UCL Review 2014-2015

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the 2015 edition of the United Counties League Review . This is our 32 nd edition and the fourth in the series to appear on line.

The season under review was another enthralling one in all areas, and a momentous one in particular for AFC Rushden & Diamonds who became the first club to win a domestic double of Premier Division and League Knockout Cup since Rothwell Town in 1993. Diamonds now leave us, at first team level anyway, for step 4 football in the Southern League Division One Central. Their support base – the biggest at step 5 in the 2014-15 campaign – suggests they could rise further still. We wish them well and will keep an eye on their progress. It will be interesting to see how far they can go using the fan ownership model. Two of our newer members, first timers Thurnby Nirvana and second season side Wisbech Town, chased Diamonds home in the Premier Division. Recent recruits to the competition have for the most part proved successful additions with Oadby and Harrowby speedily progressing to the Premier Division, and Lutterworth and Peterborough Sports looking capable of doing likewise in the near future. We will welcome two new clubs to the senior divisions for 2015-16. Kirby Muxloe have been laterally moved into the Premier Division from the Midland League after a top five finish in that competition last time out, while Peterborough League double winners Oakham United step up from step 7 to make a piece of history as our first ever Rutland representatives. I expect them to continue the trend of success enjoyed by new clubs which has certainly given the league a shot in the arm in recent seasons. The 2014-15 campaign was a good one for Division One, with Potton and Lutterworth distinguishing themselves in the Knockout Cup and Northampton Spencer and Peterborough Sports enjoying good runs in the FA Vase. We will have a few more clubs from the lower grade playing in both the FA Cup and Vase in the new season, perhaps some more will enhance their reputations on the national stage. Reserve football in our area, along with many others, seems to be in retreat. In 2014-15 the single Reserve Division kicked off with twenty clubs, only to lose both Blackstones and Long Buckby before the autumn was out. At season’s end a couple more clubs opted for a change of structure leaving us with a further reduction in numbers. This area of our game is under pressure as the numbers of club volunteers declines. A new development in 2014-15 was the introduction of an Under 21 Division. This had its teething troubles with a couple of clubs dropping out before the season got underway and a shortage of player numbers forced Wootton to depart in mid season. The six clubs which saw the season through did find the competition of value with competitive matches and goals galore. We have sixteen clubs lining up for 2015-16 and with many clubs pursuing the ‘academy’ route forward this could be an area of growth for the league in seasons to come. To close I have to mention the contribution made to the league by our late vice chairman George Whiting who passed away in May. George had a forty year involvement with the league and its clubs. He was a highly efficient club secretary with Higham Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds. George was on the league’s management committee for 34 years and vice chairman for fifteen of them in two spells. Ground grading was an area in which George had extensive involvement and the progress made in this field by so many clubs is a worthy tribute to his memory.

We are now very close to having a 100% representation in FA competitions as clubs continue to upgrade their facilities.

We’ll be back in the summer of 2016 to report on the events of the 2015-16 season. Enjoy your football!

Jeremy Biggs League Registrations Director and Press Officer

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