Midlands 1 East

Midlands 1 East is an English semi-professional level 6 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in the eastern region of the Midlands, including sides from Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and occasionally Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. When this division began in 1987 it was known as Midlands 2 East, and has been restructured several times, most notably as a single division known as Midlands 2 between 1992 and 2000, before regionalising again to its present format.

Midlands 1 East
Current season or competition:
2019–20 Midlands 1 East
SportRugby union
Instituted1987 (1987) (as Midlands 2 East)
Number of teams14
Country England
HoldersSyston (3rd title) (2019–20
(promoted to Midlands Premier))
Most titlesBedford Athletic, Syston (4 titles)
WebsiteEngland RFU

The champions are promoted to Midlands Premier (formerly National League 3 Midlands) and the runner-up plays against the second-placed team from Midlands 1 West for the second promotion place. The last three teams are relegated teams to either Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South), depending on geographic location.[1]

Teams 2019–20

Teams 2018–19

Teams 2017–18

2016-17

2015–16

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11

2009–10

2008–09

Ampthill promoted as champions to newly formed National Division 3 Midlands.

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (known as Midlands 2 East) contained the following teams:

Midland 1 East honours

Midlands 2 East (1987–1992)

The original Midlands 2 East (along with its counterpart Midlands 2 West) was a tier 6 league with promotion up to Midlands Premier and relegation down to either East Midlands/Leicestershire or Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire 1.

Midlands 2 East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1987–8811NewarkVipersWigston, Loughborough[4]
1988–8911Leighton BuzzardSystonHinckley[5]
1989–9011TowcestriansVipersStoneygate[6]
1990–9111SystonVipersLincoln, Kettering, Chesterfield Panthers[7]
1991–9211VipersPaviorsStewarts & Lloyds, Scunthorpe, Amber Valley[8]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 (1992–1993)

Restructuring of the Midlands leagues ahead of the 1992–93 season saw Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West combined in a single tier 6 division known as Midlands 2. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation as now was now to the newly introduced Midlands East 1[lower-alpha 2].

Midlands 2
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1992–9312BurtonWorcesterBiggleswade, Nottingham Moderns[9]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 (1993–1996)

The top six teams from Midlands 1 and the top six from North 1 were combined to create National 5 North, meaning that Midlands 2 dropped to become a tier 7 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands Premier and Midlands East 1[lower-alpha 3].

Midlands 2
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1993–9413WhitchurchStaffordVipers[10]
1994–9513Leighton BuzzardBroadstreetWillenhall, Newark, Peterborough[11]
1995–9613ScunthorpeHinckley[lower-alpha 4]No relegation[lower-alpha 5][12]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 (1996–2000)

At the end of the 1995–96 season National 5 North was discontinued and Midlands 2 returned to being a tier 6 league. Promotion and relegation continued to Midlands Premier and Midlands East 1[lower-alpha 6].

Midlands 2
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
1996–9717BanburyKenilworthBedworth, Matlock, Long Buckby, Keresley[13]
1997–9817Bedford AthleticDudley KingswinfordPaviors[14]
1998–9917LongtonNewbold-on-AvonLeamington, Towcestrians, Stafford
1999–0017Malvern[lower-alpha 7]Bromsgrove[lower-alpha 8]No relegation[lower-alpha 9]
Green backgrounds are the promotion places.

Midlands 2 East (2000–2009)

Restructuring ahead of the 2000–01 season saw Midlands 2 split back into two tier 6 regional leagues - Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West. Promotion continued to Midlands 1 while relegation was now to either Midlands 3 East (North) or Midlands 3 East (South) (both formerly part of Midlands East 1).

Midlands 2 East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
2000–0112DunstabliansWellingboroughStockwood Park, Leighton Buzzard, Nottingham Moderns[15]
2001–0212HinckleySpaldingLincoln, Huntingdon & District[16]
2002–0312KetteringLutonIlkeston, Wellingborough[17]
2003–0412MansfieldHinckleyNottingham Moderns, Banbury, Northampton Old Scouts[18]
2004–0512LutonMarket BosworthHuntingdon & District, Syston, Melton Mowbray[19]
2005–0612South LeicesterPeterboroughAmpthill, Spalding, Towcestrians[20]
2006–0712Loughborough StudentsMatlockMansfield, Northampton Old Scouts, Ilkeston[21]
2007–0812KetteringHinckleyMelton Mowbray, Banbury, Old Northamptonians[22]
2008–0912AmpthillScunthorpeNo relegation due to league restructure[lower-alpha 10][23]
Green background are the promotion places.

Midlands 1 East (2009–present)

League restructuring by the RFU meant that Midlands 2 East and Midlands 2 West were renamed as Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West, with both leagues remaining at tier 6. Promotion was now to National League 3 Midlands[lower-alpha 11] (formerly Midlands 1) and relegation to either Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South)[lower-alpha 12].

