Anglian Combination


The Anglian Combination is an English football league that operates in East Anglia. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern Suffolk, with rules stating that clubs should be within a 50-mile radius from the centre of Norwich.
It consists of 96 teams and has seven divisions – the Premier Division, Division One to Four plus the two regionalised divisions, Division Five North and South.
CNSOBU were the first champions of the Anglian Combination in 1965, winning the Senior A Division in the league's transitional season. Blofield United is the most successful club in the Anglian Combination's history, with six top division league titles, while Acle United and Wroxham have won the most consecutive titles, with both clubs winning the Anglian Combination four times in succession.

History

The league was formed in 1964, as a merger of the East Anglian League and the Norfolk & Suffolk League 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.

Sponsorship

From 1992 to 2006, the chartered accountants Lovewell Blake sponsored the league. Dolphin Autos took over sponsorship of the league from 2006 to 2010. Gleave & Associates sponsored the league for one year during 2010–11 season. This was followed by three seasons without sponsorship before the independent financial advisors, Almary Green, agreed to sponsor the league for three years from the 2014–15 to 2016–17 seasons. Hadley and Ottaway were the sponsors from the 2017–18 to the 2020–21 season. Fosters Solicitors announced a new sponsorship partnership in April 2021.
PeriodSponsor
1992–2006Lovewell Blake
2006–2010Dolphin Autos
2010–2011Gleave & Associates
2011–2014No sponsor
2014–2017Almary Green
2017–2021Hadley and Ottaway
Fosters Solicitors

Format and regulations

No more than 80 clubs and 132 teams are to be permitted to the league system. In theory this means that no more than 52 clubs can have both a first and reserve team competing in the league. No more than one team from a club can play in the same division. The Premier Division and Division One are "senior" divisions, while the rest of the divisions are "junior" divisions. There is a limit of sixteen teams for each division. Some divisions are reduced in size either at the start of the season or during the season because of teams withdrawing either for financial reasons or a lack of players.. Their places for the next season are taken by teams elected from the feeder leagues. Teams play each other twice, home and away, in a double round-robin format.
In Division One to Division Three, the top two clubs are promoted while the bottom two are relegated. In Division Four, the top two are promoted and the bottom four are relegated. In Division Five, the top two are promoted from each regional division. In the Premier Division, there is no automatic promotion as clubs need to meet the FA's ground grading guide for admission to the Eastern Senior League in order to do so. Only teams finishing in the top two of the Premier Division are eligible for promotion. The bottom two clubs are relegated to Division One. Clubs need to be elected from the feeder leagues below, in order for relegation to occur from the regional Division Fives, providing that there are no places in other divisions in the league to fill due to withdrawals.
There are some interesting rules in the Anglian Combination. Unlike professional leagues, no team or goalkeeper is allowed to wear black or very dark shirts. This is because referees' kits in this division are all black, compared to professional leagues in which referees wear different coloured kits where appropriate. Another rule of interest is that matches can be less than 90 minutes, although this rule only comes into play if the two team captains and referee agree prior to kick-off and it is deemed appropriate for the match to be shorter than 90 minutes. A typical reason that this rule comes into play is for evening kick-offs due to a lack of natural light if the home team's ground does not have floodlights. Similarly, half-time intervals can be less than 10–15 minutes with the consent of the referee.
;FA Charter Standard
The Anglian Combination is looking to become a designated FA Charter Standard League. Member clubs had until the end of the 2014–15 season to become an FA Charter Standard club or they face expulsion from the league. New member clubs have one season to achieve Charter Standard status.
;Players
  • Any team shall not have more than three players who have played in a more senior cup competition in two of the three consecutive games immediately prior to a league game.
  • Players must be at least 16 years old to play an Anglian Combination game.
;Premier Division ground grading
Clubs in the Premier Division are subject to the FA's Ground Grading regulations where they are subject to the regulations of Grade H. Clubs that fail to comply with the regulations by a certain deadline could face expulsion to Division 1 at the end of the season. Every Premier Division club in the 2011–12 competition met the deadline of 31 March 2012 except North Walsham Town. They were given a deadline of 25 June 2012 to raise the funds and complete the work needed to meet regulations. Otherwise, North Walsham Town would have been demoted to Division 1. However, after finding the funds and getting the necessary upgrades done in time, they stayed in the Premier Division for the 2012–13 season, but were relegated at the end of the season.

