The 2023–24 season is the 117th 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 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the two Step 5 divisions in the league will each promote two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaces the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there will be only one club relegated from each of the two premier divisions.[2]
Premier Division North
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The Premier Division North featured 15 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:
- Ashby Ivanhoe, promoted from the Midland League
- Hucknall Town, promoted from Division One
- Lincoln United, relegated from the Northern Premier League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherwood Colliery | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 7 | +31 | 32 | Promotion to Step 4 |
| 2 | Lincoln United | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 7 | +20 | 27 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Melton Town | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 37 | 18 | +19 | 27 | |
| 4 | Belper United | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 27 | +1 | 26 | |
| 5 | Eastwood | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 23 | |
| 6 | Skegness Town | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 21 | |
| 7 | Loughborough University | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 20 | |
| 8 | Deeping Rangers | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 20 | |
| 9 | Heanor Town | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 31 | −7 | 20 | |
| 10 | Sleaford Town | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 19 | |
| 11 | Ashby Ivanhoe | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 16 | |
| 12 | Boston Town | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 19 | +1 | 14 | |
| 13 | Kimberley Miners Welfare | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 13 | |
| 14 | AFC Mansfield | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 12 | |
| 15 | Newark and Sherwood United | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 12 | |
| 16 | Wisbech Town | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 11 | |
| 17 | Hucknall Town | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 33 | −23 | 7 | |
| 18 | Pinchbeck United | 15 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 63 | −48 | 6 | Relegation to Step 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
Stadia and locations
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashby Ivanhoe | Ashby-de-la-Zouch | NFU Sports Ground | |
| Belper United | Eastwood | Coronation Park | |
| Eastwood | |||
| Boston Town | Boston | Tattershall Road | 6,000 |
| Deeping Rangers | Market Deeping | Haydon Whitham Stadium | 2,000 |
| Heanor Town | Heanor | Town Ground | 2,700 |
| Hucknall Town | Hucknall | RM Stadium | 4,000 |
| Kimberley Miners Welfare | Kimberley | Stag Ground | |
| Lincoln United | Lincoln | Ashby Avenue | 2,200 |
| Loughborough University | Loughborough | Loughborough University Stadium | 3,000 |
| AFC Mansfield | Mansfield (Forest Town) | Forest Town Stadium | |
| Melton Town | Melton Mowbray | Melton Sports Village | |
| Newark and Sherwood United | Newark-on-Trent | Hawton Lane | |
| Pinchbeck United | Spalding | Sir Halley Stewart Field | 2,700 |
| Sherwood Colliery | Mansfield Woodhouse | Debdale Park | |
| Skegness Town | Skegness | Vertigo Stadium | |
| Sleaford Town | Sleaford | Eslaforde Park | 1,000 |
| Wisbech Town | Wisbech | Fenland Stadium | 1,118 |
Premier Division South
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The Premier Division South featured 13 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with seven new clubs.
- Relegated from the Northern Premier League:
- Plus:
- Aylestone Park, promoted from Division One
- Leicester Nirvana, transferred from the Premier Division North
- Racing Club Warwick, transferred from the Midland League
- Rugby Borough, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellingborough Town | 17 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 18 | +27 | 42 | Promotion to Step 4 |
| 2 | March Town United | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 15 | +20 | 37 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Racing Club Warwick | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 16 | +21 | 35 | |
| 4 | St Neots Town | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 14 | +20 | 34 | |
| 5 | Newport Pagnell Town | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 19 | +19 | 33 | |
| 6 | Daventry Town | 18 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 33 | |
| 7 | Yaxley | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 23 | +13 | 29 | |
| 8 | GNG Oadby Town | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 39 | 57 | −18 | 26 | |
| 9 | Aylestone Park | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 41 | 31 | +10 | 25 | |
| 10 | Easington Sports | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 20 | |
| 11 | Bugbrooke St Michaels | 15 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 19 | |
| 12 | Lutterworth Town | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 23 | 28 | −5 | 18 | |
| 13 | Rugby Borough | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 17 | |
| 14 | Cogenhoe United | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 25 | −10 | 17 | |
| 15 | Godmanchester Rovers | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 15 | |
| 16 | Coventry United | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 25 | −8 | 13 | |
