Great Yarmouth and District League
Encyclopedia
The Great Yarmouth and District League (currently known under the terms of a sponsorship deal as the Pub on the Shrubs Great Yarmouth and District League) is a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 competition based around Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...

 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. It was founded in 1907 and has a total of 2 divisions. At the present time the league is not part of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...

 as it is not a feeder league within the football pyramid.

The league is affiliated to the Norfolk County Football Association
Norfolk County Football Association
The Norfolk County Football Association is the governing body for football in the county of Norfolk, England.-History and Organisation:Norfolk County Football Association was founded in 1881 and has been administering football in the County, at both grass roots and professional level, for over 120...

.

History

The League was established in 1907 and has competed without a break, with the exception of the two World Wars. The heyday of the League was in the late 60's and early 70's when the League capitalised on the success of the World Cup winning England national side with five divisions and fifty teams. In contrast there are now 2 divisions with 19 teams.

You have to go back to 1907 when the first ever League competition under the auspices of the Great Yarmouth & District Football League kicked-off. Before 1907 Junior Football in Great Yarmouth was catered for by the Aldred League which was formed in 1895. It comprised ten clubs who competed for a trophy given by Mr D.Aldred. First move towards expanding the league began in July 1907, when it was proposed to form a Yarmouth and Gorleston Junior League as a second division to the Aldred League. A month later, however, it was decided to re-name the Aldred League, the Yarmouth and District League. It was the grandfather of a former MP for Yarmouth Mr Anthony Fell, who donated a cup for the champions of Division One. The cup donated by Mr Aldred was given to the second division winners.

The teams who took part in the very first season in Division One were: YMCA, IOGT, 2nd BNR, Tramways, Royal Naval Hospital, Teachers, Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

, and Yarmouth United. Division Two: Trumpeters, Albion, Empire, South Yarmouth, Pioneers, Southtown, Gorleston St. Andrews, and Post Office.

The first champions of Division One were Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 with a 100% record and a goal average of 78-6. The following season they joined the Norfolk & Suffolk League. The Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 Reserve side playing as Gorleston St. Andrews won the second division title. The military and local company connections with the League are mirrored in some of the early winners - Royal Naval Hospital, Royal Artillery, Royal Garrison Athletic and the likes of Wenns, Yare Barrell Factory, Jewsons and Grouts. The new League made steady progress until the 1911/12 season, when support waned. Division One had only five teams and Division Two had eight. Efforts in 1912 however to revive interest in the game began to pay dividends and the first division membership rose to eight with nine in the second division. The First World War caused a temporary suspension of the league but it was partially revived in 1917 by the Comrades League.

The league has been dominated during the course of its history by a few clubs, with first Jewsons winning three consecutive titles in the 1920s, followed by Caledonians with six titles in the 1930s. Freethorpe won the first title after the Second World War and after Caister's one and only title in 1947/48, Freethorpe won the next five championships. Gorleston United then equalled Freethorpe five successive titles in the 1950s and won their ninth and final to date in 1963/64 having won their first title in 1927/28. Reedham were the team of the 1970s with again five successive titles, but the dominant team from 1983/84 to date has been Cobholm. They had only won two successive titles but on three occasions including season 1999/2000 record breaking tenth title achieved with a 100% record emulating Gorleston's first ever title in 1907/08. However, Cobholm made it four in a row and twelve in total when they again won the title but unfortunately this was their last success as the team has folded in the close season.

Member clubs 2011–12

The league's current member clubs are as follows:

Division One

  • Albion (Gorleston)
  • Belton
  • Bohemians
  • Caister Community Centre
  • Catfield
  • Great Yarmouth International
  • Great Yarmouth Peelers
  • Great Yarmouth United
  • MK United
  • Norfolk & Chance

Division Two

  • Caister Roma
  • Caister United 'A'
  • Feathers
  • Filby & Runham
  • Haven Bridge United
  • MK United Reserves
  • Martham 'A'
  • Prostar Windows
  • South Yarmouth


Source

Divisional champions

SeasonDivision One ChampionsDivision Two ChampionsDivision Three ChampionsDivision Four Champions
1907-08 Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 
Gorleston St. Andrew
1908-09 Royal Naval Hospital Empire United
1909-10 Royal Naval Hospital Lichfield United
1910-11 Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 Reserves
Yare Barrel Factory
1911-12 Royal Artillery St James
1912-13 Yare Barrel Factory St. Peters
1913-14 Yare Barrel Factory St. Georges
1914-19 No competition due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

1919-20 Wenns
1920-21 Great Eastern Railway North End United
1921-22 Royal Garrison Artillery Southtown United
1922-23 Yarmouth Athletic St. Pauls
1923-24 St. Georges Great Yarmouth Town
Great Yarmouth Town F.C.
Great Yarmouth Town F.C. is an English football club based in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Wellesley Recreation Ground, whose grandstand is believed to be the world's oldest football stand still in regular...

