Athenian League
Founded1912
First season1912–13
Folded1984
Country England
DivisionsOne (1912–1963, 1977–1984)
Two (1973–1977)
Three (1963–1973)
Number of teamsLowest: 10 (1912–1913)
Highest: 48 (1964–1972)
Feeder toIsthmian League
Domestic cup(s)FA Cup, FA Amateur Cup
FA Trophy, FA Vase
Most championshipsBarnet (7)

The Athenian League was an English amateur football league for clubs in and around London. The league was originally to be called the Corinthian League,[1] but this name was rejected by the Football Association. It was formed in 1912 with ten clubs, but had to close down in 1914 due to the onset of World War I. When it reformed in 1920, only three of the previous teams rejoined. Clubs left and joined the league at a rate of about one a year, with a number leaving to join the Isthmian League, the strongest amateur league in the London area. Total membership remained fairly stable at between twelve and sixteen clubs until 1963, when it absorbed most of the clubs from two rival leagues, the Corinthian League (most of whose former clubs formed Division One) and the Delphian League (most of whose former clubs formed Division Two). The existing division was renamed the Premier Division.

Over the following years it lost many clubs to stronger leagues, particularly the Isthmian League and Southern League, and successive waves of Isthmian League expansion in 1973, 1977 and 1984 finally forced the league to disband. The league was amongst the first in England to be sponsored by an external company when, in the late 1970s, it was billed as the Kingsmead Athenian League.[2]

Champions

The champion clubs were as follows:[3]

SeasonChampions
1912–13Catford Southend
1913–14Tufnell Park
1919–20Luton Clarence
1920–21St Albans City
1921–22St Albans City
1922–23Bromley
1923–24Kingstonian
1924–25Redhill
1925–26Kingstonian
1926–27Southall
1927–28Sutton United
1928–29Leyton
1929–30Walthamstow Avenue
1930–31Barnet
1931–32Barnet
1932–33Walthamstow Avenue
1933–34Walthamstow Avenue
1934–35Barking
1935–36Romford
1936–37Romford
1937–38Walthamstow Avenue
1938–39Walthamstow Avenue
1945–46Sutton United
1946–47Barnet
1947–48Barnet
1948–49Bromley
1949–50Tooting & Mitcham
1950–51Bromley
1951–52Wealdstone
1952–53Hendon
1953–54Finchley
1954–55Tooting & Mitcham
1955–56Hendon
1956–57Hayes
1957–58Sutton United
1958–59Barnet
1959–60Hounslow Town
1960–61Hendon
1961–62Enfield
1962–63Enfield

In 1963 the league expanded to three divisions

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision Two
1963–64BarnetLeatherheadTilbury
1964–65BarnetSlough TownHarwich & Parkeston
1965–66LeytonBishop's StortfordCroydon Amateurs
1966–67LeytonHornchurchEastbourne United
1967–68Slough TownCheshuntLewes
1968–69Walton & HershamTilburyBoreham Wood
1969–70Bishop's StortfordLewesHorsham
1970–71DagenhamAveleyHerne Bay
1971–72Slough TownHarlow TownStaines Town
1972–73Slough TownHorshamRuislip Manor

In 1973 the league was reduced to two divisions

SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
1973–74Boreham WoodAlton Town
1974–75Letchworth TownEgham Town
1975–76CheshuntEpping Town
1976–77Leyton-WingateFarnborough Town

In 1977 the league was reduced to a single division

SeasonChampions
1977–78Billericay Town
1978–79Billericay Town
1979–80Windsor & Eton
1980–81Windsor & Eton
1981–82Leyton-Wingate
1982–83Newbury Town
1983–84Redhill

Member clubs

The league had 115 member clubs during its existence:

References

  1. ↑ Athenian Football League minutes 1912-1921 (National Football Museum, Preston).
  2. ↑ Williams, Tony (1978). The FA Non-League Football Annual 1978–79. MacDonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. p. 201.
  3. ↑ Athenian League Champions RSSSF
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