South Midlands League

Defunct association football league in England

Football league

South Midlands LeagueFounded| 1922

|

First season| 1922–23
Folded| 1997
Country|  England
Divisions| 1–4
Promotion to| Isthmian League
Domestic cup(s)| FA Cup, FA Vase
Most championships| Barton Rovers (8)

The South Midlands League was a football league covering Bedfordshire and some adjoining counties in England. It was founded in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League and merged with the Spartan League in 1997 to form the Spartan South Midlands League.

## History

[edit]

The league was formed in 1922 as the Bedfordshire County League, beginning with eight clubs; Arlesey Town, Biggleswade & District Reserves, Leighton United, Letchworth Town, Luton Clarence Reserves, RAF Henlow, Stotfold Athletic and Waterlows Athletic.[1] In 1924 the league was renamed the Bedfordshire & District County League.[1] A second division was added in 1925,[1] and in 1929 it was renamed the South Midlands League.[1]

Division Two had only six clubs in 1930–31 and 1931–32, and was not played in 1932–33.[1] However, it was reintroduced for the 1933–34 season with nine clubs, all but two of which were reserve teams.[1]

The league was abandoned in 1939 due to World War II, before returning for the 1946–47 season.[1] In 1947 Division One was renamed the Premier Division and Division Two became Division One, with a new third division added, named Division Two.[1] The league gained another division in 1949 when Division Two was split into Division Two A and B, with a play-off between the two division winners to determine the overall Division Two champions.[1] The following season Division Two reverted to being a single division.[2]

Division Two was abolished in 1955 after having shrunk to only eight clubs in 1954–55.[2] The league then remained unchanged until 1993 when Division One was renamed the Senior Division and a new division (Division One) added as a third tier.[3] In 1997 the league merged with the Spartan League to form the Spartan South Midlands League.[3] The new league initially ran with two Premier Divisions (north and south), a Senior Division and two Division Ones (north and south).[4]

During the evolution of the National League System, the league became a feeder to the Isthmian League, with clubs such as Leighton Town, Oxford City and Bedford Town earning promotion.

Although clubs from the league played in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup from the late 1920s onwards, none ever reached the first round proper. The best performance came from Barton Rovers in 1976–77 when they reached the fourth qualifying round. South Midlands League clubs had more success in the FA Vase, with Barton Rovers reaching the final in 1977–78 and Arlesey Town winning the competition in 1994–95.

## Divisional champions

[edit]

