Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League

Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League
Founded	1946
Country	England
Divisions	Premier Division; Division One; Division Two; Division Three
Number of teams	52
Domestic cup(s)	FA Sunday Cup; London FA County Cups; Dickie Davies Cup; Jack Morgan Cup; Albert Daniels Senior Cup; Sunday Intermediate Cup
Current champions	Baddoo FC (Premier); Boundary Estate (Division One); The Gun (Division Two); Karpaty(Division Three); The Gun II (Division Four) ; (2022-23)
Website	Hackney & Leyton Football League at FA; League website

The Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League is a football competition based in London, England. It was founded in 1946 and operates under the jurisdiction of the London Football Association, the only English regional association founded by the FA.
The Hackney and Leyton Sunday League is considered a historic league as it has produced many players of the English football, such as England captains Bobby Moore and David Beckham, Jimmy Greaves, Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones, Rio Ferdinand and others.^[1] Most of the games are played at the Hackney Marshes football complex, the biggest in the world. In 2010 FC Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi arrived at the Marshes to come on as a substitute in an league match as a publicity stunt for Adidas, however, it was quickly cancelled as he was mobbed by fans.^[2]

The league has currently five divisions, the Premier Division, Division One, Division Two, Division Three and Division Four. It had a long association with Leyton FC with its headquarters located at the Leyton Stadium (previously known as the Hare and Hounds) until the headquarters moved to the Hackney Volunteers Club in Clapton.The league's longest-running club was Midfield, founded in 1967 and managed by Stan Gittings for over 40 years.

History

Early years

^[3]

Up until the 1970s, a lot of semi-professional players used to play in the league which was used to getting good crowds of 500 people for the big games, attendances were higher than for Leyton Town. According to Johnnie Walker, the league's former chairman who first played on the Marshes in 1952, aged just 17, people also used to bet on the games as there were bookmakers by the side of the pitch.

Recent years

^[4]

Principals

Taylor-Innes was one of the league's founders in 1946 and was chairmen for many years alongside Dave Taylor who was later honoured by having the league's domestic cup in his name (the cup started in 1952 and renamed to Dave Taylor Cup in 1972, and since 1999 it's been known as the Albert Daniels Senior Cup).^[5] Other chairmen were Peter Clarke, Ronnie Burce, and Alec Pretlove until 2003 and is considered the league's most popular chairman. Frank Hendy was one of the longest-serving Referee Secretaries; such was Albert Whitehead, while Ted Gore holds the position currently. Dickie Davies^[6] was the Registration Secretary for years, with his wife Nell at the post now. His memory has been honored with the establishment of the Dickie Davies Cup in 1980, the league's most prestigious domestic cup^[7]^[8]

League champions

Premier division

Founded in 1956, until then the top tier was the Division One.

1951–52 – Stoke United FC
1952–53 – Stoke United FC
1953–54 – Penbury
1954–55 – Penbury
1955–56 – Lordship
1956–57 – United Services
1957–58 – ‘’no record’’
1958–59 – United Services
1959–60 – Lea United
1960–61 – Lordship
1961–62 – United Services
1962–63 – Barrowside
1963–64 – Barrowside
1964–65 – Barrowside
1965–66 – Lordship
1966–67 – Salisbury
1967–68 – Eastern
1968–69 – Victoria Villa
1969–70 – Victoria Villa
1970–71 – Gus Sports
1971–72 – Railway Rovers
1972–73 – Woodford Town

1973–74 – Railway Rovers
1974–75 – Islington Stanley
1975–76 – Islington Stanley
1976–77 – Railway Rovers
1977–78 – Cricketers
1978–79 – Railway Rovers
1979–80 – Cricketers
1980–81 – Cricketers
1981–82 – Prince of Wales
1982–83 – Joiners
1983–84 – Alexander
1984–85 – M.G Sports
1985–86 – M.G Sports
1986–87 – M.G Sports
1987–88 – M.G Sports
1988–89 – M.G Sports
1989–90 – Orderll Arms
1990–91 – Hoxton
1991–92 – Orderll Arms
1992–93 – Corwn & Manor
1993–94 – Hoxton
1994–95 – Titan

