Southern Amateur Football League
The Southern Amateur League (SAL) is an association football league in England affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance (AFA). It is based in and around Greater London and caters for 11–a–side men's adult teams. A feature of the league is 'multi-team football', common in AFA leagues, with clubs fielding an average of 3.5 teams each. For season 2023–24 the league has over 40 open aged member clubs and a several veterans-only clubs running around 190 teams in 17 divisions. All clubs are strictly amateur.
 | |
| Sport | Football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1907 |
| No. of teams | c. 180 (21 divisions) (3 senior divisions) |
| Country | England |
| Most recent champion(s) | Polytechnic (Division 1) Actonians Association (Division 2) Carshalton (Division 3) |
| Official website | www |
Club set-up, sportsmanship and hospitality
As in other AFA leagues it is common for clubs to run several teams with some SAL clubs running up to 10 teams. This allows players of all abilities to play against teams from other clubs of a similar standard. The best players will be picked for the 1st team, the best of the remainder going into the 2nd team and so on down the club.
The SAL places emphasis on sportsmanship and hospitality, with all players expected to socialise with their opponents and the match officials after the game. Disciplinary problems and cases of violent conduct are generally perceived to be experienced less in SAL football – and AFA football in general – than in other types of football.
League set-up and Challenge Cups
The League is divided into four sections: Senior (restricted to 1st teams, 3 divisions), Intermediate (4 divisions), Junior North (5 divisions) and Junior South (6 divisions). Teams can be promoted between the Intermediate and Junior Sections but 1st teams wishing to move up to the Senior Section must do by application the League Management Committee (only 1st teams may play in the Senior Section).
In 2018 a Veterans Section was added, divided into north and south sections for league competitions. Clubs do not have to enter the open-age competitions in order to enter the veterans competition and do not have to play in the veterans league competition in order to enter the cup and shield competitions.
As well as league competitions the SAL runs ten cup competitions. These are:
- Senior Cup (for teams in Senior Divisions 1, 2 and 3 as well as additional teams by invitation)
- Intermediate Cup (for teams in Intermediate Divisions 1, 2 and 3)
- Junior Cup (for teams in Intermediate Division 4, Junior Divisions 1 North and 1 South)
- Minor Cup (Junior Division 2 North and Junior Division 2 South)
- Senior Novets Cup (Junior Division 3 North and Junior Division 3 South)
- Intermediate Novets Cup (Junior Division 4 South and Junior Division 5 South)
- Junior Novets Cup (Junior Division 4 North and Junior Division 6 South)
- Veterans Sunday Senior Cup (straight knockout, open entries)
- Veterans Sunday Junior Cup (straight knockout, open entries)
- Veterans Saturday Shield (group stage and knock-out, open entries)
The Junior Cup and below were inaugurated for the 1995–96. The Senior and Intermediate Cups were introduced for season 2015–16. They were not previously considered necessary as 1st and 2nd teams were offered an extra 'county divisional' cup by the AFA (either the Middlesex/Essex Cup or the Surrey/Kent Cup, depending on location). The veterans competitions began in 2018.
Current member clubs
Three of the current members (Alleyn Old Boys, Civil Service and Crouch End Vampires) are founder members of the League while 19 have been in membership since before World War II.
