The Southern Amateur League (SAL) is an association football league affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance

Amateur Football Alliance

The Amateur Football Alliance is a County Football Association in England. It is unusual among County FAs in not being based around a particular geographical area. It was founded in 1907, as the Amateur Football Defence Foundation, quickly changed to Amateur Football Association, when The FA...

 (AFA). It is based in and around Greater London

Greater London

Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...

 and caters for 11–a–side men's adult teams from clubs including former pupils' associations from schools and colleges, business house sports clubs and private clubs. The league currently has member 33 clubs running 215 teams in 20 divisions. All clubs are stricly amateur.

Club set-up, sportsmanship and hospitality

As in other AFA leagues it is common for clubs to run several teams with all current SAL clubs running at least four while the biggest clubs run up to 10 teams. This allows players of all abilities to play against teams from other clubs of a similar standard. The best players will be picked for the 1st team, the best of the remainder going into the 2nd team and so on down the club.

The SAL places emphasis on sportsmanship and hospitality, with all players expected to socialise with their opponents and the match officials after the game. Disciplinary problems and cases of violent conduct are generally perceived to be experienced less in SAL football – and AFA football in general – than in other types of football.

League set up and Challenge Cups

The league is divided into four sections: Senior (1st teams), Intermediate (2nd teams), Junior (3rd teams) and Minor (4th teams and lower). In the Senior, Intermediate and Junior sections there are three divisions (Divisions 1, 2 and 3) each containing 11 teams. The Minor section has a London–wide Division 1 fed by North and South sections.

As well as league competitions the SAL runs five cup competitions. These are:

• Junior Cup (for teams in the Junior section)
• Minor Cup (Minor Divisions 1, 2 North and 2 South)
• Senior Novets Cup (Minor Divisions 3 North, 3 South and 4 South)
• Intermediate Novets Cup (Minor Divisions 4 North, 5 South and 6 South)
• Junior Novets Cup (Minor Divisions 5 North and 7 South)

These were inaugurated for the 1995–96. There are no cups for the first and second teams in the league as these teams are offered an extra 'county divisional' cup by the AFA (either the Middlesex/Essex Cup or the Surrey/Kent Cup, depending on location).

Current member clubs

The League currently consists of 33 clubs. Three of these (Alleyn Old Boys, Civil Service and Crouch End Vampires) are founder members of the League while 19 have been in membership since before World War II.

The current member clubs are:

• Alexandra Park
• Alleyn Old Boys
• Bank of England
• BB Eagles
• Broomfield
• Carshalton

• Civil Service
  Civil Service F.C.
  Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...
  
  
• Crouch End Vampires
• East Barnet Old Grammarians
• HSBC
• Kew Association
• Lloyds TSB Bank

• Merton
• Norsemen
• Nottsborough
• Old Actonians Association
• Old Esthameians

• Old Finchleians
• Old Latymerians
• Old Lyonians
• Old Owens
• Old Parkonians

• Old Salesians
• Old Stationers
• Old Westminster Citizens
• Old Wilsonians
• Polytechnic
  Polytechnic F.C.
  Polytechnic Football Club, originally, Hanover United Football Club is a football club from England, formed in 1873 or 1875. It is believed to be the first football club to use United in its name. It played its home matches at the Limes, Barnes, London, moving to a ground near Chiswick railway...
  
  

• South Bank Cuaco
• Southgate Olympic
• Weirside Rangers
• West Wickham
• Winchmore Hill

Representative team

The League representative team has played a programme of friendly fixtures since the 1920s against other AFA affiliated leagues and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. In recent seasons the biggest annual fixture has been the Steve Langley Trophy game against the Amateur Football Combination in memory of the former SAL and Crouch End Vampires captain who died aged 40 of cancer in 2003.

For the 2007–08 season the team entered the FA National League System Cup for the first time, winning the competition on penalties against the Midland Football Combination

Midland Football Combination

The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions...

 (Division 1) in the final at the Ricoh Arena

Ricoh Arena

The Ricoh Arena , home to Coventry City F.C., is a stadium complex situated in the Rowleys Green district of the city of Coventry, England containing a 32,609 seater football stadium, a 6,000 square-metre exhibition hall, a hotel, a leisure club, and a casino...

 after a 1–1 draw. The southern semi-final saw an AFA 'derby' win over the Amateur Football Combination by 2–0 at Dulwich Hamlet

Dulwich Hamlet F.C.

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is an English football club who play at Champion Hill stadium in Dulwich, in the London Borough of Southwark. Formed in 1893, they joined the Isthmian League a few years later, winning it a total of 4 times, between 1920 and 1949, and wear a famous pink and blue...

.

The team travelled to Turin in October 2008 to compete in the Intermediary Round of the UEFA Regions' Cup where they missed out on qualifying for the Final tournament on goal difference having not conceded a goal during their three games.

