Central and South Norfolk League
Encyclopedia
The Central and South Norfolk League (currently known under the terms of a sponsorship deal as the Crown Fire Central and South Norfolk League) is a football
competition based in England
. It was founded in 1905 and has a total of four divisions. The top division, Division One, sits at level 18 of the English football league system
. It is a feeder to the Anglian Combination
.
The League provides Saturday football for the central and southern areas of Norfolk
and for parts of the north Suffolk
areacovering some 1500 square miles (3,885 km²) in total.
The league is affiliated to the Norfolk County Football Association
.
. In the years that followed, several senior clubs were in membership of the League including Bungay
, Dereham
, Diss
, Fakenham
, Holt, North Walsham, Swaffham
and Wymondham. However, the emergence of the Norfolk and Suffolk League around that time led to meetings in 1935 about a possible amalgamation. In the end, the two Leagues could not agree and this led to the Norwich and District League only having five members and unable to organise a competition for season 1935/36.
The League did not reform again until after World War II
when it combined with the Catton and District League to form a new Norwich and District League for season 1946/47. The new League was much stronger and started the first year of competition with 48 members. The League continued to grow in strength with four divisions and over 50 members but then started to decline in terms of members in the 1960s. The expansion of the Anglian Combination
led to a further decline and by the late 1960s, the League had dropped to 3 Divisions. The 3rd Division was dropped in 1974 and, by 1976, numbers were down to less than 20. History was beginning to repeat itself.
In the following year, an Extraordinary General Meeting was held to consider what could be done to stop the rapid decline in membership. That meeting approved a change in emphasis and a new name for the League, the Norwich and South Norfolk District League. By the start of the next season, the League was down to just 12 members which marked the low point for the League. Within five years, membership was back to over 20 members and the League returned to two Divisions by 1983. During the same period, the financial strength of the League continued to grow after a period of virtual bankruptcy by the mid 1970s.
Membership continued to grow and 1993 saw the return to three Divisions with a membership of nearly 40. In 1996, discussions took place with the Dereham and District League about a possible merger and that merger took place that year in time for the 1996/97 season. The successful assimilation of the Dereham League teams led to further expansion the following season with a fourth Division being added and membership went past the 50 mark in 1998 for the first time in 40 years.
Early in 1999, the League announced a major sponsorship deal with Crown Fire Protection Ltd. of Dereham. That relationship has enabled the League to expand its activities including the launch of the innovative and popular website. The name of the company has now become synonymous with the League.
To recognise the changed geographical emphasis of the League, a Special General Meeting held in November 2001, agreed a change of name to the Central and South Norfolk League, This new name came into effect at the start of the 2002/03 season along with a new logo to depict the rural nature of the League and its association with its main sponsors.
The League now covers an area of over 1500 square miles (3,885 km²) in central and south Norfolk and north Suffolk. Its area stretches from Melton Constable
in the north to Eye
in Suffolk
in the south and from Methwold
in the west to Acle
and nearly to Beccles
in the east.
During its near 100 year existence, the League has had only five secretaries. Arthur Turner was the first secretary of the League in 1905 and held that position until 1933 when he was succeeded by Mr. W. Sussams. When the League merged with the Catton and District League in 1946, Ben Smith, the secretary of the Catton League, was elected secretary and he held that position until 1959 when Don Alborough was appointed as joint secretary with him. The two held the position of joint secretaries until 1977 when John Turner was appointed secretary, a position which he still holds.
On 2 May 2005, the centenary of the founding of the Norwich and District League, the forerunner of our present League, was celebrated. As part of the celebrations of the centenary, the League played the Norfolk County F.A. Youth team at Aldiss Park, Dereham
. The game ended as a 2-2 draw although the County had to rely on two late goals to peg back the League team. To mark the Centenary, every club in membership for the 2005-06 season was presented with a special commemorative set of "Centenary corner flags".