| Club | Main Ground | Founded | Joined SAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actonians Association | Gunnersbury Drive, Ealing, W5 4LL | 1925 | 1977 |
| Alexandra Park | Alexandra Park, London, N22 7BD | 1898 | 1925, 1947 |
| Alleyn Old Boys | The Edward Alleyn Club, Rear of 83–85 Burbage Road, London, SE24 9HD | 1888 | 1907 |
| Bank of England | Bank of England Sports Club, London, SW15 5JQ | 1908 | 1920 |
| Broomfield | Hazelwood Sports Ground, Madeira Road, Off Hedge Lane, London, N13 5ST | 1911 | 1958 |
| Cambridge Heath | Hackney Marshes, London, E9 5PF | 2011 | 2017 |
| Carshalton | Carshalton Football Club, Church Road, Carshalton, SM6 7NN | 1898 | 1912 |
| Chattan | Hackney Marshes, London, E9 5PF | 1994 | 2021 |
| City of London | Rutland Walk Sport Ground, Rutland Walk, London, SE6 4LG | 1931 | 2017 |
| Civil Service | Kings House Sports Ground, Riverside Drive, Chiswick, London, W4 2SH | 1863 | 1907, 1928 |
| Crouch End Vampires | Muswell Hill Playing Fields, London, N101JP | 1883 | 1907, 1928 |
| East Barnet Old Grammarians | Alan Drive, Off Mays Lane, Barnet, EN5 2PU | 1948 | 1977 |
| Hammersmith | Ark Burlington Danes Academy, Wood Lane, London W12 0HR | 2021 | 2021 |
| HSBC | HSBC Sports & Social Club, Lennard Road, New Beckenham, BR3 1QW | 1900 | 1921 |
| Ibis Eagles | Chiswick Cricket Club, Riverside Drive, London, W4 2SP | 2015 | 2015 |
| Merton | Joseph Hood Recreation Ground, Martin Way, Merton, London, SW20 9BU | 1910 | 1919 |
| Norsemen | Edmonton Sports & Social Club, Church Street, Edmonton, London, N9 9HL | 1896 | 1908 |
| Nottsborough | Kingston University Sports Ground, Tolworth Court, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7QH | 1988 | 2001 |
| NUFC Oilers | The Hive, Camrose Avenue, London, HA8 6AG | 2012 | 2013 |
| Old Blues | Kew & Ham Sports Association, Riverside Drive, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7RX | 2011 | 2011 |
| Old Finchleians | 12 Southover, Woodside Park, N12 7JE | 1901 | 1998 |
| Old Garchonians | Chase Lodge Playing Fields, London, NW7 2ED | 2011 | 2011 |
| Old Lyonians | South Vale, Harrow, HA1 3PN | 1902 | 1924 |
| Old Parkonians | Old Parkonians Pavilion, Oakfield Playing Fields, Forest Road, Ilford, Essex, IG6 3HD | 1902 | 1919 |
| Old Salesians | Old Tenisonians Sports Ground, New Malden, KT 3 6LX | 1923 | 1983 |
| Old Stationers | Old Elizabethans Memorial Ground, Gypsy Corner, Mays Lane, Barnet, EN5 2AG | 1906 | 1932 |
| Old Wilsonians | Hayes Hill, Hayes, BR2 7HN | 1888 | 1919, 2004 |
| Old Wimbledonians | Old Wimbledonians & Donhead Sports Ground, Coombe Lane, Raynes Park SW20 0QX | 1970 | 2021 |
| Owens | Old Owens Sports Ground, Coopers Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 4NE | 1891 | 1996 |
| Polytechnic | University of Westminster Sports Ground, London, W4 3UH | 1875 | 1954 |
| Richmond & Kew | Ham Playing Fields, Riverside Drive, Ham, Richmond TW10 7QA | 1906 | 1925 |
| South Bank Cuaco | Turney Road, Dulwich, London, SE21 7JH | 2001 | 2001 |
| Southgate Olympic | Barrowell Green, London, N21 3AU | 1993 | 2001, 2023 |
| St. James' Old Boys | Copthall Playing Fields, London, NW4 1RL | 2014 | 2015 |
| The Warren | Club Langley, 2 Hawksbrook Lane, Beckenham, BR3 3SR | 2015 | 2015 |
| Weirside Rangers | Udney Park, Teddington, TW11 9BG | 1919 | 1927 |
| West Wickham | West Wickham Cricket & Football Club, Corkscrew Hill, West Wickham, BR4 9BA | 1901 | 1938 |
| Winchmore Hill | Winchmore Hill Sports Club, The Paulin Ground, Fords Grove, London, N21 3ER | 1920 | 1928 |
Representative team
The League representative team has played a programme of friendly fixtures since 1907 against other AFA affiliated leagues and universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Two matches are played each season in memory of past servants to the League. The Champion Club plays against the Senior Cup winners at the beginning of each season for the Stuart Hyde Trophy, named for the former SAL and Southgate Olympic team manager. The League also plays the Amateur Football Combination for the Steve Langley Cup in honour of the former SAL, AFA and Crouch End Vampires captain. This match is part of the Argonaut Trophy competition which also involves the Arthurian League in which the three league representative teams play a round-robin tournament. Since 2007 the team has played in the FA Inter-League Cup which it won at the first attempt in 2008. This earned the team the chance to represent England at the 2008 UEFA Regions Cup.
