The Essex Corinthian League is an amateur football league that was established in 1986 and currently has 7 divisions, with a total of over 100 clubs from East London and Essex. The league is affiliated to the Essex County Football Association.
I interviewed Bob Sills (Right), who is the assistant coach for Colebrook Royals alongside head coach Ian Webb (Left) . They joined the Essex Corinthian League this year starting in
division 7.
“Previously we had spent all our time playing grassroots football in the Echo League, where we had a lot of success” He stated, “After a double winning season at youth level we’re now in the Corinthian league and have adapted really well”.
In the Essex Corinthian League, Colebrook have started their first year alongside all the new teams who have joined this league. “We are currently second in the league having lost only one match”.
“I’ve really enjoyed it” Bob said when asked about his experience in this league so far. “It’s good to see older guys still turning up early on a Sunday morning just for the love of the game.”
“It’s refreshing to play against teams who concentrate on the game rather then aggravation and pestering.” He said, “in this league, it’s all about the football.”
I asked Bob the question, 'how important is it to keep grassroots football alive?' He responded, “its incredibly important, there are players who have played for england that have come from these grassroots leagues.”
Read this article to discover players who have played in Essex non-league and the Premier League! https://essexfootballingne.wixsite.com/my-site-1/post/premier-league-to-essex-non-league-a-top-5
"The Essex Corinthian League is a massive part of Essex football", the ESCFL also has a number of affiliated leagues, including the Essex Sunday Football League and the Essex Saturday Football League. "What I love is that it's keeping grassroots football alive and allowing amateur teams to compete at a good standard and flourish".
“I'm from Southend, and when I used to play and manage there, there were dozens of Saturday and Sunday divisions. Unfortunately now, there's only a handful left which upsets me as Southend used to be a hot bed for football”.
Bob also commented on how the league is run, "It is really professional, you'll find high quality photographers at games, consistent stats and content on the website and a good presence on social media."
"The league has definitely made us feel as if we stepped up, and we have. It's a pleasure to participate in this league and we will be here for many years to come!"
Find out more about the Essex Corinthian League at https://www.escfl.co.uk/
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