North Bucks & District Football League

North Bucks & District Football League
Country England
Founded 1911
Divisions Premier Division
Intermediate Division
Division One
Division Two
Number of teams 53 (37 members)
Level 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 City Colts (2013–14)
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.

Format

Santander / Loughton

Bow Brickhill

Brackley Old Boys / Sports

Charlton

Clean Slate

Colts

Comet

Deanshanger

Great Horwood

Linford

Grendon

Hanslope

Marsh Gibbon

Titans

Wanderers

Stars

Olney

Padbury

Potterspury

Silverstone

Southcott

Steeple Claydon

Stewkley

Stoke Hammond

Syresham

Tattenhoe

Towcester

Twyford

Uni

Westbury

Wicken

Wing

Wolverton

Yardley

Locations of all the league's football clubs for the 2014–15 season in relation to the county of Buckinghamshire.

League

The North Bucks League's 53 teams are grouped into four divisions: the Premier Division, the Intermediate Division, Division One and Division Two, which are made up of 13, 13, 14 and 13 teams, respectively. In any given season a club plays each of the others in the same division twice, once at their home ground 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 (which gives the right to enter at least one team into competition) stands at 37 for the 2014–15 season and is capped at 44 clubs.[1] Fifteen of the 37 also field a second team (and one fields a third team), but these second teams are barred from competing in the same division, while any club that fields only one side in the North Bucks League but has a first team at a higher level may not enter a team in the lower two divisions of the North Bucks League.[1]

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.[2] 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.[1]

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 Milton Keynes 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. Reserve sides whose first teams compete at a higher level (for example in the Spartan South Midlands League) are not considered reserve sides for the purpose of the 2 inter-divisional cup competitions.

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:[3]

Clubs

Below are listed the member clubs of North Bucks & District Football League for the 2014–15 season.[4]

Premier Division

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2013–14
Brackley Sports2004Northamptonshire FA4th, Intermediate Division
Comet Milton Keynes2012Berks & Bucks FA5th, Intermediate Division
Deanshanger Athletic1946Northamptonshire FA1st, Intermediate Division
Great Horwood1966Berks & Bucks FA4th
Great Linford1993Berks & Bucks FA9th
Hanslope1911Berks & Bucks FA3rd, Intermediate Division
Loughton Manor2003Berks & Bucks FA2nd
Marsh Gibbon1938Berks & Bucks FA2nd, Intermediate Division
Milton Keynes Wanderers1992Berks & Bucks FA8th
Potterspury1980Northamptonshire FA3rd
Silverstone1971Northamptonshire FA7th
Stewkley1946Berks & Bucks FA5th
Syresham1988Northamptonshire FA6th

Intermediate Division

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2013–14
AFC Santander1987Berks & Bucks FA8th
Bow Brickhill1970Berks & Bucks FAWithdrew during season
Charlton & District2007Northamptonshire FA4th, Division One
Clean Slate Reserves2010Berks & Bucks FANew entry
Grendon Rangers Reserves1947Berks & Bucks FA11th
Milton Keynes Gallacticos (sic) 2008Berks & Bucks FANew entry
Milton Keynes Titans1995Berks & Bucks FA7th
Potterspury Reserves——1st, Division One
Southcott Village Residents Association1993Bedfordshire FA3rd, Division One
Towcester Town1988Northamptonshire FANew entry
Wicken Sports1964Northamptonshire FAWithdrew during season
Wolverton Town 'A'2004Berks & Bucks FANew entry
Yardley Gobion1906Northamptonshire FA10th, Premier Divison

Division One

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2013–14
Brackley Old Boys2014Northamptonshire FANew entry
Deanshanger Athletic Reserves——12th
Great Horwood Reserves——15th
Great Linford Reserves——7th
Hanslope Reserves——3rd, Division Two
Milton Keynes Wanderers Reserves——14th
Olney2009Berks & Bucks FA9th
Padbury Village2011Berks & Bucks FA10th
Stoke Hammond Wanderers2001Berks & Bucks FA6th
Syresham Reserves——1st, Division Two
Tattenhoe 2006Berks & Bucks FA4th, Division Two
Twyford United1992Berks & Bucks FA2nd, Division Two
University of Buckingham2011Berks & Bucks FA11th
Wicken Sports Reserves——8th

