Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League

The Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League is a football competition based in London, England. It was founded in 1946 and operates under the jurisdiction of the London Football Association, the only English regional association founded by the FA.
The Hackney and Leyton Sunday League is considered a historic league as it has produced many players of the English football, such as England captains Bobby Moore and David Beckham, Jimmy Greaves, Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones, Rio Ferdinand and others.[1] Most of the games are played at the Hackney Marshes football complex, the biggest in the world. In 2010 FC Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi arrived at the Marshes to come on as a substitute in an league match as a publicity stunt for Adidas, however, it was quickly cancelled as he was mobbed by fans.[2]

Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League
Founded1946
Country England
DivisionsPremier Division
Division One
Division Two
Division Three
Number of teams52
Domestic cup(s)FA Sunday Cup
London FA County Cups
Dickie Davies Cup
Jack Morgan Cup
Albert Daniels Senior Cup
Sunday Intermediate Cup
Current championsBaddoo FC (Premier)
Boundary Estate (Division One)
The Gun (Division Two)
Karpaty(Division Three)
The Gun II (Division Four)
(2022-23)
WebsiteHackney & Leyton Football League at FA
League website

The league has currently five divisions, the Premier Division, Division One, Division Two, Division Three and Division Four. It had a long association with Leyton FC with its headquarters located at the Leyton Stadium (previously known as the Hare and Hounds) until the headquarters moved to the Hackney Volunteers Club in Clapton.The league's longest-running club was Midfield, founded in 1967 and managed by Stan Gittings for over 40 years.

History

Early years

The London FA was founded directly by the FA in 1882 and particularly by Charles Alcock and Lord Kinnaird, then Secretary and Chairman of the FA. After the end of the WWII the Hackney Marshes, created on the foundations of the rubble created by the The Blitz, became synonymous for its football pitches. In 1947, the local Sunday football league was established for mainly North London teams which at the time was mostly made up of Hackney and Leyton residents but also from most parts of North and East London and even as far south as North Kent.[3] The Hackney & Leyton Premier Division was quite strong in the early years and there were some great sides that made up of top so-called 'amateur' players who played on Saturdays for the great amateur clubs of the day such as Walthamstow Avenue, Corinthian Casuals, Enfield, Leytonstone, Barnet and Finchley (all compteted in leagues equivalent of today's National League). In the early years it was United Services who dominated the league, and then in 1962, Barrowside FC who won the Premier division three years in a row. Gus Sports won the Senior Cup in 1965, 1966 and 1967 and then went on to win the Premier Division in 1971. In the 1970's Railway Rovers won the Premier three times and Islington Stanley won it twice, and went on to bring great honour to the league by winning the London Challenge Cup in 1971. In 1977, Cricketers followed Islington Stanley's performance by also winning the London Challenge Cup as well as winning the Premier three times.
These clubs always drew large crowds whenever they played, especially whenever the top fixtures took place at the Hare and Hounds Stadium.

Up until the 1970s, a lot of semi-professional players used to play in the league which was used to getting good crowds of 500 people for the big games, attendances were higher than for Leyton Town. According to Johnnie Walker, the league’s former Chairman who first played on the Marshes in 1952, aged just 17, people also used to bet on the games as there were bookmakers by the side of the pitch.

Recent years

In the 1980's Joiners FC won the Premier twice, the Senior Cup twice, and the newly inaugurated Dickie Davies Cup three years in a row. M.G Sports then achieved the feat of winning the Premiership five years running and the Dickie Davies Cup twice. This domination in the 80's was ended by Ordell FC who won the Premier three times and the London Intermediate Cup two years in a row. In recent times Hoxton Athletic won several trophies, amongst them four times winners of the Premiership. Also Bancroft three times and Eureka twice have taken the premier title along with their cup successes.

Lapton has been the team that has dominated since 2008 with several back to back premier titles and cup competitions. They beat 1st Divsion Real Romania in the 2009 Dickie Davies Cup Final having previously won four titles and promotions in a row: 2005-06 Division One , 2004-05 Division Two, 2003-04 Division Three and 2002-03 Division Four. In 2009 the won the top tier over Clapton Rangers who finished runners-up.

League match at Hackney Marshes in 2021.

