The Durham County Football Association (also simply known as the Durham FA) is the governing body

Sport governing body

A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...

 of football in the County Durham

County Durham

County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...

, including Darlington

Darlington (borough)

Darlington is a local government district and borough in North East England. In 2008 it had a resident population of 100,500 It borders County Durham to the north and west, North Yorkshire to the south along the line of the River Tees, and Stockton-on-Tees to the east.-Council:Traditionally part of...

, Gateshead

Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead

The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. It is named after its largest town, Gateshead, but also spans the towns of Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton; suburban areas include Felling, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell.It is bordered...

, Hartlepool

Hartlepool (borough)

Hartlepool is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of County Durham, north east England. In 2003 it had a resident population of 90,161. It borders the non-metropolitan county of County Durham to the north, Stockton-on-Tees to the south and Redcar and Cleveland to the south-east along the...

, South Tyneside

South Tyneside

South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north...

, Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton-on-Tees (borough)

Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area and borough in the Tees Valley area of north east England, with a population in 2001 of 178,408, rising to 185,880 in 2005 estimates....

, and Sunderland

City of Sunderland

The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...

. The Durham FA was founded on 25 March, 1883 and is the governing body for football in Durham from grass roots to professional level. They also run a number of cups for teams of all levels across the county, leagues for under-18, under-21 and ladies teams, and an under-18 representative team.

History

In 1879 the joint Durham and Northumberland Football Association was founded and they stayed that way until 1883 when increasing numbers and travel problems for the clubs necessitated a change. On May 11, 1883, 40 clubs met in the Alexandra Hotel in Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...

 and voted to form an independent body known as the Northumberland Football Association

Northumberland Football Association

The Northumberland Football Association is the governing body of football in the county of Northumberland, England. The Association was formed in 1883 and is responsible for the governance and development of football at all levels in the county.-History:...

. The Durham clubs followed suit holding a meeting at the Three Tuns Hotel, Durham City

Durham

Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...

, on May 25, 1883. The nine clubs who were represented at that meeting formed the Durham County Football Association.

In its second season 18 clubs took part in the Durham Challenge Cup

Durham Challenge Cup

The Durham County Challenge Cup is an annual football competition held between the clubs of the Durham County Football Association which was first played in 1884...

, the only county cup competition in the country at that time. On the 125 year anniversary in 2007-08, the association organised 11 county cup competitions at various levels and a total of 988 clubs participated. The association now has 2,386 teams and 1,055 referees affiliated and also has a staff of 13, who deal with all issues relating to governance and development of football within the county. In 1883, the staff consisted of a part-time honorary secretary.

The association opened its first rented office at 10 Tenters Terrace, Durham City

Durham

Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...

, on 1st October 1913. In June 1923, it purchased Codeslaw, The Avenue, Durham City

Durham

Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...

, to provide “an office, meeting rooms and residence for the secretary”. In 1971, the association moved to larger offices at The Sands, Durham City

Durham

Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...

, which were officially opened by its then President, Arthur Askew. Owing to an increase in staff, another move was required and a custom-built suite of offices was erected at The Riverside, Chester-le-Street

Chester-le-Street

Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...

, which were officially opened on June 9, 2005 by the association’s president, Frank Pattison, and the chairman of The Football Association

The Football Association

The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...

, Geoffrey Thompson

Geoff Thompson (football)

Geoffrey "Geoff" Thompson OBE is the former chairman of the Football Association, and a vice-president of both UEFA and FIFA. He has long been associated with football especially in South Yorkshire, having previously been general manager of Doncaster Rovers and held senior positions in the...

.

Development

Durham County FA supports clubs, leagues, and the education sector to up skill the football workforce to ensure, through engaging key partners, that high quality football experiences are available to all regardless of sex, race, disability, geographical location and playing ability.

Durham County FA continues to lead on core football development across the County and engages with external Football Development Officers to deliver a coordinated approach to increasing participation and raising standards. The strengthening of existing partnerships and the creation of new partnerships during 2008-2012 will enable the County FA to focus on its core football development work whilst broadening access through a collaborative approach.

Governance

The work of the Governance department involves the day to day running of the County Football Association. The main functions are to provide assistance and advice in all administration matters relating to leagues, cups, clubs, discipline, referees and answer any other general football related queries.

