Page 28 - CHUFC vs SandhurstTown

Combined Counties

Football League

he Combined Counties League can
Ttrace its existence back to 1922 when
the Surrey Senior League was formed. The
present title was not adopted until 1979. The
first champions in 1922–23 were Egham, Chertsey Town, Addlestone, Hampton, Ban-
with Carshalton Athletic as runners-up. stead Athletic and Feltham. Most of these
Farnham United Breweries were champi- clubs had previously won the Surrey Senior
ons twice and runners-up twice to Epsom League championship at least once. In 1968–
Town between 1923–27. Camberley & York- 69 a second division was formed which was
town were the first club to record a hat-trick known as Division One, with the original
of championship wins between 1930–33. league becoming the Premier Division. As
The Second World War brought the Surrey the majority of clubs forming Division One
Senior League to a close between 1939–46. were junior sides there was no automatic
Farnham United Breweries were champions promotion and relegation between the divi-
twice and runners-up twice to Epsom Town sions. After three seasons Division One was
between 1923–27. Camberley & Yorktown disbanded and the league continued as be-
were the first club to record a hat-trick of fore.
championship wins between 1930–33. The Early in the 1970’s Farnham Town and
Second World War brought the Surrey Sen- Farnborough Town joined the Spartan
ior League to a close between 1939–46. Af- League. In an attempt to attract clubs from
ter the war newcomers to league in 1946–47 outside the county, the Surrey Senior League
included Chertsey Town, Devas Institute, was renamed the Home Counties League in
Lagonda Sports, who after several name 1978–79. However there were objections to
changes became Petters Sports, Leatherhead the new title and the current title, Combined
and Worcester Park. Leatherhead took the Counties League was adopted for the 1979–
league by storm winning the championship 80 season.
four times between 1946–50. After finishing In 1981–82 the league was split into East
second in 1949–50 Banstead Athletic took and West sections, with Ash United beating
over the role as most consistent club. They Malden Town in the play-off. Since 1982
were champions for the next four seasons the league has reverted back to one division.
and never finished lower than second be- The Combined Counties league reached an
tween 1949–59. agreement to become a feeder league for the
In the 1960s a number of sides switched to Isthmian League, whilst at the bottom end of
the Spartan League they included Molesey, the league, arrangements had been made to