Midlands 1 East
# 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.

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.

## Teams 2021–22

The teams competing in 2021-22 achieved their places in the league based on performances in 2019-20, the 'previous season' column in the table below refers to that season not 2020-21.

## 2020–21

On 30 October 2020 the RFU announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic a decision had been taken to cancel Adult Competitive Leagues (National League 1 and below) for the 2020/21 season meaning Midlands 1 East was not contested.

## 2016-17

* Bugbooke
* Dronfield (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Huntingdon & District
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Leighton Buzzard
* Lutterworth (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Market Rasen & Louth
* Melton Mowbray (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Newbold-on-Avon (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Northampton Old Scouts
* Old Northamptonians (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Paviors
* Wellingborough

## 2015–16

* Bedford Athletic
* Bugbooke
* Derby
* Huntingdon & District
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Market Rasen & Louth
* Matlock (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Newark
* Newbold-on-Avon (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Northampton Old Scouts (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Old Laurentians (promoted from Midlands 2 West (South))
* Paviors
* Wellingborough (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))

## 2014–15

* Bedford Athletic (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Belgrave (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Bugbrooke
* Derby
* Huntingdon & District
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Mansfield
* Market Rasen & Louth
* Newark
* Old Northamptonians
* Paviors
* Spalding (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Syston (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)

## 2013–14

* Bugbrooke (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))
* Coalville (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Derby (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Huntingdon & District (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Mansfield (relegated from National League 3 Midlands)
* Market Rasen & Lough
* Matlock
* Newark
* Old Northamptonians
* Paviors
* Peterborough
* Peterborough Lions

## 2012–13

* Bedford Athletic
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Loughborough
* Market Bosworth (promoted from Midlands 2 East (North))
* Market Rasen and Louth
* Matlock
* Newark
* Paviors
* Peterborough
* Peterborough Lions
* Spalding
* Towcestrians

## 2011–12

* Bedford Athletic
* Coalville
* Derby
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Leighton Buzzard
* Loughborough
* Market Rasen and Louth
* Matlock
* Nuneaton OE
* Paviors
* Peterborough
* Spalding
* Towcestrians (promoted from Midlands 2 East (South))

## 2010–11

* Bedford Athletic
* Coalville
* Derby
* Dunstablians
* Ilkeston
* Kettering
* Leighton Buzzard
* Mansfield
* Matlock
* Newark
* Paviors
* Spalding
* Syston
* Wellingborough

## 2009–10

* Derby
* Dunstablians
* Ilkeston
* Leighton Buzzard
* Mansfield
* Market Bosworth
* Matlock
* Newark
* Old Northamptonians
* Paviors
* Scunthorpe
* Stewarts & Lloyd
* Syston
* Wellingborough

## 2008–09

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

* Ampthill
* Derby
* Dunstablians
* Leighton Buzzard
* Mansfield
* Market Bosworth
* Matlock
* Newark
* Paviors
* Scunthorpe
* Syston
* Wellingborough

## Original teams

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

* Kettering
* Leighton Buzzard
* Lincoln
* Loughborough
* Matlock
* Newark
* Stamford
* Stoneygate
* Syston
* Vipers
* Wigston

## 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1987–88 | 11 | Newark | Vipers | Wigston, Loughborough |
| 1988–89 | 11 | Leighton Buzzard | Syston | Hinckley |
| 1989–90 | 11 | Towcestrians | Vipers | Stoneygate |
| 1990–91 | 11 | Syston | Vipers | Lincoln, Kettering, Chesterfield Panthers |
| 1991–92 | 11 | Vipers | Paviors | Stewarts & Lloyds, Scunthorpe, Amber Valley |
| 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.

Midlands 2 :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams | Reference |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1992–93 | 12 | Burton | Worcester | Biggleswade, Nottingham Moderns | |
| 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.

Midlands 2 :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1993–94 | 13 | Whitchurch | Stafford | Vipers |
| 1994–95 | 13 | Leighton Buzzard | Broadstreet | Willenhall, Newark, Peterborough |
| 1995–96 | 13 | Scunthorpe | Hinckley | No relegation |
| 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.

Midlands 2 :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1996–97 | 17 | Banbury | Kenilworth | Bedworth, Matlock, Long Buckby, Keresley |
| 1997–98 | 17 | Bedford Athletic | Dudley Kingswinford | Paviors |
| 1998–99 | 17 | Longton | Newbold-on-Avon | Leamington, Towcestrians, Stafford |
| 1999–00 | 17 | Malvern | Bromsgrove | No relegation |
| 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2000–01 | 12 | Dunstablians | Wellingborough | Stockwood Park, Leighton Buzzard, Nottingham Moderns |
| 2001–02 | 12 | Hinckley | Spalding | Lincoln, Huntingdon & District |
| 2002–03 | 12 | Kettering | Luton | Ilkeston, Wellingborough |
| 2003–04 | 12 | Mansfield | Hinckley | Nottingham Moderns, Banbury, Northampton Old Scouts |
| 2004–05 | 12 | Luton | Market Bosworth | Huntingdon & District, Syston, Melton Mowbray |
| 2005–06 | 12 | South Leicester | Peterborough | Ampthill, Spalding, Towcestrians |
| 2006–07 | 12 | Loughborough Students | Matlock | Mansfield, Northampton Old Scouts, Ilkeston |
| 2007–08 | 12 | Kettering | Hinckley | Melton Mowbray, Banbury, Old Northamptonians |
| 2008–09 | 12 | Ampthill | Scunthorpe | No relegation due to league restructure |
| 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 (formerly Midlands 1) and relegation to either Midlands 2 East (North) or Midlands 2 East (South).

