THE THURSDAY LEAGUE PART 3 - THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Southern Counties East Football League was formed in 1966 as the Kent Premier League - from 1968 through until 2013 it was known as the Kent League or Kent Football League - it was been known in it's current incarnation since 2013 to reflect that some member clubs now came from outside of the county. 

The league merged with the Kent Invicta Football League at the end of the season with that division forming a new Division One (Step 6) for the SCEFL. The 2016/17 constitution for the league is as follows -

PREMIER DIVISION
(20 clubs)
AFC Croydon Athletic
Ashford United
Beckenham Town
Bearsted (promoted from Kent Invicta League)
Canterbury City
Corinthian
Cray Valley PM
Crowborough Athletic
Croydon
Deal Town
Erith & Belvedere
Erith Town
Fisher
Hollands & Blair
Lordswood
Rochester United
Sevenoaks Town
Sheppey United (promoted from Kent Invicta League)
Tunbridge Wells
Whitstable Town (relegated from Ryman Division (South))

In the Premier Division 2015/16 champion's Greenwich Brough have moved up to the Ryman Division One (South) with Holmesdale, who finished bottom, being relegated to the new Division One. Bearstead and Sheppey United who were Champions and runner's up of the last Kent Invicta League have moved up to the Premier Division. Whitstable Town swap placed with Greenwich and move back to the SCEFL after a nine season stay in the Ryman League.

Greenwich Borough had been ground sharing with Dartford but will be playing at Cray Valley PM's ground from next season as they have signed a new long term ground share agreement. I predict they will do very well in the Ryman Division One (South) for the 2015/16 campaign.   

DIVISION ONE
(20 clubs)
Bridon Ropes
Crockenhill
Eltham Palace
FC Elmstead
Forest Hill Park
Glebe
Gravesham Borough
Herne Bay Reserves*
Holmesdale
K Sports (name change - formerly APM Contrast)
Kent Football United
Lewisham Borough
Lydd Town
Meridian VP
Orpington
Phoenix Sports Reserves
Rusthall
Snodland Town (finished 3rd in Kent County League - promoted)
Sporting Club Thamesmead (name change - formerly Seven Acres & Sidcup)
Sutton Athletic
* subject to outcome of HBFC appeal with the FA

Snodland Town have been promoted from the Kent County League - they came about in 2012 when the Town's clubs merged to form one club to represent the area. Seven Acres and Sidcup have changed their name to represent the fact they play at the Sporting Club Thamesmead complex and APM Contract are another club to change their name to K Sports.

WHERE ARE THE CHAMPIONS NOW?

SEASON	TEAM	WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
2000/01	CHATHAM TOWN	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2001/02	MAIDSTONE UNITED*	VANARAMA NATIONAL
2002/03	CRAY WANDERERS*	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2003/04	CRAY WANDERERS	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2004/05	RAMSGATE	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2005/06	MAIDSTONE UNITED	VANARAMA NATIONAL
2006/07	WHITSTABLE TOWN	SCEP PREMIER
2007/08	THAMESMEAD TOWN	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (N)
2008/09	VCD ATHLETIC	RYMAN DIVISON ONE (N)
2009/10	FAVERSHAM TOWN	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2010/11	HYTHE TOWN	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2011/12	HERNE BAY	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2012/13	ERITH & BELVEDERE	SCEP PREMIER
2013/14	WHYTELEAFE	RYMAN DIVISION ONE (S)
2014/15	PHOENIX SPORTS	RYMAN DIVISON ONE (N)
2015/16	GREENWICH BOROUGH	RYMAN DIVISON ONE (S)
2016/17	??????	????????