Midlands 1 East
Season No of teams Champions Runners–up Relegated teams Reference
2009–1014ScunthorpeOld NorthamptoniansMarket Bosworth, Stewarts & Lloyds[24]
2010–1114SystonMansfieldDunstablians, Wellingborough[25]
2011–1214DerbyPaviorsCoalville, Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Leighton Buzzard[26]
2012–1314Bedford AthleticIlkestonLoughborough, Spalding, Market Bosworth[27]
2013–1414Peterborough LionsDerbyCoalville, Peterborough, Matlock[28]
2014–1514SystonOld NorthamptoniansSpalding, Belgrave, Mansfield[29]
2015–1614Bedford AthleticDerbyMatlock, Old Laurentians, Newark[30]
2016–1714Newbold-on-AvonKetteringIlkeston, Dronfield[lower-alpha 13][32]
2017–1814Bedford AthleticSystonMarket Rasen & Louth, Huntingdon & District, Bugbrooke[33]
2018–1914KetteringPaviorsMelton Mowbray, Northampton Old Scouts, Leighton Buzzard[34]
2019–2014SystonOundleWellingborough, Olney, Melbourne[35]
2020–2114
Green background are the promotion places.

Promotion play-offs

Since the 2000–01 season there has been a play-off between the runners-up of Midlands 1 East and Midlands 1 West for the third and final promotion place to National League 3 Midlands. The team with the superior league record has home advantage in the tie. At the end of the 2019–20 season the Midlands 1 East teams have been the most successful with eleven wins to the Midlands 1 West teams eight; and the home team has won promotion on thirteen occasions compared to the away teams six.

Midlands 1 East v Midlands 1 West promotion play-off results
Season Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance
2000–01[36]Luctonians (W)20-13Wellingborough (E)Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire
2001–02[37]Old Laurentians (W)10-32Spalding (E)Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire
2002–03[38]Luton (E)16-11Derby (W)Newlands Road, Luton, Bedfordshire
2003–04[39]Derby (W)29-12Hinckley (E)Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire
2004–05[40]Market Bosworth (E)40-7Malvern (W)Cadeby Lane, Market Bosworth, Warwickshire
2005–06[41]Peterborough (E)23-21Kenilworth (W)Fortress Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire1,000
2006–07[42]Newport (Salop) (W)20-5Matlock (E)The Old Showground, Newport, Shropshire500
2007–08[43]Hereford (W)13-43Hinckley (E)Wyeside, Hereford, Herefordshire
2008–09[44]Scunthorpe (E)9-16Hereford (W)Heslam Park, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
2009–10[45]Bournville (W)AWO[lower-alpha 14]Old Northamptonians (E) Rowheath, Bournville, Birmingham, West MidlandsN/A
2010–11[47]Sutton Coldfield (W)27-33Mansfield (E)Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
2011–12[48]Bournville (W)42-11Paviors (E)Bournbrook, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands
2012–13[49]Worcester Wanderers (W)27-17 (aet)Ilkeston (E)Weston's Field, Worcester, Worcestershire
2013–14[50]Burton (W)24-20Derby (E)Peel Croft, Burton, Staffordshire1,000[51]
2014–15[52]Old Northamptonians (E)20-5Worcester Wanderers (W)Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Northampton, Northamptonshire
2015–16[53]Derby (E)28-23Bournville (W)Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire200[54]
2016–17[55]Kettering (E)19-55Bournville (W)Waverley Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire
2017–18[56]Syston (E)37-33Dudley Kingswinford (W)Barkby Road, Queniborough, Leicestershire
2018–19[57]Paviors (E)33-30Dudley Kingswinford (W)The Ron Rossin Ground, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
2019–20Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Oundle (E) - promoted instead.
2020–21
Green background is the promoted team. E = Midlands 1 East (formerly Midlands 2 East) and W = Midlands 1 West (formerly Midlands 2 West)

Number of league titles

Notes
  1. Wigston RFC would later merge with Westleigh RFC in 1998 to form Leicester Lions RFC.[2][3].
  2. Not to be confused with Midlands 1 East, Midlands East 1 is currently split into two regional leagues - Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South).
  3. Midlands East 1 is currently split into two regional leagues - Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South).
  4. Due to widespread restructuring, 3rd and 4th place Derby and Stockwood Park were also promoted.
  5. Nationwide league restructuring meant that there was no relegation this season.
  6. Midlands East 1 is currently split into two regional leagues - Midlands 2 East (North) and Midlands 2 East (South).
  7. Due to the restructuring of Midlands 2 into two regional divisions champions Malvern were not promoted, instead being transferred to the new Midlands 2 West division.
  8. Midlands 2 was due to be restructured into two regional divisions for the following season. Malvern, Bromsgrove, Luctonians, Old Laurentians, Newport (Salop), Sutton Coldfield, Derby and Wolverhampton would transfer into Midlands 2 West, while Wellingborough, Kettering, Ampthill, Mansfield, Huntingdon & District, Lincoln, Nottingham Moderns, Leighton Buzzard and Stockwood Park would go into Midlands 2 East.
  9. Due to the restructuring of Midlands 2 into two regional divisions there was no relegation.
  10. The division would be renamed Midlands Division 1 East for the next season and along with the whole national restructure of the league system by the RFU lead to mass changes at all levels.
  11. National League 3 Midlands is currently known as Midlands Premier.
  12. Prior to the 2009–10 season Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South) were both known as Midlands 3 East (North) and Midlands 3 East (South).
  13. Due to London Welsh being expelled from the RFU Championship in January 2017 only 23 teams would be relegated from the 8 divisions that make up tier 6 of the English rugby union league system instead of the usual 24 - meaning that the 12th placed side in one of the leagues would be safe. In the end 12th placed Wellingborough from Midlands 1 East gained more points (56) than any other 12th placed team across tier 6 leaving them safe from relegation and ensuring only 2 teams went down from Midlands 1 East that season.[31]
  14. Old Northamptonians were promoted by default as Bournville were unable to field a front row for the 2009-10 play-off game.[46]
  15. One of Bedford Athletic's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  16. One of Leighton Buzzard's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  17. One of Scunthorpe's titles was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  18. Banbury's title was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  19. Burton's title was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  20. Longton's title was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  21. Malvern's title was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.
  22. Whitchurch's title was when league was single division known as Midlands 2.

