Metropolitan–London League

Football league

Metropolitan–London LeagueFounded| 1971

|

First season| 1971–72
Folded| 1975
Country|  England
Divisions| One (1974–1975)
Two (1971–1974)
Number of clubs| Lowest: 20 (1974–1975)
Highest: 25 (1971–1972)
Domestic cup(s)| FA Cup
Most championships| Epping Town (2)

The Metropolitan–London League was a short-lived football league for clubs in and around London. It was formed in 1971 by a merger of the Greater London League and the Metropolitan League (which had lost several clubs to the Southern League).[1] It ran with two divisions until 1974, reduced to one in 1974–75 season, after which it merged with the Spartan League to form the London Spartan League, which was later renamed the Spartan League.[2] It merged with the South Midlands League in 1997 to form the modern Spartan South Midlands League

## List of champions

[edit]

Season | Division One | Division Two

|
|

1971–72 | Epping Town | Muirhead Sports
1972–73 | Swanley | East Thurrock United
1973–74 | Epping Town | Alma Swanley
Season | Champions
1974–75 | Cray Wanderers

## Seasons

[edit]

### 1971–72

[edit]

#### Division One

[edit]

The new Division One was composed of:

* Eight clubs from the Greater London League (BROB Barnet, Canvey Island, Chingford, Eton Manor, Ford United, Swanley, Ulysses and Willesden)
* Four clubs from the Metropolitan League (Cray Wanderers, Epping Town, Hatfield Town and Sheppey United)
* One club from the Kent League (Faversham Town)
* East Ham United

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes

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1  | Epping Town | 26  | 18  | 5  | 3  | 71  | 25  | +46  | 41  |
2  | Faversham Town | 26  | 15  | 5  | 6  | 54  | 30  | +24  | 35
3  | East Ham United | 26  | 14  | 6  | 6  | 59  | 37  | +22  | 34
4  | Cray Wanderers | 26  | 15  | 1  | 10  | 59  | 38  | +21  | 31
5  | Ford United | 26  | 12  | 6  | 8  | 47  | 35  | +12  | 30
6  | Swanley | 26  | 12  | 5  | 9  | 56  | 36  | +20  | 29
7  | Eton Manor | 26  | 10  | 8  | 8  | 45  | 44  | +1  | 28
8  | Hatfield Town | 26  | 11  | 5  | 10  | 50  | 51  | −1  | 27
9  | Sheppey United | 26  | 9  | 6  | 11  | 43  | 47  | −4  | 24  | Joined Kent League
10  | Canvey Island | 26  | 7  | 8  | 11  | 29  | 52  | −23  | 22  |
11  | Willesden | 26  | 6  | 8  | 12  | 35  | 51  | −16  | 20
12  | Chingford | 26  | 6  | 6  | 14  | 34  | 52  | −18  | 18
13  | BROB Barnet | 26  | 6  | 4  | 16  | 26  | 78  | −52  | 16
14  | Ulysses | 26  | 3  | 3  | 20  | 25  | 57  | −32  | 9

Source: Non-League Matters

#### Division Two

[edit]

All clubs in Division Two except Muirhead Sports had come from the Greater London League. Woolwich Polytechnic were renamed Thames Polytechnic, Northern Polytechnic became Polytechnic of North London and Vokins became 279 Chislehurst.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes

|
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1  | Muirhead Sports  | 20  | 16  | 3  | 1  | 58  | 19  | +39  | 35  |
2  | 279 Chislehurst  | 20  | 13  | 5  | 2  | 63  | 28  | +35  | 31  | Left the league
3  | Penhill Standard (P) | 20  | 9  | 6  | 5  | 37  | 31  | +6  | 24  | Promoted to Division One
4  | Highfield | 20  | 9  | 4  | 7  | 45  | 28  | +17  | 22  |
5  | Polytechnic of North London  | 20  | 8  | 3  | 9  | 36  | 41  | −5  | 19
6  | Bexley | 20  | 6  | 6  | 8  | 37  | 40  | −3  | 18
7  | Thames Polytechnic | 20  | 7  | 4  | 9  | 25  | 32  | −7  | 18
8  | Brentstonians  | 20  | 6  | 6  | 8  | 27  | 43  | −16  | 18
9  | Heathside Sports | 20  | 7  | 3  | 10  | 35  | 44  | −9  | 17
10  | Barkingside | 20  | 5  | 4  | 11  | 36  | 46  | −10  | 14
11  | RAS & RA | 20  | 0  | 4  | 16  | 12  | 59  | −47  | 4

Source: Non-League Matters
(P) Promoted

### 1972–73

[edit]

#### Division One

[edit]

Division One featured one new club, Penhill Standard, who had been promoted from Division Two the previous season.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes

|
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1  | Swanley | 26  | 18  | 6  | 2  | 57  | 26  | +31  | 42  |
2  | Epping Town | 26  | 16  | 6  | 4  | 54  | 22  | +32  | 38
3  | Canvey Island | 26  | 15  | 5  | 6  | 45  | 38  | +7  | 35
4  | Cray Wanderers | 26  | 16  | 2  | 8  | 46  | 28  | +18  | 34
5  | Willesden | 26  | 14  | 4  | 8  | 48  | 37  | +11  | 32
6  | Hatfield Town | 26  | 14  | 2  | 10  | 43  | 36  | +7  | 30
7  | Faversham Town | 26  | 12  | 4  | 10  | 44  | 31  | +13  | 28  | Promotion to Athenian League Division Two
8  | East Ham United | 26  | 11  | 4  | 11  | 60  | 43  | +17  | 26  |
9  | Eton Manor | 26  | 9  | 8  | 9  | 30  | 30  | 0  | 26
10  | Ford United | 26  | 5  | 8  | 13  | 25  | 42  | −17  | 18
11  | BROB Barnet | 26  | 6  | 5  | 15  | 30  | 52  | −22  | 17
12  | Ulysses | 26  | 4  | 8  | 14  | 22  | 51  | −29  | 16
13  | Chingford | 26  | 4  | 4  | 18  | 24  | 52  | −28  | 12
14  | Penhill Standard (R) | 26  | 3  | 4  | 19  | 24  | 64  | −40  | 10  | Relegated to Division Two

Source: Non-League Matters
(R) Relegated

#### Division Two

[edit]

Division Two featured one new club, East Thurrock United.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes

|
|
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1  | East Thurrock United (P) | 18  | 11  | 5  | 2  | 36  | 12  | +24  | 27  | Promoted to Division One
2  | Highfield (P) | 18  | 11  | 4  | 3  | 37  | 17  | +20  | 26
3  | Muirhead Sports  | 18  | 8  | 7  | 3  | 32  | 21  | +11  | 23  |
4  | Heathside Sports | 18  | 8  | 6  | 4  | 36  | 25  | +11  | 22
5  | Polytechnic of North London  | 18  | 10  | 2  | 6  | 37  | 29  | +8  | 22
6  | Bexley | 18  | 6  | 3  | 9  | 34  | 38  | −4  | 15
7  | RAS & RA | 18  | 4  | 5  | 9  | 15  | 28  | −13  | 13
8  | Barkingside | 18  | 3  | 6  | 9  | 23  | 42  | −19  | 12
9  | Thames Polytechnic | 18  | 4  | 3  | 11  | 24  | 41  | −17  | 11
10  | Brentstonians  | 18  | 3  | 3  | 12  | 17  | 38  | −21  | 9

Source: Non-League Matters
(P) Promoted

### 1973–74

[edit]

#### Division One

[edit]

