ESSEX ALLIANCE LEAGUE - UPDATE

The Essex Alliance League was formed in the Summer of 2014 when the Ilford and District League and Essex Business Houses Football League merged to form three divisions covering the Ilford, East London and surrounding areas. Here we have a look at how the season is going. 

PREMIER DIVISION 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS
1	MAY & BAKER EC A	17	+21	43
2	CHINGFORD ATHLETIC	11	+31	28
3	JOLOF SPORTS CLUB	15	+14	27
4	NEWHAM UNITED RES	17	+8	25
5	AAH ROMFORD	18	0	24
6	CHINGFORD TOWN	11	+10	21
7	MELBOURNE SPORTS	13	+2	21
8	CRANES UNITED	14	-5	17
9	CHINGFORD HARRIERS	16	-27	16
10	EASTSIDE RANGERS	15	-13	13
11	ST FRANCIS	12	-13	10
12	RAINHAM WMC	17	-28	5

ADJUSTMENTS
29/11/2014: +3 points for May & Baker - Rainham WMC fielded an ineligible player 
29/11/2014: -3 points for Rainham Working Mens Club - Rainham WMC fielded an ineligible player 06/12/2014: +2 points for Melbourne Sports - Rainham WMC fielded an ineligible player 
06/12/2014: -1 points for Rainham Working Mens Club - Rainham WMC fielded an ineligible player 

May and Baker head the division with an impressive record of thirteen wins, one draw and three defeats. They are fifteen points ahead of Chingford Athletic but they have six games in hand which IF they win all of them will put them ahead of M&B by three points. 

Premier Division Champions??

Saturday 28th Match could be a pivotal day in the title race as May and Baker travel to play Chingford Athletic. The return game still has to be played as well. Athletic's only league defeat so far came against Melbourne Sports (2-1) on Saturday 18th October. 

At the foot of the table it's been a difficult season for Rainham Working Men's Club with just one win all season which amazingly came away at table topper's M&B on Saturday 29th November. The 1-4 win was chalked off the record books though as they fielded an ineligible player. 

Jolof Sports Club, currently in third place, have (I think) one of the best club badges in local football featuring a Baobab Tree. The origin of the badge can be found in the club/team history below.

The Kingdom of JOLOF (1549-1875) situated in West Africa (Senegal) where used to live Great Warriors & Wrestler Champions has been a positive inspiration for many generations. JOLOF SPORTS FC was founded in 2012 by Ahmadou Seye, a Passionate Ambitious Young Man who dedicated all his work & success to his father Doudou Seye, his source of inspiration, who past away in March 2012 (R.I.P).

Club Badge JSFC Symbol:

Green Color = Hope

Yellow Color = Progress
Red Color = Proud
Tree = Baobab Tree, mainly found in dry & hot countries is a Source of Life. It symbolises Strength, Power and Abundance (Food, Fruits, Medicines, Shelter)

DIVISION ONE  

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS
1	BLUE MARLIN	16	+36	41
2	LONDON BARI RES	15	+1	27
3	ST JOHNS DEAF	12	+22	25
4	VITTORIOSA FALCONS	15	+15	25
5	THREE COLTS	16	-1	22
6	NORTHEND	11	+7	20
7	FOREST GREEN	17	-17	17
8	NORTH END	14	-10	9
9	CHINGFORD TOWN RES	13	-30	9
10	GLENDALE	11	-23	6

Blue Marlin lead the way in Division One and with a gap of 14 points between them and second placed London Bari Res they look real favourites for the title. They were formed in 1993 and are recognised as the most successful and high profile Mauritian football club in the United Kingdom. At the bottom of the table it's a three way race between Glendale, Northend and Chingford Town Reserves for the bottom spot. 

DIVISION TWO 

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS
1	WEST ESSEX RES	16	+36	40
2	GROVE UNITED	15	+7	38
3	LEYTON GREEN	17	+28	35
4	COWLEY COMMUNITY	15	+34	30
5	CUSTOM HOUSE	17	+28	28
6	SINGH SABHA SLOUGH	14	-9	21
7	DAGENHAM UNITED	16	-1	20
8	CANIO	20	-41	12
9	NEWHAM ROYALS	16	-26	11
10	ST FRANCIS RES	16	-44	11
10	NORTHEND RES	16	-29	7

In Division Two it's a really exciting race for the title with West Essex Reserves currently leading the way from Grove United just two points below with a game in hand. Leyton Green are in third place having played more games five points back from the top spot. 

The Fenton Cup is the league's cup competition competed for by teams across the three divisions is currently at the Quarter-Final stage. There are also divisional cup competitions as well. It's a real chance for the players to play at a football league ground as the finals are played at Dagenham and Redbridge.

FENTON CUP QUARTER FINALS 
CHINGFORD TOWN v CUSTOM HOUSE 
ST FRANCIS 1 CHINGFORD ATHLETIC 6 
CRANES UNITED v THREE COLTS or ST JOHNS DEAF 
MELBOURNE SPORTS or LEYTON GREEN v GROVE UNITED 


In the goal-scoring charts across all competitions  it's Izynna Ogedi-Uzokew of Division Two side Cowley Community leading the way on 30 goals scored so far followed by Harry Chalk (26 gls) of Grove United. Senkatuka Nelson of Cranes United follows on 24 along with Daniel Vearer of Vittoriosa Falcons. 

Chalk has played higher up the football pyramid for Clapton in the Essex Senior League along with Ilford when they were members of the Ryman Division One (North). 

The top scorer in the Premier Division is currently Steven Richards of AAH Romford who has netted 16 times in league fixtures.