Country England Level on pyramid 11 | Founded 1966 | |
Number of teams 74 (six senior divisions)12 (one Uunder 21 division) Promotion to Essex Senior League (non-automatic) | ||
The Essex Olympian Football League is a football competition based in England, founded in the 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 the Essex Senior Football League (which is officially step 5). Between 1986 and 2005, the league was known as the Essex Intermediate League.
Contents
- Premier Division
- Division One
- Division Two
- Division Three
- Division Four
- Division Five
- 196681
- 198189
- 19892007
- 2007 to date
- References
Clubs to progress up the pyramid from the league include Billericay Town, Brentwood Town, Bowers United, Sawbridgeworth Town, Burnham Ramblers, Hullbridge Sports and Great Wakering Rovers.
In 2008 Takeley moved up the pyramid into the ESL. Prior to then the Olympian League has not sent a club to the Essex Senior League for over a decade, causing the ESL to look elsewhere in Essex for new member clubs, including lower leagues and leagues outside the National League System such as the Essex Business Houses Football League. Clubs from this league have, in the past, 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.
Clubs that finish in the top three of any lower-level league within the county, including the Bishop's Stortford League, Stansted & District League, Colchester & East Essex League, Romford & District League and the Southend Borough Combination can apply to join the lowest level of the Essex Olympian League. Additionally, the top three clubs of the Essex Alliance League can also apply to join the highest level of the Essex Olympian League, subject to conditions and criteria.
Premier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three
Division Four
Division Five
1966–81
The league originally consisted of a single section of 13 clubs, reaching a peak of 18 clubs by 1969–70.
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.
1989–2007
In 1989, a third division was added. The league reverted to its original name, the Essex Olympian League in 2005.
2007 to date
In 2007 the divisions were renamed Premier, One and Two.
In 2010 a Division Three was added.
In 2013 an Under 21 Division was added.
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.