| Countries | England, Guernsey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Divisions | 2 |
| Number of teams | 40 |
| Levels on pyramid | Level 9–10 |
| Feeder to | |
| Promotion to | |
| Relegation to | |
| Domestic cup(s) |
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| Current champions | Guildford City (2010–11) |
| Website | Official website |
| 2011–12 season | |
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey (Channel Islands). Its top division sits at Step 5 of the National League System (or level 9 of the overall English football league system).
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The league's history can be traced back to 1978 when the Surrey Senior League underwent a metamorphosis in order to try to attract clubs from outside the county. The new league was initially called the Home Counties League but there were objections to the proposed title so, in 1979, it adopted the current title.
For the 1981–82 season the league had too many clubs to operate a standard league season so the clubs were split into two equal divisions, Eastern and Western, with Ash United from the Western division beating the Eastern champions Malden Town 3–0 after a two-legged play-off.
The league was adopted as a feeder to the Isthmian League but, since the F.A. restructuring of the National League System, clubs can be promoted to either the Southern League or the Isthmian League depending on geographical considerations. From 1982 a similar arrangement below the Combined Counties League existed with the Surrey County Senior League (formerly the Surrey Premier League) but in 2003 the two leagues merged and the former Surrey County Senior League members formed a new Combined Counties Division One, with the previous members forming a Premier Division. League rules allow up to three teams to be promoted and relegated between the two divisions but this is dependant on the clubs finishing in the top three of Division One having the correct ground-grading. Division One is "fed" by the leagues at Step 7 of the National League System such as the East Berkshire Football League, the Middlesex County League and the Reading Football League. The Surrey Elite Intermediate League, although not currently recognised as a Step 7 league by the F.A., also has a promotion/relegation link with the Combined Counties League.
Attendances at league games in the Premier Division average approximately sixty-five.[1] The league saw an exception to this for two seasons from 2002–03 when AFC Wimbledon were members with attendances at their games regularly over 1000.
The League organises four cups. The Premier Challenge Cup is competed for by the teams in the Premier and First divisions. The current holders are Sandhurst Town. There is also a competition for Division One sides only which is held by South Park and a cup for the teams in the Reserve Division which is held by Mole Valley SCR Reserves. The League does not have a youth section but does organise a cup competition for member clubs who have teams playing in the under 18 age group. The current holders are Bedfont Sports Under 18s.
The League has had a succession of title sponsors. Currently Cherry Red Records are the main sponsors. Their El Records, Lemon Recordings and RPM Records offshoots are the sponsors of the Premier Challenge Cup, Division One Challenge Cup and Reserve Challenge Cup respectively.
For the 1978–79 season the league was known as the Home Counties League.
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1978–79 | British Aerospace (Weybridge) |
| 1979–80 | Guildford & Worplesdon |
| 1980–81 | Malden Town |
For the 1981–82 season the league expanded to two divisions.
| Season | Western Division | Eastern Division | Championship Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–82 | Ash United | Malden Town | Ash United won 3–0 |
For the 1982–83 season the league reverted to a single division.
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Hartley Wintney |
| 1983–84 | Godalming Town |
| 1984–85 | Malden Vale |
| 1985–86 | British Aerospace (Weybridge) |
| 1986–87 | Ash United |
| 1987–88 | British Aerospace (Weybridge) |
| 1988–89 | British Aerospace (Weybridge) |
| 1989–90 | Chipstead |
| 1990–91 | Farnham Town |
| 1991–92 | Farnham Town |
| 1992–93 | Peppard |
| 1993–94 | Peppard |
| 1994–95 | Ashford Town (Middx) |
| 1995–96 | Ashford Town (Middx) |
| 1996–97 | Ashford Town (Middx) |
| 1997–98 | Ashford Town (Middx) |
| 1998–99 | Ash United |
| 1999-00 | Ashford Town (Middx) |
| 2000–01 | Cove |
| 2001–02 | AFC Wallingford |
| 2002–03 | Withdean 2000 |
For the 2003–04 season Division One was added formed mainly of clubs from the Surrey County Senior League.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | AFC Wimbledon | AFC Guildford |
| 2004–05 | Walton Casuals | Coney Hall |
| 2005–06 | Godalming Town | Warlingham |
| 2006–07 | Chipstead | Farnham Town |
| 2007–08 | Merstham | Staines Lammas |
| 2008–09 | Bedfont Green | Staines Lammas |
| 2009–10 | North Greenford United | Mole Valley SCR |
| 2010–11 | Guildford City | Worcester Park |
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