The Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League is a football competition based in London, England. It was founded in 1946 and operates under the jurisdiction of the London Football Association, the only English regional association founded by the FA.The Hackney and Leyton Sunday League is considered a historic league as it has produced many players of the English football, such as England captains Bobby Moore and David Beckham, Jimmy Greaves, Ian Wright, Sol Campbell, Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones, Rio Ferdinand and others. Most of the games are played at the Hackney Marshes football complex, the biggest in the world. In 2010 FC Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi arrived at the Marshes to come on as a substitute in a league match as a publicity stunt for Adidas, however, it was quickly cancelled as he was mobbed by fans.

The league has currently five divisions, the Premier Division, Division One, Division Two, Division Three and Division Four. It had a long association with Leyton FC with its headquarters located at the Leyton Stadium (previously known as the Hare and Hounds) until the headquarters moved to the Hackney Volunteers Club in Clapton.The league's longest-running club was Midfield, founded in 1967 and managed by Stan Gittings for over 40 years.

History Early years

Up until the 1970s, a lot of semi-professional players used to play in the league which was used to getting good crowds of 500 people for the big games, attendances were higher than for Leyton Town. According to Johnnie Walker, the league's former chairman who first played on the Marshes in 1952, aged just 17, people also used to bet on the games as there were bookmakers by the side of the pitch.

Recent years

Principals Taylor-Innes was one of the league's founders in 1946 and was chairmen for many years alongside Dave Taylor who was later honoured by having the league's domestic cup in his name (the cup started in 1952 and renamed to Dave Taylor Cup in 1972, and since 1999 it's been known as the Albert Daniels Senior Cup). Other chairmen were Peter Clarke, Ronnie Burce, and Alec Pretlove until 2003 and is considered the league's most popular chairman. Frank Hendy was one of the longest-serving Referee Secretaries; such was Albert Whitehead, while Ted Gore holds the position currently. Dickie Davies was the Registration Secretary for years, with his wife Nell at the post now. His memory has been honored with the establishment of the Dickie Davies Cup in 1980, the league's most prestigious domestic cup

League champions Premier division Founded in 1956, until then the top tier was the Division One. 1951–52 – Stoke United FC 1952–53 – Stoke United FC 1953–54 – Pembury 1954–55 – Pembury 1955–56 – Lordship 1956–57 – United Services 1957–58 – ‘’no record’’ 1958–59 – United Services 1959–60 – Lea United 1960–61 – Lordship 1961–62 – United Services 1962–63 – Barrowside 1963–64 – Barrowside 1964–65 – Barrowside 1965–66 – Lordship 1966–67 – Salisbury 1967–68 – Eastern 1968–69 – Victoria Villa 1969–70 – Victoria Villa 1970–71 – Gus Sports 1971–72 – Railway Rovers 1972–73 – Woodford Town 1973–74 – Railway Rovers 1974–75 – Islington Stanley 1975–76 – Islington Stanley 1976–77 – Railway Rovers 1977–78 – Cricketers 1978–79 – Railway Rovers 1979–80 – Cricketers 1980–81 – Cricketers 1981–82 – Prince of Wales 1982–83 – Joiners 1983–84 – Alexander 1984–85 – M.G Sports 1985–86 – M.G Sports 1986–87 – M.G Sports 1987–88 – M.G Sports 1988–89 – M.G Sports 1989–90 – Orderll Arms 1990–91 – Hoxton 1991–92 – Orderll Arms 1992–93 – Corwn & Manor 1993–94 – Hoxton 1994–95 – Titan 1995–96 – Titan 1996–97 – Ordel 1997–98 – Bancroft United 1998–99 – Bricklayers Arms 1999–00 – Hoxton 2000–01 – Bancroft United 2001–02 – Lions 2002–03 – Hoxton Athletic 2003–04 – Eureka 2004–05 – Bancroft United 2005–06 – Hoxton Athletic 2006–07 – Lapton 2007–08 – Lapton 2008–09 – Lapton 2009–10 – Lapton 2010–11 – Real Romania 2011–12 – Black Meteors 2012–13 – Phoenix 2013–14 – FC Bartlett 2014–15 – Clapton Rangers 2015–16 – Mile End 2016–17 – 2017–18 – 2018–19 – 2019–20 – abandoned 2020–21 – Mile End Baiteze Squad 2021–22 – Middlesbrough Supporters South 2022–23 – Baddoo FC

Remarks: The 2019-20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Division One as top tier in bold (1952-1956).