In 2011, twelve of the league’s pitches on the East Marsh where taken over by the Olympics, concreted over to make way for a coach park. In 2018 the English retailer Pro:Direct Soccer teamed up with Nike to launch the movie Grassrooted about Sunday League, telling all the stories of the amateur football played in Hackney Marshes.[4]

Principals

Taylor-Innes was one of the league’s founders in 1946 and was chairmen for many years alongside Dave Taylor who was later honoured by having the league's domestic cup in his name (the cup started in 1952 and renamed to Dave Taylor Cup in 1972, and since 1999 it's been known as the Albert Daniels Senior Cup).[5] Other chairmen were Peter Clarke, Ronnie Burce, and Alec Pretlove until 2003 and is considered the league’s most popular chairman. Since 2003 Johnnie Walker has taken over the chair, after being the Vice-Chairman during Alec Pretlove's long term of the office. General Secretaries of the league were: Jack Morgan in the early years, Alf Brazier followed, and in 1976 Jack Walpole became the longest serving secretary until he passed away in 2001. Frank Hendy was one of the longest-serving Referee Secretaries; such was Albert Whitehead, while Ted Gore holds the position currently. Dickie Davies[6] was the Registration Secretary for years, with his wife Nell at the post now. His memory has been honored with the establishment of the Dickie Davies Cup in 1980, the league’s most prestigious domestic cup[7] Dino Constantinou joined in 2003 as the technical and website expert, and the league’s website used to attract around 200,000 visitors per season.[8]

League champions

Premier division

Founded in 1956, until then the top tier was the Division One.

  • 1951–52 – Stoke United FC
  • 1952–53 – Stoke United FC
  • 1953–54 – Penbury
  • 1954–55 – Penbury
  • 1955–56 – Lordship
  • 1956–57 – United Services
  • 1957–58 – ‘’no record’’
  • 1958–59 – United Services
  • 1959–60 – Lea United
  • 1960–61 – Lordship
  • 1961–62 – United Services
  • 1962–63 – Barrowside
  • 1963–64 – Barrowside
  • 1964–65 – Barrowside
  • 1965–66 – Lordship
  • 1966–67 – Salisbury
  • 1967–68 – Eastern
  • 1968–69 – Victoria Villa
  • 1969–70 – Victoria Villa
  • 1970–71 – Gus Sports
  • 1971–72 – Railway Rovers
  • 1972–73 – Woodford Town
  • 1973–74 – Railway Rovers
  • 1974–75 – Islington Stanley
  • 1975–76 – Islington Stanley
  • 1976–77 – Railway Rovers
  • 1977–78 – Cricketers
  • 1978–79 – Railway Rovers
  • 1979–80 – Cricketers
  • 1980–81 – Cricketers
  • 1981–82 – Prince of Wales
  • 1982–83 – Joiners
  • 1983–84 – Alexander
  • 1984–85 – M.G Sports
  • 1985–86 – M.G Sports
  • 1986–87 – M.G Sports
  • 1987–88 – M.G Sports
  • 1988–89 – M.G Sports
  • 1989–90 – Orderll Arms
  • 1990–91 – Hoxton
  • 1991–92 – Orderll Arms
  • 1992–93 – Corwn & Manor
  • 1993–94 – Hoxton
  • 1994–95 – Titan
  • 1995–96 – Titan
  • 1996–97 – Ordel
  • 1997–98 – Bancroft United
  • 1998–99 – Bricklayers Arms
  • 1999–00 – Hoxton
  • 2000–01 – Bancroft United
  • 2001–02 – Lions
  • 2002–03 – Hoxton Athletic
  • 2003–04 – Eureka
  • 2004–05 – Bancroft United
  • 2005–06 – Hoxton Athletic
  • 2006–07 – Lapton
  • 2007–08 – Lapton
  • 2008–09 – Lapton [9]
  • 2009–10 – Lapton
  • 2010–11 – Real Romania
  • 2011–12 – Black Meteors
  • 2012–13 – Phoenix
  • 2013–14 – FC Bartlett
  • 2014–15 – Clapton Rangers [10]
  • 2015–16 – Mile End
  • 2016–17 –
  • 2017–18 –
  • 2018–19 –
  • 2019–20 – abandoned [11]
  • 2020–21 – Mile End Baiteze Squad [12]
  • 2021–22 – Middlesbrough Supporters South [13]
  • 2022–23 – Baddoo FC [14]
  • Remarks: The 2019-20 Season was abandoned due to the pandemic situation.
    Division One as top tier in bold (1952-1956).