Division One featured two new clubs, East Thurrock United and Highfield, both promoted from Division Two the previous season.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes

|
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1  | Epping Town | 26  | 19  | 2  | 5  | 75  | 24  | +51  | 40  | Promotion to Athenian League Division Two
2  | East Ham United | 26  | 15  | 7  | 4  | 34  | 19  | +15  | 37  |
3  | Eton Manor | 26  | 13  | 7  | 6  | 41  | 25  | +16  | 33
4  | Cray Wanderers | 26  | 14  | 5  | 7  | 62  | 42  | +20  | 33
5  | Canvey Island | 26  | 13  | 6  | 7  | 40  | 29  | +11  | 32
6  | Hatfield Town | 26  | 12  | 7  | 7  | 45  | 42  | +3  | 31
7  | Swanley Town | 26  | 9  | 7  | 10  | 44  | 45  | −1  | 25
8  | Willesden | 26  | 11  | 2  | 13  | 46  | 45  | +1  | 24  | Promotion to Athenian League Division Two
9  | Highfield | 26  | 9  | 4  | 13  | 36  | 58  | −22  | 22  |
10  | Chingford | 26  | 5  | 9  | 12  | 30  | 48  | −18  | 19
11  | East Thurrock United | 26  | 7  | 4  | 15  | 39  | 52  | −13  | 18
12  | Ford United | 26  | 5  | 8  | 13  | 18  | 45  | −27  | 18  | Joined Essex Senior League
13  | BROB Barnet | 26  | 4  | 9  | 13  | 26  | 51  | −25  | 17  |
14  | Ulysses | 26  | 5  | 5  | 16  | 23  | 39  | −16  | 15

Source: Non-League Matters

#### Division Two

[edit]

Division Two featured two new clubs:

* Alma Swanley
* Penhill Standard (relegated from Division One)

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes

|
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1  | Alma Swanley (P) | 18  | 15  | 3  | 0  | 51  | 14  | +37  | 33  | Promotion to Metropolitan–London League
2  | Heathside Sports (P) | 18  | 12  | 4  | 2  | 42  | 15  | +27  | 28
3  | Muirhead Sports (P) | 18  | 10  | 3  | 5  | 38  | 30  | +8  | 23
4  | Penhill Standard (P) | 18  | 7  | 6  | 5  | 32  | 25  | +7  | 20
5  | Thames Polytechnic (P) | 18  | 7  | 2  | 9  | 22  | 33  | −11  | 16
6  | Polytechnic of North London  | 18  | 6  | 3  | 9  | 21  | 31  | −10  | 15  | Left the league
7  | Bexley (P) | 18  | 6  | 2  | 10  | 20  | 28  | −8  | 14  | Promotion to Metropolitan–London League
8  | RAS & RA (P) | 18  | 5  | 3  | 10  | 18  | 28  | −10  | 13
9  | Barkingside (P) | 18  | 4  | 2  | 12  | 20  | 38  | −18  | 10
10  | Brentstonians (P) | 18  | 2  | 4  | 12  | 16  | 38  | −22  | 8

