Page 28 - CHUFC vs Farnham Town
P. 28

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
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