League champions and Cup winners
| Season | Section 'A' | Section 'B' | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907–08 | New Crusaders | Reigate Priory (s) | ||
| 1908–09 | New Crusaders (a) | Norsemen | ||
| 1909–10 | New Crusaders | Tunbridge Wells | ||
| 1910–11 | New Crusaders | Alleyn Old Boys | ||
| 1911–12 | Civil Service | L.C.W. & Parr's Bank | ||
| 1912–13 | New Crusaders | Crouch End Vampires | ||
| 1913–14 | Civil Service | Carshalton | ||
| Season | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Senior Cup |
| 1919–20 | Merton | Aquarius | ||
| 1920–21 | Cambridge Town | Cheshunt | ||
| 1921–22 | Ipswich Town | L.J.C. & Midland Bank | ||
| 1922–23 | Eastbourne | Old Parkonians (e) | ||
| 1923–24 | Westminster Bank | Barclays Bank | ||
| 1924–25 | Midland Bank | Old Lyonians | ||
| 1925–26 | Eastbourne | Toc H. | ||
| 1926–27 | Ealing Association (a) | Merton | ||
| 1927–28 | Cambridge Town | Hastings & St Leonards | ||
| 1928–29 | Cambridge Town | Kew Association (s) | Britannic House | |
| 1929–30 | Ipswich Town | Merton (s) | Civil Service (a) | |
| 1930–31 | Cambridge Town (a) | Civil Service | Catford Wanderers | |
| 1931–32 | Cambridge Town | Catford Wanderers | East Grinstead | |
| 1932–33 | Ipswich Town | Lloyds Bank | Cuaco | |
| 1933–34 | Ipswich Town | Westminster Bank | Alexandra Park | |
| 1934–35 | Hastings & St Leonards | Cuaco | Thornycroft | |
| 1935–36 | Hastings & St Leonards | Aquarius | Highgate (e) | |
| 1936–37 | Hastings & St Leonards | Highgate*
Ealing Association* |
||
| 1937–38 | Civil Service | Norsemen*
Lensbury & Britannic House* |
||
| 1938–39 | Hastings & St Leonards | National Provincial Bank*
Eastbourne* |
||
| 1939–45 | no competition | no competition | no competition | no competition |
| 1945–46 | Merton | Old Parkonians | ||
| 1946–47 | Ealing Association | Westminster Bank*
Winchmore Hill* |
||
| 1947–48 | Winchmore Hill | Barclays Bank*
Alexandra Park* |
||
| 1948–49 | Winchmore Hill | Brentham | National Provincial Bank | |
| 1949–50 | Catford Wanderers | Crouch End Vampires | Old Latymerians | |
| 1950–51 | Catford Wanderers | Midland Bank | Aquarius | |
| 1951–52 | Winchmore Hill | Civil Service | Cuaco | |
| 1952–53 | Catford Wanderers | Pinner | Old Stationers | |
| 1953–54 | Alexandra Park | Lensbury & Britannic House | Old Lyonians | |
| 1954–55 | Winchmore Hill | Carshalton | Aquarius | |
| 1955–56 | Winchmore Hill | Barclays Bank | Polytechnic | |
| 1956–57 | Cuaco | Lensbury & Britannic House | Ibis | |
| 1957–58 | Old Westminster Citizens | Old Stationers (o) | Merton | |
| 1958–59 | Cuaco (a) | Polytechnic | Broomfield | |
| 1959–60 | Cuaco | Broomfield | Crouch End Vampires | |
| 1960–61 | Broomfield | Borough Polytechnic | National Provincial Bank | |
| 1961–62 | Cuaco (a) | Polytechnic | Kew Association | |
| 1963–64 | Midland Bank | West Wickham | Old Parkonians | |
| 1964–65 | Old Stationers | Catford Wanderers | Pearl Assurance | |
| 1965–66 | Southgate Olympic | Ibis | Old Westminster Citizens | |
| 1966–67 | Norsemen | Winchmore Hill | Barclays Bank | |
| 1967–68 | Winchmore Hill | Civil Service | Old Bromleians | |
| 1968–69 | Civil Service | Barclays Bank | Kew Association | |
| 1969–70 | Midland Bank | Kew Association | Pearl Assurance | |
| 1970–71 | Civil Service | Ibis | Old Bromleians (o) | |
| 1971–72 | Southgate Olympic | Barclays Bank | Old Esthameians (o) | |
| 1972–73 | Midland Bank | Old Westminster Citizens | Brentham | |
| 1973–74 | Midland Bank | Norsemen | Carshalton | |
| 1974–75 | Catford Wanderers | Old Bromleians (o) | Old Esthameians | |
