Combined Counties Football League

Combined Counties Football League

Countries	England,  Guernsey
Founded	1978
Divisions	2
Number of teams	40
Levels on pyramid	Level 9–10
Feeder to	Isthmian League Southern League
Promotion to	Southern League Division One South & West Southern League Division One Central Isthmian League Division One South
Relegation to	Middlesex County League East Berkshire Football League Reading Football League Surrey Elite Intermediate League
Domestic cup(s)	Premier Challenge Cup Division One Challenge Cup Reserve Challenge Cup Grant McLellan Youth Cup
Current champions	Guildford City (2010–11)
Website	Official website
2011–12 season

The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey (Channel Islands). 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'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 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 adopted as a feeder to the Isthmian League but, 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. League rules allow up to three teams to be promoted and relegated between the two divisions but this is dependant 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 East Berkshire Football League, the Middlesex County League and the Reading Football League. The Surrey Elite Intermediate League, although not currently recognised as a Step 7 league by the F.A., also has a promotion/relegation link with the Combined Counties League.

Attendances at league games in the Premier Division average approximately sixty-five.^[1] The league saw an exception to this for two seasons from 2002–03 when AFC Wimbledon were members with attendances at their games regularly over 1000.

The League organises four cups. The Premier Challenge Cup is competed for by the teams in the Premier and First divisions. The current holders are Sandhurst Town. There is also a competition for Division One sides only which is held by South Park and a cup for the teams in the Reserve Division which is held by Mole Valley SCR Reserves. The League does not have a youth section but does organise a cup competition for member clubs who have teams playing in the under 18 age group. The current holders are Bedfont Sports Under 18s.

Member teams 2011–12

Premier Division
Ash United
Badshot Lea
Banstead Athletic
Camberley Town
Chessington & Hook United
Colliers Wood United
Cove
Croydon
Dorking
Egham Town
Epsom & Ewell
Farnham Town
Guildford City
Hanworth Villa
Horley Town
Mole Valley SCR
Molesey
Raynes Park Vale
Sandhurst Town
South Park
Wembley
Windsor
Division One
Bedfont Sports
Bookham
CB Hounslow United
Cobham
Eversley
Farleigh Rovers
Feltham
Frimley Green
Guernsey
Hartley Wintney
Knaphill
Sheerwater
South Kilburn
Spelthorne Sports
Staines Lammas
Warlingham
Westfield
Worcester Park

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

The area covered by the Combined Counties League is coloured in peach. The league also covers Guernsey after Guernsey FC's application was accepted in 2011

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

References

1. ^ "Premier Division attendances 2005–10". Combined Counties Football League. http://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/premattendances.htm. 

External links

• Official site
• League Mitoo pages
• Unofficial league site
• The FA – Full Time – League Page