League champions, Senior Section

Season	Section 'A'	Section 'B'
1907–08	New Crusaders	Reigate Priory Reigate Priory F.C. Reigate Priory Football Club, is a football club based in Reigate, Surrey, England. The club can trace its history as far back as 1870, not long after the Football Association was formed in 1863. In 1871 the club was one of only 15 teams that played for a £20 silver trophy, the first ever FA...  (s)
1908–09	New Crusaders (a)	Norsemen
1909–10	New Crusaders	Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells F.C. Tunbridge Wells F.C. is a football club based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Kent League Premier Division.-History:...
1910–11	New Crusaders	Alleyn Old Boys
1911–12	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	L.C.W. & Parr's Bank
1912–13	New Crusaders	Crouch End Vampires
1913–14	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Carshalton
Season	Division 1	Division 2
1919–20	Merton	Aquarius
1920–21	Cambridge Town Cambridge City F.C. Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...	Cheshunt Cheshunt F.C. Cheshunt Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire and currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One North.-Original club:...
1921–22	Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....	L.J.C. & Midland Bank
1922–23	Eastbourne Eastbourne Town F.C. Eastbourne Town F.C. are an English football club based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The club was founded in 1881 as Devonshire Park FC and they claim to be the oldest senior football club in Sussex. Eastbourne Town FC play at The Saffrons in central Eastbourne, considered to be one of the most...	Old Parkonians (e)
1923–24	Westminster Bank	Barclays Bank
1924–25	Midland Bank	Old Lyonians
1925–26	Eastbourne Eastbourne Town F.C. Eastbourne Town F.C. are an English football club based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The club was founded in 1881 as Devonshire Park FC and they claim to be the oldest senior football club in Sussex. Eastbourne Town FC play at The Saffrons in central Eastbourne, considered to be one of the most...	Toc H.
1926–27	Ealing Association (a)	Merton
1927–28	Cambridge Town Cambridge City F.C. Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...	Hastings & St Leonards Hastings United F.C. Hastings United is a semi-professional English football club who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and the Hastings Football Association....
Season–	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
1928–29	Cambridge Town Cambridge City F.C. Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...	Kew Association (s)	Britannic House
1929–30	Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....	Merton (s)	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...  (a)
1930–31	Cambridge Town Cambridge City F.C. Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...  (a)	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Catford Wanderers
1931–32	Cambridge Town Cambridge City F.C. Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...	Catford Wanderers	East Grinstead East Grinstead Town F.C. East Grinstead Town F.C. is an English football club based in East Grinstead, West Sussex. The club are currently members of Division One of the Sussex County League and play at East Court.-History:...
1932–33	Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....	Lloyds Bank	Cuaco
1933–34	Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....	Westminster Bank	Alexandra Park
1934–35	Hastings & St Leonards Hastings United F.C. Hastings United is a semi-professional English football club who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and the Hastings Football Association....	Cuaco	Thornycroft
1935–36	Hastings & St Leonards Hastings United F.C. Hastings United is a semi-professional English football club who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and the Hastings Football Association....	Aquarius	Highgate (e)
1936–37	Hastings & St Leonards Hastings United F.C. Hastings United is a semi-professional English football club who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and the Hastings Football Association....	Highgate / Ealing Association
1937–38	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Norsemen / Lensbury & Britannic House
1938–39	Hastings & St Leonards Hastings United F.C. Hastings United is a semi-professional English football club who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association and the Hastings Football Association....	National Provincial Bank / Eastbourne
Season	Division 1	Division 2
1945–46	Merton	Old Parkonians
Season	Division 1	Division 2A	Division 2B
1946–47	Ealing Association	Westminster Bank	Winchmore Hill
1947–48	Winchmore Hill	Barclays Bank	Alexandra Park