Source: Non-League Matters
(P) Promoted

### 1974–75

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Result

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1  | Cray Wanderers | 38  | 32  | 4  | 2  | 128  | 36  | +92  | 68  | Joined London Spartan League Division One
2  | Alma Swanley | 38  | 26  | 7  | 5  | 91  | 41  | +50  | 59
3  | Canvey Island | 38  | 24  | 7  | 7  | 78  | 30  | +48  | 55  | Joined Essex Senior League
4  | Swanley Town | 38  | 23  | 6  | 9  | 81  | 40  | +41  | 52  | Joined London Spartan League Division One
5  | Eton Manor | 38  | 21  | 6  | 11  | 72  | 39  | +33  | 48  | Joined Essex Senior League
6  | Penhill Standard | 38  | 20  | 8  | 10  | 70  | 55  | +15  | 48  | Joined London Spartan League Division One
7  | Hatfield Town | 38  | 16  | 12  | 10  | 57  | 35  | +22  | 44
8  | Chingford | 38  | 19  | 6  | 13  | 62  | 44  | +18  | 44
9  | Heathside Sports | 38  | 16  | 10  | 12  | 54  | 41  | +13  | 42
10  | East Ham United | 38  | 14  | 13  | 11  | 57  | 39  | +18  | 41
11  | Highfield (R) | 38  | 13  | 10  | 15  | 47  | 58  | −11  | 36  | Joined London Spartan League Division Two
12  | East Thurrock United (R) | 38  | 14  | 6  | 18  | 58  | 64  | −6  | 34
13  | BROB Barnet (R) | 38  | 12  | 7  | 19  | 46  | 61  | −15  | 31
14  | Muirhead Sports (R) | 38  | 12  | 6  | 20  | 54  | 77  | −23  | 30
15  | Bexley (R) | 38  | 9  | 11  | 18  | 46  | 88  | −42  | 29
16  | Barkingside (R) | 38  | 8  | 8  | 22  | 45  | 80  | −35  | 24
17  | Thames Polytechnic (R) | 38  | 7  | 9  | 22  | 33  | 82  | −49  | 23
18  | Ulysses (R) | 38  | 4  | 14  | 20  | 40  | 72  | −32  | 22
19  | Brentstonians (R) | 38  | 6  | 4  | 28  | 34  | 107  | −73  | 16
20  | RAS & RA (R) | 38  | 3  | 8  | 27  | 42  | 106  | −64  | 14

Source: Non-League Matters
(R) Relegated

## Member clubs

[edit]

Member clubs during the league's existence included:

* 279 Chislehurst
* Alma Swanley
* Barkingside
* Bexley
* Brentstonians
* BROB Barnet
* Canvey Island
* Chingford
* Cray Wanderers
* East Ham United
* East Thurrock United
* Epping Town
* Eton Manor
* Faversham Town
* Ford United
* Hatfield Town
* Heathside Sports
* Highfield
* India & M Docks
* Muirhead Sports
* Penhill Standard
* Polytechnic of North London
* Rolenmill
* RAS & RA
* Sheppey United
* Swanley Town
* Thames Polytechnic
* Ulysses
* Welwyn Garden City
* Willesden

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cray Wanderers in the Metropolitan League" (PDF). Cray Wanderers FC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-28.
2. ^ Penhill Standard at the Football Club History Database

* v
* t
* e

Spartan South Midlands League

2024–25
clubs|

| Premier Division|

* Arlesey Town
* Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
* Baldock Town
* Biggleswade United
* Cockfosters
* Colney Heath
* Crawley Green
* Dunstable Town
* FC Romania
* Harpenden Town
* Kempston Rovers
* London Lions
* Milton Keynes Irish
* Potton United
* Shefford Town & Campton
* Tring Athletic
* Winslow United
* Wormley Rovers

|

Division One|

* AFC Welwyn
* Ampthill Town
* Buckingham
* Cranfield United
* Desborough Town
* Eaton Socon
* Huntingdon Town
* Irchester United
* Langford
* Leighton Town Development
* Letchworth Garden City Eagles
* London Colney
* Long Buckby
* Moulton
* Raunds Town
* Rothwell Corinthians
* Royston Town Under-23
* Rushden & Higham United
* Stotfold Reserves
* Wellingborough Whitworth

Division Two|

* Aston Clinton
* Bovingdon
* Caddington
* Codicote
* Eynesbury United
* Huntingdon Town U23
* Milton Keynes College
* Milton Keynes Irish reserves
* New Bradwell St Peter
* Newport Pagnell Town reserves
* Old Bradwell United
* Padbury Village
* Pitstone & Ivinghoe
* Sarratt
* Stony Stratford Town
* The 61
* Totternhoe
* Tring Corinthians

Seasons|

* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Predecessor leagues
Aetolian League
Greater London League
London League
Metropolitan League
Metropolitan–London League
South Midlands League
Spartan League
*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template