Season  | Champions  |

|
|

1922–23 | Waterlows Athletic
1923–24 | Biggleswade & District Reserves
1924–25 | Waterlows Athletic
Season  | Division One  | Division Two  |
1925–26 | Waterlows Athletic | Waterlows Athletic Reserves
1926–27 | Leagrave & District | Batford Old Boys
1927–28 | Baldock Town | Leighton United
1928–29 | Luton Amateur & Ramblers | Luton Davis Athletic
1929–30 | Waterlows | Arlesey Town
1930–31 | RAF Henlow | Stevenage Town
1931–32 | Vauxhall Motors | Arlesey Town
Season  | Champions  |
1932–33 | St Neots & District
Season  | Division One  | Division Two  |
1933–34 | Vauxhall Motors | Dunstable Athletic
1934–35 | Bedford Town Reserves | Stewartby Works
1935–36 | Kettering Town Reserves | Biscot Sports
1936–37 | Vauxhall Motors | Arlesey Town
1937–38 | Vauxhall Motors | Vauxhall Motors Reserves
1938–39 | Wolverton Town | Esavian Sports
Competition abandoned due to World War II
1946–47 | Luton Town Colts | Bedford St Cuthbert's
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  |
1947–48 | Wootton Blue Cross | Peartree Old Boys | Baldock Town
1948–49 | Cambridge Town Reserves | Luton Hitchin Road Old Boys | Lynton Works
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two A  | Division Two B
1949–50 | Rushden Town Reserves | Baldock Town | Houghton Rangers[a] | Cranfield United[a]
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  | Division Two  |
1950–51 | Bletchley Town | Luton Kents Athletic | Vauxhall Motors 'A'
1951–52 | Arlesey Town | Bedford Town 'A' | Arlesey Town Reserves
1952–53 | Arlesey Town | Biggleswade Town Reserves | Luton Skefco Athletic
1953–54 | Shefford Town | Stotfold | Luton Davis Athletic
1954–55 | Shefford Town | Hunting Percival Athletic | Barton Rovers
Season  | Premier Division  | Division One  |
1955–56 | Bletchley & WIPAC | Luton Town 'B'
1956–57 | Bletchley BBOB | Luton Town 'B'
1957–58 | Bletchley United | Peartree Old Boys
1958–59 | Luton Skefko Athletic | Stewartby Works
1959–60 | Ampthill Town | Sandy Albion
1960–61 | Hemel Hempstead United | Waterlows
1961–62 | Harpenden Town | Totternhoe
1962–63 | Electrolux | Addmult
1963–64 | Electrolux | Houghton Regis
1964–65 | Harpenden Town | Barton Rovers
1965–66 | Baldock Town | Esavian Sports
1966–67 | Leighton Town | Hanslope
1967–68 | Baldock Town | Rootes Sports
1968–69 | Addmult | Selby
1969–70 | Baldock Town | Welwyn Garden United
1970–71 | Barton Rovers | Towcester Town
1971–72 | Barton Rovers | Eaton Bray United
1972–73 | Barton Rovers | Pirton
1973–74 | Welwyn Garden City | Aspley Guise
1974–75 | Barton Rovers | Winslow United
1975–76 | Barton Rovers | BAC
1976–77 | Barton Rovers | New Bradwell St Peter
1977–78 | Barton Rovers | Royston Town
1978–79 | Barton Rovers | BAC
1979–80 | Pirton | Hatfield Town
1980–81 | Stotfold | The 61
1981–82 | Pirton | Welwyn Garden
1982–83 | Pirton | GS Ashcroft Co-Op
1983–84 | Shefford Town | New Bradwell St Peter
1984–85 | Eaton Bray United | Milton Keynes Borough
1985–86 | Selby | Buckingham Athletic
1986–87 | Selby | Electrolux
1987–88 | Shillington | Pitstone & Ivinghoe
1988–89 | Langford | Welwyn Garden United
1989–90 | Pitstone & Ivinghoe | Harpenden Town
1990–91 | Thame United | Buckingham Athletic
1991–92 | Leighton Town | Ashcroft
1992–93 | Oxford City | Bedford Town
Season  | Premier Division  | Senior Division  | Division One  |
1993–94 | Bedford Town | Toddington Rovers | Stony Stratford Town
1994–95 | Arlesey Town | London Colney | Houghton Town
1995–96 | Arlesey Town | Holmer Green | Mercedes-Benz
1996–97 | Potters Bar Town | Leverstock Green | Biggleswade United

1. ^ a b Cranfield won the play-off, defeating Houghton Rangers 3–2 and 2–1 for a 5–3 aggregate win

## Member teams

[edit]

