The Somerset County Football Association, also known as the Somerset FA, is the governing body

Sport governing body

A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...

 of football in the county of Somerset

Somerset

The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...

. The association was formed in 1885.

History

The Somerset County Football Association was formed in 1885. There was a very small number of clubs at that time and no mandatory requirement to be affiliated. It is very different from today where there are in excess of 800 clubs which equates to probably more than 2,000 teams.

The first Secretary was a Mr H J Ker Thompson of Burnham-on-Sea

Burnham-on-Sea

Burnham-on-Sea is a town in Somerset, England, at the mouth of the River Parrett and Bridgwater Bay. Burnham was a small village until the late 18th century, when it began to grow because of its popularity as a seaside resort. It forms part of the parish of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge...

 who resigned in 1896. At the time there was no appointed Chairman, one would be co-opted on the night of Council Meetings. Regular meeting venues were the Hare & Hounds - Shepton Mallet, The Swan Hotel – Wells

Wells

Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...

, The Commercial Hotel – Midsomer Norton

Midsomer Norton

Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, north-east of Wells, north-west of Frome, and south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock and Westfield it used to be part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton...

, Waldegrave Arms – Radstock

Radstock

Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, south west of Bath, and north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,275 according to the 2001 Census...

, Star Hotel – Wells

Wells

Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...

 and Wells Town Hall. An average attendance was fifteen with the bulk of clubs coming from the old mining area of North Somerset. In 1904 the then Secretary/Treasurer became the first paid official with a salary of £25.00 per annum.

Charles J Lewin, who joined Council in July 1896 was appointed the Association's first Chairman in June 1904. He was a Radstock Headmaster and was also elected Somerset’s first ever member to the full Council of the English FA and retained both positions over the period of two world-wars. As a result of age and infirmity he resigned on 6th June 1945 ending a remarkable record of service to Somerset football, covering 49 years and was awarded a gold medal in recognition of his service.

A list of the County FA's key officials is provided below:

Presidents (year took office)

• H E Murray Anderson (1896)
• W J Bown (1946)
• Alderman E Sheldon (1949)
• Rt. Hon. Viscount Alexander of Hillsborough (1950)
• H M Scott MBE JP (1952)
• E J King (1977)
• H Angell (1977)
• F P Hillier MBE JP (1997 )

Chairmen (year took office)

• C J Lewin (1904)
• W J Bown (1945)
• F S Carpenter (1949)
• D G Cummins (1966)
• A J Hobbs (1984)

Secretary (year took office)

• H J Ken Thompson (resigned 1886)
• H A Sheldon (1886)
• H J Cockram (1898)
• Messrs Bown & Holloway (1919)
• F Holloway (1945)
• C A Webb (1950)
• L J Webb (1964)
• Mrs H Marchment (1991)
• J Pike (2007)

Men's Saturday Leagues

• Somerset County Football League
  Somerset County Football League
  The Somerset County Football League is a football competition based in England. It sits at step 7 of the National League System. It is a feeder to the Western League Division One and has promoted a club in five of the last seven seasons - Hengrove Athletic, Portishead, Radstock Town, Oldland...
  
   (1890)
• Bath and District Football League (1901)
• Bristol and Avon Football League (1910)
• Mid-Somerset Football League (1950)
• Perry Street and District Football League (1903)
• Taunton and District Saturday Football League (1920)
• Weston-Super-Mare and District Football League (1903)
• Yeovil and District Football League (1903)

Men's Sunday Leagues

• Bath and District Football League
• Blackmore Vale Football League (1914) - Sunday
• Bridgwater & District Sunday Football League (1966)
• Frome & District Sunday Football League (1968)
• Taunton & District Sunday Football League
• Weston-Super-Mare Sunday Football League
• Yeovil Sunday Football League (1975)

Youth Leagues

• Somerset Floodlight Youth Football League
• Midsomer Norton & District Youth Football League
• Taunton Youth Football League
• Woodspring Junior Football League
• Yeovil and District Youth Football League

Ladies Leagues

• Somerset County Women’s Football League
• Somerset Girls' Football League

Affiliated Member Clubs

Among the notable clubs that are affiliated to the Somerset County FA are:

• Bath City
  Bath City F.C.
  Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
  
  
• Bishop Sutton
• Brislington
  Brislington F.C.
  Brislington Football Club is an English football club based in Brislington, in Bristol. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Western League. Nicknamed "Briz" and newly "The Foxes", they play at Ironmould Lane...
  
  
• Bridgwater Town
  Bridgwater Town F.C.
  Bridgwater Town Football Club are a football club from Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The original version of the club was founded in 1898. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club plays their home games at Fairfax Park...
  
  
• Bristol City
  Bristol City F.C.
  Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
  
  
• Bristol Manor Farm
  Bristol Manor Farm F.C.
  Bristol Manor Farm F.C. is an English football team who play in the Western Football League. They play their home games at The Creek, Bristol. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA and Gloucestershire County FA....
  
  
• Chard Town
  Chard Town F.C.
  Chard Town F.C. is a football club based in Chard, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA. They playing the Western Football League Division One.-Club history:...
  
