Spartan League

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.

Spartan League
Founded1907
First season1907–08
Folded1997
Country England
Divisions1–4
Promotion toIsthmian League
Domestic cup(s)FA Cup, FA Amateur Cup, FA Vase

History

The 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

Spartan League

First 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]

SeasonChampions
1946–47Metropolitan Police
1947–48Cambridge Town
1948–49Cambridge Town
1949–50Briggs Sports
1950–51Yiewsley
1951–52Briggs Sports
1952–53Ware
1953–54Metropolitan Police
1954–55Metropolitan Police
1955–56Briggs Sports
1956–57Briggs Sports
1957–58Briggs Sports
1958–59Briggs Sports
1959–60Staines Town
1960–61Vauxhall Motors
1961–62Petters Sports
1962–63Cheshunt
1963–64Croydon Amateurs
1964–65Hampton
1965–66Hampton
1966–67Hampton
1967–68Tring Town
1968–69Vauxhall Motors
1969–70Hampton
1970–71Hoddesdon Town
1971–72Egham Town
1972–73Farnborough Town
1973–74Farnborough Town
1974–75Farnborough Town

In 1975 the Spartan League merged with the Metropolitan-London League to form the London Spartan League.

London Spartan League

For 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

Spartan League [4]

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
  1. Spartan League 1907-1934 Non-League Matters
  2. Spartan League 1934-1955 Non-League Matters
  3. Spartan League 1955-1983 Non-League Matters
  4. Spartan League 1983-1997 Non-League Matters
  5. Spartan South Midlands League 1997-2004 Non-League Matters
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