Southern Counties East Football League

"Kent Football League" redirects here. For the league of the same name which existed from 1894 until 1959, see Kent Football League (1894–1959).

Southern Counties East Football League

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Country	England
Founded	1966
Divisions	1
Number of teams	20
Level on pyramid	9
Feeder to	Isthmian League
Relegation to	Kent Invicta Football League
Domestic cup(s)	Kent League Cup
Current champions	Phoenix Sports (2014–15)
Website	Official website
2015–16 season

The Southern Counties East Football League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. Until 2013 it was known as the Kent League, which was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.

History

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.

Sponsorship

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

Current structure

The league has only one division. In the past it included additional divisions for reserve teams. The league is now at Step 5 of the National League System (which equates to Level 9 of the overall English football league system), with clubs able to move upwards to the Step 4 divisions of the Isthmian League. Prior to the 2011–12 season, clubs could get 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 now means there is a Step 6 league allowing for more frequent promotion/relegation between the Southern Counties East League and the Kent Invicta League.

List of champions

File:Levels 9–10 Football League areas in England.svg

The area covered by the Southern Counties East Football League is coloured in maroon.

Cray Wanderers celebrate winning the title in 1981

Maidstone United celebrate winning the title in 2006

Year Champions 1966–67 Margate Reserves 1967–68 Margate Reserves 1968–69 Brett Sports 1969–70 Faversham Town 1970–71 Faversham Town 1971–72 Chatham 1972–73 Sheppey United 1973–74 Chatham 1974–75 Sheppey United 1975–76 Sittingbourne 1976–77 Medway 1977–78 Faversham Town 1978–79 Sheppey United 1979–80 Chatham Town 1980–81 Cray Wanderers 1981–82 Erith & Belvedere 1982–83 Crockenhill 1983–84 Sittingbourne 1984–85 Tunbridge Wells 1985–86 Alma Swanley 1986–87 Greenwich Borough 1987–88 Greenwich Borough 1988–89 Hythe Town 1989–90 Faversham Town 1990–91 Sittingbourne

Year Champions 1991–92 Herne Bay 1992–93 Tonbridge 1993–94 Herne Bay 1994–95 Sheppey United 1995–96 Furness 1996–97 Herne Bay 1997–98 Herne Bay 1998–99 Ramsgate 1999–2000 Deal Town 2000–01 Chatham Town 2001–02 Maidstone United 2002–03 Cray Wanderers 2003–04 Cray Wanderers 2004–05 Ramsgate 2005–06 Maidstone United 2006–07 Whitstable Town 2007–08 Thamesmead Town 2008–09 VCD Athletic 2009–10 Faversham Town 2010–11 Hythe Town 2011–12 Herne Bay 2012–13 Erith & Belvedere 2013–14 Whyteleafe 2014–15 Phoenix Sports

External links

• Kent League
• Southern Counties East League @ Non League UK
• Kentish Football

1. REDIRECT Template:Men's football in England