  
• Clevedon Town
  Clevedon Town F.C.
  Clevedon Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Clevedon, North Somerset. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South & West.-History:...
  
  
• Glastonbury Town
  Glastonbury F.C.
  Glastonbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Glastonbury, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.They joined the Western Football League Division Two as Glastonbury in 1919 and won the Western Football League title 3 times in their history. In the 1950-51 season, they...
  
  

• Frome Town
  Frome Town F.C.
  Frome Town Football Club is an English football club based Frome, a town in the county of Somerset. Founded in 1904, their nickname is the Robins and they play in a predominantly red kit. Their home is Badgers Hill, which has been the club's ground since their formation...
  
  
• Hengrove Athletic
  Hengrove Athletic F.C.
  Hengrove Athletic F.C. are a football club which is based in the Bristol suburb of Whitchurch. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA....
  
  
• Keynsham Town
  Keynsham Town F.C.
  Keynsham Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club founded in 1895 in Keynsham, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA....
  
  
• Larkhall Athletic
  Larkhall Athletic F.C.
  Larkhall Athletic F.C. are a football club based in Larkhall, in Bath, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.The club was founded in 1914, and played local football until joining the Western League when it expanded to two divisions in 1976...
  
  
• Minehead
• Odd Down
  Odd Down F.C.
  Odd Down F.C. are a football club based in Bath, England. They play at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground, Combe Hay Lane, Odd Down. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.-Club history:...
  
  
• Oldland Abbotonians
  Oldland Abbotonians F.C.
  Oldland Abbotonians F.C. is a football club based in Oldland Common, near Bristol, England. In the 2006-07 season, they finished third in the Somerset County League, which is a level 11 league of the English football league system. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Western Football...
  
  
• Paulton Rovers
  Paulton Rovers F.C.
  Paulton Rovers Football Club are an English football club based at the Athletic Field on Winterfield Road in the village of Paulton near Bristol. They were established in 1881 and currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West...
  
  
• Portishead Town

• Radstock Town
  Radstock Town F.C.
  Radstock Town Football Club play in Radstock, Somerset in the Premier Division of the Western Football League. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.-Club history:...
  
  
• Shepton Mallet
  Shepton Mallet F.C.
  Shepton Mallet F.C. are a football club based in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England.-History:They were established in 1986 after the liquidation of Shepton Mallet Town. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA....
  
  
• Street
  Street F.C.
  Street F.C. are a football club based in Street, near Glastonbury, in Somerset, England. They play their home matches at The Tannery. The club will play in the Western League Premier Division for the 2011-12 season...
  
  
• Taunton Town
  Taunton Town F.C.
  Taunton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Taunton, Somerset, England. They compete in the Southern Football League Division One South & West, and play their home matches at their Wordsworth Drive ground which they moved into during the 1953 season...
  
  
• Wellington
  Wellington (Somerset) F.C.
  Wellington A.F.C. are a football club based in Wellington, Somerset, England. They have played at Wellington Playing Fields in North Street since 1954. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA....
  
  
• Wells City
  Wells City F.C.
  Wells City F.C. are a football club based in Wells, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.They joined the Western League Division Two in 1929 and won the Western League title in 1950...
  
  
• Welton Rovers
  Welton Rovers F.C.
  Welton Rovers Football Club is an English non-league football club who play at West Clewes, North Road, Midsomer Norton, Somerset in the Western Football League Division One. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.-Early club history:...
  
  
• Weston-super-Mare
• Yeovil Town
  Yeovil Town F.C.
  Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
  
  

County Cup Winners

Season	Premier Cup Somerset Premier Cup The Somerset Premier Cup is the senior local county football cup for teams based in Somerset, organised by the Somerset County Football Association.It was formerly known as the Somerset Professional Cup....	Senior Cup	Junior Cup	Intermediate Cup
2008-09	Frome Town Frome Town F.C. Frome Town Football Club is an English football club based Frome, a town in the county of Somerset. Founded in 1904, their nickname is the Robins and they play in a predominantly red kit. Their home is Badgers Hill, which has been the club's ground since their formation...	Bridgwater Town Bridgwater Town F.C. Bridgwater Town Football Club are a football club from Bridgwater, Somerset, England. The original version of the club was founded in 1898. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South and West. The club plays their home games at Fairfax Park...  Reserves	Purnell Sports	Weston St Johns Sportsbar
2009-10	Welton Rovers Welton Rovers F.C. Welton Rovers Football Club is an English non-league football club who play at West Clewes, North Road, Midsomer Norton, Somerset in the Western Football League Division One. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.-Early club history:...	Westland Sports Westland Sports F.C. Westland Sports Football Club is a football club based in Yeovil, Somerset, England founded in 1939. The second world war prevented regular competitive football, but by 1946, the club was fielding two sides, one Yeovil and District League team, and one youth side. In 1964/65 the club withdrew from...	South Petherton	Barwick & Stoford
2010-11	Weston-super-Mare	Watchet Town	Freshford United	Sampford Blues

External links

• Somerset County FA's official site