Season 2007/08 was marked by a number of important issues. At the Annual General Meeting, Hector Chambers, the League President and Chairman, was presented with a silver rose bowl to mark 50 years of service to the League. The largest number of competing clubs in the League's history (55) were constituted into four divisions with Divisions 1, 2 and 4 having a full complement of 14 in each Division. Finally, the new season marked another new development for the League in the establishment of a club support scheme. The first year's support was in the form of a new match ball for each team in membership of the League. At the end of the season, the League played its first inter-League match for many years when it entertained the North East Norfolk League
and won 4-2.
In 2010, the League was recognised by the Football Association in terms of being named as runners up in the adult grass roots section of the national Respect and Fair Play awards.
Source
Source:
Division Two
Division Three
Division Four
Source:
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
competition based in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded in 1905 and has a total of four divisions. The top division, Division One, sits at level 18 of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
. It is a feeder to the Anglian Combination
Anglian Combination
The Anglian Combination Football League is an English football league that operates in the East Anglia area. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern Suffolk and is also known as the Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination Football League after its principal sponsor...
.
The League provides Saturday football for the central and southern areas of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and for parts of the north Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
areacovering some 1500 square miles (3,885 km²) in total.
The league is affiliated to the Norfolk County Football Association
Norfolk County Football Association
The Norfolk County Football Association is the governing body for football in the county of Norfolk, England.-History and Organisation:Norfolk County Football Association was founded in 1881 and has been administering football in the County, at both grass roots and professional level, for over 120...
.
History
The League is based on the Norwich and District League which was formed just after the turn of the 20th century in 1905. The current League Championship Cup was commissioned by that League just after the end of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In the years that followed, several senior clubs were in membership of the League including Bungay
Bungay Town F.C.
Bungay Town F.C. is an English football club based in Bungay, Suffolk. The club are currently members of Anglian Combination Division Two and play at the Maltings Meadow Sports Ground.-History:...
, Dereham
Dereham Town F.C.
Dereham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Dereham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Aldiss Park.-History:...
, Diss
Diss Town F.C.
Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
, Fakenham
Fakenham Town F.C.
Fakenham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fakenham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Clipbush Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
, Holt, North Walsham, Swaffham
Swaffham Town F.C.
Swaffham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Swaffham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Shoemakers Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
and Wymondham. However, the emergence of the Norfolk and Suffolk League around that time led to meetings in 1935 about a possible amalgamation. In the end, the two Leagues could not agree and this led to the Norwich and District League only having five members and unable to organise a competition for season 1935/36.
The League did not reform again until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when it combined with the Catton and District League to form a new Norwich and District League for season 1946/47. The new League was much stronger and started the first year of competition with 48 members. The League continued to grow in strength with four divisions and over 50 members but then started to decline in terms of members in the 1960s. The expansion of the Anglian Combination
Anglian Combination
The Anglian Combination Football League is an English football league that operates in the East Anglia area. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern Suffolk and is also known as the Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination Football League after its principal sponsor...
led to a further decline and by the late 1960s, the League had dropped to 3 Divisions. The 3rd Division was dropped in 1974 and, by 1976, numbers were down to less than 20. History was beginning to repeat itself.
In the following year, an Extraordinary General Meeting was held to consider what could be done to stop the rapid decline in membership. That meeting approved a change in emphasis and a new name for the League, the Norwich and South Norfolk District League. By the start of the next season, the League was down to just 12 members which marked the low point for the League. Within five years, membership was back to over 20 members and the League returned to two Divisions by 1983. During the same period, the financial strength of the League continued to grow after a period of virtual bankruptcy by the mid 1970s.
Membership continued to grow and 1993 saw the return to three Divisions with a membership of nearly 40. In 1996, discussions took place with the Dereham and District League about a possible merger and that merger took place that year in time for the 1996/97 season. The successful assimilation of the Dereham League teams led to further expansion the following season with a fourth Division being added and membership went past the 50 mark in 1998 for the first time in 40 years.
Early in 1999, the League announced a major sponsorship deal with Crown Fire Protection Ltd. of Dereham. That relationship has enabled the League to expand its activities including the launch of the innovative and popular website. The name of the company has now become synonymous with the League.