* AC Delco Reserves
* AC Sphinx
* AC Sphinx Reserves
* Abbey National
* ACD Tridon
* Addmult
* AML
* Ampthill Town
* Aspley Guise
* Arlesey Town
* Arlesey Town Reserves
* Ashcroft
* Bagshawes
* Baldock Town
* Baldock Town Reserves
* Barton Rovers
* Batford Old Boys
* Bedford Avenue Reserves
* Bedford Corinthians
* Bedford Eagles
* Bedford North End
* Bedford Queen's Works
* Bedford Queen's Works Reserves
* Bedford St Cuthbert's
* Bedford St. Cuthbert's Reserves
* Bedford Town
* Bedford Town 'A'
* Bedford Town Reserves
* Bedford United
* Bell Sports
* Biggleswade & District Reserves
* Biggleswade Town
* Biggleswade Town Reserves
* Biggleswade United
* Biscot Sports
* Bletchley Centre
* Bletchley LMS
* Bletchley Sports
* Bletchley Sports Reserves
* Bletchley Town
* Bletchley Town Reserves
* Bletchley United
* Bondor
* Borg Warner
* Bow Brickhill
* Brache Sparta
* Bridger Packaging
* Britannia Works
* British Aircraft Corporation (Luton)
* British Aircraft Corporation (Stevenage)
* Brooklands
* Buckingham Athletic
* Buckingham Town
* Buckingham United
* Caddington
* Cambridge Town Reserves
* Chipperfield
* Clifton Old Boys
* Cranfield United
* Cranfield United Reserves
* Crawley Green Sports
* De Havilland (Hatfield)
* Dunstable Athletic
* Dunstable Athletic Reserves
* Dunstable Town Reserves
* Dunstable United
* Eaton Bray
* Eaton Bray United
* Electrolux
* Elstow Abbey
* Emberton
* Esavian Sports
* Eynesbury Rovers
* Flamstead
* Flitwick Athletic
* Flitwick Rovers
* GIF (Luton)
* Hanslope
* Harlington Stars
* Harpenden Town
* Harrold United
* Hatfield Town
* Haynes
* Hemel Hempstead United
* Henlow
* Histon Institute Reserves
* Hitchin Blue Cross
* Hitchin Blue Cross Reserves
* Hitchin Imps
* Hitchin Town Reserves
* Hoddesdon Town
* Holmer Green
* Houghton Regis
* Houghton Town
* Hunting Athletic
* ICL Letchworth
* Ickleford
* Inter City
* Karrier Motors
* Kempston Rovers
* Kent Athletic
* Kettering Town Reserves
* Knebworth
* Kodak
* Kryn & Lahy
* Langford
* Leagrave & District
* Leagrave & District Reserves
* Leighton Athletic
* Leighton Marley
* Leighton Town
* Leighton United Reserves
* Letchworth
* Letchworth Town Reserves
* Leverstock Green
* Limbury Old Boys
* London Brick
* London Brick Reserves
* London Colney
* Lucas Sports
* Luton Amateur
* Luton Amateur Reserves
* Luton Amateurs & Ramblers
* Luton Amateurs & Ramblers Reserves
* Luton Athletic
* Luton Chapel Street Sports
* Luton Clarence
* Luton Clarence Reserves
* Luton Davis Athletic
* Luton Frickers Athletic
* Luton Gas Works Athletic
* Luton Hitchin Road Old Boys
* Luton Kent's Athletic
* Luton Kent's Athletic Reserves
* Luton Old Boys
* Luton Old Modernians
* Luton Percival Athletic
* Luton Ramblers
* Luton Town 'B'
* Luton Town Colts
* Lynton Works
* Marshmoor F.C.|Marshmoor
* Marston Shelton Rovers
* Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves
* Marston Sports
* Mercedes Benz
* Milford Villa
* Milton Keynes
* Milton Keynes Borough
* Milton Keynes County
* Milton Keynes Town
* Mowlem
* Mursley United
* Napier/English Electric
* New Bradwell St Peter
* Newport Pagnell Town
* Old Bradwell United
* Old Dunstablians
* Old Lutonians
* Oxford City
* Peartree Old Boys
* Peartree Old Boys Reserves
* Pirton
* Pitstone & Ivinghoe
* Potters Bar Crusaders
* Potters Bar Town
* Potton United
* Pye Radio
* RAF Cardington
* RAF Henlow
* RAF Henlow Reserves
* Risborough Rangers
* Roade
* Rootes Sports
* Royston Town
* Rushden Sports
* Rushden Town Reserves
* Sandy Albion
* Scot
* Selby
* Shefford Town
* Shenley & Loughton
* Shillington
* Shredded Wheat
* Shredded Wheat Reserves
* Silsoe
* SKF
* Slip End United
* St Neots & District
* St Neots & District Reserves
* St Neots St. Mary's
* Steeple Claydon
* Stevenage Town
* Stevenage Town Reserves
* Stewartby Works
* Stewartby Works Reserves
* Stony Stratford Sports
* Stony Stratford Town
* Stotfold
* Stotfold Athletic
* Stotfold Rovers
* Thame United
* The 61
* Tickford Sports
* Toddington Rovers
* Totternhoe
* Towcester Town
* Tring Athletic
* Vauxhall (Dunstable)
* Vauxhall Motors
* Vauxhall Motors 'A'
* Vauxhall Motors Reserves
* Waddesdon
* Walden Rangers
* Waterlows
* Waterlows Reserves
* Wellingborough Town Reserves
* Welwyn Garden City
* Welwyn Garden City Reserves
* Welwyn Garden United
* Westbourne Athletic
* Wiltonians
* Wingate & Finchley
* Wingate
* Winslow United
* Wolverton
* Wolverton Town Reserves
* Wootton Blue Cross
* Wootton Blue Cross Reserves

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i South Midlands League 1922–1950 Non-League Matters
2. ^ a b South Midlands League 1950–1966 Non-League Matters
3. ^ a b South Midlands League 1983–1997 Non-League Matters
4. ^ Spartan South Midlands League 1997–2004 Non-League Matters

* v
* t
* e

South Midlands League

Seasons|

* 1922–23
* 1923–24
* 1924–25
* 1925–26
* 1926–27
* 1927–28
* 1928–29
* 1929–30
* 1930–31
* 1931–32
* 1932–33
* 1933–34
* 1934–35
* 1935–36
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40
* 1940–41
* 1941–42
* 1942–43
* 1943–44
* 1944–45
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1949–50
* 1950–51
* 1951–52
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97

Successor league: Spartan South Midlands Football League

* 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
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