The 2023–24 season was the 42nd in the history of the Northern Counties East Football League, a football competition in England.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 this season were announced by The Football Association on 15 May 2023. Starting this season, the Premier Division (Step 5) in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from the division.
Emley were confirmed as Premier Division champions following a 5-0 away win at Goole on 30 March 2024 and were presented with the league trophy a week later in their final home game against Golcar United. Parkgate were confirmed as Division One winners on 25 April. Both divisional champions contested the League Cup final with Parkgate coming out as winners and therefore league and cup double winners.
Premier Division
Football league season| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Emley |
| Promoted | Emley Garforth Town |
| Relegated | Maltby Main |
| ← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The Premier Division featured 16 clubs which competed in the previous season, along with four new clubs:
- Campion, promoted from Division One
- Pickering Town, transferred from the Northern League
- Rossington Main, promoted from Division One
- Tadcaster Albion, relegated from the Northern Premier League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emley (C, P) | 38 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 99 | 29 | +70 | 85 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
| 2 | Campion | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 106 | 68 | +38 | 76 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Garforth Town (O, P) | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 102 | 47 | +55 | 75 | |
| 4 | Rossington Main | 38 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 72 | 49 | +23 | 72 | |
| 5 | Albion Sports | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 67 | |
| 6 | Penistone Church | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 79 | 64 | +15 | 62 | |
| 7 | Thackley | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 61 | 57 | +4 | 61 | |
| 8 | Knaresborough Town | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 74 | 58 | +16 | 60 | |
| 9 | Hallam | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 71 | 59 | +12 | 59 | |
| 10 | Silsden | 38 | 19 | 1 | 18 | 76 | 66 | +10 | 58 | |
| 11 | Tadcaster Albion | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 53 | |
| 12 | Golcar United | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 76 | 66 | +10 | 52 | |
| 13 | Handsworth | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 77 | −18 | 44 | |
| 14 | Barton Town | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 64 | 80 | −16 | 43 | |
| 15 | Frickley Athletic | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 62 | 79 | −17 | 42 | |
| 16 | Eccleshill United | 38 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 51 | 75 | −24 | 41 | |
| 17 | Bottesford Town | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 51 | 89 | −38 | 35 | |
| 18 | Goole | 38 | 10 | 4 | 24 | 56 | 112 | −56 | 34 | |
| 19 | Pickering Town | 38 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 52 | 98 | −46 | 30 | |
| 20 | Maltby Main (R) | 38 | 7 | 5 | 26 | 46 | 99 | −53 | 26 | Relegation to Division One |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Albion Sports were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player.
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Campion | 0 | |||||||
| 5 | Albion Sports | 2 | |||||||
| 3 | Garforth Town | 0 (5) | |||||||
| 5 | Albion Sports | 0 (3) | |||||||
| 3 | Garforth Town | 0 (4) | |||||||
| 4 | Rossington Main | 0 (2) | |||||||
Semifinals
Campion v Albion Sports| 27 April | Campion | 0–2 | Albion Sports | Manningham |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Scotchman Road Attendance: 303 |
48' (| 27 April | Garforth Town | 0–0 (4–2 p) | Rossington Main | Garforth |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Wheatley Park Attendance: 976 |
Final
Garforth Town v Albion Sports| 4 May | Garforth Town | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) | Albion Sports | Garforth |
| Report | Stadium: Wheatley Park Attendance: 1,391 |
Stadia and locations
Albion SportsBarton TownBottesford TownCampionEccleshill UnitedEmleyFrickley AthleticGarforth TownGolcar UnitedGooleHallamHandsworthKnaresboroughTown
Maltby MainPenistone ChurchPickering TownRossington MainSilsdenTadcaster AlbionThackleyclass=notpageimage| Location of the Premier Division clubs