Season	Division 1	Division 2	Division 3
1948–49	Winchmore Hill	Brentham	National Provincial Bank
1949–50	Catford Wanderers	Crouch End Vampires	Old Latymerians
1950–51	Catford Wanderers	Midland Bank	Aquarius
1951–52	Winchmore Hill	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Cuaco
1952–53	Catford Wanderers	Pinner	Old Stationers
1953–54	Alexandra Park	Lensbury & Britannic House	Old Lyonians
1954–55	Winchmore Hill	Carshalton	Aquarius
1955–56	Winchmore Hill	Barclays Bank	Polytechnic Polytechnic F.C. Polytechnic Football Club, originally, Hanover United Football Club is a football club from England, formed in 1873 or 1875. It is believed to be the first football club to use United in its name. It played its home matches at the Limes, Barnes, London, moving to a ground near Chiswick railway...
1956–57	Cuaco	Lensbury & Britannic House	Ibis
1957–58	Old Westminster Citizens	Old Stationers (o)	Merton
1958–59	Cuaco (a)	Polytechnic Polytechnic F.C. Polytechnic Football Club, originally, Hanover United Football Club is a football club from England, formed in 1873 or 1875. It is believed to be the first football club to use United in its name. It played its home matches at the Limes, Barnes, London, moving to a ground near Chiswick railway...	Broomfield
1959–60	Cuaco	Broomfield	Crouch End Vampires
1960–61	Broomfield	Borough Polytechnic	National Provincial Bank
1961–62	Cuaco (a)	Polytechnic Polytechnic F.C. Polytechnic Football Club, originally, Hanover United Football Club is a football club from England, formed in 1873 or 1875. It is believed to be the first football club to use United in its name. It played its home matches at the Limes, Barnes, London, moving to a ground near Chiswick railway...	Kew Association
1963–64	Midland Bank	West Wickham	Old Parkonians
1964–65	Old Stationers	Catford Wanderers	Pearl Assurance
1965–66	Southgate Olympic	Ibis	Old Westminster Citizens
1966–67	Norsemen	Winchmore Hill	Barclays Bank
1967–68	Winchmore Hill	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Old Bromleians
1968–69	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Barclays Bank	Kew Association
1969–70	Midland Bank	Kew Association	Pearl Assurance
1970–71	Civil Service Civil Service F.C. Civil Service F.C. is an English football club based in the city of London. The club originally played both association football and rugby football and the Civil Service, along with Blackheath F.C., is one of the two clubs that can claim to be a founder member of both the Football Association and...	Ibis	Old Bromleians (o)
1971–72	Southgate Olympic	Barclays Bank	Old Esthameians (o)
1972–73	Midland Bank	Old Westminster Citizens	Brentham
1973–74	Midland Bank	Norsemen	Carshalton
1974–75	Catford Wanderers	Old Bromleians (o)	Old Esthameians
1975–76	Midland Bank	Barclays Bank	Merton
1976–77	Kew Association	Carshalton	South Bank Polytechnic
1977–78	West Wickham	Barclays Bank	East Barnet Old Grammarians (m)
1978–79	Catford Wanderers	East Barnet Old Grammarians (o)	Old Westminster Citizens
1979–80	West Wickham	Southgate Olympic	Old Bromleians
1980–81	Old Esthameians (o)	Old Bromleians	Britannic House
1981–82	West Wickham	Old Parkonians	Old Stationers
1982–83	Crouch End Vampires	Lensbury	Barclays Bank
1983–84	Winchmore Hill	Old Stationers	Old Salesians
1984–85	West Wickham	Old Salesians (a, o)	Old Actonians Association
1985–86	National Westminster Bank	Old Actonians Association (m)	Ibis
1986–87	West Wickham	Old Parkonians (e, o)	Brentham
1987–88	West Wickham	Old Actonians Association	Merton
1988–89	West Wickham	Midland Bank	East Barnet Old Grammarians
1989–90	West Wickham	Carshalton	Southgate Olympic
1990–91	West Wickham	Old Bromleians	Alexandra Park
1991–92	Old Actonians Association	Crouch End Vampires	Lensbury
1992–93	National Westminster Bank	Lensbury	Old Latymerians
1993–94	South Bank Polytechnic	East Barnet Old Grammarians	Old Parmiterians
1994–95	South Bank	Carshalton	Old Lyonians
1995–96	Old Actonians Association (a)	Old Parmiterians	Old Salesians
1996–97	Old Parmiterians	Lloyds Bank	Midland Bank
1997–98	Norsemen	National Westminster Bank (s)	Old Stationers
1998–99	Old Actonians Association (m)	Old Bromleians	Alleyn Old Boys
1999–00	Old Actonians Association (m)	Alleyn Old Boys	Broomfield
2000–01	Old Actonians Association	Broomfield	Old Lyonians
2001–02	Old Owens	Old Salesians	Nottsborough
2002–03	Old Salesians	Winchmore Hill (a)	Bank of England
2003–04	Old Esthameians	Nottsborough	Kew Association
2004–05	Broomfield (me)	East Barnet Old Grammarians	Old Wilsonians
2005–06	Old Owens (o)	Alleyn Old Boys	Merton
2006–07	Nottsborough	Polytechnic (me)	South Bank Cuaco
2007–08	West Wickham (sk)	Old Esthameians	Old Parkonians
2008–09	Nottsborough (a)	Broomfield	Lloyds TSB Bank
2009–10	Nottsborough	East Barnet Old Grammarians	Old Parkonians
2010–11	Nottsborough	Norsemen	Old Westminster Citizens

^(a) indicates team also won AFA Senior Cup

^(e) indicates team also won AFA Essex Senior Cup

^(m) indicates team also won AFA Middlesex Senior Cup

^(s) indicates team also won AFA Surrey Senior Cup

^(me) indicates team also won AFA Middlesex/Essex Senior Cup

^(sk) indicates team also won AFA Surrey/Kent Senior Cup

^(o) indicates team also won Old Boys Senior Cup

External links

• Southern Amateur League
• Amateur Football Alliance