Combined Counties Football League
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The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league comprised of teams in several counties near London. It has had a succession of title sponsors,most recently a company called Seagrave Haulage (during this period the league emblem was a moving truck on a shield with the letters SHL,for Seagrave Haulage League,superimposed) but has no such relationship at present.
Players are as a rule only paid expenses, and attendance at league games is usually under a hundred. AFC Wimbledon, with thousands of fans, have been an exception to this, but left the CCL after winning the 2003/2004 championship.
League champions are eligible for promotion to the Ryman Isthmian League, if their stadium facilities and arrangements are deemed adequate; if the champion does not qualify, the runner-up may be offered for election to the higher league. However, 2001/2002 champions AFC Wallingford did not qualify, and they were the runners-up to 2002/2003 champions Withdean 2000, who also did not qualify, so no team was promoted in either year. AFC Wimbledon had no trouble being granted promotion, since their ground meets current Football Conference standards.
There are 24 teams in the Premier Division. The old Surrey Senior League became the CCL's First Division in 2003. The Select Appointments Surrey County Senior League and RSR Tyres Middlesex County League are beneath the CCL in the National League System pyramid.
There are also league cups, ranging from the Premier Challenge Cup to one for reserve teams of first-division clubs.
Premier Division teams (2003-04)
- A.F.C. Wallingford
- AFC Wimbledon (2003/2004 champions)
- Ash United
- Bedfont
- Chessington & Hook
- Chessington United
- Chipstead
- Cobham
- Cove
- Farnham Town
- Feltham
- Frimley Green
- Godalming & Guildford
- Hartley Wintney
- Horley Town
- Merstham
- North Greenford United
- Raynes Park Vale
- Reading Town
- Sandhurst Town
- Southall
- Walton Casuals (2004/2005 champions)
- Westfield
- Withdean 2000
External link
- Unofficial league site (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/4388/)