Division One

Founded in 1951 as the top division and was replaced by the Premier League in 1956. It returned in 1958 as second tier.

  • 1958–59 – Lordship
  • 1959–60 – Kings Head
  • 1960–61 – Lordship
  • 1961–62 – Barrowside
  • 1962–63 – Lea United
  • 1963–64 – Coolingwood
  • 1964–65 – Coolingwood
  • 1965–66 – Islington Stanley
  • 1966–67 – Eastern
  • 1967–68 – Market House
  • 1968–69 – Tonbridge Ferox
  • 1969–70 – no record
  • 1970–71 – Kentish Town
  • 1971–72 – White Lion
  • 1972–73 – Woodford Town B
  • 1973–74 – Guilford
  • 1974–75 – St Monica's
  • 1975–76 – Rayjack
  • 1976–77 – Raybek
  • 1977–78 – Rydley
  • 1978–79 – London Tavern
  • 1979–80 – Carehouse
  • 1980–81 – Aquarius
  • 1981–82 – Alexander
  • 1982–83 – Monteith
  • 1983–84 – Telegraph
  • 1984–85 – White Horse
  • 1985–86 – Rilcrest Green Man
  • 1986–87 – Richmond
  • 1987–88 – Chats
  • 1988–89 – Ordell Arms
  • 1989–90 – William Hughes
  • 1990–91 – Brownlow Arms
  • 1991–92 – Clarendon
  • 1992–93 – Bow Athletic
  • 1993–94 – Hackney Volunteers
  • 1994–95 – Trafalgar
  • 1995–96 – Nags Head
  • 1996–97 – Wheatsheaf Wdrs
  • 1997–98 – Three Compasses
  • 1998–99 – Whiston Belgrave
  • 1999–00 – AC Eleanor
  • 2000–01 – Eureka
  • 2001–02 – Down The Hatch
  • 2002–03 – Lions
  • 2003–04 – Olde Hope
  • 2004–05 – Santos Athletic
  • 2005–06 – Lapton
  • 2006–07 – Albion Manor
  • 2007–08 – Clapton Rangers
  • 2008–09 – Army & Navy N16
  • 2009–10 – FC Metwin
  • 2010–11 – Hackney Borough
  • 2011–12 – FC Bartlett
  • 2012–13 – Mustard
  • 2013–14 – Shakespeare
  • 2014–15 – FC Krystal
  • 2015–16 – El Valiente
  • 2016–17 –
  • 2017–18 –
  • 2018–19 –
  • 2019–20 –
  • 2020–21 – Crondall FC [15]
  • 2021–22 – City East [16]
  • 2022–23 – Boundary Estate [17]

Division Two

Founded in 1953 as the second tier, returned in 1957. It is now considered the third tier.

  • 1953–54 – St Augustines
  • 1957–58 – Spears
  • 1958–59 – Globe Villa
  • 1959–60 – no record
  • 1960–61 – United Services
  • 1961–62 – Lordship
  • 1962–63 – Prince George
  • 1963–64 – Arcola
  • 1964–65 – Norville
  • 1965–66 – Hackney Volunteer
  • 1966–67 – Tiger
  • 1967–68 – Dagmar
  • 1968–69 – Windsor
  • 1969–70 – no record
  • 1970–71 – Swan United
  • 1971–72 – St Peter's
  • 1972–73 – Rayjack
  • 1973–74 – Brunswick Albion
  • 1974–75 – St Mathias
  • 1975–76 – Jolly Farmers
  • 1976–77 – Brickfield Galloway
  • 1977–78 – Hoxton Athletic
  • 1978–79 – Highbury Athletic
    G.F Leisure
  • 1979–80 – Senrab
  • 1980–81 – Woodville
    White Horse
  • 1981–82 – M.G Sports
  • 1982–83 – Telegraph
  • 1983–84 – Needlegun
  • 1984-85 – Directors
  • 1985-86 – Melford
  • 1986-87 – The Albert
  • 1987-88 – Norfolk Arms
  • 1988-89 – Marion Arms
  • 1989-90 – Midfield (D.O.W.)
  • 1990–91 – Bow Athletic
  • 1991–92 – Lithuanian Victoria
  • 1992–93 – Freemasons Arms
  • 1993–94 – Crown & Manor
  • 1994–95 – Wheatshead Wdrs
  • 1995–96 – Ones FC
  • 1996–97 – Three Compasses
  • 1997–98 – Palm Tree
  • 1998–99 – The Cambridge
  • 1999–00 – Eureka
  • 2000–01 – Wellington Victoria
  • 2001–02 – OId Hope
  • 2002–03 – Caspels
  • 2003–04 – Wellington Lyons
  • 2004–05 – Lapton
  • 2005–06 – Army & Navy N16
  • 2006–07 – FC Kenton
  • 2007–08 – Lancresse Rangers
  • 2008–09 – Hospital Tavern
  • 2009–10 – Hare & Hounds
  • 2010–11 – Shakespeare
  • 2011–12 – Mustard FC
  • 2012–13 – Chapel N1
  • 2013–14 – Athletico Angels
  • 2014–15 – Angel And Crown
  • 2015–16 – FC Stepney
  • 2016–17 –
  • 2017–18 –
  • 2018–19 –
  • 2019–20 –
  • 2020–21 – City East [18]
  • 2021–22 – Boundary Estate [19]
  • 2022–23 – The Gun FC [20]

