London Football Association#Cup Competitions

{{Short description|Regional football association in England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = London Football Association

| image_border =

| size = 150

| image =

| caption = The London FA crest

| abbreviation = LFA

| motto =

| formation = 1882

| purpose = Football association

| headquarters = Wembley Stadium

| location = London HA9 OWS

| coords =

| leader_title = Chief Executive

| leader_name = Paul Bickerton

| website = {{URL|http://www.londonfa.com/}}

| Social Media =

}}

File:Footballers in Regent's Park.jpg]]

The London Football Association (LFA) is the regional Football Association for inner areas of London. The London FA was established in 1882 and is affiliated to The Football Association. The London FA administers all levels of men's, women's and junior football within its area, a circle 12 miles in radius with Charing Cross at the centre.

History

The London Football Association (LFA) is unique for the reason that it is the only one founded by The Football Association. While others were founded to organise football locally around the country, Charles Alcock and Lord Kinnaird, then Secretary and Chairman of The FA, created the London FA to deal with local clubs and competitions while the main body focused on the Laws of the Game and international football matters.

File:Corinthians 1896-7.jpg

According to the Memorandum on Areas and Overlapping of Associations the London FA covers the area 12 miles from Charing Cross.{{cite web |url= http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/FA%20Handbook%2009%2010/Areas_and_Overlapping_of_Associations_pg155-156.ashx/Areas_and_Overlapping_of_Associations_pg155-156.pdf|title= FA – Memorandum on Areas and Overlapping of Associations |work=FA |access-date=2011-06-10}} The association is ‘overlapped’ by a number of its colleague County FA ’s: Essex FA, Kent FA, Middlesex FA, Surrey FA and the Amateur Football Alliance.

The first Secretary was N. L. 'Pa' Jackson who was also serving on the FA Council. He was famous for founding the Corinthians Football Club{{Cite web |title=History of the Corinthians |url=https://www.corinthian-casuals.com/history-of-the-corinthians.html |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Corinthian-Casuals Football Club |language=en}} and is said to be the inventor of the international cap.{{Cite web |title=England's Caps |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamBack/Caps.html |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=www.englandfootballonline.com}}

The London FA's other claim to fame is that its representative team was the first ever English team to play in a European final, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final in 1958 where they lost over two legs to Barcelona. Friendly matches had also been played against foreign opposition after the end of World War II, including annual matches in Belgium.

It has had many headquarters since its foundation in 1882, including Paternoster Row, St. Mark's College Chelsea, Finsbury Barracks, Leytonstone, Manor Park, Barking, and Lewisham. It even stayed temporarily at Upton Park and Highbury during the Second World War, having been bombed out of its previous homes. The current headquarters in Fulham were moved into in August 2004. A centenary match for the association was played in 1981 between a London XI and an England XI at Highbury, however only 5,000 fans attended.[http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTst.htmlLondon FA Centenary Match: London FA 3 England 4], England Football Online[http://www.londonfa.com/about/history History of London Football Association], London FA

The London Football Association is one of the biggest in the country with over 2,000 clubs, about 1,000 referees and over 50 Leagues/Competitions.

File:Sunday Football - geograph.org.uk - 388193.jpg

The association has a history of long-serving, dedicated officials. For example, Tommy Kirkup served as Secretary for 44 years between 1903 and 1947. Basil Stallard is by far the longest serving Treasurer having been in that position since 1973. There have been only nine Presidents since 1882, Lionel Seymour being the current incumbent.

In 1922 the London Minor Football Association was founded for youth football. It became the London Youth Football Association and continues to administer youth football in the capital to this day. It did, however, come under the London FA Limited when it incorporated in 2001.

Both the Inner London County Schools Football Association and London Football Coaches Association work in collaboration with the London FA for the mutual benefit of its members. This provides participants in the capital with a complete range of opportunities in football.

The LFA runs high quality coaching courses throughout the year with one of the countries senior coach education tutors as Head Coach in John Drabwell. As a result of the Football Association's National Game Strategy 2008–2012, the LFA has recruited a young and energetic development team under the leadership of Josie Clifford.{{cite web |url= http://www.londonfa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=2|title= Welcome to the London Football Association |work=London FA |access-date=2011-06-21}}

Affiliated leagues

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=Men's Saturday leagues=

  • Bromley and South London Football League (2017)
  • West End (London) AFA (1881)
  • Wimbledon and District League (1898)

Footnote: No leagues belong to the English football league system.