 'A'
1924-25 Jewsons Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 'A'
1925-26 Jewsons Grouts
1926-27 Jewsons Jewsons Reserves
1927-28 Gorleston United Wenns
1928-29 Falcons Grouts Athletic
1929-30 Caledonians Bradwell
1930-31 Caledonians 4th Norfolks
1931-32 Caledonians Grouts
1932-33 Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 Reserves
Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 Juniors
1933-34 Gorleston United Burgh Castle
1934-35 Caledonians Millers Norton Athletic
1935-36 Caledonians Great Yarmouth Town
Great Yarmouth Town F.C.
Great Yarmouth Town F.C. is an English football club based in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Wellesley Recreation Ground, whose grandstand is believed to be the world's oldest football stand still in regular...

 'A'
Miller Reserves
1936-37 Caledonians St. Georges Freethorpe Reserves
1937-38 Millers Halvergate Shipping Company
1938-39 Millers Electricity Belton
1939-46 No competition due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

1946-47 Freethorpe Greenacre Old Boys Halvergate Reserves
1947-48 Caister Potter Heigham Rollesby
1948-49 Freethorpe Ravens Fleggburgh Old Priorians
1949-50 Freethorpe Wanderers Upton Shrublands
1950-51 Freethorpe Upton Belton Erie Resistor
1951-52 Freethorpe Rollesby Cobholm Hopton
1952-53 Freethorpe Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 'A'
Martham Matthes
1953-54 Ravens Gorleston United Acle Reserves South Walsham
1954-55 Gorleston United Falcons Catfield Burgh Castle
1955-56 Gorleston United Burgh Castle Belton
1956-57 Gorleston United Belton
1957-58 Gorleston United Hopton
1958-59 Gorleston United Town Hall Greenacre Old Boys
1959-60 Acle Ormesby Erie Resistor
1960-61 Acle Beighton United
1961-62 Gorleston United Gorleston Rangers Bradwell United
1962-63 Acle Birds Eye Southtown United
1963-64 Gorleston United Norton Upton
1964-65 Greenacre Old Boys Freethorpe Hopton
1965-66 Greenacre Old Boys Bradwell Academicals
1966-67 Gorleston Rangers Martham Gorleston Rangers Reserves
1967-68 Potter Heigham Gorleston Rangers Reserves Jucar Youth Wanderers
1968-69 Potter Heigham Burgh Castle Yarmouth Wanderers Burgh Castle Reserves
1969-70 Town Hall Yarmouth Wanderers Hemsby Jucar Reserves
1970-71 Reedham Ormesby Catfield Beighton
1971-72 Town Hall Halvergate Beighton Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

 'A'
1972-73 Yarmouth Wanderers Burgh Castle THOSA Youth Power Station
1973-74 Burgh Castle Power Station Great Yarmouth Youth & Adult Centre
1974-75 Burgh Castle Hemsby Great Yarmouth Youth & Adult Centre Whitbreads
1975-76 Reedham Jucar Whitbreads Shrublands Youth & Adult Centre
1976-77 Reedham Whitbreads AFC Red Star Catfield Reserves
1977-78 Reedham Hemsby Gorleston Grammar School Hermits
1978-79 Reedham Norfolk Colts Beighton United
1979-80 Reedham AFC Red Star Beighton United Potter Heigham Reserves
1980-81 AFC Red Star Beighton Potter Heigham Reserves Cobholm
1981-82 Power Station Development Cobholm Earl Beaconsfield
1982-83 Birds Eye Cobholm Wanderers Parkside
1983-84 Cobholm Rollesby Parkside SM Rangers
1984-85 Cobholm Parkside ABFC Freethorpe Reserves
1985-86 Parkside ABFC Magnum Owls MK United
1986-87 Cobholm THOSA Scripts '84 Fleggburgh
1987-88 Cobholm Scripts '84 Mautby Kennels Frans Maas
1988-89 THOSA Bradwell Frans Maas Caister North End Reserves
1989-90 THOSA Gallon Pot Salisbury Arms Cyprus
1990-91 THOSA Southtown Wanderers Anson Tigers Great Yarmouth Cargo Handling
1991-92 Cobholm Caister Athletic Hickling Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...

'A'
1992-93 Halvergate United Martham GC Tigers Reserves Two Bears
1993-94 Cobholm GC Tigers Frans Maas '92
1994-95 Cobholm Ormesby First & Last Two Bears Cobholm Reserves
1995-96 THOSA Frans Maas '92 Shrublands Ormesby Grange
1996-97 Cobholm Cobholm Reserves Crown Yarmouth Wanderers
1997-98 Ormesby Crown Veterans Yarmouth Wanderers Caister United 'B'
1998-99 Cobholm Yarmouth Wanderers Catfield Fastolfe Arms
1999–2000 Cobholm California Tavern Fastolfe Arms Schlumberger
2000-01 Cobholm Sports United Town Hall Grampian Freight
2001-02 Cobholm Camden Tavern Prince
2002-03 MK United Prince Arches
2003-04 MK United Arches Gorleston Albion Rovers
2004-05 Freethorpe Bohemians Gorleston Rangers
2005-06 Catfield MK United Reserves Archers
2006-07
2007-08 Catfield Great Yarmouth International
2008-09 Catfield Albion (Great Yarmouth)
2009-10 Catfield Bohemians
2010-11 Catfield Belton

Source

External links

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