Men's Saturday Leagues

• Wearside League
  Wearside Football League
  The Wearside Football League is a non-league football competition based in England. It consists of a single division which sits at step 7 of the National League System and is a feeder to the Northern League Division Two. Following the 2007-08 season, Whitehaven moved up to the Northern League, as...
  
  
• Crook and District League
• Darlington Church and Friendly League
• Durham Alliance League
• Tyne and Wear Business Houses League
• Wearside Combination League
  Wearside Combination Football League
  The Wearside Combination Football League is a non-league football competition based in County Durham, England.-History:The Combination in its current guise was established in 1945. Prior to the Second World War it had operated as the Sunderland and District Nonconformist and Brotherhood League...
  
  

Ladies and Girls Leagues

• Durham County Women's League
• Durham County Council Girls Mini Soccer League
• Tyne Tees Girls Youth League

Men's Sunday Leagues

• Consett and District Sunday League
• Durham and District Sunday League
• Darlington Sunday Morning Invitation League
• Hartlepool Sunday League
• Peterlee and District Sunday League
• Spennymoor Sunday League
• Sunderland Sunday League
• Wear Valley Sunday League

Other Leagues

• Durham Emergency Services League
• Sunderland and District Sunderland Steels Social Club Over 40s League

Youth Leagues

• Durham County Under 21s Saturday League
• Durham County Under 18s League
• Gateshead Youth League
• Hartlepool Street League
• South Tyneside Youth League
• Tyne and Wear Youth League

Small Sided Leagues

• Champion Soccer - Hartlepool (Monday) & (Thursday)
• Champion Soccer - South Shields (Monday)
• Power League - Gateshead
• Sassco.co.uk 6-a-side League - Sunderland

Disbanded or Amalgamated Leagues

Leagues that were affiliated to the Durham County FA but have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues include:

• Auckland and District League (also known as Bishop Auckland and District League)
• Barnard Castle and District League
• Chester-le-Street and District League
• Darlington and District League
• Durham Central League
• Gaunless Valley League
• Houghton and District League
• Jarrow and District Junior League
• Mid Durham League
• Seaham and District League
• South Durham League
• Stanley and District League
• Stanley and District Sunday League
• Stockton League
• Sunderland & District Nonconformist & Brotherhood League (now known as Wearside Combination League)
• Washington and District League (known as the Durham Alliance League from 1996)

Affiliated Member Clubs

Among the notable clubs that are (or at one time were) affiliated to the Durham County FA are:

• Billingham Synthonia
  Billingham Synthonia F.C.
  Billingham Synthonia F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. They were established in 1923, playing first in the Teesside League, and joining the Northern League in 1945. In the 1993–94 season, they reached the Quarter-Finals of the FA Trophy, in a run which included victories over...
  
  
• Billingham Town
  Billingham Town F.C.
  Billingham Town F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. In 1982, they joined the newly formed Northern League Division Two. They reached the 5th round of the FA Vase in the 1997–98 season. They are currently members of the Northern League Division One.Their home ground is Bedford...
  
  
• Birtley Town
  Birtley Town F.C.
  Birtley Town F.C. is a football club based in Birtley, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England.-History:Although a side from Birtley competed in the inaugural season of the Northern League in 1889–90, the current team were only founded in 1993, when they joined the Wearside League...
  
  
• Bishop Auckland
  Bishop Auckland F.C.
  Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
  
  
• Brandon United
  Brandon United F.C.
  Brandon United F.C. are an English football club based at the Welfare Ground in Brandon, near Durham, County Durham.Originally formed as Sunday league team called Rostrons, they joined the Third Division of the Durham & District Sunday League in 1968–69...
  
  
• Chester-le-Street Town
  Chester-le-Street Town F.C.
  Chester-le-Street Town F.C. is an English football club based in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. They were the Wearside League Champions in 1981. In 1985, they reached the 5th round of the FA Vase. They are currently playing in the Northern Football League Division Two...
  
  
• Cleator Moor Celtic
  Cleator Moor Celtic F.C.
  Cleator Moor Celtic Football Club is an English football team founded in 1908–09. The club was founded by Irish immigrants employed in the local iron ore mines and is ideally situated in the centre of Cleator Moor...
  
  
• Cockfield
  Cockfield F.C.
  Cockfield Football Club was an association football team from the village of Cockfield, County Durham in the north of England which was dubbed the "Village Wonder Team" in the 1920s after achieving success in the national FA Amateur Cup. The club's fortunes later declined significantly and it...
  
