |
| 1911–12 | 1st Bn. East Lancs Regiment | 1st Bn. East Lancs Regiment Reserves | Colchester St Nicholas |
| 1912–13 | Colchester Town | Maldon Town | 1st Bn. East Lancs III |
| 1913–14 | Harwich & Parkeston | 1st Bn. Hampshire Reserves | Colchester Junior Athletic |
| Season | Senior Division | Division II (Junior) | Division II (Section B) | Division II (Western) |
| 1919–20 | | | Wivenhoe Town | Haverhill Rovers |
| 1920–21 | Harwich & Parkeston | Colchester St Nicholas | Wivenhoe Town | Heybridge |
| 1921–22 | Harwich & Parkeston | Paxmans Athletic | Brightlingsea | Maldon St Mary's |
| 1922–23 | Harwich & Parkeston | Severalls Athletic | Wivenhoe Town | Crittall Athletic |
| 1923–24 | Colchester Town | 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Reserves | Colchester Juniors | Crittall Athletic |
| 1924–25 | 2nd Bn. Royal Scots | 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Reserves | Frinton Town | 11th Field Brigade R.A. |
| Season | Senior Division | Division II (Junior) | Division II (Section B) |
| 1925–26 | 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regiment | 11th Field Brigade R.A. | Wimpole Road Wesleyans |
| 1926–27 | 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | Severalls Athletic | Colchester Town 'A' |
| 1927–28 | 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | Wimpole Road Wesleyans | Stanway Rovers |
| Season | Senior Division | Division I (Junior) | Division II (Junior) | Division III |
| 1928–29 | Harwich & Parkeston | 4th Div. Royal Corps Signals | Great Bentley | Clacton Athletic |
| Season | Senior Division | Division I (Junior) | Division II (Junior) |
| 1929–30 | 2nd. Bn. Rifle Brigade | 4th Div. Royal Corps Signals | Paxmans Athletic |
| 1930–31 | 4th Div. Royal Corps Signals | Heybridge | Clacton Rovers |
| 1931–32 | Harwich & Parkeston | – | Great Bentley |
| Season | Senior Division | Division I (Junior) | Division II (Junior) | Division III |
| 1932–33 | Harwich & Parkeston | 2nd Bn. K.S.L.I. | Parkside Rangers | 1st Colchester Scouts |
| 1933–34 | Harwich & Parkeston | – | 2nd Bn. K.S.L.I. Reserves | Colchester Old Scouts |
| 1934–35 | 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers | – | Clacton Athletic | 5th Inniskilling D.G. Reserves |
| 1935–36 | Critall Athletic | – | Walton Town | Frinton Juniors |
| 1936–37 | Critall Athletic | – | Great Bentley | 9th Company R.A.M.C. |
| 1937–38 | Critall Athletic | – | Parkeston Railway | 7th Field Company R.E. |
| Season | Senior Division | Division I (Junior) | Division II (Junior) |
| 1938–39 | Hoffman Athletic | Butlin's Athletic | 9 Company R.A.M.C |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
| 1946–47 | Colchester Casuals | Brightlingsea United |
| 1947–48 | Haverhill Rovers | Great Bentley |
| 1948–49 | Sudbury Town | Clacton Hotspurs |
| 1949–50 | Sudbury Town | Halstead Town 'A' |
| 1950–51 | Stowmarket Town | M.C.E. |
| 1951–52 | Sudbury Town | Halstead Town Reserves |
| 1952–53 | Sudbury Town | Stowmarket Town Reserves |
| 1953–54 | Sudbury Town | Clacton Hotspurs |
| 1954–55 | Long Melford | Clacton Hotspurs |
| 1955–56 | Long Melford | Clacton Hotspurs |
| 1956–57 | Long Melford | Parkeston Railway |
| 1957–58 | Halstead Town | Woods Athletic |
| 1958–59 | Long Melford | Clacton Hotspurs |
| 1959–60 | Critalls Athletic | Halstead Town Reserves |
| 1960–61 | Long Melford | Brightlingsea United |
| 1961–62 | Marconi Athletic | Lexden Wanderers |
| 1962–63 | Haverhill Rovers | Coggeshall Town |
| 1963–64 | Haverhill Rovers | Haverhill Rovers Reserves |
| 1964–65 | Witham Town | Lexden Wanderers |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One East | Division One West |
| 1965–66 | Maldon Town | Clacton North End | Witham Town Reserves |
| 1966–67 | Coggeshall Town | Rowhedge | Sudbury Wanderers |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
| 1967–68 | Coggeshall Town | Silver End | Tiptree United Reserves |
| 1968–69 | Halstead Town | Eastern Gas | Parkeston Railway |
| 1969–70 | Coggeshall Town | Sudbury Town Reserves | Eastern Gas Reserves |
| 1970–71 | Witham Town | Lexden Wanderers | West End United |
| 1971–72 | Eastern Gas | Parkeston Railway | Wivenhoe Rangers |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
| 1972–73 | Brantham Athletic | Wivenhoe Rangers |
| 1973–74 | Brantham Athletic | Mersea Island |
| 1974–75 | West End United | Shalford Rovers |
| 1975–76 | Brantham Athletic | Harwich & Parkeston Reserves |
| 1976–77 | Brantham Athletic | Sudbury Wanderers |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
