London League
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The London League was a football competition that was held in the London and surrounding areas of south-east England from 1896 until 1964.
In 1896 the president of the London League was Arnold Hills founder of Thames Ironworks F.C. (now known as West Ham United). One of the men who helped draft the rules of the competition was Francis Payne, club secretary of Thames Ironworks F.C. in 1897. The league started with three divisions, the 3rd Grenadier Guards winning the inagural championship.
The league fluctuated between having a single division and reaching four divisions. Before World War I, most of the senior London Football League clubs fielded a reserve side in the London League.
In 1964, the London League ceased to exist, merging with the Aetolian League to form the Greater London League, which then further merged in 1971 with the Metropolitan League.
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[edit] Champions
[edit] London League Division One
- 1896-1897 - 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.
- 1897-1898 - Thames Ironworks F.C.
[edit] London League Division Two
- 1896-1897 - Bromley F.C.
- 1897-1898 - Barnet F.C.
[edit] London League Premier Division
- 1902-1903 - Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
- 1903-1904 - Millwall F.C.
[edit] London League Division One A
- 1909-1910 - Barking F.C.
In 1924, Division Two was disbanded
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1924-25 | Leyton | Bromley reserves |
| 1925-26 | Leyton | Bromley reserves |
| 1926-27 | Grays Athletic | Callender Athletic |
| 1927-28 | Epsom Town | Beckenham |
| 1928-29 | Mitcham Wanderers | Holland Athletic |
| 1929-30 | Grays Athletic | Park Royal |
| 1930-31 | Chelmsford | Park Royal |
| 1931-32 | Park Royal | Chelmsford reserves |
| 1932-33 | Park Royal | Leavesden Mental Hospital |
| 1933-34 | Park Royal | Eton Manor |
| 1934-35 | Park Royal | Northmet |
| 1935-36 | Leavesden Mental Hospital | Ford Sports |
| 1936-37 | Finchley | Briggs Motor Bodies |
| 1937-38 | Eton Manor | Northmet |
| 1938-39 | Dagenham Town | Briggs Motor Bodies |
In 1939, the league was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II. On the resumption of football after the War, nineteen clubs played in the London League, split into Western and Eastern Divisions. Eastern Division champions Woolwich Polytechnic beat Eastern Champions Edgware Town 2-1 in a play-off
| Year | Premier Division | Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945-46 | Edgware Town | Woolwich Polytechnic |
In 1946, the divisions were re-organised, and a new structure of a Premier Division and a Division One was formed
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1946-47 | Chelmsford City reserves | Dagenham British Legion |
Within 12 months, enough clubs had joined to form a new Division Two
| Year | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947-48 | Chelmsford City reserves | Cheshunt | West Thurrock Athletic |
| 1948-49 | Guildford City reserves | Cheshunt | Vickers |
| 1949-50 | Cheshunt | Vickers | Bata Sports |
| 1950-51 | Dartford reserves | Aveley | Woodford Town reserves |
| 1951-52 | West Thurrock Athletic | London Transport | Pitsea United |
| 1952-53 | Eton Manor | Storey Athletic | Wapping Sports |
In 1953, Division Two was disbanded
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1953-54 | Eton Manor | London Transport |
| 1954-55 | Aveley | Wapping Sports |
| 1955-56 | Eton Manor | Beta Sports |
In 1956, Division One was disbanded, leaving only a single Senior section
| Year | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1956-57 | Cray Wanderers |
| 1957-58 | Cray Wanderers |
| 1958-59 | Tilbury |
| 1959-60 | Tilbury |
| 1960-61 | Tilbury |
| 1961-62 | Tilbury |
| 1962-63 | Chingford |
In 1963, an increase in the number of clubs led to a reversion to two divisions.
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1963-64 | Epping Town | CAV Athletic |
[edit] League Positions
[edit] Division One 1896-1897
- 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.
- Thames Ironworks F.C.
- Barking Woodville F.C.
- Ilford F.C.
- Crouch End F.C.
- Vampires F.C.
- London Welsh F.C.
- 1st Scots Guards F.C. withdrew during the season and the matches were expunged from the records. London Welsh F.C. were suspended close to the end of season, and as a result Thames Ironworks F.C. were awarded two wins for games unplayed against them.
[edit] Division One 1897-1898
- Thames Ironworks F.C.
- Brentford F.C.
- Leyton F.C.
- 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.
- Ilford F.C.
- Stanley F.C.
- Barking Woodville F.C.
- Bromley F.C.
- 2nd Grenadier Guards F.C.
[edit] References
- Football Club History Database
- Blows, Kirk & Hogg, Tony (2000). The Essential History of West Ham United. Headline. ISBN 0-7472-7036-8.
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