North Bucks & District Football League

North Bucks & District Football League
Countries  England
Founded 1911
Divisions Premier Division
Intermediate Division
Division One
Division Two
Number of teams 63 (42 members)
Levels on pyramid Levels 12–15
Promotion to Spartan South Midlands Football League Division Two
United Counties Football League Division One
Domestic cup(s) Inter Divisional Challenge Cup
Premier Division Challenge Trophy
Intermediate Division Challenge Trophy
Division One Challenge Trophy
Division Two Challenge Trophy
Reserve Team Challenge Trophy
Current champions Brackley Sports (2010–11)
Website Official website

The North Bucks & District Football League, commonly referred to as simply the North Bucks League, is a competition affiliated to the Berks & Bucks County Football Association featuring amateur association football clubs primarily in Northern Buckinghamshire, England, although there are members from the surrounding counties of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. The league was established in 1911 and is split into four divisions: the Premier Division, the Intermediate Division, Division One and Division Two, which sit in the 12th to 15th tiers of the English football league system. The Premier Division sits immediately below the lowest level of the National League System – Step 7.

Contents

Format

Santander
Bletchley
Bow Brickhill
Brackley
Buckingham
Celtic
Charlton
Colts
Deanshanger
Denbigh
Great Horwood
Linford
Grendon
Hanslope
J.M. / Woughton
Loughton
Marsh Gibbon
Churches / Titans
Wanderers
Olney
Potterspury
Padbury
Silverstone
Southcott
Steeple Claydon
Stewkley
Stoke Hammond
Syresham
Thornborough
Twyford
Westbury
Wicken
Wing
Wolverton
Yardley
Locations of all the league's football clubs for the 2011–12 season in relation to the county of Buckinghamshire.

League

The North Bucks League's 64 teams are grouped into four divisions: the Premier Division, the Intermediate Division, Division One and Division Two, which are made up of 15, 16, 16 and 17 teams, respectively. In any given season a club plays each of the others in the same division twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. Many of the league's teams are reserve teams of other North Bucks League clubs and full membership in the league is capped at 44 clubs; there are currently 42 clubs (and 22 reserve teams).

Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. At the end of the season, clubs towards the top of their division may win promotion to the next higher division, while those at the bottom may be relegated to the next lower one. The top club in the Premier Division may be promoted to the Spartan South Midlands Football League Division Two, but in practice application to the South Midlands League is separate from this, and is more dependent on the club facilities rather than league position.[1] Sometimes clubs are promoted to leagues which better suit their location, such as the United Counties Football League Division One for more northerly-based teams. Clubs are promoted to and relegated from the component leagues of the North Bucks League at the end of each season, but relegation from Division Two is not possible because there is no lower level football competition in the region in the league system. Division size is capped at eighteen.

The more demanding requirements of the South Midlands League have led to some clubs remaining in the North Bucks League despite continued dominance, as they do not meet or do not wish to meet the standards required off the pitch. For example, PB (MK) won all but one league game, which they lost, in their first four seasons, but did not have a pitch that met the higher league's required standards and so remained in the North Bucks League. Other teams have moved to the South Midlands League from a lower level, skipping the Premier Division. Both Bletchley Town and MK Wanderers moved from the North Bucks Division One to the Spartan South Midlands Division Two for the 2008–09 season, although MK Wanderers did resign early in the following season after a string of heavy defeats and resumed membership of the North Bucks & District League.

Cups

The North Bucks & District Football League organises six knock-out cup competitions: the four Challenge Trophy competitions, the Inter Divisional Challenge Cup and the Reserve Team Challenge Trophy. The Challenge Trophy is open to all of the league's teams, but is split into four sections, so that there is a separate competition for each division. The final of each tournament is played at a neutral venue. The Inter Divisional Challenge Cup – known as the Cowley and Wilson Cup for sponsorship reasons – is competed in by all first-team members of the North Bucks League and was re-introduced for the 2010–11 season. The Reserve Team Challenge Trophy is organised in the same manner as the Inter Divisional Challenge Cup but only the reserve teams are eligible. Additionally, clubs may be invited to play in the Buckingham Charity Cup and can enter County Cups organised by the Berks & Bucks FA, although some teams fall under the auspices of other county authorities. Milton Keynes Wanderers Reserves and Buckingham Town Reserves compete in the league and cup competitions as first-teams, rather than reserve teams, despite the fact their first-teams compete in the Spartan South Midlands League.

