Page 43 - RPVFC v Erith & Belvedere

Combined Counties Football League ments had been made to accept clubs from the Combined Counties a much stronger
the Surrey Premier at the expense of the force with a total of 42 member clubs and
he Combined Counties League can Banstead Athletic bottom club. now with two senior divisions.
Ttrace its existence back to 1922 when and Feltham. Certainly living up to its name Season 2006–07 saw a major restructur-
the Surrey Senior League was formed. The Most of these The 1990s saw the Combined Counties- ing of the league with a number of new
present title was not adopted until 1979. The clubs had pre- League get stronger with the acceptance of clubs from the now-defunct Ryman’s sec-
first champions in 1922–23 were Egham, viously won a number of sides from Isthmian and Spar- ond division being accepted and a number
with Carshalton Athletic as runners-up. t h e S u r r e y tan leagues. Clubs have also been accepted of clubs being relegated from the league.
Farnham United Breweries were cham- Senior League from the old Chiltonian League which no 2011–12 saw the first non-mainland side
pions twice and runners-up twice to Ep- championship longer exists. The new millennium has seen join the league when Guernsey were elect-
som Town between 1923–27. Camberley at least once.
& Yorktown were the first club to record In 1968–69 a second division was formed
a hat-trick of championship wins between which was known as Division One, with
1930–33. The Second World War brought the original league becoming the Premier
the Surrey Senior League to a close between Division. As the majority of clubs forming
1939–46. Farnham United Breweries were Division One were junior sides there was
champions twice and runners-up twice to no automatic promotion and relegation
Epsom Town between 1923–27. Camberley between the divisions. After three seasons
& Yorktown were the first club to record a Division One was disbanded and the league
hat-trick of championship wins between continued as before.
1930–33. The Second World War brought There were objections
the Surrey Senior League to a close be- Early in the 1970’s Farnham Town and
tween 1939–46. After the war newcomers Farnborough Town joined the Spartan The Camberley & Yorktown team of 1904–05, one of the founders of the Surrey Senior League. Wiki
to league in 1946–47 included Chertsey League. In an attempt to attract clubs the league spreading it’s net further and ed to the 1st Division.
Town, Devas Institute, Lagonda Sports, from outside the county, the Surrey Senior further with clubs from Oxon and Sussex Season 2018–19 witnessed Chertsey
who after several name changes became League was renamed the Home Counties joining the ranks. The Combined Counties Town becoming the first-ever CCL team to
Petters Sports, Leatherhead and Worcester League in 1978–79. However there were is certainly living up to its name. win the F.A. Vase at Wembley.
Park. Leatherhead took the league by storm objections to the new title and the cur- For the 2002–03 season, AFC Wimble- Season 2019/20 saw the Jersey Bulls join-
winning the championship four times be- rent title, Combined Counties League was don joined the league. The new club, hav- ing the league.
tween 1946–50. After finishing second in adopted for the 1979–80 season. ing only been formed a month or two ear- Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the
1949–50 Banstead Athletic took over the In 1981–82 the league was split into East lier put fresh life into the league with an 2019/20 season was abandoned, with no
role as most consistent club. They were and West sections, with Ash United beat- enthusiasm never seen before. Wherever teams either being promoted or relegated.
champions for the next four seasons and ing Malden Town in the play-off. Since they played they set new club attendance
never finished lower than second between 1982 the league has reverted back to one records bringing much needed finances to
1949–59. division. The Combined Counties league every club.
In the 1960s a number of sides switched reached an agreement to become a feed- Season 2003–04 saw yet another develop-
to the Spartan League they included Mole- er league for the Isthmian League, whilst ment to the league with the amalgamation
sey, Chertsey Town, Addlestone, Hampton, at the bottom end of the league, arrange- of the Surrey Premier League. This made Cherry Red Records are the League's main sponsors

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