The Essex Alliance Football League is an English football league for clubs based in Essex and north-eastern Greater London. The league has six divisions (Senior, Premier, Divisions One, Two, Three and Four), of which the Senior Division sits at 11th level in the English football league system, formerly Step 7 in the National League System, following the Football Association's approval to become a Regional NLS Feeder League (Step 7) from season 2021–22 onwards. Teams that finish in the top five of the league can apply for promotion to the Division One South of the Eastern Counties Football League (Step 6), subject to their facilities meeting criteria and other conditions.
History The league was founded in 2014 through the merging of the Ilford and District and the Essex Business House football leagues, which both shared a common aim to support and promote local grassroots football in Essex and East London while bridging the gap with other neighbouring leagues in the region. The league permits member clubs to play on grounds in the boroughs of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest, Harlow and Epping Forest.
The league currently has a membership of 76 teams, many of whom were existing members of the aforementioned leagues and were joined by many new clubs as the league seeks to buck the trend of the local Saturday football scene which had been diminishing in numbers over the past few years.
In 2022, history was made in the league as the first direct promotion to senior football was confirmed with DT FC, champions of the Senior Division, successfully promoted to Step 6 within the Eastern Counties Football League Division One South. This was followed by Brimsdown in 2023, by FC Baresi in 2024 and Lymore Gardens in 2025 when Philip United's promotion was rescinded.
During the 2022/23 season, it was announced by the Football Association that four leagues in England would pilot the first ever referee body worn camera trial, the Essex Alliance League one of those chosen to take part for a period of 18-24 months, alongside leagues in Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Worcestershire.
Member clubs 2026–27
Senior Division
Barkingside Bealonians Chadwell Heath Spartans CSM London FC Petrocub London Greengate District Haringey Borough U23 Kulture Klub Newham Wanderers Old Barkabbeyans Ongar Town Ryan Saint City Sporting Bengal United Reserves Vallance Waltham Forest Borough Woodford Town U23
Premier Division East
APSA AS Rapid Londra Athletic Newham U23 Bakers693 Condor Dagenham United Frenford Development Inter Newbury Kit Out London Old Esthameians Redbridge Reserves Romford Town Flyers Something From Nothing
Premier Division West
FC Baresi Reserves Hackney Wanderers Jolof Sports North East Lions Ocean Pacific Onyx Priory Park Rangers Royal Forest Sporting Hackney Unitey Walthamstow Reserves West Essex Reserves
Division One (Split into East and West Divisions as of the 2025/26 season)
East Division
Barking Development Bealonians Reserves Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves Eastside Foundation Elite Coaching Academy FC Alpha Get Rich Together Loughton Town Lymore Gardens Reserves Old Barkabbeyans Reserves Redbridge Community
West Division
ACE05 Concord United CSM London U23 Leyton City London Cranes London Park City Parsonage Leys Saint City Reserves Sich London SP United UK Moldova Waltham Athletic
Division Two East Buckhurst Way Chingford United Dagenham United Reserves Glendale Jays Kulture Reserves Newhall Rangers Old Parkonians Reserves Romford Town Flyers Reserves Thameside Athletic Thurrock Thameside
Division Two West East London Phoenix Ekota Frenford Development Gye Nyame East London Haringey United Inter Newbury U23 Lymore Gardens U23 St. Portland Sau
Division Three Barking Blues Chigwell Cobra Freetown Imope JK Silvertown London Academics London East Reserves Redbridge U23 Romford Town Flyers A Upminster Albion
Champions Season Senior Division Premier Division Division One Division Two Division Three Division Four2014–15 – Chingford Athletic Blue Marlin Grove United 2015–16 – Chingford Athletic Grove United London ASPA2016–17 – Jolof Sports Colebrook Royals Ryan Reserves Wapping 2017–18 – Colebrook Royals Docklands Albion Chingford Athletic Reserves FC Baresi Haver Town Reserves 2018–19 Jolof Sports – FC Baresi Chingford Athletic Development Haver Town Reserves Sungate Reserves 2019–20 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2020–21 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2021–22 DTFC Frenford 'A' Belfry Fairlop Rovers FC Baresi U23 Sporting Pillars2022–23 Brimsdown Chingford Athletic (East)CSM London (West) Newham Wanderers Snaresbrook Newbury East Romford U192023–24 FC Baresi Fairlop Rovers (East)Philip United (West) Saint City Rainham & Barking Phoenix Woodford Town U232024-25 Philip United Greengate District(East)Sporting Bengal United Reserves(West) Condor Royal Forest Iona Wheels2025-26London Harts UnitedOld Barkabbeyans (East) Vallance (West)Royal Forest (East) Hackney Wanderers (West)Iona WheelsOld Parkonians B
Note: From season 2022/23, the Premier Division was split geographically with East and West divisions. Additionally, from season 2025/26, Division 1 was split geographically with East and West divisions.
References
External links Official website