| 1975–76 | Midland Bank | Barclays Bank | Merton | |
| 1976–77 | Kew Association | Carshalton | South Bank Polytechnic | |
| 1977–78 | West Wickham | Barclays Bank | East Barnet Old Grammarians (m) | |
| 1978–79 | Catford Wanderers | East Barnet Old Grammarians (o) | Old Westminster Citizens | |
| 1979–80 | West Wickham | Southgate Olympic | Old Bromleians | |
| 1980–81 | Old Esthameians (o) | Old Bromleians | Britannic House | |
| 1981–82 | West Wickham | Old Parkonians | Old Stationers | |
| 1982–83 | Crouch End Vampires | Lensbury | Barclays Bank | |
| 1983–84 | Winchmore Hill | Old Stationers | Old Salesians | |
| 1984–85 | West Wickham | Old Salesians (a, o) | Old Actonians Association | |
| 1985–86 | National Westminster Bank | Old Actonians Association (m) | Ibis | |
| 1986–87 | West Wickham | Old Parkonians (e, o) | Brentham | |
| 1987–88 | West Wickham | Old Actonians Association | Merton | |
| 1988–89 | West Wickham | Midland Bank | East Barnet Old Grammarians | |
| 1989–90 | West Wickham | Carshalton | Southgate Olympic | |
| 1990–91 | West Wickham | Old Bromleians | Alexandra Park | |
| 1991–92 | Old Actonians Association | Crouch End Vampires | Lensbury | |
| 1992–93 | National Westminster Bank | Lensbury | Old Latymerians | |
| 1993–94 | South Bank Polytechnic | East Barnet Old Grammarians | Old Parmiterians | |
| 1994–95 | South Bank AFC | Carshalton | Old Lyonians | |
| 1995–96 | Old Actonians Association (a) | Old Parmiterians | Old Salesians | |
| 1996–97 | Old Parmiterians | Lloyds Bank | Midland Bank | |
| 1997–98 | Norsemen | National Westminster Bank (s) | Old Stationers | |
| 1998–99 | Old Actonians Association (m) | Old Bromleians | Alleyn Old Boys | |
| 1999–00 | Old Actonians Association (m) | Alleyn Old Boys | Broomfield | |
| 2000–01 | Old Actonians Association | Broomfield | Old Lyonians | |
| 2001–02 | Old Owens | Old Salesians | Nottsborough | |
| 2002–03 | Old Salesians | Winchmore Hill (a) | Bank of England | |
| 2003–04 | Old Esthameians | Nottsborough | Kew Association | |
| 2004–05 | Broomfield (me) | East Barnet Old Grammarians | Old Wilsonians | |
| 2005–06 | Old Owens (o) | Alleyn Old Boys | Merton | |
| 2006–07 | Nottsborough | Polytechnic (me) | South Bank Cuaco | |
| 2007–08 | West Wickham (sk) | Old Esthameians | Old Parkonians | |
| 2008–09 | Nottsborough (a) | Broomfield | Lloyds TSB Bank | |
| 2009–10 | Nottsborough | East Barnet Old Grammarians | Old Parkonians | |
| 2010–11 | Nottsborough | Norsemen | Old Westminster Citizens | |
| 2011–12 | Old Salesians | Civil Service | Alexandra Park | |
| 2012–13 | Nottsborough | Polytechnic | Old Garchonians | |
| 2013–14 | Old Owens (o) | Old Garchonians | NUFC Oilers | |
| 2014–15 | Winchmore Hill | NUFC Oilers | Lloyds AFC | |
| 2015–16 | Polytechnic (me)(†) | Old Parkonians | HSBC | Polytechnic |
| 2016–17 | Polytechnic (a)(†) | East Barnet Old Grammarians | Norsemen | Polytechnic |
| 2017–18 | Polytechnic | Actonians Association (a) | Carshalton | Winchmore Hill |
| 2018–19 | West Wickham | Norsemen | Crouch End Vampires | Polytechnic |
| 2019–20 | abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Actonians Association |
| 2020–21 | abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | Old Carthusians |
| 2021-22 | West Wickham† | Civil Service | Hammersmith | West Wickham |
| 2022-23 | West Wickham | Hammersmith | Weirside Rangers | Actonians Association |
- Between 1936 and 1948 (not including the years of World War II and the transitional season of 1945–46) the league operated two Second Divisions divided apparently at random (certainly not geographically) and no Third Division.
