Greater London League Explained

Greater London League
Founded:1964
First:1964–65
Folded:1971
Divisions:One (1969–1970)
Two (1964–1969, 1970–1971)
Teams:Lowest: 20 (1970–1971)
Highest: 26 (1965–1967)
Domest Cup:FA Cup
Most Champs:Canvey Island (2)

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,[1] after the two leagues had run a joint league cup the previous season due to both struggling for numbers.[2]

History

The league initially ran with A and B sections, before being divided into a Premier Division and First Division in 1965. In 1967 the divisions were renamed Division One and Division Two. A reduction in the number of clubs saw a single division formed for the 1969–70 season, and although it lost another club at the end of the season, it was split back into two sections the following season. At the end of the 1970–71 season it merged with the Metropolitan League (which had lost several clubs to the Southern League) to form the Metropolitan–London League.[3]

List of champions

SeasonA SectionB Section
1964–65Eton ManorSheppey United
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
1965–66Cray WanderersHighfield
1966–67Epping TownBattersea United
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
1967–68Canvey IslandWillesden
1968–69Canvey IslandPenhill Standard
SeasonChampions
1969–70East Ham United
SeasonA SectionB Section
1970–71Ford UnitedUlysses

Member clubs

Member clubs during the league's existence included:

In addition, some clubs' first teams competed in the league's reserve section. These included:

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.craywanderers-jfc.co.uk/clubinfo.html Club information
  2. http://www.craywands.co.uk/crayaetolian.pdf Cray Wanderers in the Aetolian League
  3. http://www.craywands.co.uk/craymetropolitan.pdf Cray Wanderers in the Metropolitan League