   (now defunct)
• Consett
  Consett A.F.C.
  Consett Association Football Club is a football club based in Consett in County Durham, England. Established in 1899, the club currently plays in the Northern League Division One having been promoted as Division Two Champions in the 2005–06 season...
  
  
• Craghead United
  Craghead United F.C.
  Craghead United F.C. was an English association football club based in the village of Craghead, County Durham. The team initially competed in the Chester-le-Street & District Football League. They unsuccessfully applied to enter the Northern Football Alliance in 1908—receiving no votes from the...
  
   (now defunct)
• Crook Town
• Darlington
  Darlington F.C.
  Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
  
  

• Darlington Railway Athletic
  Darlington Railway Athletic F.C.
  Darlington Railway Athletic F.C. is a football club based in Darlington, England. In 1992 the club hit financial trouble and folded, but was reformed by Martyn Jackson in 1993.They first joined the Northern League in 1919, leaving in 1925...
  
  
• Dunston Federation Brewery
• Durham City
  Durham City A.F.C.
  Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.-History:...
  
  
• Easington Colliery
  Easington Colliery A.F.C.
  Easington Colliery Association Football Club are an English amateur football club based in Easington Colliery, County Durham, England, and currently play in the Northern League Division Two .Easington Colliery A.F.C...
  
  
• Esh Winning
  Esh Winning F.C.
  Esh Winning F.C. are a football club based in Esh Winning, near Durham, in County Durham, England. They joined the Northern League Division Two in 1982...
  
  
• Gateshead
  Gateshead F.C.
  Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
  
  
• Hartlepool United
  Hartlepool United F.C.
  Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
  
  
• Hebburn
  Hebburn Town F.C.
  Hebburn Town F.C. is an English football club based in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear. The club are currently members of Division Two of the Northern League and play at the Hebburn Sports & Social Ground.-History:...
  
  
• Horden Colliery Welfare
  Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C.
  Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C. are a football club based in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, England. They were formed in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League in 1935. They reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup in the 1938–39 season.-History:...
  
  
• Jarrow Roofing
  Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association F.C.
  Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association F.C. is a football club based in Boldon Colliery, near Sunderland, England. They were established in 1987 and joined the Wearside Football League Division Two in 1991. They were FA Vase semi-finalists in 2005...
  
  
• Leadgate Park
  Leadgate Park F.C.
  Leadgate Park F.C. was an English association football club based in the village of Leadgate, County Durham. The club was founded in the late 1880s; the team was at least active in January 1889. Leadgate Park entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1892, receiving a bye in the first qualifying...
  
   (now defunct)
• Murton

• Newton Aycliffe
  Newton Aycliffe F.C.
  Newton Aycliffe F.C. is an English football club based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.The club's ground is the Moore Lane Sports Club Ground. Newton Aycliffe were elected into the Northern League for the 2009–10 season, after finishing 1st in their previous season in the Wearside Football League...
  
  
• Norton & Stockton Ancients
  Norton & Stockton Ancients F.C.
  Norton & Stockton Ancients Football Club is an English football club based in based in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, England. They are currently members of Division One of the Northern League and play at the Norton Sports Complex.-History:...
  
  
• Peterlee Town
  Peterlee Town F.C.
  Peterlee Town F.C. is a football club from Peterlee, England, formed in 1976 as Peterlee Newtown who currently play in the Wearside Football League....
  
  
• Prudhoe Town
  Prudhoe Town F.C.
  Prudhoe Town F.C. is a football club based in Prudhoe, Northumberland, England.Originally playing in the Hexham & District League as Ovington F.C., they moved upwards through the Newcastle & District League, the Northern Combination, and the Northern Amateur League before joining the Northern...
  
  
• Ryhope Colliery Welfare
  Ryhope Colliery Welfare F.C.
  Ryhope Colliery Welfare Football Club are a semi-professional association football club based in Ryhope, England,-History:The club was founded by the coal miners of Ryhope in 1892. However, it was not until 1927–28 that the club won its first league title...
  
  
• Seaham Red Star
  Seaham Red Star F.C.
  Seaham Red Star F.C. is a football club based in Seaham, England. They joined the Wearside League in 1979 as Seaham Colliery Welfare Red Star. In the 1978–79 season, they reached the 5th round of the FA Vase. In 1984, they changed to their present name...
  
