Southern Combination Football League Explained

Southern Combination Football League
Pixels:160
Founded:1920 (as Sussex County League)
Country:England
Feeds:Isthmian League South East Division
Relegation:East Sussex Football League
Mid-Sussex Football League
West Sussex Football League
Divisions:3
Teams:50
Levels:Levels 9–11
Domest Cup:FA Cup
FA Vase
Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
Sussex RUR Cup
League Cup:The Peter Bentley League Cup
Division One Challenge Cup
Division Two Challenge Cup
The Reserve Section Challenge Cup
Season:2023–24
Champions:Steyning Town (Premier Division)
Roffey (Division One)
Storrington (Division Two)
Most Champs:Horsham
Peacehaven & Telscombe
and Worthing (8 titles)
Website:Official
Current:2024–25 Southern Combination Football League

The Southern Combination Football League (named Premier Sports Southern Combination Football League) is a football league broadly covering the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and South West London, England. The league consists of eight divisions – three for first teams (Premier Division, Division One and Division Two), two for Under 23 teams (East Division and West Division) and three for Under 18 teams (East Division, Central Division and West Division).

History

Formed in 1920 as the Sussex County Football League,[1] started with just one league with 12 teams. By the end of the 1929–30 season, six of the original twelve teams remained, having played in every campaign since the competition began. The league saw regular changes in members between 1921 and 1928 and saw 23 clubs taking part. The league closed down during the Second World War and the league ran two competition sections in the 1945–46 season, an Eastern division with eight teams and a Western division with 9 teams. The winners of each competition played in a play-off for a champion. A normal single league practice resumed in 1946 with 14 clubs now playing.

A new division was created in 1952 when Division Two was instituted. Division One remained with 14 teams and Division Two with 12 teams. By 1958 the two leagues had 16 teams each. The 1962–63 season was abandoned due to the atrocious weather conditions, with some clubs playing over 20 games and others with only 13 or 14 games played; an emergency competition was played in a group stage style format with knock-out stages to the final. The 1970s saw the league membership decline. In 1983 a third division was added for intermediate level teams looking for an easy entry into the football league pyramid system, and a 3-points-for-a-win system was introduced. Divisions One and Two remained at 16 teams each, Division Three started with 13 teams, increasing to 15 two seasons later. Some long term clubs experienced harder times and dropped into Division Two. A "Two Up Two Down" system of promotion and relegation was applied throughout the period but was occasionally affected by departures from the league itself. Division One increased to 18 teams for the 1988–89 season and 20 teams for the 1993–94 season, along with Division One increasing to 18 teams in the same season. Division Three increased to 16 teams in 2000.

The league changed its name to the Southern Combination Football League for the start of the 2015–16 season,[2] keeping the acronym SCFL also attracting teams just across the Sussex border when the Football Association (FA) moved teams across leagues. The divisions were renamed at this time to Premier Division, Division One and Division Two, with the last keeping its intermediate status. Also, for the 2015–16 season the league added two U21s divisions, one in the East, and one in the West, consisting of 7 teams each, which lasted until the end of the 2017–18 season and replaced by two Under–23 divisions (East and West), and three Under–18 divisions (East, Central and West).

The Sin Bin rule was introduced for the 2019–20 season to reduce dissent between the players,[3] also during the same season the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic halted all sporting events nationwide; the leagues and the Football Association agreed to end the season early and expunge all results, with no promotion or relegation between the leagues.[4]

The league season was abandoned for a third time after the FA Alliance and Leagues committees announced that the 2020–21 would be curtailed, subject to ratification by The FA Council, with immediate effect.[5]

The first team divisions – Premier, One and Two, sit at Steps 5 and 6, and level 11, formerly Step 7, of the English football league system, below the lower divisions of the Isthmian League and the Southern League. The reserve divisions are not part of the league system.

Sponsorship

In the past, Unijet, Rich City, Matthew Clark and Badger Ales sponsored the Sussex County Football League. But between 2006 and 2014 the league was without a sponsor. Macron Store (Hastings) signed a 4-year deal beginning in the 2014–15 season resulting in the official name being changed to The Macron Sussex County League and then to The Macron Southern Combination Football League a year later. On 20 June 2023 Premier Sports announced at the League Annual General Meeting that they would be sponsoring the league.[6]

PeriodSponsorBrand
1990–2000Unijet Unijet Sussex County League
2000–2002Rich City Rich City Sussex County League
2002–2004Matthew Clark Matthew Clark Sussex County League
2004–2006Badger Ales Badger Ales Sussex County League
2006–2014No Sponsor Sussex County League
2014–2015Macron Store Sussex County Football League
2015–2023Macron Store Southern Combination Football League
2023–presentPremier Sports Premier Sports Southern Combination Football League

Current clubs

Premier Division

Division One

Division Two

Former clubs

Following former clubs are now playing in other leagues or levels.

