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]
| Founded | 1964 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1964–65 |
| Folded | 1971 |
| Country |  England |
| Divisions | One (1969–1970) Two (1964–1969, 1970–1971) |
| Number of teams | Lowest: 20 (1970–1971) Highest: 26 (1965–1967) |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
| Most championships | Canvey Island (2) |
History
editThe 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
edit| Season | A Section | B Section |
|---|---|---|
| 1964–65 | Eton Manor | Sheppey United |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One |
| 1965–66 | Cray Wanderers | Highfield |
| 1966–67 | Epping Town | Battersea United |
| Season | Division One | Division Two |
| 1967–68 | Canvey Island | Willesden |
| 1968–69 | Canvey Island | Penhill Standard |
| Season | Champions | |
| 1969–70 | East Ham United | |
| Season | A Section | B Section |
| 1970–71 | Ford United | Ulysses |
Member clubs
editMember clubs during the league's existence included:
- Barkingside
- Battersea United
- Beckenham Town
- Bexley
- Brentstonians
- BROB Barnet
- Canvey Island
- CAV Athletic
- Chertsey Town
- Chingford
- Cray Wanderers
- Crittall Athletic
- Crockenhill
- Deal Town
- East Ham United
- Epping Town
- Eton Manor
- Faversham Town
- Ford United
- Hatfield Town
- Heathside Sports
- Hermes
- Highfield
- London Transport
- Merton United
- Penhill Standard
- Northern Polytechnic
- Royal Arsenal Sports
- ROFSA
- Sheppey United
- Slade Green Athletic
- Snowdown Colliery Welfare
- Swanley Town
- Tunbridge Wells Rangers
- Ulysses
- Vokins
- West Thurrock Athletic
- Whitstable Town
- Willesden
- Woodford Town
- Woolwich Polytechnic
In addition, some clubs' first teams competed in the league's reserve section. These included:
- Alma United
- Basildon United
- British Ropes
- Brimsdown Rovers
- Crittall Sports
- East Thurrock United
- Eastley Athletic
- Green & Siley Weir
- Harold Hill
- Haringey Borough
- India & Millwall Dock
- J&E Hall Sports
- Muirhead Sports
- Pegasus
- Rolenmill
- Smiths Industries
- STC New Southgate
- Welwyn Garden City
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Club information Archived 2011-12-03 at the Wayback Machine Cray Wanderers Youth FC
- ^ Cray Wanderers in the Aetolian League Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Cray Wanderers
- ^ Cray Wanderers in the Metropolitan League Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Cray Wanderers FC