| The
History of The League
The Combined Counties Football League, formerly the very short-lived
Surrey Senior Football League, alias the Home Counties Football
League and formed from the remains of the Surrey County Senior
League, commenced operations on the 18th June 1978.
Three titles over a period of two years was poor publicity for
any new League, though, fortunately, the current title produced
no objections.
The background to this saga commenced in 1978, when the clubs
and officers of the Surrey County Senior League decided to end
a thirty-year alignment with the Surrey County Football Association
following continual losses of clubs to other leagues and a general
lack of new senior clubs coming through from the County Intermediate
Leagues. The officers managed to obtain some sponsorship; a
condition of which was the formation of a new league to enlarge
the catchment area and scope in an attempt to seek direct affiliation
with the Football Association. And so the Home Counties Football
League was born.
As the new League was, geographically, insufficiently large
enough to comply with Football Association regulations, the
League was required to affiliate to the Surrey County Football
Association. After a few months, an objection to the name was
raised by the London Football Association through an autonomous
body called the Home Counties Conference. This body instructed
the Surrey County Football Association to refuse sanction to
the League under it's present nomenclature in future seasons.
In anticipation, the League decided to revert to a similarity
of the former title of the old defunct league - Surrey Senior
Football League - after a change of heart by some of the more
County-aligned members. Though, initially, verbally agreed by
the Surrey County Football Association, the name was officially
rejected on the grounds that the Surrey County Football Association
intended to reform the Surrey County Senior League in a new
form at some time in the future. This rejection came only ten
days before the Home Counties Football League Annual General
Meeting. The reformed Surrey County Senior League is now with
us which was started in the 1982-1983 season.
Within this ten day period, the Surrey County Football Association
suggested the name of the Corinthian Football League, but this
was frowned upon by the Athenian Football League within which
the old Corinthian Football League was incorporated. The alternative
suggestion which found general approval was the Combined Counties
Football League, and this was finally adopted.
Since 1978, the annual, and increasing, loss of clubs to other
Leagues was finally arrested, much to the relief of the officers.
From the initial nine founder-member clubs, the Premier Division
grew in the first year to eleven with Hartley Wintney and Yateley.
The following season brought Godalming & Farncombe United,
now Godalming & Guildford, and for a time Godalming Town,
from the Surrey County Intermediate Football League (Western
Division) and, possibly more importantly, Virginia Water from
the London-Spartan Football League, to help provide a stronger
competition. The return of Virginia Water and the decision of
Chessington United not to purse an application for membership
of the London-Spartan Football League after having been accepted,
alleviated some of the wear and tear on the League's officers,
who had been battling for the League's survival. The Chessington
United decision was followed by two more enquiries, both from
outside Surrey, from clubs considering applying for the following
season.
Higher Petrol costs and, therefore, dearer travel, persuaded
more clubs to follow the lead of Virginia Water, to compete
in a more regionalised League. 1980-1981 brought Cranleigh,
Farnham Town, Lingfield and Wrecclesham with Alton Town, Chobham,
Cove and Frimley Green joining the following season. Only two
Clubs had departed in this time; Lions Sports, whose senior
teams folded due to company policy, and Lingfield who were somewhat
isolated geographically. By 1983, membership of the League stabilised
with between sixteen and eighteen clubs, and ideally, each club
was to eventually reach the playing strength and facilities
required to compete in the Football Association Challenge Vase
competition.
From the commencement of the 1984-1985 season, the League, together
with three other senior Leagues in the Home Counties, formed
the lower rung of the Isthmian Pyramid system of football under
the Isthmian Football League. Further, the formation of the
Surrey County Premier League led to the completion of the Surrey
County Football Association pyramid extending down to the most
junior of park clubs. Under this pyramid, any club affiliated
to the Surrey County Football Association could then progress
through their various Leagues to the Combined Counties Football
League, subject to certain requirements relating to facilities
and the granting of senior status by the County Football Association,
under a promotion/relegation agreement between the Surrey County
Premier League and this League. This agreement did not apply
to clubs affiliated to other County Football Associations, who
could apply for membership in the usual manner. The decision
to join the pyramid, in effect, strengthened the League enabling
it to become a force in senior non-league football and develop
to a level equal to that of other Leagues of similar status.
