- Metropolitan League
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Metropolitan League Countries 
EnglandFounded 1949 First season 1949–50 Folded 1971 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 CupThe Metropolitan League was a football league in the south-east of England.
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.[1] Originally named the Metropolitan & District League,[2] it was renamed the Metropolitan League in 1959.[3] The league 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.[1] The league added a second division in 1963, but it ran for only a single season.
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,[4] which readopted the name Spartan League in 1987.
Contents
Champions
Season Champions League Cup winners Professional Cup winners 1949–50 St Neots & District[5] St Neots & District 1950–51 Dagenham 1951–52 Horsham Tonbridge reserves 1952–53 Tonbridge reserves Tonbridge reserves 1953–54 Headington United reserves 1954–55 Chelsea 'A' Chelsea 'A' 1955–56 Hastings United reserves 1956–57 Chelsea 'A' Tonbridge reserves 1957–58 Chelsea 'A' West Ham United 'A'[6] 1958–59 Arsenal 'A' 1959–60 Luton Town 'A' West Ham United 'A' 1960–61 Arsenal 'A' Arsenal 'A' Arsenal 'A' 1961–62 Dartford reserves Arsenal 'A' 1962–63 Arsenal 'A' 1963–64 Charlton Athletic 'A' Tottenham Hotspur 'A' 1964–65 Gillingham reserves Tottenham Hotspur 'A' St Neots Town[7] 1965–66 Bury Town Arsenal 'A' 1966–67 Tottenham Hotspur 'A' West Ham United 'A' 1967–68 Chelmsford City reserves Bury Town Chelmsford City reserves 1968–69 Bury Town West Ham United 'A' 1969–70 Wellingborough Town 1970–71 Epping Town[8] Cray Wanderers Bedford Town reserves Member clubs
During its existence, 67 clubs (including reserve teams) played in the league:
See also
- List of Metropolitan League seasons
References
- ^ a b Cray Wanderers in the Metropolitan League Cray Wanderers FC
- ^ Dagenham at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Tonbridge Reserves at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Bracknell Town at the Football Club History Database
- ^ St Neots & District at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935-2010, Volume II ISBN 9781908037022
- ^ Awards St Neots Town FC
- ^ Epping Town at the Football Club History Database
Categories:- Metropolitan League
- Defunct football leagues in England
- 1949 establishments in England
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