Metropolitan–London League
The Metropolitan–London League was a short-lived football league for clubs in and around London. It was formed in 1971 by a merger of the Greater London League and the Metropolitan League (which had lost several clubs to the Southern League).[1] It ran with two divisions until 1974, reduced to one in 1974–75 season, after which it merged with the Spartan League to form the London Spartan League, which was later renamed the Spartan League.[2] It merged with the South Midlands League in 1997 to form the modern Spartan South Midlands League
| Founded | 1971 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1971–72 |
| Folded | 1975 |
| Country |  |
| Divisions | One (1974–1975) Two (1971–1974) |
| Number of teams | Lowest: 20 (1974–1975) Highest: 25 (1971–1972) |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
| Most championships | Epping Town (2) |
List of champions
| Season | Division One | Division Two |
|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | Epping Town | Muirhead Sports |
| 1972–73 | Swanley | East Thurrock United |
| 1973–74 | Epping Town | Alma Swanley |
| Season | Champions | |
| 1974–75 | Cray Wanderers | |
Seasons
1971–72
Division One
The new Division One was composed of:
- Eight clubs from the Greater London League (BROB Barnet, Canvey Island, Chingford, Eton Manor, Ford United, Swanley, Ulysses and Willesden)
- Four clubs from the Metropolitan League (Cray Wanderers, Epping Town, Hatfield Town and Sheppey United)
- One club from the Kent League (Faversham Town)
- East Ham United
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epping Town | 26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 71 | 25 | 46 | 41 | |
| 2 | Faversham Town | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 54 | 30 | 24 | 35 | |
| 3 | East Ham United | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 59 | 37 | 22 | 34 | |
| 4 | Cray Wanderers | 26 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 59 | 38 | 21 | 31 | |
| 5 | Ford United | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 47 | 35 | 12 | 30 | |
| 6 | Swanley | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 56 | 36 | 20 | 29 | |
| 7 | Eton Manor | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 45 | 44 | 1 | 28 | |
| 8 | Hatfield Town | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 51 | -1 | 27 | |
| 9 | Sheppey United | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 43 | 47 | -4 | 24 | Joined the Kent League at end of season |
| 10 | Canvey Island | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 29 | 52 | -23 | 22 | |
| 11 | Willesden | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 35 | 51 | -16 | 20 | |
| 12 | Chingford | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 34 | 52 | -18 | 18 | |
| 13 | BROB Barnet | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 26 | 78 | -52 | 16 | |
| 14 | Ulysses | 26 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 25 | 57 | -32 | 9 |
Division Two
All clubs in Division Two except Muirhead Sports had come from the Greater London League
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muirhead Sports | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 58 | 19 | 39 | 35 | |
| 2 | 279 Chislehurst | 20 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 63 | 28 | 31 | Left league at end of season | |
| 3 | Penhill Standard | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 31 | 6 | 24 | Promoted to Division One |
| 4 | Highfield | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 45 | 28 | 17 | 22 | |
| 5 | Polytechnic | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 36 | 41 | -5 | 19 | |
| 6 | Bexley | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 37 | 40 | -3 | 18 | |
| 7 | Thames Polytechnic | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 25 | 32 | -7 | 18 | |
| 8 | Brentstonians | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 43 | -16 | 18 | |
| 9 | Heathside Sports | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 35 | 44 | -9 | 17 | |
| 10 | Barkingside | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 46 | -10 | 14 | |
| 11 | RAS & RA | 20 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 59 | -47 | 4 |
1972–73
Division One
Division One featured one new club, Penhill Standard, who had been promoted from Division Two the previous season.
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swanley | 26 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 57 | 26 | 31 | 42 | |
| 2 | Epping Town | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 54 | 22 | 32 | 38 | |
| 3 | Canvey Island | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 45 | 38 | 7 | 35 | |
| 4 | Cray Wanderers | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 46 | 28 | 18 | 34 | |
| 5 | Willesden | 26 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 48 | 37 | 11 | 32 | |
| 6 | Hatfield Town | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 43 | 36 | 7 | 30 | |
| 7 | Faversham Town | 26 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 44 | 31 | 13 | 28 | Joined Athenian League at end of season |
| 8 | East Ham United | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 60 | 43 | 17 | 26 | |
| 9 | Eton Manor | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 26 | |
| 10 | Ford United | 26 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 42 | -17 | 19 | |
| 11 | BROB Barnet | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 30 | 52 | -22 | 17 | |
| 12 | Ulysses | 26 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 51 | -29 | 16 | |
| 13 | Chingford | 26 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 24 | 52 | -28 | 12 | |
| 14 | Penhill Standard | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 24 | 64 | -40 | 10 | Relegated to Division Two |
Division Two
Division Two featured one new club, East Thurrock United.
