London Football Association

The London Football Association (LFA) is the regional Football Association for inner areas of London. The London FA was established in 1882 and is affiliated to The Football Association. The London FA administers all levels of men's, women's and junior football within its area, a circle 12 miles in radius with Charing Cross at the centre.

London Football Association
AbbreviationLFA
Formation1882
PurposeFootball association
HeadquartersWembley Stadium
Location
Paul Bickerton
Websitewww.londonfa.com
Football matches in Regent's Park

History

The London Football Association (LFA) is unique for the reason that it is the only one founded by The Football Association. While others were founded to organise football locally around the country, Charles Alcock and Lord Kinnaird, then Secretary and Chairman of The FA, created the London FA to deal with local clubs and competitions while the main body focused on the Laws of the Game and international football matters.

Corinthians 1896-7

According to the Memorandum on Areas and Overlapping of Associations the London FA covers the area 12 miles from Charing Cross.[1] The association is ‘overlapped’ by a number of its colleague County FA ’s: Essex FA, Kent FA, Middlesex FA, Surrey FA and the Amateur Football Alliance.

The first Secretary was N. L. 'Pa' Jackson who was also serving on the FA Council. He was famous for founding the Corinthians Football Club and is said to be the inventor of the international cap.

The London FA's other claim to fame is that its representative team was the first ever English team to play in a European final, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final in 1958 where they lost over two legs to Barcelona.[2] Friendly matches had also been played against foreign opposition after the end of World War II, including annual matches in Belgium.[2]

It has had many headquarters since its foundation in 1882, including Paternoster Row, St. Mark's College Chelsea, Finsbury Barracks, Leytonstone, Manor Park, Barking, and Lewisham. It even stayed temporarily at Upton Park and Highbury during the Second World War, having been bombed out of its previous homes. The current headquarters in Fulham were moved into in August 2004. A centenary match for the association was played in 1981 between a London XI and an England XI at Highbury, however only 5,000 fans attended.[3][2]

The London Football Association is one of the biggest in the country with over 2,000 clubs, about 1,000 referees and over 50 Leagues/Competitions.

A Sunday football match in progress at Brook Farm open space.

The association has a history of long-serving, dedicated officials. For example, Tommy Kirkup served as Secretary for 44 years between 1903 and 1947. Basil Stallard is by far the longest serving Treasurer having been in that position since 1973. There have been only nine Presidents since 1882, Lionel Seymour being the current incumbent.

In 1922 the London Minor Football Association was founded for youth football. It became the London Youth Football Association and continues to administer youth football in the capital to this day. It did, however, come under the London FA Limited when it incorporated in 2001.

Both the Inner London County Schools Football Association and London Football Coaches Association work in collaboration with the London FA for the mutual benefit of its members. This provides participants in the capital with a complete range of opportunities in football.

The LFA runs high quality coaching courses throughout the year with one of the countries senior coach education tutors as Head Coach in John Drabwell. As a result of the Football Association's National Game Strategy 2008–2012, the LFA has recruited a young and energetic development team under the leadership of Josie Clifford.[4]

Affiliated leagues

Disbanded or amalgamated leagues
The Underhill Stadium at Barnet staged Athenian League football from 1912 to 1965

Leagues that were affiliated to the London FA (or FA) but have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues include:

Major non-League leagues

Other leagues

Member and associated clubs

It is difficult to provide a comprehensive list of those notable clubs that are (or at one time were) affiliated to the London FA. However, by identifying those clubs that have competed in the London Senior Cup along with those clubs that are (or were) located in the Greater London area it is possible to establish the following list:

Clubs in the Premier League and The Football League that have competed in the London FA's London Charity Cup or are located in the Greater London area include:

County Cup competitions

Today the London Football Association runs 9 different County Cup competitions:

List of recent London Cup winners
SeasonLondon Senior CupLondon Intermediate CupLondon Junior CupLondon Women's CupLondon Women's Junior Cup
2000–01Ford UnitedCorinthian-Casuals ReservesCompetition VoidFulham Ladies
2001–02CroydonLondon City AthleticTC SportsFulham Ladies
2002–03BromleyCray Valley Paper MillsMemorial SportsCharlton Athletic Ladies
2003–04Dulwich HamletCray Valley Paper MillsBatterseaArsenal Ladies
2004–05Fisher AthleticMetrogasReal PhoenixCharlton Athletic Ladies
2005–06Fisher AthleticMetrogasFenerbahceCharlton Athletic Ladies
2006–07Tooting & Mitcham UnitedCorinthian-Casuals ReservesTornadosArsenal Ladies
2007–08Tooting & Mitcham UnitedMetrogasFlandersArsenal Ladies
2008–09HendonSummertownArsenal Ladies
2009–10Metropolitan Police F.C.Arsenal Ladies
2010–11Wingate and FinchleyCray Valley Paper MillsAFC SevenoaksArsenal LadiesWest Ham United Ladies

Source[6]

List of recent London Sunday and Veterans Cup winners
SeasonLondon Sunday Challenge CupLondon Sunday Intermediate CupLondon Sunday Junior CupLondon Veterans Cup
2000–01LivingstoneSporting Club TropicRegent Celtic
2001–02Green Island UnitedLibra ArmsBlack HorseReginald Vets
2002–03Memorial SportsArisRoebuckWalthamstow Pennant Vets
2003–04St Anselm'sArisMottingham VillageWalthamstow Pennant Vets
2004–05ArisMehmetcikFenerbahceWalthamstow Pennant Vets
2005–06ArisAlbion ManorRed Star (Camden)Fisher Athletic (London)
2006–07AkincilarFrenford SundayRolls ParkBaldon Sports
2007–08New SalamisEurekaClapton RangersWaltham Forest Vets
2008–09Baldon SportsClapton RangersCetinkaya Cinar
2009–10New Salamis
2010–11New SalamisGreengateYalovaLivingstone RARA
2011–12Eltham Town
2012–13APOEL UK
2013–14FC Tripimeni
2014–15New Salamis
2015–16Baldon Sports
2016–17New Salamis
2017–18New Salamis

Source[6]

Members of council

Directors and officials

See also

References
  1. "FA – Memorandum on Areas and Overlapping of Associations" (PDF). FA. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  2. History of London Football Association, London FA
  3. FA Centenary Match: London FA 3 England 4, England Football Online
  4. "Welcome to the London Football Association". London FA. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  5. "London FA – Leagues and Competitions". London FA. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  6. "London FA – History of the LFA County Cups". London FA. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  7. "London FA – About Us – Council". London FA. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  8. "London FA – About Us – Board of Directors". London FA. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  9. "London FA – About Us – Staff Contact". London FA. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
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