Southern Combination Football League
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Founded | 1920 (as Sussex County League) |
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Country | England |
Divisions | 3 – first teams 2 – U23 Divisions 3 – U18 Divisions |
Number of teams | 52 (plus Under 23 and Under 18 teams) |
Level on pyramid | Levels 9–11 |
Feeder to | Isthmian League Division One South |
Relegation to | East Sussex Football League Mid-Sussex Football League West Sussex Football League |
Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Vase Sussex Senior Challenge Cup Sussex RUR Cup |
League cup(s) | The Peter Bentley League Cup Division One Challenge Cup Division Two Challenge Cup The Reserve Section Challenge Cup |
Current champions | Chichester City (Premier Division) Alfold (Division One) Rustington (Division Two) (2018–19) |
Most championships | Horsham Peacehaven & Telscombe and Worthing (8 titles) |
Website | Official |
Current: 2021–22 Southern Combination Football League |
The Macron Southern Combination Football League is a football league broadly covering the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex and southeastern Surrey, England. The league consists of eight divisions – three for first teams (Premier Division, Division One and Division Two), two for Under 23 teams (East Division and West Division) and three for Under 18 teams (East Division, Central Division and West Division).
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Levels_9%E2%80%9310_Football_League_areas_in_England.svg/220px-Levels_9%E2%80%9310_Football_League_areas_in_England.svg.png)
Formed in 1920 as the Sussex County Football League,[1] started with just one league with 12 teams. By the end of the 1929–30 season, six of the original twelve teams remained, having played in every campaign since the competition began. The league saw regular changes in members between 1921 and 1928 and saw 23 clubs taking part. The league closed down during the Second World War and the league ran two competition sections in the 1945–46 season, an Eastern division with eight teams and a Western division with 9 teams. The winners of each competition played in a play-off for a champion. A normal single league practice resumed in 1946 with 14 clubs now playing.
A new division was created in 1952 when Division Two was instituted. Division One remained with 14 teams and Division Two with 12 teams. By 1958 the two leagues had 16 teams each. The 1962–63 season was abandoned due to the atrocious weather conditions, with some clubs playing over 20 games and others with only 13 or 14 games played, an emergency competition was played in a group stage style format with knock-out stages to the final. The 1970s saw the league membership decline.
In 1983 a third division was added for intermediate level teams looking for an easy entry into the football league pyramid system, also a 3 points for a win system was introduced. Divisions One and Two keeping with 16 teams each, Division Three started with 13 teams, increasing to 15 two seasons later. Some long term clubs experienced harder times and dropped into Division Two. A "Two Up Two Down" system of promotion and relegation was applied throughout the period but occasionally affected with departures from the league itself. Division One increased to 18 teams for the 1988–89 season and 20 teams for the 1993–94 season, along with Division One increasing to 18 teams in the same season. Division Three increased to 16 teams in 2000.
The league changed its name to the Southern Combination Football League for the start of the 2015–16 season,[2] keeping the acronym SCFL also attracting teams just across the Sussex border in the event of the Football Association (FA) moving teams across leagues. Also at the same time renamed the divisions to Premier Division, Division One and Division Two. Division Two still keeping its intermediate status. Also, for the 2015–16 season the league added two U21s divisions, one in the East, and one in the West, these two leagues consisting of 7 teams each, which lasted until the end of the 2017–18 season and replaced by two Under–23 divisions (East and West), and three Under–18 divisions (East, Central and West)
A second abandonment was during the 2019–20 season when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic halted all sporting events nationwide, an agreement between the leagues and the Football Association decided to end the season early and expunge all results, including no promotion or relegation between the leagues.[3]
The league season was abandoned for the third time, after the FA Alliance and Leagues committees announced that the 2020–21 was curtailed, subject to ratification by The FA Council, with immediate effect.[4]
The first team divisions – Premier, One and Two, sit at Steps 5 and 6, and level 11, formerly Step 7, of the English football league system, below the lower divisions of the Isthmian League and the Southern League. The reserve divisions are not part of the league system.
Sponsorship[]
In the past, Unijet, Rich City, Matthew Clark and Badger Ales sponsored the Sussex County Football League. But between 2006 and 2014 the league was without a sponsor. Macron Store (Hastings) signed a 4-year deal beginning in the 2014–15 season resulting in the official name being changed to "The Macron Sussex County League" and then to current "The Macron Southern Combination Football League". As of 2020 Macron Store still continue to sponsor the league.
