Bedfordshire County Football League

Bedfordshire County Football League
Founded 1904
Country  England
Divisions 4
Number of teams 61
Level on pyramid Level 11 (Premier Division)
Feeder to
Promotion to
Relegation to Luton District & South Bedfordshire League
Domestic cup(s)
  • Britannia Cup
  • Centenary Cup
  • Jubilee Cup
  • Watson Shield
Current champions Shefford Town & Campton
(2017–18)
Website Official website

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.[1] It runs with four divisions (five in the previous two seasons) and is 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 Division One or the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

In the 2016–17 season, Flitwick Town were the Premier Division champions.

The league runs separate league cups for each division – the Premier Division clubs play for the Britannia Cup, Division 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.

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.[2]

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision FourDivision Five
2000–01CaldecoteCamptonCranfield UnitedNorth Park Rangers ReservesBlunham VillageBedford Sports Athletic Reserves
2001–02CaldecoteElstow AbbeyGolden LionMilton Keynes WanderersOakley Sports ReservesWestoning Reserves

In 2002, Divisions Three, Four and Five were merged into two new divisions, Associate Division One and Associate Division Two

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoAssociate D1Associate D2
2002–03North Park RangersGolden LionFlitwick TownDunton ReservesMeltis Sports
2003–04Elstow AbbeyTurveyBiggleswade United 'A'Elstow Abbey ReservesIckwell & Old Warden Reserves
2004–05CaldecoteThree Horseshoes RenholdDenbigh Hall S&S BletchleyBedford Sports Athletic ReservesWoburn Reserves
2005–06CaldecoteHenlowMarston SocialCaldecote ReservesExel United

After the 2005–06 season, the league changed its name to the Bedfordshire Football League. Along with the name change, the league reorganised 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.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
2006–07Westoning Recreation ClubMeltis CorinthiansWestoning Recreation Club ReservesIckwell & Old Warden Reserves
2007–08CamptonBedford Sports AthleticBedford CollegeKings
2008–09CaldecoteWestoning Recreation ClubBlunham ReservesLeighton 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.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four
2009–10BlunhamFlitwick TownPotton WanderersQueens Park CrescentsSharnbrook Reserves
2010–11BlunhamBedford HattersLea Sports PSGSharnbrook ReservesAFC Turvey
2011–12Shefford Town & CamptonIckwell & Old WardenElstow AbbeyCranfield United ReservesBedford Park Rangers
2012–13CaldecoteLeighton UnitedGoldingtonWestoning ReservesBedford Panthers
2013–14AFC Oakley Sports M&DHAFC TurveyAFC Oakley Sports M&DH ReservesMeltis AlbionMeltis Albion Reserves

The league crowned only four divisional champions in 2015, returning to five division for the 2015–16 season.

SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
2014–15Renhold UnitedCranfield UnitedStevingtonCranfield United Reserves
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four
2015–16AFC Oakley M&DHSundon Park RangersClapham SportsWixamsMid Bedfordshire Tigers
2016–17Flitwick TownQueens Park CrecentsRiseley SportsRenhold United ReservesCS Rovers
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three
2017–18Shefford Town & CamptonTotternhoe ReservesBedford AlbionKempston Athletic

Member Clubs (2017–18)

The constitution for 2017–18 was agreed at the league AGM, and is as follows: The league has 61 member clubs for the 2017–18 season, organised into four divisions (Premier, One, Two and Three).

Other Bedfordshire Leagues

Main index: Affiliated Leagues in Bedfordshire
There are a number of other leagues that are affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.

References

Bibliography

  • "Bedfordshire Football League Handbook 2007–08" (PDF). Bedfordshire County Football League. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
Notes
  1. ↑ Bedfordshire Football League Handbook 2007–08, p. 6
  2. ↑ Bedfordshire Football League Handbook 2007–08, pp. 36–41
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