| Founded | 1949 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1949–50 |
| Folded | 1971 |
| Country |  England |
| Divisions | One (1949–1963, 1964–1971) Two (1963–1964) |
| Number of teams | Lowest: 9 (1949–50) Highest: 22 (1964–65) |
| Feeder to | Southern League |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | League Cup Professional Cup Amateur Cup |
The Metropolitan League was a football league in the south-east of England between 1949 and 1971. [1]
The league was founded in 1949 after several clubs learnt plans for a second division of the Southern League would come to nothing shortly before the start of the season, [2] and was driven by Dagenham secretary Dave Thake, whose club were disappointed about being placed in the lower division of the London League. [1] It was initially named the Home Counties League, but the name was rejected by the Football Association as the name was already in use. By the end of the league's inaugural season it had become known as the Metropolitan & District League, before being renamed the Metropolitan League in 1959. [1] The league started with ten clubs and was largely composed of professional clubs or their reserve or youth teams, and was frequently described as an unofficial lower division of the Southern League. [2] The league added a second division in 1963, but it ran for only a single season, which saw Gillingham Reserves win the title.
However, with the league reduced to only 12 clubs in 1970–71 and several of those about to leave to join the Southern League at the end of the season, the league merged with the Greater London League to form the Metropolitan–London League. This league ceased to exist in 1975 when it merged with the Spartan League to form the London Spartan League, [3] which re-adopted the name Spartan League in 1987.
For three seasons an Amateur Cup was contested between the league's amateur teams; in 1951–52 and 1952–53 it was won by Windsor & Eton, whilst Vickers Armstrong won it in 1953–54. Thereafter it was awarded to the amateur team that finished highest in the league. [4]
Metropolitan Police Football Club is a football club based in East Molesey, Surrey, England. Originally made up of players from the Metropolitan Police Service, the rule requiring players to be employees of the service was removed when the Commissioner refused to sanction time off for playing. However, the club is still part-funded by a police staff lottery. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South and play at Imber Court, the base of the Met Police Sports and Social Club.
The South Midlands League was a football league covering Bedfordshire and some adjoining counties in England. It was founded in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League and merged with the Spartan League in 1997 to form the Spartan South Midlands League.
The London League was a football competition that was held in the London and surrounding areas of south-east England from 1896 until 1964.
Gavin Glenrick Tomlin is a footballer who plays for Isthmian League South East Division club Cray Valley Paper Mills. He is a versatile player who can play as a striker, on both left and right wings and attacking midfield.
The Aetolian League was a short-lived football league in the south east of England. It was established in 1959 after the Kent League folded, leaving a number of clubs without a league to play in. Seven of the founder members were from the Kent League and four from the London League. The league had two divisions, although Division Two consisted mainly of the reserve teams of clubs in Division One; Medway Corinthians and Orpington Athletic were the only two clubs to field a first team in Division Two; Medway joined in 1959 and left in 1961, with Orpington joining in 1960 and remaining until the league folded. As a result of Division Two being largely reserve teams, there was no promotion or relegation between the two divisions.
The 2010–11 FA Cup was the 130th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; the FA Cup. A total of 806 clubs applied to enter of which 759 were accepted, a slight drop compared to the 762 clubs accepted into the 2009–10 competition.
The 2011–12 FA Cup was the 131st season of the world's oldest football knock-out competition, the FA Cup. The closing date for applications was 1 April 2011, and saw 825 clubs apply to enter. On 8 July 2011, the FA announced that 763 clubs had been accepted, which remains, as of 2020-21, the record number of entrants. The final was played on 5 May 2012 at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea won their 4th title in 6 years, and seventh overall, with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
The Greater London League was a football league for clubs in and around London. It was formed in 1964 by a merger of the London League and the Aetolian League, after the two leagues had run a joint league cup the previous season due to both struggling for numbers.
The Metropolitan–London League was a short-lived football league for clubs in and around London. It was formed in 1971 by a merger of the Greater London League and the Metropolitan League. It ran with two divisions until 1974, reduced to one in 1974–75 season, after which it merged with the Spartan League to form the London Spartan League, which was later renamed the Spartan League. It merged with the South Midlands League in 1997 to form the modern Spartan South Midlands League
The 2013–14 Football League Trophy, known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 30th season in the history of the competition. It is a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English Football League.
The Kent League was a football league which existed from 1894 until 1959, based in the English county of Kent. Another, unrelated, Kent League was formed in 1966, and is now known as the Southern Counties East Football League.
The 2014–15 Football League Trophy, was the 31st season in the history of the competition. It is a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football.
The 2015–16 season was the 130th in the history of Luton Town Football Club and the club's 90th season in the Football League. Following their eighth-place finish the previous year, Luton were contesting the season in League Two.
The 2015–16 season was Stevenage's second consecutive season in League Two and their 40th year in existence. Along with competing in League Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.
The 2015–16 Football League Trophy was the 32nd season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football. Barnsley of League One won the competition, defeating Oxford United of League Two 3–2 in the final. It was the last tournament to take place before the introduction of Category 1 Academy teams and an initial group stage before the knockout rounds.
The 2016–17 EFL Trophy, known as the Checkatrade Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 33rd season in the history of the competition and the first since being rebranded from Football League Trophy. It was played as a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system and for the first time was expanded to include 16 Premier League and Championship "B Teams" with Category One status as part of a trial.
The 2019–20 EFL Trophy, known as the Leasing.com Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 36th season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system, and also including 16 Premier League and Championship "Academy teams" with Category One status. Due to their financial crisis, Bury were expelled from the EFL and automatically eliminated from the competition as well.
The 2020–21 EFL Trophy, known as the Leasing.com Trophy before 28 October 2020 and later the Papa John’s Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 37th season in the history of the competition, a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two of the English football system, and also including 16 Premier League and Championship "Academy teams" with Category One status.