Division Three

Founded in 1949.

Division Four

Founded in 1948.

Division Five

Lasted for only 3 seasons.

  • 1975–76 – British Oak
  • 1976–77 – Alexander
  • 1977–78 – White Horse B

Cup winners

Dickie Davies Cup
  • 1981–82 – Joiners
  • 1982–83 – Joiners
  • 1983–84 – Joiners
  • 1984–85 – M.G Sports
  • 1985–86 – Monteith
  • 1986–87 – Chats
  • 1987–88 – Norfolk Arms
  • 1988–89 – M.G Sports
  • 1989–90 – Poplar Park
  • 1990–91 – Dock Settlement
  • 1991–92 – Country Flyer
  • 1992–93 – Ordell
  • 1993–94 – Bow Athletic
  • 1994–95 – Titan
  • 1995–96 – Ordell Arms
  • 1996–97 – Ordell
  • 1997–98 – Ordell
  • 1998–99 – Queensbridge
  • 1999–00 – AC Eleanor
  • 2000–01 – Hoxton Athletic
  • 2001–02 – London Aprilia
  • 2002–03 – Eureka
  • 2003–04 – Eureka
  • 2004–05 – Bancroft United
  • 2005–06 – Hoxton Athletic
  • 2006–07 – Albion Manor
  • 2007–08 – Clapton Rangers
  • 2008–09 – Lapton [21]
  • 2009–10 – Lapton [22][23]
  • 2010–11 – Lapton [24][25]
  • 2011–12 – Lapton [26]
  • 2012–13 – Black Meteors
  • 2013–14 – Black Meteors [27][28]
  • 2014–15 – Clapton Rangers [29][30][31][32][33]
  • 2015–16 – [34]
  • 2016–17 – [35]
  • 2017–18 –
  • 2018–19 – Mile End Baiteze Squad [36]
  • 2019–20 – * [37]
  • 2020–21 –
  • 2021–22 – Niva [38][39]
  • 2022–23 – Baddoo FC [40]

Notable players

The following players either started their careers from the league or featured in later stages.

