Combined Counties Football League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Combined Counties Football League |
|---|
 |
| Founded |
| 1978 |
| Nation |
 England |
| Feeder To |
| Isthmian League |
| Divisions |
| 2 |
| Number of Teams |
| 40 |
| Levels on Pyramid |
| Level 9-10 |
| Cups |
| Premier Challenge Cup Division 1 Challenge Cup Reserve Challenge Cup |
| Current Champions (2007/08) |
| Merstham |
| Website |
| Official |
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprised of teams from Berkshire, Greater London, Hampshire, and Surrey. Its top division sits at Step 5 of the National League System (or level 9 of the overall English football league system).
Contents |
[edit] History
The league's history can be traced back to 1978 when the Surrey Senior League underwent a metamorphosis in order to try to attract clubs from outside the county. The new league was initially called the Home Counties League, but there were objections to the proposed title, so in 1979 it adopted the current title.
For one season only, 1981-82, the league had too many clubs to operate a standard league season, so the clubs were split into two equal sections, Eastern and Western, with Ash United from the Western Section beating the Eastern Champions Malden Town 3-0 in a two-legged play-off.
The league was adopted as a feeder to the Isthmian League but, until recently, few of the champion clubs have had the necessary facilities to progress upwards. Since the F.A. restructuring of the National League System, clubs can be promoted to either the Southern League or the Isthmian League, depending on geographical considerations. From 1982, a similar arrangement below the Combined Counties League existed with the Surrey County Senior League (formerly the Surrey Premier League), but in 2003 the two leagues merged and the former Surrey County Senior League members formed a new Combined Counties Division One, with the previous members forming a Premier Division. Depending on facilities, there are three teams promoted and relegated between the two divisions. Division One is "fed" by the Surrey Elite Intermediate League although clubs from other local leagues, such as the Crawley and District Football League, East Berkshire Football League, the Reading Football League and the Middlesex County League may also apply.
As with most leagues at this level, some players are paid for playing although most only receive expenses and some don't even get that. Attendances at league games in the Premier Division average approximately sixty to seventy. The league saw a welcome exception to this for two seasons from 2002, when AFC Wimbledon were offered a place in the league and took crowds well into four-figures to the grounds of the Combined Counties League.
The league also organises three cups. The Premier Challenge Cup is competed for by all the teams in the league. The current holders are Merstham. There's also a Division One Cup which is held by Staines Lammas and a cup for the teams in the Reserve Division which is also held by Staines Lammas.
[edit] Sponsors
The league has had a succession of title sponsors. Currently Cherry Red Records are the main sponsors. Their El Records and Lemon Recordings offshoots are the sponsors of the Premier Challenge Cup and Division One Cup respectively.
[edit] List of champions
- 1978-79 (Home Counties League) - British Aerospace (Weybridge)
- 1979-80 Guildford & Worplesdon
- 1980-81 Malden Town
- 1981-82 Ash United (Western) and Malden Town (Eastern)
- 1982-83 Hartley Wintney
- 1983-84 Godalming Town
- 1984-85 Malden Vale
- 1985-86 British Aerospace (Weybridge)
- 1986-87 Ash United
- 1987-88 British Aerospace (Weybridge)
- 1988-89 British Aerospace (Weybridge)
- 1989-90 Chipstead
- 1990-91 Farnham Town
- 1991-92 Farnham Town
- 1992-93 Peppard
- 1993-94 Peppard
- 1994-95 Ashford Town (Middx)
- 1995-96 Ashford Town (Middx)
- 1996-97 Ashford Town (Middx)
- 1997-98 Ashford Town (Middx)
- 1998-99 Ash United
- 1999-00 Ashford Town (Middx)
- 2000-01 Cove
- 2001-02 AFC Wallingford
- 2002-03 Withdean 2000
- 2003-04 AFC Wimbledon
- 2004-05 Walton Casuals
- 2005-06 Godalming Town
- 2006-07 Chipstead
- 2007-08 Merstham