Division Two

Club Founded Affiliation Position
in 2013–14
Brackley Sports Reserves——New entry
City Colts 'A'1998Berks & Bucks FA10th
Comet Milton Keynes Reserves——9th
Marsh Gibbon Reserves——12th
Milton Keynes Wanderers 'A'——New entry
New City Stars2013Berks & Bucks FANew entry
Padbury Village Reserves——14th
Silverstone Reserves——7th
Steeple Claydon1952Berks & Bucks FA4th, Division One
Stewkley Reserves——16th, Division One
Westbury1948Berks & Bucks FA11th
Wing Village1896Berks & Bucks FA8th
Yardley Gobion Reserves——6th

Notable former members

Buckingham Athletic, Buckingham Town, Brackley Town, Olney Town, Mursley United, Cranfield United and Newport Pagnell Wanderers – now called Newport Pagnell Town following a name change – are among the clubs which have competed 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. Buckingham Town, Olney Town and Newport Pagnell compete in the United Counties League, Buckingham Town and Olney in Division One and Newport Pagnell 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 Conference North 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 Second Round Proper in 2013. 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, has competed in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One but now plays in the Bedfordshire County Football League.

Past winners

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

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.[5]

YearLeague
1911–12Cosgrove St Peter
1912–13Stantonbury St Peter
1913–14Stantonbury St Peter
1914–20League suspended due to World War I
1920–21Newport Autos
1921–22Newport Autos
1922–23Wolverton Town
1923–24Newport Autos
1924–25Buckingham Town
1925–26Stony Stratford S.
1926–27Winslow United
1927–28Cosgrove St Peter
1928–29Buckingham Town
1929–30Bletchley L.M.S.
1930–31Winslow United
1931–32Wolverton 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.[5]

YearDivision OneDivision Two
1932–33Salmon SportsOlney Town[6]
1933–34Buckingham TownNewport Athletic
1934–35PotterspuryWolverton Congs
1935–36Buckingham TownCranfield United
1936–37Buckingham TownYardley Gobion
1937–38PotterspuryOld Bradwell
1938–39Stantonbury St PeterEmberton
1939–46League suspended due to World War II
1946–47Bletchley L.M.S.Stony Stratford S.
1947–48Towcester TownCosgrove St Peter
1948–49Buckingham TownRoadeCranfield United[7](Shield)
1949–50Buckingham TownBletchley B.O.B.B.
1950–51Deanshanger AthleticSilverstone British Legion
1951–52Deanshanger AthleticCastlethorpe
1952–53Deanshanger AthleticTingewick Sports
1953–54CastlethorpeC.A.D. Buckingham
1954–55Deanshanger AthleticRoade
1955–56CastlethorpeC.A.D. BuckinghamCastlethorpe Reserves[8] (Div 3)
1956–57Deanshanger AthleticStony Stratford Town
1957–58CastlethorpeSteeple Claydon
1958–59Deanshanger AthleticBlakesley & Woodend
1959–60Deanshanger AthleticCosgrove St Peter
1960–61Silverstone British LegionNorth CrawleyBuckingham Athletic[9] (Inter-Div)
1961–62Olney TownYardley Gobion
1962–63HanslopeSyresham
1963–64Yardley GobionMursley United
1964–65HanslopeWinslow UnitedNewport Pagnell Town[10] (Div 3)
1965–66Yardley GobionRoade
1966–67Towcester TownNewport Pagnell Town
1967–68Newport Pagnell TownTowcester Town Reserves
1968–69Newport Pagnell TownNewport Pagnell Town Reserves
1969–70Newport Pagnell TownNewport Pagnell Town Reserves
1970–71Yardley GobionSyresham
1971–72SheringtonBlakesley United
1972–73Yardley GobionCosgrove 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.[5]

YearPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
LeagueCupLeagueCupLeagueCup
1973–74Grendon Rangers Yardley Gobion Yardley Gobion Reserves
1974–75Grendon RangersBuckingham Town[11]Yardley Gobion Yardley Gobion Reserves
1975–76Middleton Cheney Yardley Gobion Galley Hill
1976–77Middleton CheneyMiddleton Cheney[12]Galley Hill Blakesley
1977–78McCorquodale Old Bradwell United North Crawley
1978–79
1979–80
1980–81
1981–82
1982–83Newport Town
1983–84 Buckingham Athletic[9]
1984–85Buckingham Athletic[9]
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89Shenley & Loughton[13]
1989–90Kettering Nomads[14]
1990–91
1991–92
1992–93Stewkley[15]
1993–94Stewkley[15]

1994–2010

The most recent expansion of the league involved the introduction of a fourth division, the Intermediate Division, in 1994.[5]

YearPremier DivisionIntermediate DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
LeagueCupLeagueCupLeagueCupLeagueCup
1994–95Potterspury Mursley United Potterspury Reserves Milton Keynes Athletic Reserves
1995–96
1996–97Newport Athletic Milton Keynes Athletic Westbury Sherington
1997–98Padbury United[16]
1998–99Padbury United[16]
1999–00 Padbury United[16]
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03Roade[17]Roade[17] Castlethorpe[18]
2003–04 PB (Milton Keynes)[19] or
Steeple Claydon Reserves[20]
2004–05Steeple Claydon[20]Stewkley[15]Heath Panthers United[21] PB (Milton Keynes)[19]Loughton Athletic[22]Brickhill Rangers[23]Brickhill Rangers[23]
2005–06Potterspury PB (Milton Keynes)[19] Brickhill Rangers[23]Brickhill Rangers[23]Brackley Sports Reserves[24]
2006–07PB (Milton Keynes)[25]PB (Milton Keynes)Thornborough Athletic[26] Brackley Sports Reserves[24]Great LinfordLavendon Sports Reserves[25]
2007–08PB (Milton Keynes)[27]PB (Milton Keynes)Brickhill Rangers[27] Rangers XI[27]Wolverton TownWolverton Town Reserves[27]E&H
2008–09Lavendon Sports[28]Brickhill Rangers[29]Sherington[28]Sherington[30]Woburn Sands Wanderers[28] Westbury[28]Heath Panthers United
2009–10Steeple Claydon[20][31] Potterspury[31] Heath Panthers United[31]Heath Panthers UnitedStewkley Reserves[15][31]

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.[32]

YearPremier DivisionIntermediate DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoInter Divisional Cup
LeagueCupLeagueCupLeagueCupLeagueCup
2010–11Brackley Sports[33]Hale Leys United[34]Milton Keynes Wanderers Reserves[33]Great Linford[34]Celtic Milton Keynes[33]Celtic Milton Keynes[34]Olney Town Colts[33]Olney Town Colts[34]Potterspury[34]
2011–12Milton Keynes Wanderers Reserves[35]Potterspury[36]Great Horwood[35] Potterspury Reserves[35]Charlton & District[37]City Colt Reserves[35]Wolverton Town Reserves[38]Potterspury[36]
2012–13Potterspury[39]Loughton ManorWoburn Sands Wanderers[39]Denbigh Hall Sports & SocialBow Brickhill Reserves[39]Bow Brickhill ReservesComet MK[39]Comet MKCity Colts
2013–14City Colts Deanshanger AthleticMK TitansStantonbury Social EliteStantonbury Social EliteSyresham ReservesSyresham ReservesStantonbury Social Elite

