The 2020–21 season was the 114th in the history of the United Counties League, a football competition in England. The league operated two divisions in the English football league system, the Premier Division at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6, for the last time this season.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 for season 2020–21 were announced by the FA on 21 July 2020, and were subject to appeal.
The league season was subsequently abandoned on 24 February 2021 after COVID-19 lockdown-originated restrictions were imposed.
Promotion and restructuring
The scheduled restructuring of non-league football took place at the end of the season, to include a new division that was added to the United Counties League at Step 5 for 2021–22. Promotions from Steps 5 to 4 and 6 to 5 were based on points per game across all matches over the two abandoned seasons (2019–20 and 2020–21), while teams were promoted to Step 6 on the basis of a subjective application process.
Premier Division
Football league season| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Promoted | Shepshed Dynamo |
| Matches played | 110 |
| Goals scored | 429 (3.9 per match) |
| ← 2019–20 2021–22 (North) 2021–22 (South) → | |
The Premier Division comprised 20 teams, the same set of teams which competed in the previous season's voided competition.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anstey Nomads | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 5 | +27 | 28 | Placed in the Premier Division North |
| 2 | Loughborough University | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 42 | 17 | +25 | 26 | |
| 3 | Lutterworth Town | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 35 | 18 | +17 | 26 | Placed in the Premier Division South |
| 4 | Quorn | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 17 | +20 | 22 | Placed in the Premier Division North |
| 5 | Shepshed Dynamo | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 8 | +15 | 20 | Promoted to the Northern Premier League |
| 6 | Wellingborough Town | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 20 | Placed in the Premier Division South |
| 7 | Rugby Town | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 10 | +19 | 19 | |
| 8 | Harborough Town | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 18 | |
| 9 | Northampton ON Chenecks | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 22 | +5 | 17 | |
| 10 | Rothwell Corinthians | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 17 | |
| 11 | Deeping Rangers | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 16 | Placed in the Premier Division North |
| 12 | Holbeach United | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 15 | |
| 13 | Cogenhoe United | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 14 | Placed in the Premier Division South |
| 14 | Boston Town | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 15 | +8 | 13 | Placed in the Premier Division North |
| 15 | GNG Oadby Town | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 24 | −9 | 12 | Placed in the Premier Division South |
| 16 | Desborough Town | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 36 | −20 | 11 | |
| 17 | Leicester Nirvana | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 23 | −14 | 6 | Placed in the Premier Division North |
| 18 | Sleaford Town | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 44 | −35 | 4 | |
| 19 | Pinchbeck United | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 38 | −32 | 2 | |
| 20 | Peterborough Northern Star | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 49 | −39 | 2 | Placed in the Premier Division South |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
Notes:
- Promoted based on points per game calculations from 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons combined.
Stadia and locations
Anstey NomadsBoston TownCogenhoe UnitedDeeping RangersDesborough TownHarborough TownHolbeach UnitedLeicester NirvanaLoughborough UniversityLutterworth TownNorthampton ON ChenecksGNG Oadby TownPeterborough Northern StarPinchbeck UnitedQuornRothwell CorinthiansRugby TownShepshed DynamoSleaford TownWellingborough Townclass=notpageimage| Location of the Premier Division clubs
Division One
Football league season| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Promoted | Bugbrooke St Michaels Long Buckby Melton Town |
| Matches played | 112 |
| Goals scored | 502 (4.48 per match) |
| ← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Division One comprised the same 20 teams which competed in the previous season's aborted competition.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Buckby | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 10 | +28 | 28 | Promoted to the Premier Division South |
| 2 | Melton Town | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 50 | 13 | +37 | 27 | Promoted to the Premier Division North |
| 3 | St Andrews | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 10 | +32 | 27 | |
| 4 | Bugbrooke St Michaels | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 25 | +7 | 25 | Promoted to the Premier Division South |
| 5 | Harrowby United | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 10 | +17 | 23 | |
| 6 | Blackstones | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 17 | |
| 7 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 17 | Transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League |
| 8 | Saffron Dynamo | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 17 | |
| 9 | Whittlesey Athletic | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 15 | Transferred to the Eastern Counties League |
| 10 | Huntingdon Town | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 15 | |
| 11 | Aylestone Park | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 14 | |
| 12 | Holwell Sports | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 14 | |
| 13 | Lutterworth Athletic | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 13 | |
| 14 | Birstall United | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 24 | 39 | −15 | 13 | |
| 15 | Wellingborough Whitworth | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 45 | −22 | 12 | Transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League |
| 16 | Bourne Town | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 18 | −4 | 9 | |
| 17 | Raunds Town | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 35 | −16 | 8 | Transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League |
| 18 | Irchester United | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 45 | −25 | 7 | |
| 19 | Burton Park Wanderers | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 36 | −26 | 5 | |
| 20 | Rushden & Higham United | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 53 | −41 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
Notes:
- ^ Promoted based on points per game calculations from 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons combined.
- Bourne Town received a 3 point deduction for fielding an ineligible player during the match on 19 September.
Stadia and locations
Aylestone ParkBirstall UnitedBlackstonesBourne TownBugbrooke St. MichaelsBurton Park WanderersHarrowby UnitedHolwell SportsHuntingdon TownIrchester UnitedLong BuckbyLutterworth AthleticMelton TownNorthampton Sileby RangersRaunds TownRushden & Higham UnitedSaffron DynamoSt AndrewsWWWhittlesey Athleticclass=notpageimage| Location of Division One clubs
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aylestone Park | Leicester | Saffron Lane | 1,128 |
| Birstall United | Birstall | Meadow Lane | |
| Blackstones | Stamford | Lincoln Road | 1,000 |
| Bourne Town | Bourne | Abbey Lawn | 2,000 |
| Bugbrooke St. Michaels | Bugbrooke | Birds Close | 2,500 |
| Burton Park Wanderers | Burton Latimer | Latimer Park | |
| Harrowby United | Grantham | Dickens Road | |
| Holwell Sports | Asfordby Hill | Welby Road | 1,000 |
| Huntingdon Town | Huntingdon | Jubilee Park | |
| Irchester United | Irchester | Alfred Street | 1,000 |
| Long Buckby | Long Buckby | Station Road | 1,000 |
| Lutterworth Athletic | Lutterworth | Hall Park | |
| Melton Town | Melton Mowbray | Melton Sports Village | |
| Northampton Sileby Rangers | Northampton | Fernie Fields | |
| Raunds Town | Raunds | Kiln Park | 3,000 |
| Rushden & Higham United | Rushden | Hayden Road | 1,500 |
| Saffron Dynamo | Cosby | Cambridge Road | |
| St Andrews | Leicester | Canal Street | 1,000 |
| Wellingborough Whitworth | Wellingborough | Victoria Mill Ground | 2,140 |
| Whittlesey Athletic | Whittlesey | Feldale Field |
References
- "National League System club allocations – Steps 5–6, Season 2020–21" (PDF). Non League Paper. 21 July 2020.
- "FA Update On Steps 3-6". 24 February 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
External links
- United Counties League FA Full Time
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