Period | Sponsor | Brand |
---|---|---|
1990–2000 | Unijet | Unijet Sussex County League |
2000–2001 | No Sponsor | Sussex County League |
2001–2002 | Rich City | Rich City Sussex County League |
2002–2004 | Matthew Clark | Matthew Clark Sussex County League |
2004–2006 | Badger Ales | Badger Ales Sussex County League |
2006–2014 | No Sponsor | Sussex County League |
2014–2015 | Macron | Macron Store Sussex County Football League |
2015– | Macron Store Southern Combination Football League |
Current clubs[]
Premier Division
|
Division One
|
Division Two
|
![]() ![]() Alfold ![]() Bexhill United ![]() Broadbridge Heath ![]() Crawley Down Gatwick ![]() Eastbourne Town ![]() Eastbourne United AFC ![]() East Preston ![]() Hassocks ![]() Horsham YMCA ![]() Lingfield ![]() Little Common ![]() Littlehampton Town ![]() Loxwood ![]() Newhaven ![]() Pagham ![]() Peacehaven & Telscombe ![]() Saltdean United ![]() Steyning Town ![]() AFC Uckfield Town ![]() AFC Vardeanians ![]() Arundel ![]() Billingshurst ![]() Dorking Wanderers Reserves ![]() Epsom & Ewell ![]() Forest Row ![]() Godalming Town ![]() Hailsham Town ![]() Midhurst & Easebourne ![]() Mile Oak ![]() Montpelier Villa ![]() Oakwood ![]() Roffey ![]() Seaford Town ![]() Selsey ![]() Shoreham ![]() Storrington ![]() Wick ![]() Worthing United ![]() Bosham ![]() Brighton Electricity ![]() Charlwood ![]() Copthorne ![]() Ferring ![]() Jarvis Brook ![]() Littlehampton United ![]() Rottingdean ![]() Rustington ![]() Upper Beeding ![]() Southwater ![]() St Francis Rangers ![]() TD Shipley ![]() Worthing Town ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Champions[]
1920–1939[]
The league originally consisted of a single section of 12 clubs, and had reached a stable membership of 14 clubs when it was abandoned on the outbreak of World War II.
Season | Champions |
---|---|
1920–21 | Worthing |
1921–22 | Worthing |
1922–23 | |
1923–24 | |
1924–25 | |
1925–26 | Southwick |
1926–27 | Worthing |
1927–28 | Southwick |
1928–29 | Worthing |
1929–30 | Southwick |
1930–31 | Worthing |
1931–32 | Horsham |
1932–33 | Horsham |
1933–34 | Worthing |
1934–35 | Horsham |
1935–36 | Horsham |
1936–37 | Horsham |
1937–38 | Horsham |
1938–39 | Worthing |
1939–1940[]
During the Second World War an emergency competition was played. The league operated two region divisions, East and West, with the winners of each playing in a play-off
Season | Eastern | Western | Play-off Winners |
---|---|---|---|
1939–40 | Hastings & St Leonards | Worthing | Worthing |
1945–1946[]
For the first post-War season, the league also operated two regional divisions, East and West, with the winners of each facing each other in a play-off.
Season | Eastern | Western | Play-off Winners |
---|---|---|---|
1945–46 | Haywards Heath | Worthing | Haywards Heath |
1946–1952[]
After a single split format, the league reverted to a single division for the next six seasons.
Season | Champions |
---|---|
1946–47 | Horsham |
1947–48 | Southwick |
1948–49 | Bognor Regis |
1949–50 | Haywards Heath |
1950–51 | Haywards Heath |
1951–52 | Shoreham |
1952–1983[]
A second division was instituted in 1952. A two-division format continued for over 30 years, the only deviation being in the 1962–63 season when the unusually harsh winter weather made the league impossible to finish. The normal league competitions were abandoned and a set of emergency competitions were played for in the second half of the season.