  
• Shildon
  Shildon A.F.C.
  Shildon A.F.C. is a football club established in 1890 based in Shildon, County Durham, England. They compete in the Northern League Division One. They play at Dean Street....
  
  
• South Shields
  South Shields F.C.
  South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
  
  
• Spennymoor Town
  Spennymoor Town F.C.
  Spennymoor Town F.C. is an English football club based in Spennymoor, England, and playing in the Northern League Division One in the English football league system....
  
  
• Spennymoor United
  Spennymoor United F.C.
  Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
  
   (now defunct)
• Stockton
  Stockton F.C.
  Stockton F.C. was an English football club based in Stockton-on-Tees. The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.-History:...
  
   (now defunct)

• Sunderland
  Sunderland A.F.C.
  Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
  
  
• Sunderland Albion
  Sunderland Albion F.C.
  Sunderland Albion Football Club was an English association football club based in Sunderland, England formed in 1888 as a rival to Sunderland A.F.C.-Summary:...
  
   (now defunct)
• Sunderland Nissan
  Sunderland Nissan F.C.
  Sunderland Nissan F.C. was a football club based in Sunderland, England. They joined the Wearside League Division Two as founding members in 1988. Their original name was Washington Nissan. In the 2005-06 and 2008-09 seasons, they reached the 2nd round of the FA Vase. For the 2008-09 season, their...
  
   (now defunct)
• Sunderland RCA
• Tow Law Town
  Tow Law Town F.C.
  Tow Law Town A.F.C. is an English non-league football club from Tow Law, County Durham, currently playing in the Northern League Division One. The team, nicknamed "The Lawyers", play their home games at Ironworks Road...
  
  
• Washington
  Washington F.C.
  Washington F.C. is a football club based in Washington, Tyne and Wear, England. They were established in 1947 and joined the Wearside League in 1968...
  
  
• West Auckland Town
  West Auckland Town F.C.
  West Auckland Town F.C. are a football club from West Auckland, County Durham, England, competing in the Northern League, in the ninth tier of the English football league system...
  
  
• West Hartlepool
  West Hartlepool F.C.
  West Hartlepool Amateur Football & Athletic Company Limited was an English football club formed in 1881. The club played in amber and black halved shirts, black shorts, and black socks...
  
   (now defunct)
• West Stanley
  West Stanley F.C.
  West Stanley Football Club was a football club based in the mining village of West Stanley, County Durham, England.Originally known as "Oakey's Lillywhites", the club was founded in 1889 and became founder members of the North Eastern League in 1906...
  
   (now defunct)
• Whickham
  Whickham F.C.
  Whickham FC are an English football club based in Whickham, Tyne and Wear, playing in the Northern League Division Two in the English football league system...
  
  
• Willington
  Willington F.C.
  Willington A.F.C. is an English football club based in Willington, County Durham. The club are currently members of the Wearside League and play at Hall Lane.-History:...
  
  

County Cup Competitions

The Durham County FA run the following Cup Competitions:

• Durham County Challenge Cup
• Durham County Trophy Competition
• Durham County Minor Cup Competition
• Durham County Sunday Cup Competition

• Durham County Under 18s Sunday Cup Competition
• Durham County Bill Upsall Youth Minor Cup Competition
• Durham County Under 14s Cup Competition
• Durham County Tesco Under 13 Cup Competition

• Durham County Under 12s Cup Competition
• Durham County Womens County Cup Competition
• Durham County Youth Cup Competition

Source

County Cup Winners

Competition	Winners (2010-11)
Durham County Challenge Cup Durham Challenge Cup The Durham County Challenge Cup is an annual football competition held between the clubs of the Durham County Football Association which was first played in 1884...	Gateshead Reserves Gateshead F.C. Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
Durham County Trophy	Hebburn Reyrolle
Durham County Minor Cup	Sunderland Redhouse
Durham County Youth Cup	Gateshead Under 18s Gateshead F.C. Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....

Source

Directors

• F.D. Pattison
• R. Strophair
• T. Harvey
• P.Maguire
• R.Coleman
• G. Charlton
• K. Clark
• J. Sinclair
• J.C. Topping

Key Officials

• J.C. Topping (Company Secretary)
• Mrs T. Lavery (Office Manager)
• Chris Smith (County Development Manager)

External links

• Durham FA official website