1995–96 – Titan
1996–97 – Ordel
1997–98 – Bancroft United
1998–99 – Bricklayers Arms
1999–00 – Hoxton
2000–01 – Bancroft United
2001–02 – Lions
2002–03 – Hoxton Athletic
2003–04 – Eureka
2004–05 – Bancroft United
2005–06 – Hoxton Athletic
2006–07 – Lapton
2007–08 – Lapton
2008–09 – Lapton ^[9]
2009–10 – Lapton
2010–11 – Real Romania

2011–12 – Black Meteors
2012–13 – Phoenix
2013–14 – FC Bartlett
2014–15 – Clapton Rangers ^[10]
2015–16 – Mile End
2016–17 –
2017–18 –
2018–19 –
2019–20 – abandoned ^[11]
2020–21 – Mile End Baiteze Squad ^[12]
2021–22 – Middlesbrough Supporters South^[13]
2022–23 – Baddoo FC ^[14]

Remarks: The 2019-20 Season was abandoned due to the pandemic situation.
Division One as top tier in bold (1952-1956).

Division One

Founded in 1951 as the top division and was replaced by the Premier League in 1956. It returned in 1958 as second tier.

1958–59 – Lordship
1959–60 – Kings Head
1960–61 – Lordship
1961–62 – Barrowside
1962–63 – Lea United
1963–64 – Coolingwood
1964–65 – Coolingwood
1965–66 – Islington Stanley
1966–67 – Eastern
1967–68 – Market House
1968–69 – Tonbridge Ferox
1969–70 – no record
1970–71 – Kentish Town
1971–72 – White Lion
1972–73 – Woodford Town B

1973–74 – Guilford
1974–75 – St Monica's
1975–76 – Rayjack
1976–77 – Raybek
1977–78 – Rydley
1978–79 – London Tavern
1979–80 – Carehouse
1980–81 – Aquarius
1981–82 – Alexander
1982–83 – Monteith
1983–84 – Telegraph
1984–85 – White Horse
1985–86 – Rilcrest Green Man
1986–87 – Richmond
1987–88 – Chats
1988–89 – Ordell Arms
1989–90 – William Hughes
1990–91 – Brownlow Arms
1991–92 – Clarendon
1992–93 – Bow Athletic
1993–94 – Hackney Volunteers
1994–95 – Trafalgar

1995–96 – Nags Head
1996–97 – Wheatsheaf Wdrs
1997–98 – Three Compasses
1998–99 – Whiston Belgrave
1999–00 – AC Eleanor
2000–01 – Eureka
2001–02 – Down The Hatch
2002–03 – Lions
2003–04 – Olde Hope
2004–05 – Santos Athletic
2005–06 – Lapton
2006–07 – Albion Manor
2007–08 – Clapton Rangers
2008–09 – Army & Navy N16
2009–10 – FC Metwin
2010–11 – Hackney Borough

2011–12 – FC Bartlett
2012–13 – Mustard
2013–14 – Shakespeare
2014–15 – FC Krystal
2015–16 – El Valiente
2016–17 –
2017–18 –
2018–19 –
2019–20 –
2020–21 – Crondall FC ^[15]
2021–22 – City East ^[16]
2022–23 – Boundary Estate ^[17]

Division Two

Founded in 1953 as the second tier, returned in 1957. It is now considered the third tier.