Notable clubs

See also

References
  1. Oscar Bowerman (13 March 2023). "The Home Of Sunday League: Hackney Marshes: Players including Vinnie Jones, Stuart Pearce, Ian Wright and Sol Campbell all played at Hackney Marshes". historyofsoccer.
  2. "Messi to play at the Marshes". metro.co.uk. 15 September 2010.
  3. "Hackney and Leyton Football League 1946 – 2013". uniceone.wordpress.com. 22 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-03-07.
  4. ""Grassrooted", Pro:Direct Soccer movie about Sunday League". www.nssmag.com. 22 February 2018.
  5. "THE ALBERT DANIELS SENIOR CUP". www.hackneyandleytonfootballleague.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-04-08.
  6. Jeremy Wilson (19 February 2023). "Dickie Davies, face of World of Sport, dies aged 94". telegraph.co.uk.
  7. "DICKIE DAVIES CUP". www.hackneyandleytonfootballleague.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-04-08.
  8. Johnnie Walker. "History of the league". www.hackneyandleytonfootballleague.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-03-23.
  9. Iain Withers (18 March 2009). "Clapton Rangers avenge Dickie Davis Cup defeat". hackneypost.co.uk.
  10. "2014-15 THE HACKNEY & LEYTON SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE SEASON". docplayer.net.
  11. "2019-20 Hackney & Leyton Sunday Football League – Fixtures". yellowad.co.uk. 7 February 2020.
  12. "20-21 Premier division". theFA.
  13. "21-22 Premier division". theFA.
  14. "22-23 Premier division". theFA.
  15. "20-21 Division One". theFA.
  16. "21-22 Division One". theFA.
  17. "22-23 Division One". theFA.
  18. "20-21 Division Two". theFA.
  19. "21-22 Division Two". theFA.
  20. "22-23 Division Two". theFA.
  21. Benjamin Hewitt (12 March 2009). "Quadruple on the cards after close win in the Final: Lapton 1 – Clapton Rangers 0". hackneypost.co.uk.
  22. "Hackney & Leyton League: Lapton win Dickie Davies Cup after comfortable win". www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk. 28 April 2010.
  23. "No upsets in Hackney & Leyton League Dickie Davies Cup". www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk. 22 October 2009.
  24. "Hackney & Leyton League: Lapton reach third consecutive Dickie Davies final and will face face rivals Bancroft". hackneygazette.co.uk/. 14 March 2011.
  25. "Hackney & Leyton League: Dicke Davies Cup holders Lapton progress". hackneygazette.co.uk/. 11 January 2011.
  26. "Lapton win Dickie Davies Cup after beating Black Meteors". thetgsblog.com. 22 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-03-11.
  27. "2013-14 Dickie Davies Cup : Knock Out History". football.mitoo.co.uk.
  28. "Cup holders Black Meteors beat Shakespeare in extra time". hackneygazette.co.uk/. 7 May 2014.
  29. "Farren fires East London into next round of the cup". www.islingtongazette.co.uk. 14 November 2015.
  30. "Owusu hat-trick rescues cup holders against Mile End". www.islingtongazette.co.uk. 12 February 2015.
  31. "The FA's historian and superfan, David Barber watched the 'Dickie Davies Cup Final', featuring Clapton Rangers - Mustard FC 4-0". theFA. 1 June 2015.
  32. Ben Grounds (28 May 2015). "Clapton Rangers beat Mustard in final to complete league and cup double". hackneygazette.co.uk.
  33. "Niva Unistream, the 2013-14 Finalists, shatter Wounded Knee's hopes in cup". hackneypost.co.uk. 4 March 2015.
  34. "Eagle triumph in penalty shoot-out against El Valiente". hackneygazette.co.uk/. 23 March 2016.
  35. "Davies hits four goals as Wednesday make it a bad day for Bow Badgers". hackneygazette.co.uk/. 23 March 2016.
  36. "2019 Final: Baiteze – Bartlet 4-4, aet 5-4". youtube. 25 March 2019.
  37. "Sporting Club de Mundial pick up 6-0 win as they prepare for FA Sunday Cup tie". hackneygazette.co.uk. 15 January 2020.
  38. "2022 Dickie Davies Cup Final at Brisbane Road Ground". www.ticketsource.co.uk. 8 May 2022.
  39. "Hackney Borough - Niva 1-2". theFA. 8 May 2022.
  40. "2023 Dickie Davies Cup Final, Coles Park Stadium: Hackney Borough v Baddoo FC". www.ticketsource.co.uk. 12 May 2023.
  41. Jazz Chrystie (4 July 2021). "Iconic David Beckham and John Terry spent their youth there, it spawned an England World Cup winner and even Lionel Messi wanted to play on Hackney Marshes". talksport.com.
  42. "Hackney Marshes: Beckham, Terry, Sol Campbell". shortlist.com. 24 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  43. "Jermaine Wright, vice-chairman of the Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football league who helped careers of David Beckham, Sol Campbell, Ian Wright and John Terry dies of coronavirus". tuko.co. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-09.
  44. Ken Salmon (25 March 2021). "Ntinos Pontikas, the Greek Freddy Adu". 90soccer.com.
  45. Holt, Sarah (30 March 2004). "Lessons from Senrab's soccer school". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  46. Alex (4 August 2005). "All Aboard". Londonist. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  47. By Szu Ping Chan (17 March 2009). "Get to know Lapton Football Club". hackneypost.co.uk.

Sources
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