Defunct clubs

Only clubs with articles are listed

Champions

1920–1939

The league originally consisted of a single section of 12 clubs, and had reached a stable membership of 14 clubs when it was abandoned on the outbreak of World War II. The fore-runner of the League Cup, known then as the Baldwin Cup (generically Invitation Cup) was introduced in 1938-39 with six teams invited. Lewes were the inaurgural final winners beating Littlehampton 5-0 at Newhaven on 6 May 1939.

SeasonChampions
1920–21Worthing
1921–22Worthing
1922–23Vernon Athletic
1923–24Corps of Signals
1924–25Corps of Signals
1925–26Southwick
1926–27Worthing
1927–28Southwick
1928–29Worthing
1929–30Southwick
1930–31Worthing
1931–32Horsham
1932–33Horsham
1933–34Worthing
1934–35Horsham
1935–36Horsham
1936–37Horsham
1937–38Horsham
1938–39Worthing

1939–1941

During the Second World War an emergency competition was played. The league operated two region divisions, East and West, with the winners of each playing in a play-off

SeasonEasternWesternPlay-off WinnersInvitation league cup
1939–40Hastings & St LeonardsWorthingWorthingLewes
1940–41No league competitions playedBognor Regis Town

1945–1946

For the first post-War season, the league also operated two regional divisions, East and West, with the winners of each facing each other in a play-off.

1946–1952

After a single split format, the league reverted to a single division for the next six seasons.

SeasonChampionsInvitation League Cup
1946–47HorshamHorsham
1947–48SouthwickChichester
1948–49Bognor RegisNewhaven
1949–50Haywards HeathBognor Regis
1950–51Haywards HeathEastbourne Comrades
1951–52ShorehamEast Grinstead

1952–1983

A second division was instituted in 1952. A two-division format continued for over 30 years, the only deviation being in the 1962–63 season when the unusually harsh winter weather made the league impossible to finish. The normal league competitions were abandoned and a set of emergency competitions were played for in the second half of the season.

SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoInvitation League Cup
1952–53ShorehamWigmore AthleticLittlehampton Town
1953–54NewhavenHove White RoversLittlehampton Town
1954–55Eastbourne UnitedThree Bridges UnitedChichester City
1955–56Eastbourne UnitedRye UnitedBexhill Town Athletic
1956–57Bexhill Town AthleticA P V AthleticChichester City
1957–58ArundelLancingShoreham
1958–59ArundelSidley UnitedLittlehampton Town & Shoreham (joint)
1959–60Chichester CityOld VarndeaniansWigmore Athletic
1960–61Chichester CityHastings RangersWhitehawk
1961–62WhitehawkShorehamLittlehampton Town
1962–63Normal competitions abandoned - Emergency Competition playedBognor Regis Town
1963–64WhitehawkSelseyChichester City
1964–65LewesSidley UnitedLancing
1965–66Bexhill Town AthleticHorsham Y M C ASouthwick
1966–67Bexhill Town AthleticWadhurst
1967–68Chichester CityWhitehawkHorsham Y M C A
1968–69SouthwickRingmer
1969–70Haywards HeathLancingWhitehawk
1970–71RingmerBognor Regis TownThree Bridges
1971–72Bognor Regis TownNewhavenBognor Regis Town
1972–73Chichester CityPortfieldHaywards Heath
SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoJohn O'Hara League CupDivision Two Cup
1973–74NewhavenWigmore AthleticBurgess Hill TownBurgess Hill Town
1974–75SouthwickBurgess Hill TownWigmore AthleticShoreham
1975–76Burgess Hill TownSelseyLittlehampton TownPeacehaven & Telscombe
1976–77Eastbourne TownShorehamLittlehampton TownArundel
1977–78ShorehamSteyningSouthwickCrowborough Athletic
1978–79Peacehaven & TelscombePaghamSteyningStorrington
1979–80Chichester CityHastings TownBurgess Hill TownHastings Town
1980–81PaghamWhitehawkHastings TownWhitehawk
1981–82Peacehaven & TelscombeWickHorsham Y M C ALancing
1982–83Peacehaven & TelscombeHorsham Y M C AWhitehawkShoreham

1983–2015

After a two division format had proved sufficient for over 30 years, a third division was added in 1983. While the top two divisions were for clubs holding senior status with the Sussex FA, the new Division Three was for clubs of intermediate status.

SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeJohn O'Hara League CupDivision Two League CupDivision Three League Cup
1983–84WhitehawkPortfieldEast PrestonSteyning TownHaywards Heath TownFerring F.C.Ferring
1984–85Steyning TownShorehamOakwoodLittlehampton TownChichester CityBosham
1985–86Steyning TownWickSeaford TownSteyning TownPaghamSeaford Town
1986–87ArundelPaghamLangney SportsArundelSelseyLangney Sports
1987–88PaghamLangney SportsMidwayWickChichester CityEast Preston
1988–89PaghamSeaford TownSaltdean UnitedPaghamMidhurst & EasebourneFranklands Village F.C.Franklands Village
1989–90WickBexhill TownWorthing UnitedLangney SportsOakwoodRottingdean
1990–91Littlehampton TownNewhavenIfieldLittlehampton TownChichester CityWithdean F.C.Withdean
1991–92Peacehaven & TelscombePortfieldHassocksPeacehaven & TelscombeRedhillSidlesham
1992–93Peacehaven & TelscombeCrowborough AthleticWithdeanPeacehaven & TelscombeLancingFranklands Village
1993–94WickShorehamBoshamWhitehawkShorehamIfield F.C.Ifield
1994–95Peacehaven & TelscombeMile OakMidhurst & EasebourneHailsham TownHorsham Y M C AEast Preston
1995–96Peacehaven & TelscombeSaltdean UnitedIfieldShorehamSelseyShinewater Association
1996–97Burgess Hill TownLittlehampton TownSidleshamWickSidley UnitedBuxted F.C.Buxted
1997–98Burgess Hill TownEast PrestonLingfieldBurgess Hill TownThree BridgesStorrington
1998–99Burgess Hill TownSidley UnitedOving Social ClubBurgess Hill TownSidley UnitedFranklands Village
1999–2000Langney SportsSidleshamBoshamSaltdean UnitedSidleshamBexhill Town
2000–01Sidley UnitedSouthwickRye UnitedSidley UnitedPeacehaven & TelscombeHaywards Heath Town
2001–02Burgess Hill TownRye & Iden UnitedPease Pottage VillageHorsham Y M C ARye & Iden UnitedCrowborough Athletic
2002–03Burgess Hill TownRye & Iden UnitedMidhurst & EasebourneSelseyRye & Iden UnitedMidhurst & Easebourne
2003–04Chichester City UnitedLittlehampton TownCrowborough AthleticArundelLittlehampton TownCrowborough Athletic
2004–05Horsham Y M C ACrowborough AthleticStorringtonRye & Iden UnitedWealdenRustington
2005–06Horsham Y M C AOakwoodPeacehaven & TelscombeShorehamMile OakRustington
2006–07Eastbourne TownPaghamRustingtonCrowborough AthleticWealdenPease Pottage Village F.C.Pease Pottage Village
2007–08Crowborough AthleticEast Grinstead TownLoxwoodShorehamPeacehaven & TelscombeBexhill United
2008–09Eastbourne United AssociationPeacehaven & TelscombeClympingWhitehawkPeacehaven & TelscombeHaywards Heath Town
2009–10WhitehawkRye UnitedBoshamPeacehaven & TelscombeLittlehampton TownBosham
2010–11Crawley DownA.F.C. UckfieldDorking WanderersThree BridgesAFC UckfieldSaltdean United
2011–12Three BridgesEast PrestonNewhavenThree BridgesEast PrestonIfield
2012–13Peacehaven & TelscombeLittlehampton TownSidleshamPeacehaven & TelscombeSeaford TownHaywards Heath Town
2013–14East PrestonEastbourne United AssociationLangney WanderersEast PrestonLoxwoodRoffey
2014–15Littlehampton TownWorthing UnitedSouthwickNewhavenWorthing UnitedBosham

2015–present

In 2015, the Sussex County Football League was re-branded to the Southern Combination Football League, keeping the acronym SCFL. The divisions were renamed to Premier Division, Division One and Division Two, Division Two clubs still holding intermediate status.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoPeter Bentley League CupDivision One League CupDivision Two League Cup
2015–16HorshamHaywards Heath TownAFC VarndeaniansLancingHaywards Heath TownBosham
2016–17ShorehamSaltdean UnitedBoshamPaghamLangney WanderersSidlesham
2017–18Haywards Heath TownLittle CommonRustingtonHaywards Heath TownLittle CommonBosham
2018–19Chichester CityAlfoldRustingtonSaltdean UnitedSteyning TownRustington
2019–20 1No champions. Season abandoned
2020–21 2
2021–22Littlehampton TownRoffeyRustingtonLittlehampton TownMidhurst & EasebourneCharlwood
2022–23Broadbridge HeathShorehamJarvis BrookNewhavenGodalming TownStorrington
2023–24Steyning TownRoffeyStorringtonSteyning TownCopthorneJarvis Brook

Promoted

Since the league's formation, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system. Crawley Town are currently the only English Football League team to play in the Sussex County League.

