The Spartan League was a football league in England covering London and adjacent counties. Established in 1907, it merged with the South Midlands League in 1997 to form the Spartan South Midlands League.
| Founded | 1907 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1907–08 |
| Folded | 1997 |
| Country |  England |
| Divisions | 1–4 |
| Promotion to | Isthmian League |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup, FA Amateur Cup, FA Vase |
History
editThe Spartan League was established in 1907 with six clubs; Bromley, Dulwich Hamlet, Leytonstone, Nunhead, Shepherd's Bush and West Norwood.[1] It gained five clubs for its second season, and split into two divisions, Eastern and Western.[1] In 1909–10 the split was changed to Section A and B, before the league reverted to a single division in 1910–11.[1]
The league added a second division in 1920, and in 1925 it added another division, with Division Two divided into 2A and 2B.[1] This structure lasted until 1928 when the league gained another division, with both Division One and Two divided into East and West divisions.[1] The following season the league was reorganised, with a Premier Division created above Division One and Division Two still divided into East and West sections.[1] This structure remained unchanged until World War II.[2] The league restarted in 1945 and was divided into three divisions; Central, Eastern and Western.[2] The following season it reverted to a single division.[1]
In 1975 the league merged with the Metropolitan–London League, forming the London Spartan League, which ran with two divisions; Division One and Division Two.[3] In 1977 they were renamed, becoming the Premier Division and Senior Division.[3] The league readopted the name Spartan League in 1987,[4] A third division, the Intermediate Division, was added for the 1987–88 season; by 1992 it had been renamed Division Two.[4]
In 1997 it merged with the South Midlands League to form the Spartan South Midlands League. The new league initially ran with two Premier Divisions (north and south), a Senior Division and two Division Ones (north and south).[5]
Champions
editSpartan League
editFirst season with six clubs.[1]
| Season | Spartan League |
|---|---|
| 1907–08 | Bromley |
For the 1908–09 season, the league was split into two regional sections: Eastern and Western Sections.
| Season | Eastern Section | Western Section |
|---|---|---|
| 1908–09 | Luton Clarence | Aylesbury United |
For the following season, the regional divisions were renamed the Section B and fSection A respectively.
| Season | Section A | Section B |
|---|---|---|
| 1909–10 | 2nd Coldstream Guards | St Albans City |
For the 1910–11 season, the league reverted to a single division
| Season | Spartan League |
|---|---|
| 1910–11 | 2nd Coldstream Guards |
| 1911–12 | St Albans City |
| 1912–13 | 2nd Coldstream Guards |
| 1913–14 | Chesham Generals |
| 1919–20 | Wycombe Wanderers |
For the 1920–21 season, Division Two was added.
| Season | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|
| 1920–21 | Wycombe Wanderers | Wycombe Wanderers Reserves |
| 1921–22 | Chesham United | Chesham United Reserves |
| 1922–23 | Chesham United | Wendover |
| 1923–24 | Leavesden Mental Hospital | Leighton United |
| 1924–25 | Chesham United | Wealdstone Reserves |
For the 1925–26 season, Division Two was divided in Division Two A and Division Two B
| Season | Division One | Division Two A | Division Two B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925–26 | G.E.R. (Romford) | Lyons Club | Artillery College |
| 1926–27 | Maidenhead United | Berkhamsted Town | Ware |
| 1927–28 | Botwell Mission | Leighton United | Hoddesdon Town |
For the 1928–29 season, both Division One and Two divided into East and West divisions.
| Season | Division One East | Division One West | Division Two East | Division Two West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928–29 | Metropolitan Police | Aylesbury United | Metropolitan Police Reserves | R.A.F.(Royal Air Force) Halton |
For the following season the league was reorganised, with a Premier Division created above Division One and Division Two still divided into East and West sections.[1][2]
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two East | Division Two West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929–30 | Metropolitan Police | Haywards Sports (Enfield) | Letchworth Town | Marlow |
| 1930–31 | Haywards Sports (Enfield) | Windsor & Eton | Callender Athletic | Maidenhead United Reserves |
| 1931–32 | Maidenhead United | Callender Athletic | Bishop's Stortford | R.A.F.(Royal Air Force) Uxbridge |
| 1932–33 | Chesham United | Waterlows (Dunstable) | Hoxton Manor | Maidenhead United Reserves |
| 1933–34 | Maidenhead United | Apsley | Jurgens (Purfleet) | Henley Town |
| 1934–35 | Hitchin Town | Jurgens (Purfleet) | Lea Bridge Gas | Pinner |
| 1935–36 | Waterlows (Dunstable) | Hoddesdon Town | Letchworth Town Reserves | Hazells (Aylesbury) |
| 1936–37 | Metropolitan Police | Henley Town | Saffron Walden Town | Wendover |
| 1937–38 | Waterlows (Dunstable) | Marlow | R.A.F.(Royal Air Force) Henlow | Pinner |
| 1938–39 | Metropolitan Police | Aylesbury United | Ford Sports (Dagenham) | Harrow Town |
In the 1945–46 season the league had three divisions.
| Season | Eastern Division | Central Division | Western Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945–46 | Cambridge Town | Metropolitan Police | Hounslow |
For the 1946–47 season, the league reverted to a single division.[2][3]
In 1975 the Spartan League merged with the Metropolitan-London League to form the London Spartan League.
London Spartan League
editFor the 1975–76 season, the London Spartan League ran with two divisions; Division One and Division Two.
| Season | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | Farnborough Town | |
| 1976–77 | Cray Wanderers | Ulysses |
For the 1977–78 season, the Division One and Division Two were renamed as Premier Division and Senior Division respectively.
| Season | Premier Division | Senior Division |
|---|---|---|
| 1977–78 | Cray Wanderers | Fisher Athletic |
| 1978–79 | Swanley Town | |
| 1979–80 | Berkhamsted Town | Greenwich Borough |
| 1980–81 | Fisher Athletic | Bracknell Town |
| 1981–82 | Fisher Athletic | Highfield |
| 1982–83 | Bracknell Town | Beaconsfield United |
| 1983–84 | Collier Row | Hanwell Town |
| 1984–85 | Burnham | Crown & Manor |
| 1985–86 | Collier Row | Corinthian-Casuals |
| 1986–87 | Yeading | Southwark Sports |
In 1987 the London Spartan League readopted the name to Spartan League
For the 1987–88 season, the league added an Intermediate Division.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Intermediate Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | Edgware Town | Catford Wanderers | Newmont Travel |
| 1988–89 | Abingdon Town | Newmont Travel | |
| 1989–90 | Edgware Town | KPG Tipples | |
| 1990–91 | Walthamstow Pennant | Sangley Sports |
For the 1991–92 season, the Intermediate Division was renamed as Division Two.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | Northwood | Willesden Hawkeye | Clapton Villa |
| 1992–93 | Brimsdown Rovers | Metrogas | Bridon Ropes |
| 1993–94 | Willesden Hawkeye | Lewisham Elms | Tottenham Wine |
| 1994–95 | Croydon Athletic | Tottenham Wine | Southwark Faweh |
| 1995–96 | St. Margaretsbury | Leyton County | Classic Inter |
| 1996–97 | Barkingside | Leyton County | Odua United |
In 1997 the Spartan League merged with the South Midlands League to form the Spartan South Midlands League.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Spartan League 1907-1934 Non-League Matters
- ^ a b c d Spartan League 1934-1955 Non-League Matters
- ^ a b c Spartan League 1955-1983 Non-League Matters
- ^ a b c Spartan League 1983-1997 Non-League Matters
- ^ Spartan South Midlands League 1997-2004 Non-League Matters