History

The league was established in 1911 to serve a similar area that it does today.

Governance

The League Management Committee meets monthly and consists of the following members as of the March 2011 meeting:[2]

Clubs

Below are listed the member clubs of North Bucks & District Football League for the 2011–12 season. Buckingham Town entered a reserve team, while the newly-formed Real Padbury, JM United, Milton Keynes Churches, Milton Keynes City and the University of Buckingham all became full members for the first time, while Hale Leys United, Old Stratford, Twyford United Reserves and Winslow United Reserves renounced their entries.

Premier Division

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2010–11
Brackley Sports 2004 Northamptonshire FA 0011st
Buckingham Town Reserves 1883 Berks & Bucks FA 100New entry
Deanshanger Athletic 1946 Northamptonshire FA 01212th
Great Linford 1993 Berks & Bucks FA 0255th, Intermediate Division
Grendon Rangers 1947 Berks & Bucks FA 0077th
Loughton Manor 2003 Berks & Bucks FA 0066th
Milton Keynes Titans 1995 Berks & Bucks FA 01313th
Milton Keynes Wanderers Reserves 1992 Berks & Bucks FA 0211st, Intermediate Division
Potterspury 1980 Northamptonshire FA 0055th
Silverstone 1971 Northamptonshire FA 0088th
Southcott Village Residents' Association 1993 Bedfordshire FA 0044th
Stewkley 1946 Berks & Bucks FA 0033rd
Thornborough Athletic 1988 Berks & Bucks FA 0099th
Wolverton Town 2004 Berks & Bucks FA 01010th
Yardley Gobion 1906 Northamptonshire FA 01111th

Intermediate Division

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2010–11
Bow Brickhill 1970 Berks & Bucks FA 0277th
Brackley Sports Reserves — — 0244th
Celtic Milton Keynes 2010 Berks & Bucks FA 0411st, Division One
City Colts 1998 Berks & Bucks FA 0622nd, Division Two
Denbigh Hall 2004 Berks & Bucks FA 0222nd
Great Horwood 1966 Berks & Bucks FA 0299th
Hanslope 1911 Berks & Bucks FA 0444th, Division One
J.M. United 2010 Berks & Bucks FA 100New entry
Milton Keynes Churches 1997 Berks & Bucks FA 100New entry
Milton Keynes Titans Reserves — — 03212th
Olney Town 2009 Berks & Bucks FA 0611st, Division Two
Santander 1987 Berks & Bucks FA 0288th
Steeple Claydon 1952 Berks & Bucks FA 0433rd, Division One
Stoke Hammond Wanderers 1990 Berks & Bucks FA 0233rd
Syresham 1957 Northamptonshire FA 01414th; Premier Division
Wicken Sports 1964 Northamptonshire FA 03111th

Division One

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2010–11
Bletchley Bridge 2009 Berks & Bucks FA 0488th
Bow Brickhill Reserves 065
Charlton & District 2007 Northamptonshire FA 0477th
Deanshanger Athletic Reserves — — 05414th
Grendon Rangers Reserves — — 0466th
Marsh Gibbon 1938 Berks & Bucks FA 05111th
Potterspury Reserves — — 05010th
Southcott Village Residents' Association Reserves — — 0455th
Stewkley Reserves — — 05313th
Stoke Hammond Reserves — — 0422nd
Syresham Reserves — — 0686th in Division Two
Twyford United 1992 Berks & Bucks FA 03313th, Intermediate Division
Westbury 1948 Berks & Bucks FA 0644th, Division Two
Woughton 1989 Berks & Bucks FA 05515th