In 1985, the League became the first feeder League in the Isthmian
pyramid to provide a club with suitable facilities, Southwick,
acceptable for promotion to the Isthmian Football League, Division
Two (South). The following season Chertsey Town were similarly
promoted.
1987 saw a further change in the name of the League. An agreement
was reached with Dan-Air Scheduled Services Limited to provide
sponsorship in the form of a five figure sum over a four year
period, with annual options. Part of that agreement changed
the League title to the 'Dan-Air Football League' and introduced
a League representative team. The sponsorship of the League
by Dan-Air Scheduled Services Limited was most appropriate since
the company were originally based as Blackbushe Airport, Yateley,
which is in the catchment area of the League. Dan-Air were then
based at Gatwick and operated out of that airport as well as
Heathrow; both airports being on the extremities of the League's
area.
The summer of 1988 saw another of the League's objectives achieved
when the arrival of Steyning Town from Sussex meant that the
League were required to formally affiliate direct to the Football
Association.
Dan-Air Scheduled Services Limited increased their sponsorship
in 1989 with the introduction of the Dan-Air Class Elite Cup
which advertised the company's business executive class on the
airline.
The position of the League in the national pyramid was strengthened
in 1990 when the admittance of Sandhurst Town extended the area
of the League into a fifth county, Berkshire, and the Annual
General Meeting agreed the introduction of yet another competition,
the Youth Cup, for member clubs. Another club gained promotion
into the Isthmian League when Cove moved up at the end of the
season.
During 1990 the Isthmian Pyramid was expanded to include a level
of Lower Feeder Leagues which included the Surrey County Premier
League, now known as the Surrey County Senior League. This enlarged
the area from which Clubs could be promoted into the League
and promotion & relegation issues at both ends of the League
will now be decided by the Isthmian Joint Liaison Committee.
The 1991-92 season, saw the League expand once more with new
arrivals Viking Sports, from the Hellenic League and Ditton
promoted from the Surrey Premier League. The League also introduced
a new competition for the third season running, the Dan-Air
Youth League, open to youth teams from member clubs. However,
the Youth League failed to achieve it's aims only attracting
seven teams in it's first season. With few of the other teams
showing interest in entering, the League reluctantly abandoned
the competition at the end of the season.
Farnham Town attaining promotion in 1991-92 to the Isthmian
League, however, they failed to attain the facilities required
and were back in the League in 1993-94.
The 1992-93 season saw the League with a new name with the end
of the sponsorship from Dan-Air and a new three year deal. Parasol
Professional Portrait Photography Ltd of Cobham agreed a sponsorship
deal resulting in a new title for the League; the “Parasol
Combined Counties Football League”.
The League Challenge Cup also returned to sponsorship for the
1992-93 season with the name Parasol Challenge Cup. A replacement
for the popular Dan-Air Class Elite Cup was also obtained which
became the Frazer Freight Vase which was sponsored by Frazer
Freight International Ltd.
Two new clubs also joined the League for the 1992-93 season
with Peppard being the first to be promoted from the Chiltonian
League and DCA Basingstoke crossing the pyramid from the Hampshire
League. With the arrival of Peppard, who are an Oxfordshire
Club, the League now extended its influence into six counties
for the first time.
Peppard were to prove a formidable side on the field winning
both the Premier & Reserve Divisions in 1992-93 & 1993-94
but they failed to obtain the facilities necessary to progress
into the Isthmian League. The 1992-93 season saw the demise
of Malden Town, a long time member of the league, when they
lost their ground and were forced to out of existence.
The 1993-94 season also saw Chipstead withdraw their reserves
and move them to the Suburban League, the first club to do so.
Frimley Green were also relegated to the Surrey Premier League
and replaced by Netherne.