| 17 | Eynesbury Rovers | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 23 | 38 | −15 | 13 | |
| 18 | Histon | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 38 | −18 | 12 | |
| 19 | Desborough Town | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 39 | −25 | 9 | |
| 20 | Leicester Nirvana | 16 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 45 | −31 | 6 | Relegation to Step 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
Stadia and locations

| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aylestone Park | Leicester | Saffron Lane | 1,128 |
| Bugbrooke St Michaels | Bugbrooke | Birds Close | 2,500 |
| Cogenhoe United | Cogenhoe | Compton Park | 5,000 |
| Coventry United | Coventry | Butts Park Arena[lower-alpha 1] | 4,000 |
| Daventry Town | Daventry | Elderstubbs | 1,855 |
| Desborough Town | Desborough | Waterworks Field | |
| Easington Sports | Easington | Addison Road | |
| Eynesbury Rovers | Eynesbury | Alfred Hall Memorial Ground | |
| GNG Oadby Town | Oadby | Wigston Road | 3,000 |
| Godmanchester Rovers | Godmanchester | Bearscroft Lane | |
| Histon | Impington | Bridge Road | 4,300 |
| Leicester Nirvana | Leicester | Hamilton Park | |
| Lutterworth Town | Lutterworth | Dunley Way | |
| March Town United | March | GER Sports Ground | |
| Newport Pagnell Town | Newport Pagnell | Willen Road | 2,000 |
| Racing Club Warwick | Warwick | Townsend Meadow | 1,280 |
| Rugby Borough | Rugby | Kilsby Lane | |
| St Neots Town | St Neots | New Rowley Park | 3,500 |
| Wellingborough Town | Wellingborough | London Road | 2,500 |
| Yaxley | Yaxley | Leading Drove | 1,000 |
| |||
Division One
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs:
- Asfordby, promoted from the Leicestershire Senior League
- Lutterworth Athletic, transferred from the Spartan South Midlands League
- Sandiacre Town, promoted from the Nottinghamshire Senior League
- Selston, relegated from the Premier Division North
Also, St Andrews changed name to Leicester St Andrews.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bourne Town | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 10 | +38 | 44 | Promotion to Step 5 |
| 2 | Clipstone | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 23 | +30 | 37 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Newark Town | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 52 | 32 | +20 | 31 | |
| 4 | Blackstones | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 29 | |
| 5 | Harrowby United | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 18 | +17 | 28 | |
| 6 | Kirby Muxloe | 17 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 37 | 33 | +4 | 28 | |
| 7 | Gedling Miners Welfare | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 41 | 23 | +18 | 27 | |
| 8 | Birstall United | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 27 | +10 | 27 | |
| 9 | Dunkirk | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 33 | +5 | 26 | |
| 10 | Radford | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 25 | +10 | 23 | |
| 11 | Clifton All Whites | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 24 | +3 | 20 | |
| 12 | Leicester St Andrews | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 29 | −7 | 18 | |
| 13 | Holwell Sports | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 31 | 47 | −16 | 18 | |
| 14 | Saffron Dynamo | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 25 | −2 | 17 | |
| 15 | West Bridgford | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 17 | |
| 16 | Southwell City | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 28 | 40 | −12 | 17 | |
| 17 | Lutterworth Athletic | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 31 | −12 | 15 | |
| 18 | Asfordby | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 43 | −25 | 10 | |
| 19 | Selston | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 36 | −21 | 9 | Possible relegation to feeder leagues |
| 20 | Rainworth Miners Welfare | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 43 | −24 | 9 | |
| 21 | Sandiacre Town | 15 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 17 | 55 | −38 | 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
Stadia and locations

| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asfordby | Asfordby | Asfordby Acres | |
| Birstall United | Birstall | Meadow Lane | |
| Blackstones | Stamford | Lincoln Road | 1,000 |
| Bourne Town | Bourne | Abbey Lawn | 2,000 |
| Clifton All Whites | Nottingham (Clifton) | Green Lane | |
| Clipstone | Clipstone | Lido Ground | |
| Dunkirk | Nottingham (Dunkirk) | Lenton Lane | |
| Gedling Miners Welfare | Gedling | Plains Road | |
| Harrowby United | Grantham | Dickens Road | |
| Holwell Sports | Asfordby Hill | Welby Road | 1,000 |
| Kirby Muxloe | Kirby Muxloe | Ratby Lane | 3,000 |
| Leicester St Andrews | Leicester | Canal Street | 1,000 |
| Lutterworth Athletic | Lutterworth | Hall Park | |
| Newark Town | Newark-on-Trent | YMCA Sports Village | |
| Radford | Nottingham (Radford) | Selhurst Street | |
| Rainworth Miners Welfare | Rainworth | Welfare Ground | |
| Saffron Dynamo | Cosby | Cambridge Road | |
| Sandiacre Town | Sandiacre | St Giles Park | |
| Selston | Selston | Mansfield Road | |
| Southwell City | Southwell | Centenary Ground, Brinkley | |
| West Bridgford | West Bridgford | Regatta Way |
References
- ↑ "The FA releases National League System club allocations for Steps 3-6 in 2023-24 term". The Football Association. 15 May 2023.
- ↑ "Step 5 to 4 promotion/relegation update". The FA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- 1 2 3 "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
External links
- United Counties League The FA Full-Time