The Combination

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The Combination was a minor league during the early days of English football. It ran from the 1890-91 season and disbanded in 1911. The league comprised teams from Cheshire, North Wales, and North Staffordshire. It was succeeded by the Cheshire County League and later by the North West Counties League.^[1]

The nine founding members of the league were:

Burton Swifts
Chester
Denton
Gorton Villa
Hyde (not related to the current Hyde United)
Macclesfield
Northwich Victoria
Witton (not related to the current Witton Albion F.C.)
Wrexham

All but four of the founding teams would eventually go on to play in the Football League, although in the case of Macclesfield, this would not happen until 1997-98. Glossop North End, who joined in 1894, were also elected to the League (in 1898).

The league should not be confused with the current Football Combination, a competition for reserve teams from the South of England, or with the Lancashire Combination, another minor league running around the same time.