Division Two

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2010–11
City Colts — — 100New entry
Great Horwood Reserves — — 07313th
Great Linford Reserves — — 07414th
Hanslope Reserves — — 07010th
Marsh Gibbon Reserves — — 07212th
Milton Keynes Wanderers 'A' — — 100New entry
Real Padbury 2011 Berks & Bucks FA 100New entry
Silverstone Reserves — — 07616th
Steeple Claydon Reserves — — 100New entry
University of Buckingham 2011 Berks & Bucks FA 100New entry
Wicken Sports Reserves — — 0688th
Wing Village 1896 Berks & Bucks FA 0699th
Wolverton Town Reserves — — 100New entry
Yardley Gobion Reserves — — 07111th

Notable former members

Buckingham Athletic, Brackley Town, Olney Town, Mursley United, Cranfield United and Newport Pagnell Wanderers – now called Newport Pagnell Town following a name change – are clubs who have gone on to excel at a higher level. Buckingham Athletic are currently competing in Spartan South Midlands League Division One and last competed in the North Bucks & District Football League in 1985, having enjoyed membership for seven seasons following relegation from the Hellenic League. Mursley United play in the division below Buckingham Athletic, having left the North Bucks League in 1996, three years after joining it. Olney Town and Newport Pagnell both compete in the United Counties League, the former in Division One and the latter in the Premier Division. Olney were founder members of the North Bucks League in 1911, but left for the East Northants League after the Second World War before returning in the 1930s. The early 1960s saw the club move back to the East Northants League, then known as the Rushden District League. Shortly after that, they gained promotion to the United Counties League, where they have remained ever since. Newport Pagnell joined the North Bucks League after formation in 1963 before gaining promotion in 1972. Brackley Town are the ex-North Bucks League side that play at the highest level; they currently participate in the Southern League Premier Division and hold the record the ex-North Bucks League member making the longest run in the FA Cup, achieving an appearance in the FA Cup First Round Proper in 2008–09. Brackley played in the League in two spells: from post-World War II until 1968 and from 1974 until 1983. Cranfield United, who never won the North Bucks League, now ply their trade in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

Past winners

1911–1932

The League originally consisted of just one division. Three seasons of competition were held before the outbreak of the First World War. Competition re-commenced two years after the First World War ended. This is a list of winners for the period in which the League had one division, which ended in 1932.[3]

Year League
1911–12 Cosgrove St Peter
1912–13 Stantonbury St Peter
1913–14 Stantonbury St Peter
1914–20 League suspended due to World War I
1920–21 Newport Autos
1921–22 Newport Autos
1922–23 Wolverton Town
1923–24 Newport Autos
1924–25 Buckingham Town
1925–26 Stony Stratford S.
1926–27 Winslow United
1927–28 Cosgrove St Peter
1928–29 Buckingham Town
1929–30 Bletchley L.M.S.
1930–31 Winslow United
1931–32 Wolverton Town

1932–1973

In 1932, the Second Division was introduced. Seven years later, competition was interrupted by global conflict for the second time in the form of the Second World War. Competition was halted in 1939 and begun again in 1946. This section documents the champions of both divisions until the introduction of a third tier in 1973.[3]

