2026–27 United Counties League
| Season | 2026–27 |
|---|---|
← 2025–26 | |
The 2026–27 season is the 120th in the history of the United Counties League, a football competition in England. The United Counties League operates three divisions in the English football league system, the Premier Divisions North and South at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6.
The allocations for Steps 5 and 6 this season were announced by The Football Association on 14 May 2026.[1]
Premier Division North
[edit]At the end of the 2025–26 season, six teams left the division:
- Boston Town, promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
- Grantham Town, promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
- Harrowby United, relegated to Division One.
- Melton Town, resigned to the Leicestershire Senior League.
- Newark and Sherwood United, resigned to the Nottinghamshire Football League.
- Wisbech Town, transferred to Eastern Counties League Premier Division.
Before the 2026–27 season, four teams joined the division:
- Aylestone Park, transferred from Premier Division South
- Hinckley, transferred from Premier Division South
- Leicester Nirvana, transferred from Premier Division South
- Sheffield, transferred from Northern Counties East League Premier Division
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belper United | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 15 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
| 2 | Leicester Nirvana | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 12 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Ashby Ivanhoe | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 5 | +11 | 10 | |
| 4 | Eastwood | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 10 | |
| 5 | Clay Cross Town | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 10 | |
| 6 | Skegness Town | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 10 | |
| 7 | Hucknall Town | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 10 | |
| 8 | Heanor Town | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 10 | |
| 9 | Gresley Rovers | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 10 | |
| 10 | Newark Town | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 9 | |
| 11 | Sherwood Colliery | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 9 | |
| 12 | Kimberley Miners Welfare | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 16 | −10 | 9 | |
| 13 | Sheffield | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 | |
| 14 | Hinckley | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 14 | −3 | 7 | |
| 15 | AFC Mansfield | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 7 | |
| 16 | Blackstones | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 17 | −6 | 4 | |
| 17 | Aylestone Park | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 3 | Relegation to Division One |
| 18 | Deeping Rangers | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 14 | −8 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on 2 September 2026. 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[2]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Results table
[edit]Stadia and locations
[edit]
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Mansfield | Mansfield (Forest Town) | Forest Town Arena | 1,600 |
| Ashby Ivanhoe | Ashby-de-la-Zouch | NFU Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| Aylestone Park | Leicester | Saffron Lane, Wigston | 1,128 |
| Belper United | Belper | Station Road, Mickleover (groundshare with Mickleover) | 1,500 |
| Blackstones | Stamford | Lincoln Road | 1,000 |
| Clay Cross Town | Clay Cross | Mill Lane | 1,000 |
| Deeping Rangers | Market Deeping | Haydon Whitham Stadium | 2,000 |
| Eastwood | Eastwood | Coronation Park | 2,500 |
| Gresley Rovers | Church Gresley | Moat Ground | 2,400 |
| Heanor Town | Heanor | Town Ground | 2,700 |
| Hinckley | Hinckley | Kirkby Road, Barwell (groundshare with Barwell) | 2,500 |
| Hucknall Town | Hucknall | RM Stadium | 4,000 |
| Kimberley Miners Welfare | Kimberley | Stag Ground | 1,000 |
| Leicester Nirvana | Leicester (Hamilton) | Hamilton Park | 1,000 |
| Newark Town | Newark-on-Trent | YMCA Sports Village | 1,000 |
| Sheffield | Dronfield | Home of Football Ground | 2,089 |
| Sherwood Colliery | Mansfield Woodhouse | Debdale Park | 1,000 |
| Skegness Town | Skegness | Vertigo Stadium | 1,000 |
Premier Division South
[edit]At the end of the 2025–26 season, ten teams left the division:
- Aylestone Park, transferred to Premier Division North
- Bugbrooke St Michaels, relegated to Spartan South Midlands League Division One
- Coventry United, promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
- Easington Sports, transferred to Combined Counties League Premier Division North
- GNG Oadby Town, relegated to the Midland League Division One
- Hinckley, transferred to Premier Division North
- Leicester Nirvana, transferred to Premier Division North
- March Town United, transferred to Eastern Counties League Premier Division
- Newport Pagnell Town, transferred to Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
- Nuneaton Town, promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
Before the 2026–27 season, nine teams joined the division:
- Coton Green, transferred from the Midland League Premier Division
- Coventry Sphinx, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
- Desborough Town, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League Division One
- FC Stratford, promoted from the Hellenic League Division One
- FC Peterborough, promoted from the Eastern Counties League Division One North
- Highgate United, transferred from the Midland League Premier Division
- Knowle, promoted from the Midland League Division One
- Rugby Town, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
- St Neots Town, relegated from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knowle | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | +17 | 18 | Promotion to the Northern Premier League |
| 2 | Atherstone Town | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 6 | +15 | 18 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Desborough Town | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 18 | |
| 4 | St Neots Town | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 13 | |
| 5 | Coton Green | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 13 | |
| 6 | Northampton ON Chenecks | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 13 | |
| 7 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 10 | |
| 8 | Lutterworth Town | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 9 | |
| 9 | Rugby Town | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 8 | |
| 10 | Godmanchester Rovers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | |
| 11 | FC Peterborough | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 6 | |
| 12 | Coventry Sphinx | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 15 | −7 | 6 | |
| 13 | Moulton | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 5 | |
| 14 | Eynesbury Rovers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 4 | |
| 15 | Daventry Town | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 4 | |
| 16 | Yaxley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 3 | |
| 17 | FC Stratford | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 3 | |
| 18 | Histon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0 | Relegation to Division One |
| 19 | Highgate United | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 38 | −36 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 2 September 2026. 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[2]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Results table
[edit]Stadia and locations
[edit]| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atherstone Town | Atherstone | Sheepy Road | 3,500 |
| Coton Green | Tamworth | New Mill Lane, Fazeley | 1,500 |
| Coventry Sphinx | Coventry | Sphinx Drive | 1,000 |
| Daventry Town | Daventry | Elderstubbs | 1,855 |
| Desborough Town | Desborough | Waterworks Field | 1,000 |
| Eynesbury Rovers | Eynesbury | Alfred Hall Memorial Ground | 1,000 |
| FC Stratford | Stratford-upon-Avon | Knights Lane, Tiddington (groundshare with Stratford Town) | 3,000 |
| FC Peterborough | Peterborough | Millfield Autoparts Stadium | 1,000 |
| Godmanchester Rovers | Godmanchester | Bearscroft Lane | 1,050 |
| Highgate United | Shirley | The Coppice | 2,000 |
| Histon | Histon | Bridge Road, Impington | 4,300 |
| Knowle | Knowle | Robins' Nest | 1,000 |
| Lutterworth Town | Lutterworth | Dunley Way | 1,000 |
| Moulton | Moulton | Brunting Road | 1,000 |
| Northampton ON Chenecks | Northampton | Old Northamptonians Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| Northampton Sileby Rangers | Fernie Fields | 1,000 | |
| Rugby Town | Rugby | Butlin Road | 5,000 |
| St Neots Town | St Neots | New Rowley Park | 3,500 |
| Yaxley | Yaxley | Leading Drove | 1,000 |
Division One
[edit]At the end of the 2025–26 season, six teams left the division:
- Coalville Town, transferred to Midland League Division One
- FCV Grace Dieu, transferred to Midland League Division One
- Holwell Sports, transferred to Midland League Division One
- Rainworth Miners Welfare, relegated to Regional Feeder League
- Retford, promoted to the Northern Counties East League Premier Division
- Retford United, promoted to the Northern Counties East League Premier Division
Before the 2026–27 season, five teams joined the division:
- Cotgrave, promoted from the Nottinghamshire Senior League
- Harrowby United, relegated from Premier Division North
- Louth Town, transferred from the Northern Counties East League Division One
- Maltby Main, transferred from the Northern Counties East League Division One
- Selston, promoted from the Central Midlands Alliance League
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clipstone | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 18 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Staveley Miners Welfare | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 17 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Shirebrook Town | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 4 | +16 | 16 | |
| 4 | South Normanton Athletic | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 14 | |
| 5 | Sleaford Town | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 14 | |
| 6 | Southwell City | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 14 | |
| 7 | Stapleford Town | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 12 | |
| 8 | Swallownest | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 12 | |
| 9 | Harrowby United | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 12 | |
| 10 | Dunkirk | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 11 | |
| 11 | Maltby Main | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 10 | |
| 12 | Clifton All Whites | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 10 | |
| 13 | West Bridgford | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 9 | |
| 14 | Selston | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 8 | |
| 15 | Dronfield Town | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 17 | −6 | 8 | |
| 16 | Cotgrave | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 7 | |
| 17 | Gedling Miners Welfare | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 7 | |
| 18 | Radford | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 6 | |
| 19 | Louth Town | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 15 | −7 | 5 | |
| 20 | Sandiacre Town | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 5 | Possible relegation to regional feeder leagues |
| 21 | Pinxton | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 4 | |
| 22 | Pinchbeck United | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 23 | −17 | 2 |
Updated to match(es) played on 1 September 2026. 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[2]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Results table
[edit]Stadia and locations
[edit]
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton All Whites | Nottingham (Clifton) | Green Lane | 1,000 |
| Clipstone | Clipstone | Lido Ground | 1,000 |
| Cotgrave | Cotgrave | Woodview | 1,000 |
| Dronfield Town | Dronfield | Stonelow Ground | 500 |
| Dunkirk | Nottingham (Dunkirk) | Lenton Lane | 1,500 |
| Gedling Miners Welfare | Gedling | Plains Road | 2,000 |
| Harrowby United | Grantham | Dickens Road | 1,500 |
| Louth Town | Saltfleetby | Marshlands | 500 |
| Maltby Main | Maltby | Muglet Lane | 2,000 |
| Pinchbeck United | Pinchbeck | Sir Halley Stewart Field | 2,700 |
| Pinxton | Pinxton | The Welfare Ground | 2,000 |
| Radford | Nottingham (Radford) | Selhurst Street | 1,000 |
| Sandiacre Town | Sandiacre | St Giles Park | 1,000 |
| Selston | Selston | Mansfield Road | 1,000 |
| Shirebrook Town | Shirebrook | Langwith Road | 2,000 |
| Sleaford Town | Sleaford | Eslaforde Park | 1,000 |
| South Normanton Athletic | South Normanton | Lees Lane | 3,000 |
| Southwell City | Southwell | Centenary Ground, Brinkley | |
| Stapleford Town | Stapleford | Hickings Lane | |
| Staveley Miners Welfare | Staveley | Inkersall Road | 5,000 |
| Swallownest | Swallownest | (The Swall Siro) Miners Welfare Ground | 500 |
| West Bridgford | West Bridgford | Regatta Way | 1,000 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 2-6 in 2026-27 term". The Football Association. 14 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
External links
[edit]- United Counties League The FA Full-Time