To recognise the changed geographical emphasis of the League, a Special General Meeting held in November 2001, agreed a change of name to the Central and South Norfolk League, This new name came into effect at the start of the 2002/03 season along with a new logo to depict the rural nature of the League and its association with its main sponsors.
The League now covers an area of over 1500 square miles (3,885 km²) in central and south Norfolk and north Suffolk. Its area stretches from Melton Constable
Melton Constable
Melton Constable is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 518 in 225 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk...
in the north to Eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in the south and from Methwold
Methwold
' is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, on the edge of the Norfolk Fens and BrecklandsIt covers an area of and had a population of 1,476 in 591 households as of the 2001 census...
in the west to Acle
Acle
Acle is a small market town on the River Bure on The Norfolk Broads in Norfolk, located halfway between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. It has the only bridge across the River Bure between Wroxham and Great Yarmouth. There is a high school Acle is a small market town on the River Bure on The Norfolk...
and nearly to Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
in the east.
During its near 100 year existence, the League has had only five secretaries. Arthur Turner was the first secretary of the League in 1905 and held that position until 1933 when he was succeeded by Mr. W. Sussams. When the League merged with the Catton and District League in 1946, Ben Smith, the secretary of the Catton League, was elected secretary and he held that position until 1959 when Don Alborough was appointed as joint secretary with him. The two held the position of joint secretaries until 1977 when John Turner was appointed secretary, a position which he still holds.
On 2 May 2005, the centenary of the founding of the Norwich and District League, the forerunner of our present League, was celebrated. As part of the celebrations of the centenary, the League played the Norfolk County F.A. Youth team at Aldiss Park, Dereham
Dereham
Dereham, also known as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, some 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of...
. The game ended as a 2-2 draw although the County had to rely on two late goals to peg back the League team. To mark the Centenary, every club in membership for the 2005-06 season was presented with a special commemorative set of "Centenary corner flags".
Season 2007/08 was marked by a number of important issues. At the Annual General Meeting, Hector Chambers, the League President and Chairman, was presented with a silver rose bowl to mark 50 years of service to the League. The largest number of competing clubs in the League's history (55) were constituted into four divisions with Divisions 1, 2 and 4 having a full complement of 14 in each Division. Finally, the new season marked another new development for the League in the establishment of a club support scheme. The first year's support was in the form of a new match ball for each team in membership of the League. At the end of the season, the League played its first inter-League match for many years when it entertained the North East Norfolk League
North East Norfolk League
The North East Norfolk League League is a football competition based in England. It was founded in 1922 and has a total of 3 divisions catering for 34 teams...
and won 4-2.
In 2010, the League was recognised by the Football Association in terms of being named as runners up in the adult grass roots section of the national Respect and Fair Play awards.
Source
Recent champions
| Season | Division One Champions | Division Two Champions | Division Three Champions | Division Four Champions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-78 | Rockland Utd. | Kenninghall | ||
| 1978-79 | Aslacton & Gt. Moulton | |||
| 1979-80 | Tacolneston | |||
| 1980-81 | Aslacton & Gt. Moulton | |||
| 1981-82 | Tacolneston | |||
| 1982-83 | Wymondham Town A | |||
| 1983-84 | Lopham Utd | Mulbarton Utd. Reserves | ||
| 1984-85 | Mulbarton Utd. Reserves | Harleston Town A | ||
| 1985-86 | Yaxham | Shropham Social Club | ||
| 1986-87 | Great Ellingham Athletic | Toftwood Utd. | ||
| 1987-88 | Overland | Attleborough Town A | ||
| 1988-89 | Dickleburgh | Scole Utd. Reserves | ||
| 1989-90 | Overland | Shropham | ||