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Albion Sports | Horsfall Stadium | 3,500 |
| Barton Town | Euronics Ground | 3,000 |
| Bottesford Town | Birch Park | 1,000 |
| Campion | Scotchman Road | 1,000 |
| Eccleshill United | Kings Way | 2,225 |
| Emley | Fantastic Media Welfare Ground | 2,000 |
| Frickley Athletic | Westfield Lane | 2,087 |
| Garforth Town | Wheatley Park | 3,000 |
| Golcar United | Skye Direct Stadium | 1,200 |
| Goole | Victoria Pleasure Grounds | 3,000 |
| Hallam | Sandygate | 1,300 |
| Handsworth | Oliver's Mount | 2,500 |
| Knaresborough Town | Manse Lane | 1,000 |
| Maltby Main | Muglet Lane | 2,000 |
| Penistone Church | Church View Road | 1,000 |
| Pickering Town | Mill Lane | 2,000 |
| Rossington Main | Welfare Ground | 2,000 |
| Silsden | Keighley Road Stadium | 1,500 |
| Tadcaster Albion | Ings Lane | 2,000 |
| Thackley | Dennyfield | 3,000 |
| ||
Top goalscorers
(all competitions)
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruben Jerome | Emley | 39 |
| 2 | Robbie Fox | Albion Sports | 33 |
| 3 | James Walshaw | Emley | 31 |
| 4 | Nathan Keightley | Penistone Church | 29 |
| 5 | Thomas Waudby | Barton Town | 27 |
| Patrick Sykes | Campion | ||
| 7 | Antony Brown | Penistone Church | 26 |
| Kayle Price | Silsden | ||
| 9 | Oliver Norman | Tadcaster Albion | 25 |
Division One
Football league season| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Parkgate |
| Promoted | Parkgate Beverley Town Shirebrook Town |
| Relegated | Ollerton Town |
| ← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One featured 18 clubs which competed in the previous season, along with five new clubs:
- Clay Cross Town, promoted from Central Midlands League Premier Division South
- Louth Town, promoted from the Lincolnshire League
- Retford United, promoted from the Central Midlands League Premier Division North
- Wombwell Town, promoted from the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League
- Yorkshire Amateur, relegated from the Premier Division
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkgate (C, P) | 44 | 34 | 5 | 5 | 125 | 41 | +84 | 107 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Beverley Town (O, P) | 44 | 32 | 7 | 5 | 132 | 49 | +83 | 103 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Shirebrook Town (P) | 44 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 114 | 45 | +69 | 100 | Qualification for the play-offs, then promotion to the United Counties League |
| 4 | Wakefield | 44 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 134 | 45 | +89 | 97 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 5 | Retford United | 44 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 121 | 47 | +74 | 93 | Qualification for the play-offs, then transfer to the United Counties League |
| 6 | Wombwell Town | 44 | 28 | 5 | 11 | 108 | 49 | +59 | 89 | |
| 7 | Horbury Town | 44 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 119 | 66 | +53 | 83 | |
| 8 | Brigg Town | 44 | 22 | 6 | 16 | 89 | 84 | +5 | 72 | |
| 9 | Staveley Miners Welfare | 44 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 84 | 62 | +22 | 66 | Transfer to the United Counties League |
| 10 | Dronfield Town | 44 | 19 | 7 | 18 | 90 | 78 | +12 | 64 | |
| 11 | Harrogate Railway Athletic | 44 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 83 | 76 | +7 | 64 | |
| 12 | Retford | 44 | 18 | 8 | 18 | 85 | 87 | −2 | 62 | Transfer to the United Counties League |
| 13 | Louth Town | 44 | 18 | 7 | 19 | 76 | 72 | +4 | 61 | |
| 14 | Selby Town | 44 | 18 | 5 | 21 | 96 | 89 | +7 | 59 | |
| 15 | Worsbrough Bridge Athletic | 44 | 16 | 5 | 23 | 67 | 77 | −10 | 53 | |
| 16 | Clay Cross Town | 44 | 14 | 6 | 24 | 61 | 89 | −28 | 48 | Transfer to the United Counties League |
| 17 | Nostell Miners Welfare | 44 | 14 | 5 | 25 | 79 | 92 | −13 | 47 | |
| 18 | Athersley Recreation | 44 | 13 | 5 | 26 | 61 | 109 | −48 | 44 | |
| 19 | Armthorpe Welfare | 44 | 12 | 5 | 27 | 68 | 120 | −52 | 41 | |
| 20 | Glasshoughton Welfare | 44 | 10 | 5 | 29 | 61 | 108 | −47 | 35 | |
| 21 | Yorkshire Amateur | 44 | 10 | 8 | 26 | 49 | 121 | −72 | 35 | |
| 22 | Swallownest | 44 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 39 | 157 | −118 | 16 | |
| 23 | Ollerton Town (R) | 44 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 28 | 206 | −178 | 4 | Relegation to the Central Midlands Alliance League |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Yorkshire Amateur were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player.
