Bedfordshire Football League
Encyclopedia
The Bedfordshire County Football League (formed as the Bedford & District League in 1904), is an English football competition for clubs in and close to the county of Bedfordshire
. It has run with five divisions since the 2009-10 season, headed by the Premier Division, which is at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System
. The top club in the league may apply for promotion to the United Counties League
or the Spartan South Midlands League.
In the 2010-11 season, Blunham were the Premier Division champions.
The league runs separate league cups for each division - the Premier Division clubs play for the Britannia Cup, Divisions One clubs play for the Centenary Cup, Division Two sides compete for the Jubilee Cup, while Division Three teams play in the Watson Shield.
The league is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association
.
In 2002, Divisions Three, Four and Five were merged into two new divisions, Associate Division One and Associate Division Two
After the 2005–06 season, the league changed its name to the Bedfordshire Football League. Along with the name change, the league reorganized its five divisions by incorporating the two primarily reserve divisions (Associate Division One and Two) into the three first team divisions, ultimately creating three divisions of 16 clubs and a bottom division of 17 clubs.
The league reorganised itself again in 2009, extending its name to Bedfordshire County Football League and adding a fifth division, Division Four. The Premier Division now included 16 clubs, while 14 teams competed Divisions One, Two and Three and the new Division Four comprised 13 clubs.
season, organised into five divisions and distributed thus:
There are a number of other leagues that are affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association
.
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. It has run with five divisions since the 2009-10 season, headed by the Premier Division, which is at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
. The top club in the league may apply for promotion to the United Counties League
United Counties Football League
The United Counties Football League is an English football league covering Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire, as well as parts of Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. It has a total of four divisions, two for first teams and two for reserve teams...
or the Spartan South Midlands League.
In the 2010-11 season, Blunham were the Premier Division champions.
The league runs separate league cups for each division - the Premier Division clubs play for the Britannia Cup, Divisions One clubs play for the Centenary Cup, Division Two sides compete for the Jubilee Cup, while Division Three teams play in the Watson Shield.
The league is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association
Bedfordshire County Football Association
The Bedfordshire County Football Association, also simply known as Bedfordshire FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Bedfordshire, England...
.
Recent divisional Champions
The overall League Champions were awarded the Jubilee Challenge Cup until 1993, when that cup was retired and replaced by the Premier Cup.| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four | Division Five |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Caldecote | Campton | Cranfield United | North Park Rangers Reserves | Blunham Village | Bedford Sports Athletic Reserves |
| 2001–02 | Caldecote | Elstow Abbey | Golden Lion | Milton Keynes Wanderers | Oakley Sports Reserves | Westoning Reserves |
In 2002, Divisions Three, Four and Five were merged into two new divisions, Associate Division One and Associate Division Two
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Associate D1 | Associate D2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | North Park Rangers | Golden Lion | Flitwick Town | Dunton Reserves | Meltis Sports |
| 2003–04 | Elstow Abbey | Turvey | Biggleswade United Biggleswade United F.C. Biggleswade United F.C. are a football club based in Biggleswade, England. The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.- History :... 'A' |
Elstow Abbey Reserves | Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves |
| 2004–05 | Caldecote | Three Horseshoes Renhold | Denbigh Hall S&S Bletchley | Bedford Sports Athletic Reserves | Woburn Reserves |
| 2005-06 | Caldecote | Henlow | Marston Social | Caldecote Reserves | Exel United |
After the 2005–06 season, the league changed its name to the Bedfordshire Football League. Along with the name change, the league reorganized its five divisions by incorporating the two primarily reserve divisions (Associate Division One and Two) into the three first team divisions, ultimately creating three divisions of 16 clubs and a bottom division of 17 clubs.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Westoning Recreation Club | Meltis Corinthians | Westoning Recreation Club Reserves | Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves |
| 2007–08 | Campton | Bedford Sports Athletic | Bedford College | Kings |
| 2008–09 | Caldecote | Westoning Recreation Club | Blunham Reserves | Leighton United |
The league reorganised itself again in 2009, extending its name to Bedfordshire County Football League and adding a fifth division, Division Four. The Premier Division now included 16 clubs, while 14 teams competed Divisions One, Two and Three and the new Division Four comprised 13 clubs.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Blunham | Flitwick Town | Potton Wanderers | Queens Park Crescents | Sharnbrook Reserves |
| 2010–11 | Blunham | Bedford Hatters | Lea Sports PSG | Sharnbrook Reserves | AFC Turvey |
Member Clubs (2011–12)
The league has 74 member clubs for the 2011–122011–12 in English football
The 2011–12 season is the 132nd season of competitive football in England.The season began on 5 August 2011 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier starting eight days later, League Football Conference Starting one day before Premier League starts.The Championship, League One, and League Two...
season, organised into five divisions and distributed thus:
Premier Division
- Level 11
- Arlesey TownArlesey Town F.C.Arlesey Town Football Club is an English association football club from Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England. They currently play in the Southern Football League Premier Division.The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.-History:...
Reserves - AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College
- Bedford Hatters
- Blunham
- Caldecote
- Dunton
- Flitwick Town
- Oakley Sports
- Renhold United
- Sharnbrook
- Shefford Town & Campton
- Wilshamstead
- Woburn
- Arlesey Town
Division One
- Level 12
- AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves
- Bedford Sports Athletic
- Caldecote Reserves
- FC Meppershall
- Henlow
- Ickwell & Old Warden
- Kings
- Lea Sports Pirton, Shillington & Gravenhurst
- Lidlington United Sports
- Luton Boys
- Marston Shelton Rovers
- Meltis Albion
- Sandy
- Westoning Recreation Club
Division Two
- Level 13
- AFC Turvey
- Bromham United
- Clifton
- Co-Op Sports
- Elstow Abbey
- Great Barford
- M&DH Oakley
- Marabese Ceramics
- Pavenham
- Potton UnitedPotton United F.C.Potton United F.C. is an English football club based in Potton, Bedfordshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at the Hollow.-History:...
Reserves - Queens Park Crescents
- Shefford Town & Campton Reserves
- Stopsley Park
- Sundon Park Rangers
Division Three
- Level 14
- Cranfield UnitedCranfield United F.C.Cranfield United F.C. is a football club based in Cranfield, near Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. They joined the South Midlands League in 1949. They are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One....
Reserves - Dunton Reserves
- Eastcotts
- Flitwick Town Reserves
- Goldington
- Kempston Hammers Sports
- Potton Town
- Renhold Village
- Riseley Sports
- Royal Oak Kempston
- Shefford Town & Campton 'A'
- Stevington
- Westoning Recreation Club Reserves
- Wilshamstead Reserves
- Cranfield United
Division Four
- Level 15
- Bedford Panthers
- Bedford Park Rangers
- Caldecote 'A'
- Clifton Reserves
- Dinamo Flitwick
- Dunton 'A'
- Goldington Hammers
- Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves
- Kempston Athletic
- Marsh Leys
- Sandy Reserves
- Stewartby Village
- Sundon Park Rangers Colts
- Thurleigh
- Wootton Village
Other Bedfordshire Leagues
Main index: Affiliated Leagues in BedfordshireThere are a number of other leagues that are affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association
Bedfordshire County Football Association
The Bedfordshire County Football Association, also simply known as Bedfordshire FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Bedfordshire, England...
.