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Thurrock United | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 36 | 12 | 24 | 27 | Promoted to Division One |
| 2 | Highfield | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 37 | 17 | 20 | 26 | |
| 3 | Muirhead Sports | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 32 | 21 | 11 | 23 | |
| 4 | Heathside Sports | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 25 | 11 | 22 | |
| 5 | Polytechnic | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 37 | 29 | 8 | 22 | |
| 6 | Bexley | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 34 | 38 | -4 | 15 | |
| 7 | RAS & RA | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 13 | |
| 8 | Barkingside | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 42 | -19 | 12 | |
| 9 | Thames Polytechnic | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 41 | -17 | 11 | |
| 10 | Brentstonians | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 38 | -21 | 9 |
1973–74
Division One
Division One featured two new clubs, East Thurrock United and Highfield, both promoted from Division Two the previous season.
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Epping Town | 26 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 75 | 24 | 51 | 40 | Joined Athenian League at end of season |
| 2 | East Ham United | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 34 | 19 | 15 | 37 | |
| 3 | Eton Manor | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 33 | |
| 4 | Cray Wanderers | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 62 | 42 | 20 | 33 | |
| 5 | Canvey Island | 26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 32 | |
| 6 | Hatfield Town | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 45 | 42 | 3 | 31 | |
| 7 | Swanley Town | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 45 | -1 | 25 | |
| 8 | Willesden | 26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 46 | 45 | 1 | 24 | Joined Athenian League at end of season |
| 9 | Highfield | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 36 | 58 | -22 | 22 | |
| 10 | Chingford | 26 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 30 | 48 | -18 | 19 | |
| 11 | East Thurrock United | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 39 | 52 | -13 | 18 | |
| 12 | Ford United | 26 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 45 | -27 | 18 | Joined Essex Senior League at end of season |
| 13 | BROB Barnet | 26 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 26 | 51 | -25 | 17 | |
| 14 | Ulysses | 26 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 39 | -16 | 15 |
Division One
Division Two featured two new clubs:
- Alma Swanley
- Penhill Standard (relegated from Division One)
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alma Swanley | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 14 | 37 | 33 | |
| 2 | Heathside Sports | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 15 | 27 | 28 | |
| 3 | Muirhead Sports | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 30 | 8 | 23 | |
| 4 | Penhill Standard | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 25 | 7 | 20 | |
| 5 | Thames Polytechnic | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 33 | -11 | 16 | |
| 6 | Polytechnic | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 31 | -10 | 15 | Left league at end of season |
| 7 | Bexley | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 28 | -8 | 14 | |
| 8 | RAS & RA | 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 28 | -10 | 13 | |
| 9 | Barkingside | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 38 | -18 | 10 | |
| 10 | Brentstonians | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 38 | -22 | 8 |
1974–75
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cray Wanderers | 38 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 128 | 36 | 92 | 68 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 2 | Alma Swanley | 38 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 91 | 41 | 50 | 59 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 3 | Canvey Island | 38 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 78 | 30 | 48 | 55 | Joined Essex Senior League |
| 4 | Swanley Town | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 81 | 40 | 41 | 52 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 5 | Eton Manor | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 72 | 39 | 33 | 48 | Joined Essex Senior League |
| 6 | Penhill Standard | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 70 | 55 | 15 | 48 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 7 | Hatfield Town | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 57 | 35 | 22 | 44 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 8 | Chingford | 38 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 62 | 44 | 18 | 44 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 9 | Heathside Sports | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 54 | 41 | 13 | 42 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 10 | East Ham United | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 57 | 39 | 18 | 41 | Placed in Division One of London Spartan League |
| 11 | Highfield | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 47 | 58 | -11 | 36 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 12 | East Thurrock United | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 58 | 64 | -6 | 34 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 13 | BROB Barnet | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 46 | 61 | -15 | 31 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 14 | Muirhead Sports | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 54 | 77 | -23 | 30 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 15 | Bexley | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 46 | 88 | -42 | 29 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 16 | Barkingside | 38 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 45 | 80 | -35 | 24 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 17 | Thames Polytechnic | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 33 | 82 | -49 | 23 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 18 | Ulysses | 38 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 40 | 72 | -32 | 22 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 19 | Brentstonians | 38 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 34 | 107 | -73 | 16 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
| 20 | RAS & RA | 38 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 42 | 106 | -64 | 14 | Placed in Division Two of London Spartan League[3] |
Member clubs
Member clubs during the league's existence included:
- 279 Chislehurst
- Alma Swanley
- Barkingside
- Bexley
- Brentstonians
- BROB Barnet
- Canvey Island
- Chingford
- Cray Wanderers
- East Ham United
- East Thurrock United
- Epping Town
- Eton Manor
- Faversham Town
- Ford United
- Hatfield Town
- Heathside Sports
- Highfield
- India & M Docks
- Muirhead Sports
- Penhill Standard
- Polytechnic
- Rolenmill
- RAS & RA
- Sheppey United
- Swanley Town
- Thames Polytechnic
- Ulysses
- Welwyn Garden City
- Willesden
References
- "Cray Wanderers in the Metropolitan League" (PDF). Cray Wanderers FC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-28.
- Penhill Standard at the Football Club History Database
- London Spartan League Non League Matters
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