1953–54 – St Augustines
1957–58 – Spears
1958–59 – Globe Villa
1959–60 – no record
1960–61 – United Services
1961–62 – Lordship
1962–63 – Prince George
1963–64 – Arcola
1964–65 – Norville
1965–66 – Hackney Volunteer
1966–67 – Tiger
1967–68 – Dagmar
1968–69 – Windsor
1969–70 – no record
1970–71 – Swan United
1971–72 – St Peter's
1972–73 – Rayjack

1973–74 – Brunswick Albion
1974–75 – St Mathias
1975–76 – Jolly Farmers
1976–77 – Brickfield Galloway
1977–78 – Hoxton Athletic
1978–79 – Highbury Athletic
G.F Leisure
1979–80 – Senrab
1980–81 – Woodville
White Horse
1981–82 – M.G Sports
1982–83 – Telegraph
1983–84 – Needlegun
1984-85 – Directors
1985-86 – Melford
1986-87 – The Albert
1987-88 – Norfolk Arms
1988-89 – Marion Arms
1989-90 – Midfield (D.O.W.)

1990–91 – Bow Athletic
1991–92 – Lithuanian Victoria
1992–93 – Freemasons Arms
1993–94 – Crown & Manor
1994–95 – Wheatshead Wdrs
1995–96 – Ones FC
1996–97 – Three Compasses
1997–98 – Palm Tree
1998–99 – The Cambridge
1999–00 – Eureka
2000–01 – Wellington Victoria
2001–02 – OId Hope
2002–03 – Caspels
2003–04 – Wellington Lyons
2004–05 – Lapton
2005–06 – Army & Navy N16
2006–07 – FC Kenton
2007–08 – Lancresse Rangers

2008–09 – Hospital Tavern
2009–10 – Hare & Hounds
2010–11 – Shakespeare
2011–12 – Mustard FC
2012–13 – Chapel N1
2013–14 – Athletico Angels
2014–15 – Angel And Crown
2015–16 – FC Stepney
2016–17 –
2017–18 –
2018–19 –
2019–20 –
2020–21 – City East ^[18]
2021–22 – Boundary Estate ^[19]
2022–23 – The Gun FC ^[20]

Division Three

Founded in 1949.

Division Four

Founded in 1948.

Winners 2014/15 Wojak Sunday

Division Five

Lasted for only 3 seasons.

1975–76 – British Oak
1976–77 – Alexander
1977–78 – White Horse B

Cup winners

Dickie Davies Cup

1981–82 – Joiners
1982–83 – Joiners
1983–84 – Joiners
1984–85 – M.G Sports
1985–86 – Monteith
1986–87 – Chats
1987–88 – Norfolk Arms
1988–89 – M.G Sports
1989–90 – Poplar Park
1990–91 – Dock Settlement
1991–92 – Country Flyer
1992–93 – Ordell
1993–94 – Bow Athletic
1994–95 – Titan
1995–96 – Ordell Arms
1996–97 – Ordell
1997–98 – Ordell
1998–99 – Queensbridge
1999–00 – AC Eleanor
2000–01 – Hoxton Athletic
2001–02 – London Aprilia
2002–03 – Eureka
2003–04 – Eureka
2004–05 – Bancroft United
2005–06 – Hoxton Athletic
2006–07 – Albion Manor
2007–08 – Clapton Rangers
2008–09 – Lapton ^[21]
2009–10 – Lapton ^[22]^[23]
2010–11 – Lapton ^[24]^[25]
2011–12 – Lapton ^[26]
2012–13 – Black Meteors
2013–14 – Black Meteors ^[27]^[28]
2014–15 – Clapton Rangers ^[29]^[30]^[31]^[32]^[33]
2015–16 – ^[34]
2016–17 – ^[35]
2017–18 –
2018–19 – Mile End Baiteze Squad ^[36]
2019–20 – * ^[37]
2020–21 –
2021–22 – Niva ^[38]^[39]
2022–23 – Baddoo FC ^[40]

Remarks: The 2019-20 Season was abandoned due to the pandemic situation.

Albert Daniels Cup

Jack Morgan Cup

Jack Walpole Cup

Notable players

The following players either started their careers from the league or featured in later stages.

Notable clubs

Senrab^[45]^[46]
Lapton ^[47]

References

Sources

External links

Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League at the FA

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