Combined Counties Football League
 | |
| Country |
 England |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Divisions | 2 |
| Number of teams | 37 |
| Level on pyramid | Level 9–10 |
| Feeder to | |
| Promotion to | |
| Relegation to | |
| Domestic cup(s) |
|
| Current champions | Molesey (2014–15) |
| Website | Official website |
 2015–16 Combined Counties Football League | |
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from the south-western quarter of Greater London and Surrey, and acts as a choice for teams that achieve promotion from the top Berkshire and north Hampshire-specific league. It has two non-reserve divisions and its top division sits at Step 5 of the National League System (or Level 9 of the overall English football league system).
History
The league was formed on 18 June 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 was an objection to the title from the Home Counties Conference so, in 1979, it adopted the current title.[1]
For the 1981–82 season the league had too many clubs to operate a standard league season so the clubs were split into two equal divisions, Eastern and Western, with Ash United from the Western division beating the Eastern champions Malden Town 3–0 after a two-legged play-off.
The league was accepted as a feeder to the Isthmian League and, since FA restructuring of the National League System, clubs can be promoted to the Southern League, subject to geographical restrictions. Between 1982 and 2003 the league was half of its present size so an additional league existed below (the Surrey Premier League which became the Surrey County Senior League). Replicating football league terminology nationally, the existing teams in 2003 became an upper division (Premier Division) and the newly admitted teams from the abolished league became the lower (Division One).
Promotion rules and cups
Its rules allow up to three teams to be promoted and relegated between the two divisions; promotion is dependent on the clubs finishing in the top three of Division One having the correct ground-grading. Division One is "fed" by the leagues at Step 7 of the National League System such as the Surrey Elite Intermediate League, the Middlesex County League and the Thames Valley Football League.
The League organises four cups.
- The Premier Challenge Cup is competed for by the teams in both divisions. The current holders are Epsom & Ewell.
- The Division One cup is held by Warlingham.
- The Reserve Division cup is held by Bedfont Sports Reserves.
- The League organises the Grant McLellan Youth Cup for member clubs who have teams playing in the under 18 age group in other leagues. The current holders are Camberley Town Under 18s.[2]
Member teams 2015–16
Sponsors
The League has had a succession of title sponsors. Currently Cherry Red Records are the main sponsors. Their El Records, Lemon Recordings and RPM Records offshoots are the sponsors of the Premier Challenge Cup, Division One Challenge Cup and Reserve Challenge Cup respectively.
List of champions
For the 1978–79 season the league was known as the Home Counties League.
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1978–79 | British Aerospace (Weybridge) |
| 1979–80 | Guildford & Worplesdon |
| 1980–81 | Malden Town |
For the 1981–82 season the league expanded to two divisions.
| Season | Western Division | Eastern Division | Championship Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–82 | Ash United | Malden Town | Ash United won 3–0 |
For the 1982–83 season the league reverted to a single division.
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 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 |
For the 2003–04 season Division One was added formed mainly of clubs from the Surrey County Senior League.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | AFC Wimbledon | AFC Guildford |
| 2004–05 | Walton Casuals | Coney Hall |
| 2005–06 | Godalming Town | Warlingham |
| 2006–07 | Chipstead | Farnham Town |
| 2007–08 | Merstham | Staines Lammas |
| 2008–09 | Bedfont Green | Staines Lammas |
| 2009–10 | North Greenford United | Mole Valley SCR |
| 2010–11 | Guildford City | Worcester Park |
| 2011–12 | Guildford City | Guernsey |
| 2012–13 | Egham Town | Frimley Green |
| 2013–14 | South Park | Spelthorne Sports |
| 2014–15 | Molesey | Farleigh Rovers |
Notes and references
- Notes on location where name is not one town
- ↑ Epsom & Ewell play at Chipstead
- ↑ Spelthorne Sports play at Ashford Common
- ↑ Sutton Common Rovers play at Gander Green Lane, Sutton
- ↑ Westfield is part of Woking
- ↑ CB Hounslow play at Bedfont & Feltham F.C.
- ↑ Epsom Athletic play at Chessington
- ↑ California, England is part of Finchampstead. The team play at Eversley.
- References
- ↑ "The History of the League". Combined Counties Football League.
- ↑ Honours
External links
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