Spartan League

Last updated

Spartan League
Founded1907
First season1907–08
Folded1997
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Divisions1–4
Promotion to Isthmian League
Domestic cup(s) FA Cup, FA Amateur Cup, FA Vase

The Spartan League was a football league in England covering London and adjacent counties. Established in 1907, it merged with the South Midlands League in 1997 to form the Spartan South Midlands League.

Contents

History

The Spartan League was established in 1907 with six clubs; Bromley, Dulwich Hamlet, Leytonstone, Nunhead, Shepherd's Bush and West Norwood. [1] It gained five clubs for its second season, and split into two divisions, Eastern and Western. [1] In 1909–10 the split was changed to Section A and B, before the league reverted to a single division in 1910–11. [1]

The league added a second division in 1920, and in 1925 it added another division, with Division Two divided into 2A and 2B. [1] This structure lasted until 1928 when the league gained another division, with both Division One and Two divided into East and West divisions. [1] The following season the league was reorganised, with a Premier Division created above Division One and Division Two still divided into East and West sections. [1] This structure remained unchanged until World War II. [2] The league restarted in 1945 and was divided into three divisions; Central, Eastern and Western. [2] The following season it reverted to a single division. [1]

In 1975 the league merged with the Metropolitan–London League, forming the London Spartan League, which ran with two divisions; Division One and Division Two. [3] In 1977 they were renamed, becoming the Premier Division and Senior Division. [3] The league readopted the name Spartan League in 1987, [4] A third division, the Intermediate Division, was added for the 1987–88 season; by 1992 it had been renamed Division Two. [4]

In 1997 it merged with the South Midlands League to form the Spartan South Midlands League. The new league initially ran with two Premier Divisions (north and south), a Senior Division and two Division Ones (north and south). [5]

Champions

Spartan League

First season with six clubs. [1]

SeasonSpartan League
1907–08 Bromley

For the 1908–09 season, the league was split into two regional sections: Eastern and Western Sections.

SeasonEastern SectionWestern Section
1908–09 Luton Clarence Aylesbury United

For the following season, the regional divisions were renamed the Section B and fSection A respectively.

SeasonSection ASection B
1909–10 2nd Coldstream Guards St Albans City

For the 1910–11 season, the league reverted to a single division

SeasonSpartan League
1910–11 2nd Coldstream Guards
1911–12 St Albans City
1912–13 2nd Coldstream Guards
1913–14 Chesham Generals
1919–20 Wycombe Wanderers

For the 1920–21 season, Division Two was added.

SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
1920–21 Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers Reserves
1921–22 Chesham United Chesham United Reserves
1922–23 Chesham United Wendover
1923–24 Leavesden Mental Hospital Leighton United
1924–25 Chesham United Wealdstone Reserves

For the 1925–26 season, Division Two was divided in Division Two A and Division Two B

SeasonDivision OneDivision Two ADivision Two B
1925–26 G.E.R. (Romford)Lyons ClubArtillery College
1926–27 Maidenhead United Berkhamsted Town Ware
1927–28 Botwell Mission Leighton United Hoddesdon Town

For the 1928–29 season, both Division One and Two divided into East and West divisions.

SeasonDivision One EastDivision One WestDivision Two EastDivision Two West
1928–29 Metropolitan Police Aylesbury United Metropolitan Police ReservesR.A.F.(Royal Air Force) Halton

For the following season the league was reorganised, with a Premier Division created above Division One and Division Two still divided into East and West sections. [1] [2]

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two EastDivision Two West
1929–30 Metropolitan Police Haywards Sports (Enfield) Letchworth Town Marlow
1930–31 Haywards Sports (Enfield) Windsor & Eton Callender Athletic Maidenhead United Reserves
1931–32 Maidenhead United Callender Athletic Bishop's Stortford R.A.F.(Royal Air Force) Uxbridge
1932–33 Chesham United Waterlows (Dunstable) Hoxton Manor Maidenhead United Reserves
1933–34 Maidenhead United Apsley Jurgens (Purfleet) Henley Town
1934–35 Hitchin Town Jurgens (Purfleet)Lea Bridge Gas Pinner
1935–36 Waterlows (Dunstable) Hoddesdon Town Letchworth Town ReservesHazells (Aylesbury)
1936–37 Metropolitan Police Henley Town Saffron Walden Town Wendover
1937–38 Waterlows (Dunstable) Marlow R.A.F.(Royal Air Force) Henlow Pinner
1938–39 Metropolitan Police Aylesbury United Ford Sports (Dagenham) Harrow Town

In the 1945–46 season the league had three divisions.

SeasonEastern DivisionCentral DivisionWestern Division
1945–46 Cambridge Town Metropolitan Police Hounslow

For the 1946–47 season, the league reverted to a single division. [2] [3]

SeasonChampions
1946–47 Metropolitan Police
1947–48 Cambridge Town
1948–49 Cambridge Town
1949–50 Briggs Sports
1950–51 Yiewsley
1951–52 Briggs Sports
1952–53 Ware
1953–54 Metropolitan Police
1954–55 Metropolitan Police
1955–56 Briggs Sports
1956–57 Briggs Sports
1957–58 Briggs Sports
1958–59 Briggs Sports
1959–60 Staines Town
1960–61 Vauxhall Motors
1961–62 Petters Sports
1962–63 Cheshunt
1963–64 Croydon Amateurs
1964–65 Hampton
1965–66 Hampton
1966–67 Hampton
1967–68 Tring Town
1968–69 Vauxhall Motors
1969–70 Hampton
1970–71 Hoddesdon Town
1971–72 Egham Town
1972–73 Farnborough Town
1973–74 Farnborough Town
1974–75 Farnborough Town

In 1975 the Spartan League merged with the Metropolitan-London League to form the London Spartan League.