Season | Division One | Division Two |
---|---|---|
1952–53 | Shoreham | Wigmore Athletic |
1953–54 | Newhaven | Hove White Rovers |
1954–55 | Eastbourne United | Three Bridges United |
1955–56 | Eastbourne United | Rye United |
1956–57 | Bexhill Town Athletic | A P V Athletic |
1957–58 | Arundel | Lancing |
1958–59 | Arundel | Sidley United |
1959–60 | Chichester City | Old Varndeanians |
1960–61 | Chichester City | Hastings Rangers |
1961–62 | Whitehawk | Shoreham |
1962–63 | Normal competitions abandoned - Emergency Competition played | |
1963–64 | Whitehawk | Selsey |
1964–65 | Lewes | Sidley United |
1965–66 | Bexhill Town Athletic | Horsham Y M C A |
1966–67 | Bexhill Town Athletic | Wadhurst |
1967–68 | Chichester City | Whitehawk |
1968–69 | Southwick | Ringmer |
1969–70 | Haywards Heath | Lancing |
1970–71 | Ringmer | Bognor Regis Town |
1971–72 | Bognor Regis Town | Newhaven |
1972–73 | Chichester City | Portfield |
1973–74 | Newhaven | Wigmore Athletic |
1974–75 | Southwick | Burgess Hill Town |
1975–76 | Burgess Hill Town | Selsey |
1976–77 | Eastbourne Town | Shoreham |
1977–78 | Shoreham | Steyning |
1978–79 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Pagham |
1979–80 | Chichester City | Hastings Town |
1980–81 | Pagham | Whitehawk |
1981–82 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Wick |
1982–83 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Horsham Y M C A |
1983–2015[]
After a two division format had proved sufficient for over 30 years, a third division was added in 1983. While the top two divisions were for clubs holding senior status with the Sussex FA, the new Division Three was for clubs of intermediate status.
2015–present[]
In 2015, the Sussex County Football League was re-branded to the Southern Combination Football League, keeping the acronym SCFL. The divisions were renamed to Premier Division, Division One and Division Two, Division Two clubs still holding intermediate status.
Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two |
---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | Horsham | Haywards Heath Town | AFC Varndeanians |
2016–17 | Shoreham | Saltdean United | Bosham |
2017–18 | Haywards Heath Town | Little Common | Rustington |
2018–19 | Chichester City | Alfold | Rustington |
2019–20 1 | No champions. Season abandoned | ||
2020–21 2 | |||
2021–22 | ? | ? | ? |
1 The 2019–20 season was terminated on 26 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic
2 The 2020-21 was curtailed on 24 February 2021 and a Supplementary Shield was arranged.[5]
Promoted[]
Since the league's formation, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system.
Season | Club | Position | Promoted to |
---|---|---|---|
1955–56 | Eastbourne United | 1st | Metropolitan League |
1964–65 | Lewes | 1st | Athenian League Division Two |
1971–72 | Bognor Regis Town | 1st | Southern League Division One South |
1984–85 | Hastings Town | 9th | Southern League Southern Division |
1995–96 | Stamco | 2nd | Southern League Southern Division |
1999–2000 | Langney Sports | 1st | Southern League Eastern Division |
2002–03 | Burgess Hill Town | 1st | |
2005–06 | Horsham YMCA | 1st | Isthmian League Division One South |
2006–07 | Eastbourne Town | 1st | |
2007–08 | Crowborough Athletic | 1st | |
2008–09 | Horsham YMCA | 3rd | |
2009–10 | Whitehawk | 1st | |
2010–11 | Crawley Down | 1st | |
2011–12 | Three Bridges | 1st | |
2012–13 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | 1st | |
Redhill | 2nd | ||
2013–14 | East Grinstead Town | 2nd | |
2014–15 | Dorking Wanderers | 2nd | |
2015–16 | Horsham | 1st | |
2016–17 | Shoreham | 1st | |
2017–18 | Haywards Heath Town | 1st | Isthmian League South Division |
Three Bridges | 2nd | ||
2018–19 | Chichester City | 1st | Isthmian League South East Division |
2020–21 | Lancing | [a] |
Most championship title wins[]
Premier Division (Division One 1952–2015)[]
Club | Wins | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Horsham | 8 | 1931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1946–47, 2015–16 |
Peacehaven & Telscombe | 1978–79, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2012–13 | |
Worthing | 1920–21, 1921–22, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1938–39, 1939–40 | |
Chichester City | 7 | 1959–60, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1979–80, 2003–04, 2018–19 |