| 1990-91 | Diss Town Diss Town F.C. Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:... A |
Mulbarton Utd. A | ||
| 1991-92 | Diss Town Diss Town F.C. Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:... A |
Attleborough Athletic | ||
| 1992-93 | Overland | Ditchingham | ||
| 1993-94 | Watton United Watton United F.C. Watton United F.C. is an English football club based in Watton, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Anglian Combination Division One and play at Watton Sports Centre.-History:... A |
Div.2A - Dereham Town Dereham Town F.C. Dereham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Dereham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Aldiss Park.-History:... A Div.2B - Overland Reserves |
||
| 1994-95 | Yaxham | R.L. Rangers | Fakenham Town Fakenham Town F.C. Fakenham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fakenham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Clipbush Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:... A |
|
| 1995-96 | Yaxham | Kenninghall | Swaffham Town Swaffham Town F.C. Swaffham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Swaffham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Shoemakers Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:... B |
|
| 1996-97 | Great Ryburgh | Plough and Furrow Utd. | Great Ryburgh Reserves | |
| 1997-98 | Yaxham | Bridgham | Div.3A - Hingham Athletic Div.3B - Holy Trinity |
|
| 1998-99 | Yaxham | Hingham Athletic | West End | Hepworth |
| 1999–2000 | Methwold Hythe | Whissonsett | Hepworth | Wortham |
| 2000-01 | Hingham Athletic | Ashill | Morley Village Reserves | Methwold Hythe Reserves |
| 2001-02 | Methwold Hythe | Bircham | Longham | East Harling Reserves |
| 2002-03 | Yaxham | Longham | East Harling | Redgrave Rangers |
| 2003-04 | Yaxham | East Harling | Redgrave Rangers | Great Cressingham |
| 2004-05 | East Harling | Redgrave Rangers | Great Cressingham | Dereham Posties |
| 2005-06 | Great Ryburgh | North Elmham | Dereham Posties and Shipdham | Thetford Athletic |
| 2006-07 | Toftwood United | Dereham Posties | Thetford Athletic | Cockers |
| 2007-08 | Toftwood United | Thetford Athletic | Bunwell | Thetford Rovers Reserves |
| 2008-09 | Thetford Athletic | Dickleburgh | Thetford Rovers Reserves | Heathersett Athletic |
| 2009-10 | Dickleburgh | Thetford Rovers Reserves | Bradenham Wanderers Reserves | Splitz United |
| 2010-11 | Bridgham United | Feltwell United | Thurton & Ashby | Diss Town Diss Town F.C. Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:... 'A' |
Source:
Member clubs 2011–12
Division One- Bridgham United
- Dereham TownDereham Town F.C.Dereham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Dereham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Aldiss Park.-History:...
'A' - Feltwell United
- Gressenhall
- Morley Village
- Narborough
- Northwold Sports & Social Club
- Rockland United
- Shipdham
- Shropham United
- Swaffham TownSwaffham Town F.C.Swaffham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Swaffham, Norfolk. The club are currently members of Eastern Counties League Division One and play at Shoemakers Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
'A' - Tacolneston
- Thetford Rovers Reserves
Division Two
- Breckland Wanderers
- Castle Acre Swifts
- Cockers
- Gressenhall Reserves
- Hethersett Athletic
- Methwold Rovers
- Necton Reserves
- North Elmham
- Nostro
- Saham Toney Reserves
- Sporle
- Thurton & Ashby
- West End
- Yaxham
Division Three
- Bawdeswell
- Colkirk
- Diss TownDiss Town F.C.Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
'A' - Great Cressingham
- Hingham Athletic Reserves
- Marham Wanderers
- Mattishall 'A'
- Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves
- Narborough Reserves
- Rampant Horse
- Rockland United Reserves
- Scarning United
- Splitz United
- Stoke Ferry
- Tugas United
- Wendling
Division Four
- Beetley United
- Castle Acre Swifts Reserves
- Dereham Cockers United
- Litcham
- Methwold Rovers Reserves
- Methwold United
- North Elmham Reserves
- Nostro Reserves
- Shipdham Reserves
- Shropham United Reserves
- Tacolneston Reserves
- Walsingham United
- Watton UnitedWatton United F.C.Watton United F.C. is an English football club based in Watton, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Anglian Combination Division One and play at Watton Sports Centre.-History:...
'A' - Weasenham Wanderers
- Yaxham Reserves
Source:
External links
- Official website
- Diss Express - local newspaper website covering many of the league's teams