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Beverley Town | 2 | |||||||
| 5 | Retford United | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Beverley Town | 1 (4) | |||||||
| 3 | Shirebrook Town | 1 (2) | |||||||
| 3 | Shirebrook Town | 4 | |||||||
| 4 | Wakefield | 0 | |||||||
Semifinals
Beverley Town v Retford United| 4 May | Beverley Town | 2–1 | Retford United | Winterton |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: West Street Attendance: 540 |
| 4 May | Shirebrook Town | 4–0 | Wakefield | Rawmarsh |
| Report | Stadium: Roundwood Sports Complex Attendance: 507 |
Final
Beverley Town v Shirebrook Town| 11 May | Beverley Town | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Shirebrook Town | Beverley |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Norwood Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,525 |
Armthorpe WelfareAthersley RecreationBeverley TownBrigg TownGlasshoughton WelfareHarrogate Railway AthleticHorbury TownNostell MWParkgateSelby TownSwallownestWakefieldWombwell TownWorsbrough BAYorkshire Amateurclass=notpageimage| Location of the clubs in the 2023–24 NCEL Division One on a map of Yorkshire and the Humber
Clay Cross Town Dronfield TownLouth TownOllerton TownRetfordRetford UnitedShirebrookStaveley MWclass=notpageimage| Location of the clubs in the 2023–24 NCEL Division One on a map of the East Midlands
| Club | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Armthorpe Welfare | Welfare Ground | 2,500 |
| Athersley Recreation | Sheerien Park | 2,000 |
| Beverley Town | Norwood Recreation Ground | |
| Brigg Town | The Hawthorns | 2,500 |
| Clay Cross Town | Mill Lane | |
| Dronfield Town | Stonelow Ground | 500 |
| Glasshoughton Welfare | Glasshoughton Centre | 2,000 |
| Harrogate Railway Athletic | Station View | 3,500 |
| Horbury Town | Slazengers Sports Complex | 300 |
| Louth Town | Marshlands | |
| Nostell Miners Welfare | The Welfare Ground | 1,500 |
| Ollerton Town | Walesby Lane Sports Ground | |
| Parkgate | Roundwood Sports Complex | 1,000 |
| Retford | The Rail | 1,000 |
| Retford United | Cannon Park | 2,000 |
| Selby Town | Richard Street | 5,000 |
| Shirebrook Town | Langwith Road | 2,000 |
| Staveley Miners Welfare | Inkersall Road | 5,000 |
| Swallownest | Miners Welfare Ground | 500 |
| Wakefield | Belle Vue | 9,333 |
| Wombwell Town | Recreation Ground | 2,000 |
| Worsbrough Bridge Athletic | Park Road | 2,000 |
| Yorkshire Amateur | Bracken Edge | 1,550 |
Top goalscorers
(all competitions)
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Cusworth | Horbury Town | 49 |
| 2 | Kieren Watson | Shirebrook Town | 40 |
| 3 | Ross Duggan | Parkgate | 39 |
| 4 | Joe McFadyen | Beverley Town | 33 |
| 5 | Marcus Day | Shirebrook Town | 31 |
| 6 | Max Rhodes | Dronfield Town | 30 |
| 7 | Liam Owen | Retford United | 29 |
League Cup
Football tournament season| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Teams | 42 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Parkgate |
| Runner-up | Emley |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 42 |
The 2023–24 Northern Counties East Football League League Cup was the 42nd season of the league cup competition of the Northern Counties East Football League. The final was between the 2 divisional winners on Wednesday 8 May 2024, 7:45pm at Glanford Park, Scunthorpe.
Quarter-finals
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Semi-finals
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Final
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References
- "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 3-6 in 2023-24 term". The Football Association. 15 May 2023.
- "Step 5 to 4 promotion/relegation update". The FA. 16 March 2023.
- "Points deduction for Lions". Northern Counties East Football League. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
- "Points deduction for Ammers". Northern Counties East Football League. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Neutral venues for Semi-Finals of Division One Play-Offs". Northern Counties East Football League. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
External links
| 2023–24 in English men's football | |||||||||||
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| « 2022–23 2024–25 » | |||||||||||
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| League competitions |
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| Cup competitions |
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| Youth competitions |
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