Year Division One Division Two
1932–33 Salmon Sports Olney Town[4]
1933–34 Buckingham Town Newport Athletic
1934–35 Potterspury Wolverton Congs
1935–36 Buckingham Town Cranfield United
1936–37 Buckingham Town Yardley Gobion
1937–38 Potterspury Old Bradwell
1938–39 Stantonbury St Peter Emberton
1939–46 League suspended due to World War II
1946–47 Bletchley L.M.S. Stony Stratford S.
1947–48 Towcester Town Cosgrove St Peter
1948–49 Buckingham Town Roade Cranfield United[5](Shield)
1949–50 Buckingham Town Bletchley B.O.B.B.
1950–51 Deanshanger Athletic Silverstone British Legion
1951–52 Deanshanger Athletic Castlethorpe
1952–53 Deanshanger Athletic Tingewick Sports
1953–54 Castlethorpe C.A.D. Buckingham
1954–55 Deanshanger Athletic Roade
1955–56 Castlethorpe C.A.D. Buckingham Castlethorpe Reserves[6] (Div 3)
1956–57 Deanshanger Athletic Stony Stratford Town
1957–58 Castlethorpe Steeple Claydon
1958–59 Deanshanger Athletic Blakesley & Woodend
1959–60 Deanshanger Athletic Cosgrove St Peter
1960–61 Silverstone British Legion North Crawley Buckingham Athletic[7] (Inter-Div)
1961–62 Olney Town Yardley Gobion
1962–63 Hanslope Syresham
1963–64 Yardley Gobion Mursley United
1964–65 Hanslope Winslow United Newport Pagnell Town[8] (Div 3)
1965–66 Yardley Gobion Roade
1966–67 Towcester Town Newport Pagnell Town
1967–68 Newport Pagnell Town Towcester Town Reserves
1968–69 Newport Pagnell Town Newport Pagnell Town Reserves
1969–70 Newport Pagnell Town Newport Pagnell Town Reserves
1970–71 Yardley Gobion Syresham
1971–72 Sherington Blakesley United
1972–73 Yardley Gobion Cosgrove St Peter

1973–1994

1973 witnessed the introduction of a third division. Named the Premier Division, it sat above Division One and Division Two. This section lists the champions of all three divisions until a fourth tier was introduced in 1994.[3]

Year Premier Division Division One Division Two
League Cup League Cup League Cup
1973–74 Grendon Rangers Yardley Gobion Yardley Gobion Reserves
1974–75 Grendon Rangers Buckingham Town[9] Yardley Gobion Yardley Gobion Reserves
1975–76 Middleton Cheney Yardley Gobion Galley Hill
1976–77 Middleton Cheney Middleton Cheney[10] Galley Hill Blakesley
1977–78 McCorquodale Old Bradwell United North Crawley
1978–79
1979–80
1980–81
1981–82
1982–83 Newport Town
1983–84 Buckingham Athletic[7]
1984–85 Buckingham Athletic[7]
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89 Shenley & Loughton[11]
1989–90 Kettering Nomads[12]
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93 Stewkley[13]
1993–94 Stewkley[13]

1994–2010

The most recent expansion of the league involved the introduction of a fourth division, the Intermediate Division, in 1994.[3]

Year Premier Division Intermediate Division Division One Division Two
League Cup League Cup League Cup League Cup
1994–95 Potterspury Mursley United Potterspury Reserves Milton Keynes Athletic Reserves
1995–96
1996–97 Newport Athletic Milton Keynes Athletic Westbury Sherington
1997–98 Padbury United[14]
1998–99 Padbury United[14]
1999–00 Padbury United[14]
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03 Roade[15] Roade[15] Castlethorpe[16]
2003–04 PB (Milton Keynes)[17] or
Steeple Claydon Reserves[18]
2004–05 Steeple Claydon[18] Stewkley[13] Heath Panthers United[19] PB (Milton Keynes)[17] Loughton Athletic[20] Brickhill Rangers[21] Brickhill Rangers[21]
2005–06 Potterspury PB (Milton Keynes)[17] Brickhill Rangers[21] Brickhill Rangers[21] Brackley Sports Reserves[22]
2006–07 PB (Milton Keynes)[23] PB (Milton Keynes) Thornborough Athletic[24] Brackley Sports Reserves[22] Great Linford Lavendon Sports Reserves[23]
2007–08 PB (Milton Keynes)[25] PB (Milton Keynes) Brickhill Rangers[25] Rangers XI[25] Wolverton Town Wolverton Town Reserves[25] E&H
2008–09 Lavendon Sports[26] Brickhill Rangers[27] Sherington[26] Sherington[28] Woburn Sands Wanderers[26] Westbury[26] Heath Panthers United
2009–10 Steeple Claydon[18][29] Potterspury[29] Heath Panthers United[29] Heath Panthers United Stewkley Reserves[13][29]

