London League
Encyclopedia
The London League was a football
competition that was held in the London
and surrounding areas of south-east England from 1896 until 1964.
In 1896 the president of the London League was Arnold Hills
founder of Thames Ironworks F.C.
(now known as West Ham United). One of the men who helped draft the rules of the competition was Francis Payne
, club secretary of Thames Ironworks F.C. in 1897. The league started with three divisions, the
3rd Grenadier Guards
winning the inaugural championship.
The league fluctuated between having a single division and reaching four divisions. Before World War I
, most of the senior London Football League clubs fielded a reserve side in the London League.
In 1964, the London League ceased to exist, merging with the Aetolian League
to form the Greater London League
, which then further merged in 1971 with the Metropolitan League
to form the Metropolitan–London League
. This later merged into the Spartan League
, which in turn merged into the modern Spartan South Midlands League
.
In 1920, a third division, known as Division Two was added
In 1924, Division Two was disbanded
In 1939, the league was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II
. On the resumption of football after the War, nineteen clubs played in the London League, split into Western and Eastern Divisions. Eastern Division champions Woolwich Polytechnic beat Eastern Champions Edgware Town 2-1 in a play-off
In 1946, the divisions were re-organised, and a new structure of a Premier Division and a Division One was formed
Within 12 months, enough clubs had joined to form a new Division Two
In 1953, Division Two was disbanded
In 1956, Division One was disbanded, leaving only a single Senior section
In 1963, an increase in the number of clubs led to a reversion to two divisions.
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 that was held in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and surrounding areas of south-east England from 1896 until 1964.
In 1896 the president of the London League was Arnold Hills
Arnold Hills
Arnold Frank Hills was an English businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and promoter of vegetarianism.Hills was the first President of the London Vegetarian Society and the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club, and also served as President of a London Vegetarian Rambling Club...
founder of Thames Ironworks F.C.
Thames Ironworks F.C.
Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...
(now known as West Ham United). One of the men who helped draft the rules of the competition was Francis Payne
Francis Payne
Francis Payne was one of the men responsible for drafting the rules the London League and became London League members Thames Ironworks F.C.'s club secretary in 1897, succeeding Ted Harsent in the post...
, club secretary of Thames Ironworks F.C. in 1897. The league started with three divisions, the
3rd Grenadier Guards
3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.
3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. were an English football team that played in the London League from as early as 1896 until 1898. During the 1896-97 season they were champions and during the 1897-98 season they finished 4th....
winning the inaugural championship.
The league fluctuated between having a single division and reaching four divisions. Before World War I
World 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...
, most of the senior London Football League clubs fielded a reserve side in the London League.
In 1964, the London League ceased to exist, merging with the Aetolian League
Aetolian League (football)
The Aetolian League was a short-lived football league in the south east of England. It was established in 1959 after the Kent League folded, leaving a number of clubs without a league to play in. The league had two divisions, although Division Two consisted mainly of the reserve teams of clubs in...
to form the Greater London League
Greater London League
The Greater London League was a football league for clubs in and around London. It was formed in 1964 by a merger of the London League and the Aetolian League, after the two leagues had run a joint league cup the previous season due to both struggling for numbers.The league initially ran with A and...
, which then further merged in 1971 with the Metropolitan League
Metropolitan League
The Metropolitan League was a football league in the south-east of England.The league was founded in 1949 after several clubs learnt plans for a second division of the Southern League would come to nothing shortly before the start of the season. Originally named the Metropolitan & District League,...
to form the Metropolitan–London League
Metropolitan–London League
The Metropolitan–London League was a short-lived football league for clubs in and around London. It was formed in 1971 by a merger of the Greater London League and the Metropolitan League...
. This later merged into the Spartan League
Spartan League
The Spartan League was an English football league covering London and adjacent counties.Formed in 1907, the league was along with the Isthmian League and the Athenian League, one of the strong amateur competitions in the South, with three clubs reaching the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals...
, which in turn merged into the modern Spartan South Midlands League
Spartan South Midlands Football League
The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwestern Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire...
.
London League Division One
- 1896-1897 - 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. were an English football team that played in the London League from as early as 1896 until 1898. During the 1896-97 season they were champions and during the 1897-98 season they finished 4th....
- 1897-1898 - Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...
London League Premier Division
- 1901-1902 - West Ham United
- 1902-1903 - Tottenham Hotspur F.C.Tottenham Hotspur F.C.Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- 1903-1904 - ((millwall fc))
- 1908-1909 - ((west ham united))
London League Division One A
- 1909-1910 - Barking F.C.Barking F.C.Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...