(†) indicates team also won SAL Senior Cup
(a) indicates team also won AFA Senior Cup
(e) indicates team also won AFA Essex Senior Cup
(m) indicates team also won AFA Middlesex Senior Cup
(s) indicates team also won AFA Surrey Senior Cup
(me) indicates team also won AFA Middlesex/Essex Senior Cup
(sk) indicates team also won AFA Surrey/Kent Senior Cup
(o) indicates team also won Old Boys Senior Cup
| Senior Division 1 championships |
|---|
| 12 - West Wickham |
| 8 - Winchmore Hill |
| 6 - HSBC |
| 5 - Actonians Association, Cambridge Town, Catford Wanderers, Civil Service, New Crusaders, Nottsborough |
| 4 - Cuaco, Hastings & St Leonards, Ipswich Town |
| 3 - Old Owens, Polytechnic |
| 2 - Broomfield, Ealing Association, Eastbourne, Merton, National Westminster Bank, Norsemen, Old Esthameians, Old Salesians, South Bank AFC, Southgate Olympic |
| 1 - Alexandra Park, Crouch End Vampires, Kew Association, Old Parmiterians, Old Stationers, Old Westminster Citizens, Westminster Bank |
| Senior Division 2 championships |
|---|
| 7 - Barclays Bank |
| 5 - Carshalton, Civil Service, East Barnet Old Grammarians, Old Parkonians |
| 4 - Old Bromleians, Polytechnic |
| 3 - Alleyn Old Boys, Broomfield, Crouch End Vampires, HSBC, Lensbury & Britannic House, Westminster Bank, Winchmore Hill |
| 2 - Catford Wanderers, Ibis, Kew Association, Lloyds Bank, Merton, Old Salesians, Old Stationers, Winchmore Hill |
| 1 - Brentham, Cheshunt, Cuaco, Ealing Association, Eastbourne, Hastings & St Leonards, Highgate, National Provincial Bank, National Westminster Bank, Nottsborough, NUFC Oilers, Old Esthameians, Old Garchonians, Old Lyonians, Old Parmiterians, Old Westminster Citizens, Pinner, Reigate Priory, South Bank AFC, Southgate Olympic, Toc H., Tunbridge Wells, Winchmore Hill |
| Senior Division 3 championships |
|---|
| 4 - Merton |
| 3 - Alexandra Park, Kew Association, Old Bromleians, Old Lyonians, Old Parkonians, Old Stationers, Old Westminster Citizens |
| 2 - Aquarius, Barclays Bank, Brentham, Britannic House, Broomfield, Carshalton, Crouch End Vampires, Cuaco, East Barnet Old Grammarians, HSBC, Ibis, Lloyds Bank, National Provincial Bank, Old Esthameians, Old Latymerians, Old Salesians, Pearl Assurance, Weirside Rangers |
| 1 - Actonians Association, Alleyn Old Boys, Bank of England, Catford Wanderers, Civil Service, East Grinstead, Hammersmith, Highgate, Norsemen, Nottsborough, NUFC Oilers, Old Garchonians, Old Parmiterians, Old Wilsonians, Polytechnic, South Bank AFC, Southgate Olympic, Thornycroft |
| Senior Cup victories |
|---|
| 3 - Polytechnic |
| 2 - Actonians Association |
| 1 - Old Carthusians, West Wickham Winchmore Hill |
Further reading
- Morris, Terry (2015). In A Class of Their Own: A History of English Amateur Football. Chequered Flag Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9932152-4-7.
Sources
- Southern Amateur League
- SAL Archives at the Wayback Machine (archived 2017-12-21)