| 1977–78 | Halstead Town | Felixstowe Town Reserves | Clacton Town Reserves |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
| 1978–79 | Wivenhoe Town | Shalford Rovers | Wivenhoe Town Reserves | Earls Colne |
| 1979–80 | Mersea Island | West End United | Earls Colne | Tiptree United Reserves |
| 1980–81 | Sudbury Town Reserves | Rowhedge | West Bergholt | Bramston-Crittall Reserves |
| 1981–82 | Harwich & Parkeston Reserves | Tiptree United Reserves | Stanway Rovers | Donyland Swifts |
| 1982–83 | Earls Colne | Haverhill Rovers Reserves | Colchester United 'A' | Boxted Lodgers |
| 1983–84 | Tiptree United Reserves | Bramston CML | Haverhill Meat Products | Dedham Old Boys |
| 1984–85 | Braintree Town Reserves | Long Melford | Donyland Swifts | Royal London |
| 1985–86 | Hatfield Peverel | Little Oakley | Stanway Rovers | Stanway Rovers Reserves |
| 1986–87 | Little Oakley | Stanway Rovers | Long Melford Reserves | Alresford Colne Rangers |
| 1987–88 | Little Oakley | Mistley United | Gas Recreation | West Bergholt Reserves |
| 1988–89 | Cornard United | Alresford Colne Rangers | Royal London | Kelvedon Social |
| 1989–90 | Sudbury Wanderers | Felixstowe Town Reserves | Kelvedon Social | Cavendish |
| 1990–91 | Sudbury Wanderers | Alresford Colne Rangers | Rowhedge | Tiptree Heath |
| 1991–92 | Harwich & Parkeston Reserves | Kelvedon Social | Tiptree Heath | Foxash Social |
| 1992–93 | Little Oakley | Mersea Island | Foxash Social | Hedinghams United |
| 1993–94 | Little Oakley | Halstead Town Reserves | Lawford Lads | Finchingfield Rovers |
| 1994–95 | Halstead Town Reserves | West Bergholt Reserves | Earls Colne | Coggeshall Town |
| 1995–96 | Gas Recreation | Clacton Town Reserves | Silver End | Kirby United |
| 1996–97 | Gas Recreation | Ipswich Wanderers Reserves | Cavendish | Brightlingsea United Reserves |
| 1997–98 | Gas Recreation | St Osyth | Kelvedon Social Reserves | Tiptree Heath |
| 1998–99 | Gas Recreation | St Osyth | Needham Market Reserves | Wivenhoe Town Reserves |
| 1999–00 | AFC Sudbury Reserves | Clacton Town Reserves | Tiptree Heath | Birch United |
| 2000–01 | West Bergholt | Weeley Athletic | Wivenhoe Town Reserves | Bury Town Reserves |
| 2001–02 | AFC Sudbury Reserves | Stanway Rovers Reserves | Whitton United Reserves | Weeley Athletic Reserves |
| 2002–03 | Rowhedge | Alresford Colne Rangers | Bury Town Reserves | Bradfield Rovers |
| 2003–04 | Little Oakley | Bury Town Reserves | Hatfield Peverel | Witham Town Reserves |
| 2004–05 | Gas Recreation | Hatfield Peverel | Witham Town Reserves | Gosfield United |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
| 2005–06 | Gas Recreation | Witham Town Reserves | Brightlingsea Regent |
| 2006–07 | Gas Recreation | West Suffolk College | Great Bradfords |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
| 2007–08 | Gas Recreation | White Notley |
| 2008–09 | West Bergholt | Holland |
| 2009–10 | Gas Recreation | Wormingford Wanderers |
| 2010–11 | Brightlingsea Regent | Lawford Lads |
| 2011–12 | West Bergholt | Haverhill Sports Association |
| 2012–13 | Gas Recreation | Tollesbury |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
| 2013–14 | Gas Recreation | Alresford Cone Rangers Reserves | Gas Recreation Reserves | Team Brantham |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
| 2014–15 | West Bergholt | Hatfield Peverel | Cinque Port |
| 2015–16 | Coggeshall Town | Wormingford Wanderers | Cressing United |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
| 2016–17 | Little Oakley | Dedham Old Boys | Great Bentley | Flitch United |
| 2017–18 | Gas Recreation | Great Bentley | Tiptree Heath | Colne Athletic |
| 2018–19 | Gas Recreation | Flitch United | Stanway Pegasus | Gosfield United |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
| 2019–20 | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
| 2020–21 | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four | Division Five |
| 2021–22 | Stanway Pegasus | Stanway Rovers under-23's | Brightlingsea Town | Wormingford Wanderers | Gas Recreation Reserves | Roman Rovers |
| 2022–23 | Dunmow Town | Silver End United | Dovercourt Rovers | Gas Recreation | High Roding | Gas Recreation Reserves |
| 2023–24 | Colne Athletic | Thorpe Athletic | Gas Recreation | Gosfield United | The Rodings Reserves | Assington Stanley |
| Source: Essex & Suffolk Border League |||||||

## Gallery

* Forge Lane, Great Bentley
* Lawn Meadow, Hedinghams United
* School Lane, Lawford Lads