In the 1994-95 season Ashford Town (Middx) claimed the first
of their record breaking run of League titles. This was to be
repeated the following year, a season that saw Malden Vale return
to the CCFL from the Isthmian League as Raynes Park Vale along
with Feltham. Ashford Town (Middx)’s run of league titles
was to continue until they were promoted into the Isthmian League
at the end of 1999-2000. The run only interspersed by the 1998-99
championship claimed by Ash United.
In 1997-98 the league received sponsorship from another source
and became the Courage Combined Counties Football League.
In the following seasons Cove, AFC Wallingford & Withdean
2000 won the championship but all failed to gain promotion due
to standard of facilities. Withdean 2000 were most unlucky as
their home ground, Withdean Stadium, has been used by Brighton
& Hove in the Football League Championship & League
One. The 2002-2003 season saw CCFL matches played for the first
time on a ground with a seating capacity of 7000.
In 2002, the league reached a membership of 24 clubs in the
premier division with the arrival of North Greenford United,
from the Middlesex County League, and AFC Wimbledon.
The AFC Wimbledon experience was something special for most
of the clubs in the league. With crowds of up to 4000 specators
at AFC Wimbledons matches. It also saw the first matches with
large numbers of police drafted in to control crowds, including
mounted police and helicopters.
AFC Wimbledon spent two seasons with the league before being
promoted as champions and winning the league cup. The Premier
Cup Final at Woking FC for the match between AFC Wimbledon &
North Greenford United saw the largest crowd to fill Kingfield
Stadium.
In 2002-03 also marked the start of a three year sponsorship
arrangement with Seagrave Haulage. Unfortunately, this was to
fail after one season when Seagrave pulled out of the deal.
Following the National League System Conference in July 2002.
The CCFL and the Surrey Senior League entered into discussions.
This resulted in the merger of the two leagues for season 2003-2004
forming a league of 40 clubs filling the steps 5 and 6 in line
with FA wishes.
After a first successful season in operation the CCFL Division
One champions AFC Guildford were promoted into the Premier Division.
In 2005, Premier Division Champions Walton Casuals were been
promoted to the newly restructured step 4 leagues, whilst AFC
Wallingford & Hartley Wintney were relegated to Division
One and Bedfont Green promoted to the Premier Division. Hanworth
Villa from the Middlesex County League and Tongham from the
Surrey Intermediate League were promoted into Division One to
replace the relegated Cranleigh & Hersham RBL.
A new sponsorship was also in place for 2005-06 following an
agreement with Cherry Red Records. The league became the Cherry
Red Combined Counties Football League.
At the end of 2005-06, six clubs were moved from the Isthmian
League Division Two to the Combined Counties League. This was
part of the FA restructuring of the National League System where
a fifth division at Step 4 was created and Isthmian Division
Two was scrapped. These clubs were Camberley Town, Chertsey
Town, Dorking, Egham Town, Epsom & Ewell & Wembley.
Most of these clubs were former members of the league when it
had been the Surrey Senior League. These clubs were joined by
Banstead Athletic who took the relegation spot in Isthmian Division
One being replaced by Godalming Town who were promoted as champions
of the Premier Division. With Bookham being promoted to the
Premier Division and AFC Wallingford taking their promotion
as a move into the Hellenic League, five clubs were moved to
Division One mainly for failing to meet the facility requirements.
These being Farnham Town, Feltham, Frimley Green, Horley Town
& Westfield. The league achieved its largest membership
by also accepting CB Hounslow United from the Middlesex League
and South Park from the Crawley & District League.
2006-2007 saw another club promoted to step 4. Chipstead who
had led the Premier Division for most of the season. Horley
Town, having upgraded their facilities were able to make a return
to the Premier Division and Knaphill, from the Surrey Intermediate
League, and Neasden Foundation, from the Middlesex County League
were admitted to Division One.
With promotion and relegation at both ends of the competition,
the League is now well established as a senior route into higher
football for clubs in a region covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire,
Hampshire, London, Middlesex & Surrey.
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