Page 36 - Raynes Park Vale v Welling Town (FA Vase) 25.09.21

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