Burgess Hill Town | 6 | 1975–76, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03 |
Southwick | 1925–26, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1948–48, 1968–69, 1974–75 | |
Haywards Heath Town | 5 | 1945–46, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1969–70, 2017–18 |
Shoreham | 4 | 1951–52, 1952–53, 1977–78, 2016–17 |
Whitehawk | 1961–62, 1963–64, 1983–84, 2009–10 | |
Arundel | 3 | 1957–58, 1958–59, 1986–87 |
Bexhill United | 1956–57, 1965–66, 1966–67 | |
Eastbourne United Association | 1954–55, 1955–56, 2008–09 | |
Pagham | 1980–81, 1987–88, 1988–89 | |
Bognor Regis Town | 2 | 1948–49, 1971–72 |
1923–24, 1924–25 | ||
Eastbourne Town | 1976–77, 2006–07 | |
Littlehampton Town | 1990–91, 2014–15 | |
Newhaven | 1953–54, 1973–74 | |
Steyning Town Community | 1984–85, 1985–86 | |
Wick | 1989–90, 1993–94 | |
Horsham YMCA | 2004–05, 2005–06 | |
Crawley Down Gatwick | 1 | 2010–11 |
Crowborough Athletic | 2007–08 | |
East Preston | 2013–14 | |
Langney Sports | 1999–2000 | |
Lewes | 1964–65 | |
Ringmer | 1970–71 | |
Sidley United | 2000–01 | |
Three Bridges | 2011–12 | |
1922–23 |
Division One (Division Two 1952–2015)[]
Club | Wins | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Rye United | 4 | 1955–56, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2009–10 |
Shoreham | 1961–63, 1976–77, 1984–85, 1993–94 | |
Littlehampton Town | 3 | 1996–97, 2003–04, 2012–13 |
Pagham | 1978–79, 1986–87, 2006–07 | |
Portfield | 1972–73, 1983–84, 1991–92 | |
Sidley United | 1958–59, 1964–65, 1998–99 | |
Crowborough Athletic | 2 | 1992–93, 2004–05 |
East Preston | 1997–98, 2011–12 | |
Horsham YMCA | 1965–66, 1982–83 | |
Lancing | 1957–58, 1969–70 | |
Newhaven | 1971–72, 1990–91 | |
Saltdean United | 1995–96, 2016–17 | |
Selsey | 1963–64, 1975–76 | |
Whitehawk | 1967–68, 1980–81 | |
Wick | 1981–82, 1985–86 | |
Wigmore Athletic | 1952–53, 1973–74 | |
A P V Athletic | 1 | 1956–57 |
A.F.C. Uckfield | 2010–11 | |
AFC Varndeanians | 1959–60 | |
Alfold | 2018–19 | |
Bexhill United | 1989–90 | |
Bognor Regis Town | 1970–71 | |
Burgess Hill Town | 1974–75 | |
East Grinstead Town | 2007–08 | |
Eastbourne United Association | 2013–14 | |
Hastings Rangers | 1960–61 | |
Hastings Town | 1979–80 | |
Haywards Heath Town | 2015–16 | |
Hove White Rovers | 1953–54 | |
Langney Sports | 1987–88 | |
Little Common | 2017–18 | |
Mile Oak | 1994–95 | |
Oakwood | 2005–06 | |
Peacehaven & Telscombe | 2008–09 | |
Ringmer | 1968–69 | |
Seaford Town | 1988–89 | |
Sidlesham | 1999–2000 | |
Southwick | 2000–01 | |
Steyning | 1977–78 | |
Three Bridges | 1954–55 | |
1966–67 | ||
Worthing United | 2014–15 |
Division Two (Division Three 1983–2015)[]
Club | Wins | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Bosham | 4 | 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2009–10, 2016–17 |
Rustington | 3 | 2006–07, 2017–18, 2018–19 |
Ifield | 2 | 1990–91, 1995–96 |
Midhurst & Easebourne | 1994–95, 2002–03 | |
Sidlesham | 1996–97, 2012–13 | |
AFC Varndeanians | 1 | 2015–16 |
Clymping | 2008–09 | |
Crowborough Athletic | 2003–04 | |
Dorking Wanderers | 2010–11 | |
East Preston | 1983–84 | |
Hassocks | 1991–92 | |
Langney Sports | 1986–87 | |
Langney Wanderers | 2013–14 | |
Lingfield | 1997–98 | |
Loxwood | 2007–08 | |
Clymping | 2008–09 | |
Midway | 1987–88 | |
Newhaven | 2011–12 | |
Oakwood | 1984–85 | |
Oving Social Club | 1998–99 | |
Peacehaven & Telscombe | 2005–06 | |
Pease Pottage Village | 2001–02 | |
Rye United | 2000–01 | |
Saltdean United | 1988–89 | |
Seaford Town | 1985–86 | |
Southwick | 2014–15 | |
Storrington | 2004–05 | |
Withdean | 1992–93 | |
Worthing United | 1989–90 |
References[]
- ^ "About the Sussex County Football League". Sussex County Football League. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ "Sussex County Football League to Change Name – News – Haywards Heath Town FC". haywardsheathtownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "NLS Steps 3-6 update". Sussex County FA. 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Southern Combination Football League announces groups for cup competition". Eastbourne Herald. 18 March 2021.
External links[]
- Southern Combination Football League
- Football in West Sussex
- Football in East Sussex
- Football leagues in England
- Sports leagues established in 1920
- 1920 establishments in England