In 1920, a third division, known as Division Two was added
| Year | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920-21 | Barking Town | Sterling Athletic | Wall End United |
| 1921-22 | Grays Athletic Grays Athletic F.C. Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season... |
Barking Town reserves | Wall End United |
| 1922-23 | Custom House | Millwall United | Hendon Town |
| 1923-24 | Leyton | S T D Athletic | Savoy Hotel |
In 1924, Division Two was disbanded
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1924-25 | Leyton | Bromley reserves |
| 1925-26 | Leyton | Bromley reserves |
| 1926-27 | Grays Athletic | Callender Athletic |
| 1927-28 | Epsom Town | Beckenham |
| 1928-29 | Mitcham Wanderers | Holland Athletic |
| 1929-30 | Grays Athletic | Park Royal |
| 1930-31 | Chelmsford | Park Royal |
| 1931-32 | Park Royal | Chelmsford reserves |
| 1932-33 | Park Royal | Leavesden Mental Hospital Leavesden Mental Hospital Leavesden Mental Hospital was founded in 1870 on the outskirts of Abbots Langley by the Metropolitan Asylums Board as the Metropolitan Asylum for Chronic Imbeciles. At the same time the St Pancras Union Workhouse established an Industrial School across the road. In 1920, the asylum was renamed the... |
| 1933-34 | Park Royal | Eton Manor |
| 1934-35 | Park Royal | Northmet |
| 1935-36 | Leavesden Mental Hospital Leavesden Mental Hospital Leavesden Mental Hospital was founded in 1870 on the outskirts of Abbots Langley by the Metropolitan Asylums Board as the Metropolitan Asylum for Chronic Imbeciles. At the same time the St Pancras Union Workhouse established an Industrial School across the road. In 1920, the asylum was renamed the... |
Ford Sports |
| 1936-37 | Finchley | Briggs Motor Bodies |
| 1937-38 | Eton Manor | Northmet |
| 1938-39 | Dagenham Town | Briggs Motor Bodies |
In 1939, the league was suspended due to the outbreak of 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...
. On the resumption of football after the War, nineteen clubs played in the London League, split into Western and Eastern Divisions. Eastern Division champions Woolwich Polytechnic beat Eastern Champions Edgware Town 2-1 in a play-off
| Year | Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|---|
| 1945-46 | Edgware Town | Woolwich Polytechnic |
In 1946, the divisions were re-organised, and a new structure of a Premier Division and a Division One was formed
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1946-47 | Chelmsford City reserves | Dagenham British Legion |
Within 12 months, enough clubs had joined to form a new Division Two
| Year | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947-48 | Chelmsford City reserves | Cheshunt | West Thurrock Athletic |
| 1948-49 | Guildford City reserves | Cheshunt | Vickers |
| 1949-50 | Cheshunt | Vickers | Bata Sports |
| 1950-51 | Dartford reserves | Aveley | Woodford Town reserves |
| 1951-52 | West Thurrock Athletic | London Transport | Pitsea United |
| 1952-53 | Eton Manor | Storey Athletic | Wapping Sports |
In 1953, Division Two was disbanded
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1953-54 | Eton Manor | London Transport |
| 1954-55 | Aveley | Wapping Sports |
| 1955-56 | Eton Manor | Bata Sports |
In 1956, Division One was disbanded, leaving only a single Senior section
| Year | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1956-57 | Cray Wanderers |
| 1957-58 | Cray Wanderers |
| 1958-59 | Tilbury |
| 1959-60 | Tilbury |
| 1960-61 | Tilbury |
| 1961-62 | Tilbury |
| 1962-63 | Chingford |
In 1963, an increase in the number of clubs led to a reversion to two divisions.
| Year | Premier Division | Division One |
|---|---|---|
| 1963-64 | Epping Town | CAV Athletic |
Division One 1896-1897
- 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. were an English football team that played in the London League from as early as 1896 until 1898. During the 1896-97 season they were champions and during the 1897-98 season they finished 4th....
- Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...
- Barking Woodville F.C.Barking F.C.Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...
- Ilford F.C.Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
- Crouch End F.C.
- Vampires F.C.
- London Welsh F.C.London Welsh F.C.London Welsh F.C. were an English football team that were formed as early as 1891. They lost emphatically in the 1891-92 season 0-12 to Millwall Athletic. They played in the London League for at least the 1896-97 season, in which they finished 7th of seven...
- 1st Scots Guards F.C.1st Scots Guards F.C.1st Scots Guards F.C. were an English football team that existed from at least 1891. They played in the Southern League from 1895-96 and finished third of nine in Division Two. This made them eligible to play in a test match promotion decider against Clapton, which they lost 1-4...
withdrew during the season and the matches were expunged from the records. London Welsh F.C.London Welsh F.C.London Welsh F.C. were an English football team that were formed as early as 1891. They lost emphatically in the 1891-92 season 0-12 to Millwall Athletic. They played in the London League for at least the 1896-97 season, in which they finished 7th of seven...
were suspended close to the end of season, and as a result Thames Ironworks F.C. were awarded two wins for games unplayed against them.
Division One 1897-1898
- Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks F.C.Thames Ironworks Football Club, the club that later became West Ham United, was founded by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd owner Arnold Hills and foreman Dave Taylor in 1895. Thames Ironworks took over the tenancy of The Old Castle Swifts' Hermit Road ground in Canning Town until their...
- Brentford F.C.Brentford F.C.Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
- Leyton F.C.Leyton F.C.Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
- 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.3rd Grenadier Guards F.C.3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. were an English football team that played in the London League from as early as 1896 until 1898. During the 1896-97 season they were champions and during the 1897-98 season they finished 4th....
- Ilford F.C.Ilford F.C.Ilford F.C. is a London football club based in Ilford, in Greater London founded in 1987.There was an earlier famous non-league club of the same name, founded in 1881. In 1979, it merged with Leytonstone to...
- Stanley F.C.
- Barking Woodville F.C.Barking F.C.Barking Football Club is am English football club based in Barking, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.-History:...
- Bromley F.C.Bromley F.C.Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
- 2nd Grenadier Guards F.C.2nd Grenadier Guards F.C.2nd Grenadier Guards F.C. were an English football team that played in the London League Division One during the 1897-98 season, finishing ninth of nine. In that season champions Thames Ironworks F.C...