FA Inter-League Cup explained

Founded:2003
Region: England
Isle of Man
Guernsey
Jersey
Current Champions:Arthurian League
Website:FA Inter-League Cup

The FA Inter-League Cup (formerly known as the FA National League System Cup or FA NLS Cup) is a football competition run by The Football Association. It was created in the 2003–04 season to provide an English representative in the UEFA Regions' Cup.

History

In previous Regions' Cups, the FA had nominated a team to take part; in the 2002–03 season it was a Kent County League XI. UEFA decreed that in the future all Regions' Cup entrants must have won a national competition, and so the NLS Cup was formed.

The cup is contested by representative sides from leagues at Step 7 of the National League System, with a few other leagues permitted by the FA. That is roughly at the county level or eleventh overall tier of the English football league system. The first final was held on 8 May 2004, and was won by the Mid Cheshire League, who beat the Cambridgeshire County League 2–0.

The second final was held on 7 May 2006 at Cambridge United's Abbey Stadium, and saw the Cambridgeshire County League and Isle of Man Football League compete. The Isle of Man comfortably won the fixture with four goals in the second half and claimed the trophy with a final score of 4–0. The team travelled to the Czech Republic in April 2007 for the Intermediary Round of the UEFA Regions' Cup. After a 1–2 defeat to the Bratislava team (Slovakia) a 3–2 win over the hosting Hradec Králové team left the side with a chance of qualifying for the finals. Unfortunately a 0–1 loss to Northern Ireland's Eastern Region ended their hopes.

The 2008 final was held at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena on Saturday 3 May. The Southern Amateur League won the competition at the first attempt after winning a penalty shoot-out 4–2 following a 1–1 draw.[1] The SAL team travelled to Turin in October 2008 for the Intermediary Round of the UEFA Regions' Cup where they took on representatives from Italy, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. The team finished second on goal difference, having not conceded any goals in their 3 group matches.

The 2010 final was held at The Track in Saint Sampson, Guernsey on 1 May 2010. The home side, the Guernsey Senior County League, defeated the Liverpool County Premier League 5–2.[2] It was announced in November 2010 that the competition would be renamed from the "FA National League System Cup" to its present name.[3]

The 2018 final was between York Football League and North Riding Football League on Sunday 6 May at the home of Sheffield United - Bramall Lane. North Riding Football League won 4-2.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 final was postponed.[4] The final was between Jersey Football Combination and West Cheshire League on Monday 10 May 2021 at St George's Park National Football Centre. Jersey Football Combination won 5-1.[5] This qualified Jersey for the 2023 UEFA Regions' Cup.[6]

The competition returned in 2024, with the final taking place on Sunday 5th May 2024 between the Arthurian League and West Yorkshire Association Football League at Lincoln City FC's Sincil Bank Stadium. The Arthurian League won the final 1 - 0 after extra time and will now represent England at the 2024/25 UEFA Regions Cup.

Finals

SeasonWinnersScoreRunners-upVenueQualification for
2003–04Mid-Cheshire League2 – 0Cambridgeshire County LeagueAbbey Stadium2005 UEFA Regions' Cup
2005–06Isle of Man League4 – 0Cambridgeshire County LeagueAbbey Stadium2007 UEFA Regions' Cup
2007–08Southern Amateur League1 – 1†Midland Football CombinationRicoh Arena2009 UEFA Regions' Cup
2009–10Priaulx League5 – 2Liverpool County Premier LeagueThe Track2011 UEFA Regions' Cup
2011–12Jersey Football Combination2 – 1‡Isle of Man Football LeagueThe Bowl2013 UEFA Regions' Cup
2013–14Isle of Man Football League3 – 2Hertfordshire Senior County LeagueThe Bowl2015 UEFA Regions' Cup
2015–16West Yorkshire League3 – 2Teesside LeagueBootham Crescent2017 UEFA Regions' Cup
2017–18North Riding Football League4 – 2York LeagueBramall Lane2019 UEFA Regions' Cup
2019-20Jersey Football Combination5 – 1West Cheshire LeagueSt George's Park National Football Centre2023 UEFA Regions' Cup
2023-24Arthurian League1 – 0 ‡West Yorkshire Association Football LeagueSincil Bank2024 UEFA Regions' Cup
† – After penalties‡ – After extra time

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFANLSCup/NewsAndFeatures/2008/NLS_Final_report Amateurs clinch glory
  2. http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFANLSCup/NewsAndFeatures/2010/Final-match-report Guernsey triumphant
  3. Web site: New name for League competition. 3 November 2010. 4 January 2010. The FA.
  4. https://www.jerseyfa.com/news/2021/mar/30/inter-league-cup-semi-final-to-take-place-in-april Inter-League Cup Semi-Final to Take Place in April
  5. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57049874 FA Inter-League Cup: Jersey Football Combination win title after 5-1 win over West Cheshire League
  6. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63105298 Uefa Regions' Cup: Jersey stay in tournament after late Jay Giles winner