Country | England |
---|---|
Confederation | Norfolk F.A. |
Founded | 1964 |
Divisions | 7 |
Number of teams | 112 (2016–17) |
Level on pyramid | Levels 11–16 |
Feeder to |
Eastern Counties League (Division One) |
Relegation to |
Central and South Norfolk League Great Yarmouth & District Football League North East Norfolk League North West Norfolk League |
Domestic cup(s) |
|
Current champions | Acle United (2015-16) |
Most championships | Blofield United (6) |
Website | Official website |
The Anglian Combination Football League is an English football league that operates in the East Anglia area. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern Suffolk with rules stating that clubs should be within a 50 miles radius from the centre of Norwich
It consists of 112 teams and has seven divisions – the Premier Division, Division 1 to 4 plus the two regionalised divisions, Division 5 North and South. Its top division is currently at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System. An U19 Development Division was proposed to start in the 2014–15 season depending on interest.
Each season, the best of the Anglian Combination's footballers are selected to represent the Anglian Combination in the FA Inter-League Cup, a cup competition for the FA's regional leagues.
C.N.S.O.B.U. (City of Norwich School Old Boys Union) were the first ever champions of the Anglian Combination in 1965, winning the Senior A division in the league's transitional season.
Acle United will be the reigning champions for the 2016–17 season after winning the Anglian Combination for the fourth time, becoming only the second club ever to win four top division titles in a row (the first being Wroxham between 1981 and 1985). They will become the first club ever to win the Anglian Combination five times in a row if they win the title next season.
The league was formed in 1964, as a merger of the East Anglian League and the Norfolk & Suffolk League (established 1897) and had a transitional season in 1964–65 before settling down to a regular format for the 1965–66 season of four divisions for first teams and three for reserves. A further division for first teams was added for 1966–67, and that format remained unchanged until the previously separate reserve divisions incorporated into the main structure for the 2003–04 season. The winners of the Premier Division are also known as the Sterry Cup winners and are eligible for promotion to the Eastern Counties League.
After a league meeting of the Anglian Combination clubs on 9 February 2011, it was decided the Anglian Combination would adopt the FA's Respect programme. This included the practice of all players on the two teams and match officials shaking hands before the game.
On 25 June 2012, a proposed trial for rolling substitutions was rejected by Anglian Combination clubs at a league AGM