Page 31 - v TOOTING BEC JPG

the county, the Surrey Senior League was For the 2002/03 season, AFC Wimbledon
renamed the Home Counties League in joined the league. The new club, having only
1978-79. However there were objections to been formed a month or two earlier put fresh
the new title and the current title, Combined life into the league with an enthusiasm never
Counties League was adopted for the 1979- seen before. Wherever they played they set
80 season. new club attendance records bringing much-
In 1981-82 the league was split into East needed finances to every club.
and West sections, with Ash United beat- Season 2003/04 saw yet another develop-
ing Malden Town in the play-off. Since 1982 ment to the league with the amalgamation
the league has reverted back to one division. of the Surrey Premier League. This made the
The Combined Counties league reached an Combined Counties a much stronger force
agreement to become a feeder league for the with a total of 42 member clubs and now
Isthmian League, whilst at the bottom end of with two senior divisions.
the league, arrangements had been made to Season 2006/07 saw a major restructuring
accept clubs from the Surrey Premier at the of the league with a number of new clubs
expense of the bottom club. from the now-defunct Ryman’s second divi-
The 1990s saw the Combined Counties- sion being accepted and a number of clubs

The Camberley & Yorktown team of 1904–05, one of the founders of the Surrey Senior League. Wiki
League get stronger with the acceptance of a being relegated from the league.
number of sides from Isthmian and Spartan 2011/12 saw the first non-mainland side
leagues. Clubs have also been accepted from join the league when Guernsey were elected
the old Chiltonian League which no longer to the 1st Division.
exists. The new millennium has seen the Season 2018/19 witnessed Chertsey Town
league spreading it’s net further and further becoming the first-ever CCL team to win the
with clubs from Oxon and Sussex joining the F.A. Vase at Wembley.
ranks. The Combined Counties is certainly Season 2019/20 saw the Jersey Bulls joining
living up to its name. the league.