=Men's Sunday leagues=

  • Camden Sunday League (1948)
  • Central London Super Sunday League (2008)
  • Hackney and Leyton Sunday League (1947)
  • Inner London League (2001)
  • Metropolitan Sunday League (1934)
  • North London Sunday League (1985)
  • Southern Sunday League (1944)
  • Sportsman's Senior Sunday League (1949)
  • Wandsworth and District Sunday League (1949)
  • West Fulham Sunday League (1936)
  • Woolwich and Eltham Sunday Football Alliance (2006)

=Small Sided leagues=

  • Hamlets 7-a-Side League (2007)
  • Lillie Road Five-a-Side League

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=Other leagues=

  • All Nations Football Festival Summer League (2001)
  • Association of Provincial Supporters Clubs in London (1983)
  • Ballerz League (2008)
  • Bangladesh Football Association Summer League (2007)
  • Brixton Summer League
  • Bromley and Croydon Christian League (1994)
  • Cypriot League (KOPA) (1974)
  • East London Christian League
  • Football for Christ Championship (1998)
  • Islington Midweek League (1973)
  • Lionheart Surveyors League (2001)
  • London Accountants League
  • London Communities League
  • London Underground League (1996)
  • Maccabi (Southern) League
  • Maccabi Masters League (1999)
  • MPAA Internal Leagues (2007)
  • Southern Veterans League
  • Street League
  • Thames League
  • Turkish Community Football Federation (1976)

=Ladies and girls leagues=

  • London and South East Regional Women's League
  • Greater London Womens League
  • Capital Girls League
  • South London Girls League

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=Youth leagues=

  • Ballerz League (Youth) (2008)
  • Bangladesh Football Association (UK) (Youth) (2010)
  • Bexley and District Junior (and Mini-Soccer) League
  • Brixton Summer League (Youth)
  • Camden and Islington Youth League (1968)
  • East London and Essex Junior League (1998)
  • Hackney Youth League
  • London County Saturday Youth League
  • Maccabi GB Junior (Youth) (2007)
  • Maccabi Junior League
  • Positive Youth Community League (2007)
  • South East London and Kent Youth League (2002)
  • South London Special League (Youth) (2004)
  • Tandridge Youth League
  • Tandridge Youth Mini Soccer Tournament
  • Turkish Community Football Federation Youth League
  • Waltham Forest and District Youth League

=Futsal leagues=

  • Futsal Super League
  • Newham Futsal League
  • Newham Futsal League (Youth)

=Cup competitions=

  • Beckenham Hospital Charity Invitation Football Cup (Saturday) (1903)
  • East Ham Memorial Hospital Charity Cup Competition (1901)
  • Hays Property and Surveying Cup{{cite web |url= http://www.londonfa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=278&Itemid=237 |title= London FA – Leagues and Competitions |work=London FA |access-date=2011-06-21}}

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Disbanded or amalgamated leagues

File:Underhill MainStand.jpg at Barnet staged Athenian League football from 1912 to 1965]]

Leagues that were affiliated to the London FA (or FA) but have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues include:

=Major non-League leagues=

=Other leagues=

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  • Asian Premier League (founded 2009, dissolved 2012)
  • Beckenham League
  • Bermondsey League
  • Bromley and District Football League
  • Camberwell League
  • Clapham League
  • Delphis Sunday Football League (incorporated in London and Kent Border Football League)
  • [http://www.football.mitoo.co.uk/News.cfm?LeagueCode=ELSFL2009 East London Sunday League] (1930)
  • Enfield Football Alliance (founded 1941, dissolved 2012)
  • Finchley and District League
  • [http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=7375859 Ford Sunday League]
  • Herald League
  • Lewisham League
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20181108093845/http://www.lkbfootballleague.co.uk/ London and Kent Border Football League]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120326000522/http://www.lcasfl.co.uk/ London City Airport Sunday League]
  • London Shipping League
  • Northern Suburban Intermediate League

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  • South East London Amateur League
  • South London Football Alliance
  • South London League
  • Southern Alliance
  • Southern Suburban League (also known as South Suburban League)
  • Tottenham & District Junior Alliance League
  • United Senior League
  • Walthamstow and District League
  • Wandsworth and District League
  • West London League
  • West London Alliance League
  • Woolwich and District League

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Member and associated clubs

It is difficult to provide a comprehensive list of those notable clubs that are (or at one time were) affiliated to the London FA. However, by identifying those clubs that have competed in the London Senior Cup along with those clubs that are (or were) located in the Greater London area it is possible to establish the following list:

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Clubs in the Premier League and The Football League that have competed in the London FA's London Charity Cup or are located in the Greater London area include:

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County Cup competitions

Today the London Football Association runs 9 different County Cup competitions:

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  • The London Senior Cup;
  • The London Senior Trophy
  • The London Intermediate Cupcommenced in 1914–15;
  • The London Junior Cup;
  • The London FA Women's Cup – first contested in 1994–95.;
  • The London Women's Junior Cup
  • The London Veterans Cup;
  • The London Sunday Intermediate Cup;
  • The London Sunday Junior Cup; and
  • The London Sunday Challenge Cup.{{cite web |url= http://www.londonfa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=48 |title= London FA – History of the LFA County Cups |work=London FA |access-date=2011-06-22}}

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  • Turnham Green Trophy
  • Jack Morgan Cup
  • Marcus Lipton Cup
  • Presidents Charity Cup