2010–present

At the end of the 2009–10 season, the League decided to re-introduce the Inter Divisional Cup for the 2010–11 season.[30]

Year Premier Division Intermediate Division Division One Division Two Inter Divisional Cup
League Cup League Cup League Cup League Cup
2010–11 Brackley Sports[31] Hale Leys United[32] Milton Keynes Wanderers[31] Great Linford[32] Celtic Milton Keynes[31] Celtic Milton Keynes[32] Olney Town Colts[31] Olney Town Colts[32] Potterspury[32]

Titles by club

This is an incomplete list of clubs that have been North Bucks League champions in order of success.

Club Titles Years
Buckingham Town 7 1924–25, 1928–29, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1948–49, 1949–50
Deanshanger Athletic 7 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60
Potterspury 4 1934–35, 1937–38, 1994–95, 2005–06
Yardley Gobion 4 1963–64, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1972–73
Castlethorpe 3 1953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58
Newport Autos 3 1920–21, 1921–22, 1923–24
Newport Pagnell Town 3 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70
Stantonbury St Peter 3 1912–13, 1913–14, 1938–39
Bletchley L.M.S. 2 1929–30, 1946–47
Cosgrove St Peter 2 1911–12, 1927–28
Grendon Rangers 2 1973–74, 1974–75
Hanslope 2 1962–63, 1964–65
Middleton Cheney 2 1975–76, 1976–77
PB (Milton Keynes) 2 2006–07, 2007–08
Padbury United 2 1997–98, 1998–99
Steeple Claydon 2 2004–05, 2009–10
Stewkley 2 1992–93, 1993–94
Towcester Town 2 1947–48, 1966–67
Winslow United 2 1926–27, 1930–31
Wolverton Town 2 1922–23, 1931–32
Brackley Sports 1 2010–11
Buckingham Athletic 1 1984–85
Kettering Nomads 1 1989–90
Lavendon Sports 1 2008–09
McCorquodale 1 1977–78
Newport Town 1 1982–83
Newport Athletic 1 1996–97
Olney Town 1 1961–62
Roade 1 2002–03
Salmon Sports 1 1932–33
Shenley & Loughton 1 1988–89
Sherington 1 1972–73
Silverstone British Legion 1 1960–61
Stony Stratford S. 1 1925–26

