2021–22_United_Counties_League

2021–22 United Counties League

2021–22 United Counties League

English football league

The 2021–22 season was the 115th in the history of the United Counties League, a football competition in England. The league operated three divisions in the English football league system for the first time since the 1979–80 season. These are the Premier Divisions North and South at Step 5, both firsts in the league, and Division One at Step 6.

The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 were announced by The Football Association on 18 May 2021,[1] and were subject to appeal.

After the abandonment of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, numerous promotions were decided on a points per game basis over the previous two seasons.[2][3][4] As part of the National League System's restructure, the FA's Alliance and Leagues Committees recommended the league's expansion to gain another Step 5 division.[5] At the end of the past season, Shepshed Dynamo left the league through promotion to the new Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, the only former Premier Division club to do so.

Premier Division North

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

In its first season the Premier Division North featured nine clubs which competed in the Premier Division last season, along with nine new clubs.

In addition, Loughborough University began to compete as Loughborough Students.

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[7]
Notes:
  1. Gresley Rovers were awarded a home win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by Boston Town on 10 December 2021.
  2. Newark were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player against Deeping Rangers on 2 October.
  3. Reprieved as one of 12 clubs with the most PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom at Step 5.[6]

Stadia and locations

Location of the Premier Division North clubs
More information Club, Location ...

Premier Division South

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

In its first season the Premier Division South featured ten clubs which competed in the Premier Division last season, along with eleven new clubs.

In September 2021 Leicester Road were renamed Hinckley LRFC.

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[7]
Notes:
  1. Bugbrooke St Michaels were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player against Rothwell Corinthians on 3 August 2021 and an additional 3 points for the same infraction against Eynesbury Rovers on 20 November.
  2. Desborough Town were deducted three points also for fielding an ineligible player against Long Buckby on 9 October.
  3. Relegated as one of four clubs with the fewest PPG out of 16 that were second-from-bottom at Step 5.[6]
  4. Peterborough Northern Star resigned from the league on 15 November 2021 and their playing record of P20 W2 D1 L17 GF34 GA75 Pts7 was expunged.

Stadia and locations

Location of the Premier Division South clubs
More information Club, Location ...

Division One

Quick Facts Season, Champions ...

Division One featured nine clubs which competed in the division last season, along with 14 new clubs:

League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[7]
Notes:
  1. Kimberley Miners Welfare were awarded a home win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by Aylestone Park on 18 December.
  2. Hinckley were awarded a home win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by St Andrews on 17 December.
  3. St Andrews were awarded a home win due to abandoned fixture against Bourne Town on 19 October 2021. They were then deducted 1 point due to fielding an ineligible player against Aylestone Park on 28 December.
  4. Ingles were awarded an away win due to non-fulfilment of a fixture by Holwell Sports on 4 January 2022.
  5. Reprieved and transferred to the Midland League, but declined and demoted to the Central Midlands League.
  6. All third-from-bottom clubs at Step 6 were reprieved from relegation. The top 15 second-from-bottom sides were also reprieved on a PPG basis.[8]

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Hinckley 3
5 Hucknall Town 0
2 Hinckley 0
3 Belper United 1
3 Belper United 2
4 Radford 1

Stadia and locations

Location of Division One clubs
More information Club, Location ...

References

  1. [1]
    "We have provided an update on NLS allocations at Steps 3-6 for the 2021-22 season". The Football Association. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. [3]
    "FA provides update on NLS Steps 3-6". The Football Association. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. [4]
    "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. [5]
    "UCL to expand". Uhlsport United Counties Football League. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  6. [6]
    Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 5 Relegation". Google Docs.
  7. [7]
    "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
  8. [8]
    Miller, Pete. "Non League 21/22 Promotion and Relegation: Step 6 Relegation". Google Docs.
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