Division One Founded in 1951 as the top division and was replaced by the Premier League in 1956. It returned in 1958 as second tier. 1958–59 – Lordship 1959–60 – Kings Head 1960–61 – Lordship 1961–62 – Barrowside 1962–63 – Lea United 1963–64 – Coolingwood 1964–65 – Coolingwood 1965–66 – Islington Stanley 1966–67 – Eastern 1967–68 – Market House 1968–69 – Tonbridge Ferox 1969–70 – no record 1970–71 – Kentish Town 1971–72 – White Lion 1972–73 – Woodford Town B 1973–74 – Guilford 1974–75 – St Monica's 1975–76 – Rayjack 1976–77 – Raybek 1977–78 – Rydley 1978–79 – London Tavern 1979–80 – Carehouse 1980–81 – Aquarius 1981–82 – Alexander 1982–83 – Monteith 1983–84 – Telegraph 1984–85 – White Horse 1985–86 – Rilcrest Green Man 1986–87 – Richmond 1987–88 – Chats 1988–89 – Ordell Arms 1989–90 – William Hughes 1990–91 – Brownlow Arms 1991–92 – Clarendon 1992–93 – Bow Athletic 1993–94 – Hackney Volunteers 1994–95 – Trafalgar 1995–96 – Nags Head 1996–97 – Wheatsheaf Wdrs 1997–98 – Three Compasses 1998–99 – Whiston Belgrave 1999–00 – AC Eleanor 2000–01 – Eureka 2001–02 – Down The Hatch 2002–03 – Lions 2003–04 – Olde Hope 2004–05 – Santos Athletic 2005–06 – Lapton 2006–07 – Albion Manor 2007–08 – Clapton Rangers 2008–09 – Army & Navy N16 2009–10 – FC Metwin 2010–11 – Hackney Borough 2011–12 – FC Bartlett 2012–13 – Mustard 2013–14 – Shakespeare 2014–15 – FC Krystal 2015–16 – El Valiente 2016–17 – 2017–18 – 2018–19 – 2019–20 – 2020–21 – Crondall FC 2021–22 – City East 2022–23 – Boundary Estate

Division Two Founded in 1953 as the second tier, returned in 1957. It is now considered the third tier.

1953–54 – St Augustines 1957–58 – Spears 1958–59 – Globe Villa 1959–60 – no record 1960–61 – United Services 1961–62 – Lordship 1962–63 – Prince George 1963–64 – Arcola 1964–65 – Norville 1965–66 – Hackney Volunteer 1966–67 – Tiger 1967–68 – Dagmar 1968–69 – Windsor 1969–70 – no record 1970–71 – Swan United 1971–72 – St Peter's 1972–73 – Rayjack 1973–74 – Brunswick Albion 1974–75 – St Mathias 1975–76 – Jolly Farmers 1976–77 – Brickfield Galloway 1977–78 – Hoxton Athletic 1978–79 – Highbury AthleticG.F Leisure 1979–80 – Senrab 1980–81 – Woodville White Horse 1981–82 – M.G Sports 1982–83 – Telegraph 1983–84 – Needlegun 1984-85 – Directors 1985-86 – Melford 1986-87 – The Albert 1987-88 – Norfolk Arms 1988-89 – Marion Arms 1989-90 – Midfield (D.O.W.) 1990–91 – Bow Athletic 1991–92 – Lithuanian Victoria 1992–93 – Freemasons Arms 1993–94 – Crown & Manor 1994–95 – Wheatshead Wdrs 1995–96 – Ones FC 1996–97 – Three Compasses 1997–98 – Palm Tree 1998–99 – The Cambridge 1999–00 – Eureka 2000–01 – Wellington Victoria 2001–02 – OId Hope 2002–03 – Caspels 2003–04 – Wellington Lyons 2004–05 – Lapton 2005–06 – Army & Navy N16 2006–07 – FC Kenton 2007–08 – Lancresse Rangers 2008–09 – Hospital Tavern 2009–10 – Hare & Hounds 2010–11 – Shakespeare 2011–12 – Mustard FC 2012–13 – Chapel N1 2013–14 – Athletico Angels 2014–15 – Angel And Crown 2015–16 – FC Stepney 2016–17 – 2017–18 – 2018–19 – 2019–20 – 2020–21 – City East 2021–22 – Boundary Estate 2022–23 – The Gun FC

Division Three Founded in 1949.

Division Four Founded in 1948.

Winners 2014/15 Wojak Sunday

Division Five Lasted for only 3 seasons.

1975–76 – British Oak 1976–77 – Alexander 1977–78 – White Horse B

Cup winners Dickie Davies Cup 1981–82 – Joiners 1982–83 – Joiners 1983–84 – Joiners 1984–85 – M.G Sports 1985–86 – Monteith 1986–87 – Chats 1987–88 – Norfolk Arms 1988–89 – M.G Sports 1989–90 – Poplar Park 1990–91 – Dock Settlement 1991–92 – Country Flyer 1992–93 – Ordell 1993–94 – Bow Athletic 1994–95 – Titan 1995–96 – Ordell Arms 1996–97 – Ordell 1997–98 – Ordell 1998–99 – Queensbridge 1999–00 – AC Eleanor 2000–01 – Hoxton Athletic 2001–02 – London Aprilia 2002–03 – Eureka 2003–04 – Eureka 2004–05 – Bancroft United 2005–06 – Hoxton Athletic 2006–07 – Albion Manor 2007–08 – Clapton Rangers 2008–09 – Lapton 2009–10 – Lapton 2010–11 – Lapton 2011–12 – Lapton 2012–13 – Black Meteors 2013–14 – Black Meteors 2014–15 – Clapton Rangers 2015–16 – 2016–17 – 2017–18 – 2018–19 – Mile End Baiteze Squad 2019–20 – * 2020–21 – 2021–22 – Niva 2022–23 – Baddoo FC

Remarks: The 2019-20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Albert Daniels Cup

Jack Morgan Cup

Jack Walpole Cup

Notable players The following players either started their careers from the league or featured in later stages. David Beckham Sol Campbell Rio Ferdinand Bedford Jezzard Jimmy Greaves Bobby Moore Stuart Pearce John Terry Ian Wright Ntinos Pontikas

Notable clubs Senrab Lapton

See also Camden Sunday Football League Orpington and Bromley District Sunday Football League

References

Sources ARCHIVES: DIVISIONAL WINNERS ARCHIVES: CUP WINNERS ARCHIVES: REFEREE OF THE YEAR

External links Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League at the FA