Midlands 1 East :

| Season | No of teams | Champions | Runners–up | Relegated teams |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2009–10 | 14 | Scunthorpe | Old Northamptonians | Market Bosworth, Stewarts & Lloyds |
| 2010–11 | 14 | Syston | Mansfield | Dunstablians, Wellingborough |
| 2011–12 | 14 | Derby | Paviors | Coalville, Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Leighton Buzzard |
| 2012–13 | 14 | Bedford Athletic | Ilkeston | Loughborough, Spalding, Market Bosworth |
| 2013–14 | 14 | Peterborough Lions | Derby | Coalville, Peterborough, Matlock |
| 2014–15 | 14 | Syston | Old Northamptonians | Spalding, Belgrave, Mansfield |
| 2015–16 | 14 | Bedford Athletic | Derby | Matlock, Old Laurentians, Newark |
| 2016–17 | 14 | Newbold-on-Avon | Kettering | Ilkeston, Dronfield |
| 2017–18 | 14 | Bedford Athletic | Syston | Market Rasen & Louth, Huntingdon & District, Bugbrooke |
| 2018–19 | 14 | Kettering | Paviors | Melton Mowbray, Northampton Old Scouts, Leighton Buzzard |
| 2019–20 | 14 | Syston | Oundle | Wellingborough, Olney, Melbourne |
| 2020–21 | 14 | |
| 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 | Luctonians (W) | 20-13 | Wellingborough (E) | Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire | |
| 2001–02 | Old Laurentians (W) | 10-32 | Spalding (E) | Fenley Field, Rugby, Warwickshire | |
| 2002–03 | Luton (E) | 16-11 | Derby (W) | Newlands Road, Luton, Bedfordshire | |
| 2003–04 | Derby (W) | 29-12 | Hinckley (E) | Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire | |
| 2004–05 | Market Bosworth (E) | 40-7 | Malvern (W) | Cadeby Lane, Market Bosworth, Warwickshire | |
| 2005–06 | Peterborough (E) | 23-21 | Kenilworth (W) | Fortress Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | 1,000 |
| 2006–07 | Newport (Salop) (W) | 20-5 | Matlock (E) | The Old Showground, Newport, Shropshire | 500 |
| 2007–08 | Hereford (W) | 13-43 | Hinckley (E) | Wyeside, Hereford, Herefordshire | |
| 2008–09 | Scunthorpe (E) | 9-16 | Hereford (W) | Heslam Park, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire | |
| 2009–10 | Bournville (W) | AWO | Old Northamptonians (E) | Rowheath, Bournville, Birmingham, West Midlands | N/A |
| 2010–11 | Sutton Coldfield (W) | 27-33 | Mansfield (E) | Roger Smoldon Ground, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands | |
| 2011–12 | Bournville (W) | 42-11 | Paviors (E) | Bournbrook, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands | |
| 2012–13 | Worcester Wanderers (W) | 27-17 (aet) | Ilkeston (E) | Weston's Field, Worcester, Worcestershire | |
| 2013–14 | Burton (W) | 24-20 | Derby (E) | Peel Croft, Burton, Staffordshire | 1,000 |
| 2014–15 | Old Northamptonians (E) | 20-5 | Worcester Wanderers (W) | Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Northampton, Northamptonshire | |
| 2015–16 | Derby (E) | 28-23 | Bournville (W) | Haslams Lane, Derby, Derbyshire | 200 |
| 2016–17 | Kettering (E) | 19-55 | Bournville (W) | Waverley Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire | |
| 2017–18 | Syston (E) | 37-33 | Dudley Kingswinford (W) | Barkby Road, Queniborough, Leicestershire | |
| 2018–19 | Paviors (E) | 33-30 | Dudley Kingswinford (W) | The Ron Rossin Ground, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | |
| 2019–20 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Oundle (E) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Oundle (E) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Oundle (E) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Oundle (E) - promoted instead. | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Best ranked runner up - Oundle (E) - promoted instead. | Cancelled 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

* Bedford Athletic (4)
* Syston (4)
* Kettering (3)
* Leighton Buzzard (2)
* Scunthorpe (2)
* Ampthill (1)
* Banbury (1)
* Burton (1)
* Derby (1)
* Dunstablians (1)
* Hinckley (1)
* Longton (1)
* Loughborough Students (1)
* Luton (1)
* Malvern (1)
* Newark (1)
* Mansfield (1)
* Newbold-on-Avon (1)
* Peterborough Lions (1)
* South Leicester (1)
* Towcestrians (1)
* Vipers (1)
* Whitchurch (1)