SeasonClubPositionPromoted to
1955–56Eastbourne United1st
Crawley9th
1964–65Lewes1stAthenian League Division Two
1971–72Bognor Regis Town1stSouthern League Division One South
1984–85Hastings Town9thSouthern League Southern Division
1995–96Stamco2nd
1999–2000Langney Sports1stSouthern League Eastern Division
2002–03Burgess Hill Town1st
2005–06Horsham YMCA1stIsthmian League Division One South
2006–07Eastbourne Town1st
2007–08Crowborough Athletic1st
2008–09Horsham YMCA3rd
2009–10Whitehawk1st
2010–11Crawley Down1st
2011–12Three Bridges1st
2012–13Peacehaven & Telscombe1st
Redhill2nd
2013–14East Grinstead Town2nd
2014–15Dorking Wanderers2nd
2015–16Horsham1st
2016–17Shoreham1st
2017–18Haywards Heath Town1stIsthmian League South Division
Three Bridges2nd
2018–19Chichester City1stIsthmian League South East Division
2020–21Lancing
2021–22Littlehampton Town1st
2022–23Broadbridge Heath1st
2023–24Steyning Town1st
Eastbourne Town2nd (P)
P = Via play-offs

Most championship title wins

Premier Division (Division One 1952–2015)

ClubWinsWinning years
81931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1946–47, 2015–16
1978–79, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2012–13
1920–21, 1921–22, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1938–39, 1939–40
71959–60, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1979–80, 2003–04, 2018–19
61975–76, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03
1925–26, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1948–48, 1968–69, 1974–75
51945–46, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1969–70, 2017–18
41951–52, 1952–53, 1977–78, 2016–17
1961–62, 1963–64, 1983–84, 2009–10
31957–58, 1958–59, 1986–87
1956–57, 1965–66, 1966–67
1954–55, 1955–56, 2008–09
1990–91, 2014–15, 2021–22
1980–81, 1987–88, 1988–89
1984–85, 1985–86, 2023–24
21948–49, 1971–72
1923–24, 1924–25
1976–77, 2006–07
1953–54, 1973–74
1989–90, 1993–94
2004–05, 2005–06
12022–23
2010–11
2007–08
2013–14
1999–2000
1964–65
1970–71
2000–01
2011–12
1922–23

Division One (Division Two 1952–2015)

ClubWinsWinning years
51961–63, 1976–77, 1984–85, 1993–94, 2022–23
41955–56, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2009–10
31996–97, 2003–04, 2012–13
1978–79, 1986–87, 2006–07
1972–73, 1983–84, 1991–92
1958–59, 1964–65, 1998–99
21992–93, 2004–05
1997–98, 2011–12
1965–66, 1982–83
1957–58, 1969–70
1971–72, 1990–91
2021–22, 2023–24
1995–96, 2016–17
1963–64, 1975–76
1967–68, 1980–81
1981–82, 1985–86
1952–53, 1973–74
11956–57
2010–11
1959–60
2018–19
1989–90
1970–71
1974–75
2007–08
2013–14
1960–61
1979–80
2015–16
1953–54
1987–88
2017–18
1994–95
2005–06
2008–09
1968–69
1988–89
1999–2000
2000–01
1977–78
1954–55
1966–67
2014–15

Division Two (Division Three 1983–2015)

ClubWinsWinning years
41993–94, 1999–2000, 2009–10, 2016–17
2006–07, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22
21990–91, 1995–96
1994–95, 2002–03
1996–97, 2012–13
2004–05, 2023–24
12015–16
2008–09
2003–04
2010–11
1983–84
1991–92
2022–23
1986–87
2013–14
1997–98
2007–08
1987–88
2011–12
1984–85
1998–99
2005–06
2001–02
2000–01
1988–89
1985–86
2014–15
1992–93
1989–90

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About the Sussex County Football League. Sussex County Football League. 12 January 2012.
  2. Web site: Sussex County Football League to Change Name. Haywards Heath Town FC. 10 April 2018.
  3. News: Sin bins coming to grassroots football from this season . Sky News . 30 July 2019 .
  4. News: Coronavirus: All football below National League to end . BBC Sport . 26 March 2020.
  5. News: NLS Steps 3-6 update . Sussex County FA . 24 February 2021 .
  6. Web site: Premier Sports Southern Combination Football League. Premier Sports. 2 August 2023.