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ "North Bucks League - North Bucks League Premier Division". Non-League Matters. nonleaguematters.co.uk. http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/divisions/136/. Retrieved 19 October 2011. 
  2. ^ "Minutes of the League Management Meeting – Thursday 3rd March 2011". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. http://nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/minutes030311.pdf. Retrieved 13 April 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c d "History". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. http://www.nbdfl.co.uk/id1.html. Retrieved 17 June 2011. 
  4. ^ "Honours". Olney Town F.C.. www.olneytownfc.com. http://www.olneytownfc.com/about_honours.php. 
  5. ^ "Our History". Cranfield United F.C.. www.cranfieldunitedfc.co.uk. http://www.cranfieldunitedfc.co.uk/index_files/Page387.htm. 
  6. ^ "The Bucks Standard July 6th 1956". Milton Keynes Heritage Association. www.mkheritage.co.uk. http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/cv/docs/people/football1956.html. 
  7. ^ a b c "History of Buckingham Athletic Football Club...". Buckingham Athletic F.C.. www.buckinghamathletic.co.uk. http://www.buckinghamathletic.co.uk/our-club. 
  8. ^ "Club History". Newport Pagnell Town F.C.. www.nptfc.co.uk. http://www.nptfc.co.uk/history.htm. 
  9. ^ "History". Buckingham Town F.C.. bt-fc.co.uk. http://www.bt-fc.co.uk/history/. 
  10. ^ "History". Middleton Cheney F.C.. www.middletonchenyfc.org. http://middletoncheneyfc.org/history.php. 
  11. ^ "Non League Tables for 1988-1989". www.nonleaguetables.co.uk. http://www.nonleaguetables.co.uk/lthtml/lt1988-1989.html#NBUCKS. 
  12. ^ "Club History". Kettering Nomads A.F.C.. www.ketteringnomadsfc.com. http://www.ketteringnomadsfc.com/clubhistory.htm. 
  13. ^ a b c d "Club History". Stewkley F.C.. stewkleyfc.co.uk. http://www.stewkleyfc.co.uk/history.pl. 
  14. ^ a b c "Padbury United FC - A History". Padbury United F.C.. padburyunitedfc.com. http://www.padburyunitedfc.com/history.html. 
  15. ^ a b "Home page". Roade F.C.. www.webteams.co.uk. http://www.webteams.co.uk/_2010/Home.aspx?team=roadefootballclub. 
  16. ^ "Castlethorpe Football Club". Castlethorpe Village. www.castlethorpevillage.org.uk. http://www.castlethorpevillage.org.uk/sports/castlethorpe-football-club. 
  17. ^ a b c "Club History". PB (Milton Keynes F.C.. clubwebsite.co.uk. http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/pbmiltonkeynesfc/history.pl. 
  18. ^ a b c "History & Honours - Honours". Steeple Claydon F.C.. pitchero.com. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/steepleclaydonfc/a/history-honours-8493.html&page=3. 
  19. ^ "Final League Tables 2004 - 2005 Season". Great Horwood F.C.. www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk. http://www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk/Archive/2004-05/NorthBucks%20final%20Tables%202004-05.html. 
  20. ^ "Athletic clinch trophy victory". Milton Keynes Citizen (www.miltonkeynes.co.uk). 12 May 2005. http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/athletic_clinch_trophy_victory_1_854486. 
  21. ^ a b c d "AFC Brickhill Rangers - Club Honours". A.F.C. Brickhill Rangers. www.afcrangers.net. http://www.afcrangers.net/honours_display.php. 
  22. ^ a b "Brackley Sports FC – A Brief History". Brackley Sports F.C.. www.brackleysportsfc.co.uk. http://www.brackleysportsfc.co.uk/mysql_db/p_frameID/history/. 
  23. ^ a b "Final League Tables 2006 - 2007 Season". Great Horwood F.C.. www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk. http://www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk/Archive/2006-07/NorthBucks%20final%20Tables%202006-07.html. 
  24. ^ "Title joy for local sides". Buckinghamshire Advertiser (www.highbeam.com). 11 May 2007. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-182502782.html. 
  25. ^ a b c d "Final League Tables – 2007/08". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. http://www.nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/finalleaguetables20072008.pdf. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  26. ^ a b c d "Final League Tables – 2008/09". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. http://www.nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/finalleaguetables20082009.pdf. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  27. ^ "Rangers lift Premier Division Trophy". A.F.C. Brickhill Rangers (www.afcrangers.net). http://www.afcrangers.net/article_display.php?id=272. 
  28. ^ "At the double". Sherington Village (sherington.org.uk). http://www.sherington.org.uk/sfc2.htm. 
  29. ^ a b c d "Final League Tables – 2009/10". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. http://www.nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/finalleaguetables20092010.pdf. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  30. ^ "Minutes of the League Management Meeting – Thursday 10th June 2010". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. http://nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/minutes270510.pdf. Retrieved 19 April 2011. 
  31. ^ a b c d "Final League Tables 2010/11". nbdfl.co.uk. http://www.nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/finalleaguetables20102011.pdf. 
  32. ^ a b c d e "Cup Results Full 2010/11". nbdfl.co.uk. http://www.nbdfl.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/cupresultsfull201011.pdf. 
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