2013-14 UCL REVIEW

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the 2014 edition of the United Counties League Review – the thirty first edition of a series which started back in 1984, and the third to appear on line.

The 2013-14 campaign was another interesting one, although all three championship contests ended with emphatic successes for the eventual titleholders.

In the Premier Division ambitious Spalding United won their first seventeen games to set a hot pace, and ended up twelve points clear of a Huntingdon side playing only its second top flight season. The Tulips’ reward is a return to the Evo Stik Northern Premier League after three years with us, and they look geared to enjoy further success at the higher level. Few would bet against them repeating the exploits of fellow recent promotees St Neots and Kings Lynn by making it back to back promotions. In Division One a much changed Oadby Town side bounced back from a near miss in their debut campaign to carry off the championship in fine style, their prolific goalscoring feats making them the highest scoring club in the national league system. They also set a points record in the league’s 119 year history, and fell just short of the goalscoring high. Eynesbury also made amends for their narrow failure to step up twelve months earlier by taking up the runners-up medals this time round, and Harrowby also secured promotion in only their second season. Huntingdon were the cup team of the year, winning the League Knockout Cup in one of the most thrilling finals in the competition’s history. They also carried off the Hinchingbrooke Cup and enjoyed their best ever run in the FA Vase. On the national stage Wisbech shone with a run to the FA Vase quarter finals where they were narrowly beaten by eventual winners Sholing, while AFC Rushden & Diamonds had another good Vase run as well as enjoying a memorable debut season in the FA Cup before bowing out at Conference South Dover. At reserve level the season was dominated by Cogenhoe and Peterborough Northern Star. The Cooks eventually retained the Reserve Division title while Star took the Reserve Knockout Cup. Both successful managers have moved on to first team posts and their progress in Division One will be monitored with interest. After a couple of seasons with a high level of club movement the league has experienced a greater degree of stability this summer with just one club in and one out. Joining us are East Midlands Counties League champions Thurnby Nirvana who become our fourth Leicestershire club. We welcome them to our competition. While changes have been few this summer the Football Association will continue to monitor league boundaries and step six is likely to be an area of focus during 2014-15. With this in mind it is important that member clubs obtain the necessary ground grading to maintain their status and the last year has seen a number of clubs carrying out facility improvements to that end. The 2014-15 campaign sees the launch of a new under 21 division, comprising a mix of clubs whose first teams play in the league, higher level clubs and educational establishments. It will be interesting to monitor the progress of this new venture. A further innovation for the new season is the first UCL groundhop, which will run alongside a similar event for the Peterborough League in the opening weekend of August. It is hoped that will prove a success and will run on a regular basis in seasons ahead until all clubs have participated.

We’ll be back in the summer of 2015 to cover the events of the 2014-15 campaign. Have a good season!

Jeremy Biggs League Registrations Director and Press Officer

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