London Spartan League

For the 1975–76 season, the London Spartan League ran with two divisions; Division One and Division Two.

SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
1975–76 Farnborough Town
1976–77 Cray Wanderers Ulysses

For the 1977–78 season, the Division One and Division Two were renamed as Premier Division and Senior Division respectively.

SeasonPremier DivisionSenior Division
1977–78 Cray Wanderers Fisher Athletic
1978–79 Swanley Town
1979–80 Berkhamsted Town Greenwich Borough
1980–81 Fisher Athletic Bracknell Town
1981–82 Fisher Athletic Highfield
1982–83 Bracknell Town Beaconsfield United
1983–84 Collier Row Hanwell Town
1984–85 Burnham Crown & Manor
1985–86 Collier Row Corinthian-Casuals
1986–87 Yeading Southwark Sports

In 1987 the London Spartan League readopted the name to Spartan League

Spartan League [4]

For the 1987–88 season, the league added an Intermediate Division.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneIntermediate Division
1987–88 Edgware Town Catford WanderersNewmont Travel
1988–89 Abingdon Town Newmont Travel
1989–90 Edgware Town KPG Tipples
1990–91 Walthamstow Pennant Sangley Sports

For the 1991–92 season, the Intermediate Division was renamed as Division Two.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
1991–92 Northwood Willesden HawkeyeClapton Villa
1992–93 Brimsdown Rovers Metrogas Bridon Ropes
1993–94 Willesden HawkeyeLewisham ElmsTottenham Wine
1994–95 Croydon Athletic Tottenham WineSouthwark Faweh
1995–96 St. Margaretsbury Leyton CountyClassic Inter
1996–97 Barkingside Leyton CountyOdua United

In 1997 the Spartan League merged with the South Midlands League to form the Spartan South Midlands League.

Related Research Articles

Southern Football League English football league

The Southern League is a men's football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from the South and Midlands of England. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.

Arlesey Town F.C. Association football club in England

Arlesey Town Football Club is a football club based in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England. Affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association, they are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and play at Hitchin Road.

Barkingside F.C. Association football club in England

Barkingside Football Club is a football club based in Barkingside, Greater London, England. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Division One South and groundshare with Ilford at the Cricklefield Stadium.

Molesey F.C. Association football club in England

Molesey Football Club is a football club based in West Molesey, Surrey, England. They are currently members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South and play at Walton Road.

Chalfont St Peter A.F.C. Association football club in England

Chalfont St Peter Association Football Club is a football club based in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South Central Division and play at Mill Meadow.

London Tigers F.C. Association football club in England

London Tigers Football Club is a football club based in Greenford, in the London Borough of Ealing, England. Formed in 2006 as a merger of Kingsbury Town and London Tigers, they are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and play at Northwood Park in Northwood.

Hoddesdon Town F.C. Association football club in England

Hoddesdon Town Football Club is a football club based in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Lowfield. The club were the first-ever winners of the FA Vase.

Harefield United F.C. Association football club in England

Harefield United Football Club are an English football club based in Harefield in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The club is the oldest club in Middlesex. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association. They are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

Langford F.C. Association football club in England

Langford Football Club is a football club based in Langford, Bedfordshire, England. Affiliated to the Bedfordshire Football Association, they are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and play at Forde Park.

London Colney F.C. Association football club in England

London Colney Football Club is a football club based in London Colney, near St Albans, England. They are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and play at Cotlandswick Park.

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.

Amersham Town F.C. Association football club in England

Amersham Town Football Club is a football club based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire England. The club are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and play at Spratleys Meadow.

Ampthill Town F.C. Association football club in England

Ampthill Town Football Club is a football club based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England. The club are currently members of Spartan South Midlands League Division One and play at Ampthill Park. They are affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.

Cockfosters F.C. Association football club in England

Cockfosters Football Club is a football club based in Cockfosters in the London Borough of Enfield, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at the Cockfosters Sports Ground on Chalk Lane.

Pitstone & Ivinghoe F.C. Association football club in England

Pitstone & Ivinghoe Football Club are a football club based in Pitstone, near Leighton Buzzard, England. They are members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two. The club is affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association.

Cray Valley Paper Mills F.C. Association football club in England

Cray Valley Paper Mills Football Club is a football club currently based in Eltham, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Badgers Sports Ground.

Hatfield Town F.C. Association football club in England

Hatfield Town Football Club is a football club based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. They are currently members of the Herts County League Premier Division and play at Birchwood Leisure Centre.

For more information on the current structure of the NLS, see the main article.

Bridon Ropes F.C. Association football club in England

Bridon Ropes Football Club is a football club based in Charlton, Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. They are currently members of the Southern Counties East League Division One and play at Meridian Sports & Social Club.

The 1997–98 Spartan South Midlands Football League season was the first in the history of Spartan South Midlands Football League. The league was formed by the merger of the Spartan League and the South Midlands League.

References