See also

References
  1. MatchByDivision
  2. "History". Leicester Lions RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  3. "Leicester Lions (Team History)". Rugby Archive. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  4. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1988). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988-89. Queen Anne Press. pp. 130–134. ISBN 0-356-15884-5.
  5. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1989). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989-90. Queen Anne Press. pp. 136–139. ISBN 0-356-17862-5.
  6. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1990). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990-91. Queen Anne Press. pp. 140–143. ISBN 0-356-19162-1.
  7. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1991). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991-92. Queen Anne Press. pp. 161–164. ISBN 0-356-20249-6.
  8. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1992). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992-93. Headline. pp. 183–185. ISBN 0-7472-7907-1.
  9. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1993). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993-94. Headline. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1.
  10. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1994). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994-95. Headline. pp. 164–167. ISBN 0-7472-7891-1.
  11. Jones, Stephen; Griffiths, John (1995). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995-96. Headline. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0-7472-7850-4.
  12. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1996). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. Headline. pp. 192–195. ISBN 0-7472-7816-4.
  13. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997-98. Headline. pp. 156–159. ISBN 0-7472-7771-0.
  14. Cleary, Mick; Griffiths, John (1998). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998-99. Headline. pp. 90–93. ISBN 0-7472-7653-6.
  15. "2000-2001 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  16. "2001-2002 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  17. "2002-2003 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  18. "2003-2004 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  19. "2004-2005 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  20. "2005-2006 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  21. "2006-2007 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  22. "2007-2008 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  23. "2008-2009 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  24. "2009-2010 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  25. "2010-2011 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  26. "2011-2012 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  27. "2012-2013 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  28. "2013-2014 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  29. "2014-2015 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  30. "2015-2016 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  31. "London Welsh: RFU refuses permission for Exiles to stay in Championship". BBC Sport. 24 January 2017.
  32. "2016-2017 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  33. "2017-2018 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  34. "2018-19 Midlands Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  35. "Men's level 5 - 7 leagues 2019–20" (PDF). England Rugby. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  36. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2000-01". England Rugby. 12 May 2001.
  37. "RUGBY: Spalding go up after storming comeback". Peterborough Telegraph. 30 April 2002.
  38. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2002-03". England Rugby. 26 April 2003.
  39. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2003-04". England Rugby. 24 April 2004.
  40. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2004-05". England Rugby. 30 April 2005.
  41. "RUGBY: Borough up after promotion thriller". Peterborough Telegraph. 2 May 2006.
  42. "Newport are on the up". Shropshire Star. 1 May 2007.
  43. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09". England Rugby. 26 April 2008.
  44. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2008-09". England Rugby. 25 April 2009.
  45. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2009-10". England Rugby. 1 May 2010.
  46. "Level Transfers". Rolling Maul. 19 May 2010.
  47. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2010-11". England Rugby. 30 April 2011.
  48. "Midlands Division Play-Offs 2011-12". England Rugby. 28 April 2012.
  49. "Elks Defeated In Extra Time". Worcester Wanderers (Pitchero). 27 April 2013.
  50. "1st XV Match Report Sat 26th Apr'14: Burton 24 v 20 Derby (National 3 Midlands Playoff)". Derby RFC. 26 April 2014.
  51. "Brewers 0 Chesterfield 2 (Burton 24 Derby 20) Sun 27 April 2014". Beer and Bovril Blogspot. 30 April 2014.
  52. "PLAY OFF WIN FOR THE ONS". Old Northamptonians RFC (Pitchero). 25 April 2015.
  53. "Rugby union: Derby RFC promoted to National League Three after play-off victory over Bournville". Derby Telegraph. 1 May 2017.
  54. "Derby rugby union". Derby County Fans. 30 April 2017.
  55. "PROMOTION ACHIEVED AFTER AN ASSURED PERFORMANCE AT KETTERING". Bourneville Rugby (Pitchero). 29 April 2017.
  56. "A GAME TOO FAR". Dudley Kingswinford RFC. 12 May 2018.
  57. "Dudley Kingswinford suffer more play-off disappointment". Halesowen News. 1 May 2019.
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