Aetolian League (football)

The Aetolian League was a short lived football league in the south east of England. It was established in 1959 after the demise of the Kent League left a number of clubs without a home. In 1964 after only five seasons of existence, it merged with the London League to form the Greater London League.

Founder members

Fourteen clubs became founder members of the new league. Seven clubs - Deal Town, Faversham Town, Chatham Town, Snowdown Colliery Welfare, Herne Bay, Sheppey United and Whitstable Town had competed in the Kent League the previous season [ [http://talesftre.tripod.com/leaguehistory/id13.html League history] ] while four clubs,
Eton Manor, Willesden, Cray Wanderers and Cheshunt joined from the London League. A new club Ford United joined, being a merger of Briggs Motor Bodies and Ford Sports, both of whom had competed in the London League. Crockenhill joined from the Kent Amateur League, with Charlton Athletic "A" completing the numbers in the first division. A second division consisted mainly of reserve sides of clubs in the First Division but also contained Medway Corinthians. The proliferation of reserve sides meant that there was no promotion or relegation between the two divisions throughout the league’s history.

History

1959-60 season

Ford United were the first champions finishing narrowly ahead of Deal Town. [ [http://www.sheppeyunited.com/Season1959-60.htm 1959-60 season] ] Suffering financial difficulties as a result of traveling to more distant London clubs, the bottom club Whitstable Town resigned from the league at the end of season and dropped down to the Kent Amateur League. [ [http://www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=32 Whitstable Town website] ]

1960-61 season

Snowdown CW won the second season comfortably beating the reigning champions Ford United who finished second and managed to win the League Cup. [ [http://www.sheppeyunited.com/Season1960-61.htm 1960-61 season] ] Faversham Town Reserves won the second division. [ [http://www.nonleaguetables.co.uk/cgi-bin/lt.cgi?t=1960AETO2%201960-1961&f=1 nonleaguetables.co.uk] ]

1961-62 season

Beckenham Town joined the league from the London league, restoring the top division to 14 clubs. The title race saw a battle between the top two clubs from the previous season with Ford United finishing ahead of Snowdown CW to take a second title [ [http://www.sheppeyunited.com/Season1961-62.htm 1961-62 season] ] At the end of the season Charlton Athletic "A" left to join the Metropolitan League, with Cheshunt joining the Spartan League.

1962-63 season

East Ham United joined the league from the London League. The title was closely fought with Cray Wanderers emerging as champions. [ [http://www.sheppeyunited.com/Season1962-63.htm 1962-63 season] ] At the end of the season Deal left to join the Southern League with Willesden also leaving the league.

1963-64 season

Whitstable Town rejoined the league. Another close title race was won by the previous season's runners-up Chatham Town. This proved to be the last season of the Aetolian League with most members joining the newly formed Greater London League, although the champions Chatham joined the Metropolitan League.

Champions

*1959-60 Ford United
*1960-61 Snowdown Colliery Welfare
*1961-62 Ford United
*1962-63 Cray Wanderers
*1963-64 Chatham Town

References

External links

* [http://www.sheppeyunited.com/SeasonBySeason.htm Full tables for Division One]