The LFA also formerly ran the following competitions:

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The London FA also jointly administers the Capital Women's Cups alongside the Surrey FA, the Amateur Football Alliance and the Middlesex FA.{{cite web | url=https://www.mylondon.news/sport/football/football-news/four-west-london-sides-gear-7012565 | title=Four west London sides gear up for Capital Women's Cup | date=20 April 2014 }}

List of recent London Cup winners

class="wikitable" style="textalign-center"

!Season!!London Senior Cup!!London Intermediate Cup!!London Junior Cup!!London Women's Cup!!London Women's Junior Cup

2000–01Ford UnitedCorinthian-Casuals ReservesCompetition VoidFulham Ladies
2001–02CroydonLondon City AthleticTC SportsFulham Ladies
2002–03BromleyCray Valley Paper MillsMemorial Sports|Charlton Athletic Ladies
2003–04Dulwich HamletCray Valley Paper MillsBatterseaArsenal Ladies
2004–05Fisher AthleticMetrogasReal PhoenixCharlton Athletic Ladies
2005–06Fisher Athletic (2)MetrogasFenerbahceCharlton Athletic Ladies
2006–07Tooting & Mitcham UnitedCorinthian-Casuals ReservesTornadosArsenal Ladies
2007–08Tooting & Mitcham United (2)MetrogasFlandersArsenal Ladies
2008–09HendonSummertownArsenal Ladies
2009–10Metropolitan Police F.C.Arsenal Ladies
2010–11Wingate and FinchleyCray Valley Paper MillsAFC SevenoaksArsenal LadiesWest Ham United Ladies
2011-12

|Hendon (2)

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2012-13

|Bromley FC (2)

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2013-14

|AFC Wimbledon

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2014-15

|Hendon (3)

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2015-16

|Tooting & Mitcham United (3)

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2016-17

|Cray Valley Paper Mills

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2017-18

|Balham

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2018-19

|Welling United

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2019-20

|Hendon (4)

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2020-21

|Tooting & Mitcham United (4)

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2021-22

|Brentford B

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2022-23

|Charlton Athletic

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Source

List of recent London Sunday and Veterans Cup winners

class="wikitable" style="textalign-center"

!Season!!London Sunday Challenge Cup!!London Sunday Intermediate Cup!!London Sunday Junior Cup!!London Veterans Cup

2000–01LivingstoneSporting Club TropicRegent Celtic
2001–02Green Island UnitedLibra ArmsBlack HorseReginald Vets
2002–03Memorial SportsArisRoebuckWalthamstow Pennant Vets
2003–04St Anselm'sArisMottingham VillageWalthamstow Pennant Vets
2004–05ArisMehmetcikFenerbahceWalthamstow Pennant Vets
2005–06ArisAlbion ManorRed Star (Camden)Fisher Athletic (London)
2006–07AkincilarFrenford SundayRolls ParkBaldon Sports
2007–08New SalamisEurekaClapton RangersWaltham Forest Vets
2008–09Baldon SportsClapton RangersCetinkaya Cinar
2009–10New Salamis
2010–11New SalamisGreengateYalovaLivingstone RARA
2011–12Eltham Town
2012–13APOEL UK
2013–14FC Tripimeni
2014–15New Salamis
2015–16Baldon Sports
2016–17New Salamis
2017–18New Salamis

Source

Members of council

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=President=

  • Lionel Seymour

=Vice presidents=

  • Basil Stallard (1973)
  • Stan Nathan (1966)
  • David Richbell (1969)
  • David Wolff (1970)
  • Clive Coleman (1974)
  • Michael McElligott (1974)
  • Norman Moss (1976)
  • Maurice Hales B.E.M (1977)
  • Bob Henderson (1977)
  • Darryl Ryan (1981)

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=Chairman=

  • Tony Sharples (1981)

=Vice chairman=

  • George Dorling (1983)

=Honorary treasurer=

  • Basil Stallard (1973)

=Honorary life members=

  • Lawrie Aldridge (1960)
  • Ron Halfacre (1964)
  • Harry Hall (1973)
  • Cyril Rebak (1973) {{cite web |url= http://www.londonfa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=6 |title= London FA – About Us – Council |work=London FA |access-date=2011-06-23}}

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Directors and officials

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=Board of directors=

  • L.J. Seymour (President)
  • David Fowkes ( Chief Executive and Company Secretary)
  • RA Blackman
  • G Dorling
  • BJ Miller
  • B Stallard
  • AJ Sharples
  • GC Taylor
  • CD Wheeler{{cite web |url= http://www.londonfa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=5 |title= London FA – About Us – Board of Directors |work=London FA |access-date=2011-06-23}}

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=Key officials=

  • Paul Bickerton ( Chief Executive)
  • Josie Clifford (County Development Manager){{cite web |url= http://www.londonfa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=3 |title= London FA – About Us – Staff Contact |work=London FA |access-date=2011-06-23}}

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See also

References

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