Titles by club

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

ClubTitlesYears
Buckingham Town71924–25, 1928–29, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1948–49, 1949–50
Deanshanger Athletic71950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60
Potterspury51934–35, 1937–38, 1994–95, 2005–06, 2012–13
Yardley Gobion41963–64, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1972–73
Castlethorpe31953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58
Newport Autos31920–21, 1921–22, 1923–24
Newport Pagnell Town31967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70
Stantonbury St Peter31912–13, 1913–14, 1938–39
Bletchley L.M.S.21929–30, 1946–47
Cosgrove St Peter21911–12, 1927–28
Grendon Rangers21973–74, 1974–75
Hanslope21962–63, 1964–65
Middleton Cheney21975–76, 1976–77
PB (Milton Keynes)22006–07, 2007–08
Padbury United21997–98, 1998–99
Steeple Claydon22004–05, 2009–10
Stewkley21992–93, 1993–94
Towcester Town21947–48, 1966–67
Winslow United21926–27, 1930–31
Wolverton Town21922–23, 1931–32
Brackley Sports12010–11
Buckingham Athletic11984–85
City Colts12013–14
Kettering Nomads11989–90
Lavendon Sports12008–09
McCorquodale11977–78
Milton Keynes Wanderers12011–12
Newport Town11982–83
Newport Athletic11996–97
Olney Town11961–62
Roade12002–03
Salmon Sports11932–33
Shenley & Loughton11988–89
Sherington11972–73
Silverstone British Legion11960–61
Stony Stratford S.11925–26

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 NBDFL rulebook 2012/13
  2. ↑ "North Bucks League – North Bucks League Premier Division". Non-League Matters. nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "League Management Committee". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  4. ↑ NDFL Formation 2013–14
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "History". North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "Honours". Olney Town F.C. www.olneytownfc.com.
  7. ↑ "Our History". Cranfield United F.C. www.cranfieldunitedfc.co.uk.
  8. ↑ "The Bucks Standard July 6th 1956". Milton Keynes Heritage Association. www.mkheritage.co.uk.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "History of Buckingham Athletic Football Club...". Buckingham Athletic F.C. www.buckinghamathletic.co.uk.
  10. ↑ "Club History". Newport Pagnell Town F.C. www.nptfc.co.uk.
  11. ↑ "History". Buckingham Town F.C. bt-fc.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "History". Middleton Cheney F.C. www.middletonchenyfc.org.
  13. ↑ "Non League Tables for 1988–1989". www.nonleaguetables.co.uk.
  14. ↑ "Club History". Kettering Nomads A.F.C. www.ketteringnomadsfc.com.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "Club History". Stewkley F.C. stewkleyfc.co.uk.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Padbury United FC – A History". Padbury United F.C. padburyunitedfc.com.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Home page". Roade F.C. www.webteams.co.uk.
  18. ↑ "Castlethorpe Football Club". Castlethorpe Village. www.castlethorpevillage.org.uk.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Club History". PB (Milton Keynes F.C. clubwebsite.co.uk.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 "History & Honours – Honours". Steeple Claydon F.C. pitchero.com.
  21. ↑ "Final League Tables 2004–2005 Season". Great Horwood F.C. www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk.
  22. ↑ "Athletic clinch trophy victory". Milton Keynes Citizen (www.miltonkeynes.co.uk). 12 May 2005.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "AFC Brickhill Rangers – Club Honours". A.F.C. Brickhill Rangers. www.afcrangers.net.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Brackley Sports FC – A Brief History". Brackley Sports F.C. www.brackleysportsfc.co.uk.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Final League Tables 2006–2007 Season". Great Horwood F.C. www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk.
  26. ↑ "Title joy for local sides". Buckinghamshire Advertiser (www.highbeam.com). 11 May 2007.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "Final League Tables – 2007/08" (PDF). North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 "Final League Tables – 2008/09" (PDF). North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  29. ↑ "Rangers lift Premier Division Trophy". A.F.C. Brickhill Rangers (www.afcrangers.net).
  30. ↑ "At the double". Sherington Village (sherington.org.uk).
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "Final League Tables – 2009/10" (PDF). North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  32. ↑ "Minutes of the League Management Meeting – Thursday 10th June 2010" (PDF). North Bucks & District Football League. nbdfl.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 "Final League Tables 2010/11" (PDF). nbdfl.co.uk.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 "Cup Results Full 2010/11" (PDF). nbdfl.co.uk.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 "Final League Tables 2010/11" (PDF). nbdfl.co.uk.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Match Results 8 May 2012" (PDF). nbdfl.co.uk.
  37. ↑ "Results 17th April 2012" (PDF). nbdfl.co.uk.
  38. ↑ "Match Report". Wolverton Town F.C. 24 April 2012.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 "Final League Tables 2012 – 2013 Season" (PDF). nbdfl.co.uk.