Current members

Premier Division (Sterry Cup)

Division One (East Anglian Division One Cup)

Division Two (Allerton Cup)

Division Three North

Division Three South

Division Four North

Division Four South

Anglian Combination winners

1964–65

For the league's first "transitional" season, the members of the amalgamating leagues were split into three tiers, "Senior", "Junior" and "Reserves". Each of these three tiers was split into two parallel divisions, designated simply "A" and "B".
SeasonSenior ASenior BJunior AJunior BReserves AReserve B
1964–65C N S O B UDereham TownYork AthleticSouthwold TownGothic ReservesHenderson Reserves

1965–2003

After the initial transitional season, the first teams in the league were split into four divisions, based on their finishing positions in the 1964–65 season. These became the Premier Division, Divisions 1, 2, and 3. Division 4 was added for the 1966–67 season. Reserve sides were similarly split into three divisions, Reserve Divisions 1, 2, and 3.
Season PremierOneTwoThreeFourRes OneRes TwoRes Three
1965–66C N S O B UYork AthleticHorsford UnitedPoringlandN/AWatton United ReservesThorpe Village ReservesNorman Old Boys Reserves
1966–67Watton UnitedHorsford UnitedNorth Walsham TownEaton RangersHellesdonWatton United ReservesBungay Town ReservesShipdham Reserves
1967–68Watton UnitedDiss TownEarlham Y CHellesdonBirds Eye Norman Old Boys ReservesReepham Town ReservesHolt United Reserves
1968–69GorlestonSt AndrewsHellesdonBirds Eye Thetford RoversYork Athletic ReservesHolt United ReservesSextons Reserves
1969–70SheringhamHellesdonBirds Eye OverstrandEarlham RangersWatton United ReservesThorpe Village ReservesFakenham Town Reserves
1970–71C N S O B UWymondham TownLakenham Y CBoulton & PaulBodhamSt Andrews ReservesHoveton United ReservesShipdham Reserves
1971–72C N S O B UFakenham TownSouthreppsBeccles TownStagsHoveton United ReservesFakenham Town ReservesHellesdon Reserves
1972–73HellesdonReepham TownThetford RoversSalhouseGorleston ReservesHenderson ReservesWymondham Old Boys ReservesNorwich Lads Club Reserves
1973–74C N S O B UDiss TownSwaffham TownCarrowWells TownNorwich Union ReservesThetford Rovers ReservesAylsham Wanderers Reserves
1974–75C N S O B UBungay TownSouthwold TownNewton FlotmanWortwellSt Andrews ReservesFakenham Town ReservesNewton Flotman Reserves
1975–76St AndrewsSouthwold UnitedWroxhamWortwellYarmouth Town ReservesSt Andrews ReservesNewton Flotman ReservesSprowston Wanderers Reserves
1976–77Diss TownWroxhamNewton FlotmanGorleston ReservesMundham & SeethingSt Andrews ReservesBeccles Town ReservesEarlham Spinney Reserves
1977–78Lowestoft Town ReservesBrundall UnitedWortwellBrandon TownTown HallSt Andrews ReservesSheringham ReservesHolt United Reserves
1978–79Diss TownNewton FlotmanKirkleyLakeford RangersBradenham WanderersWroxham ReservesThetford Rovers ReservesWortwell Reserves
1979–80Lowestoft Town ReservesKirkleyLakeford RangersBradenham WanderersAcle UnitedFakenham Town ReservesC E Y M S ReservesKirkley Reserves
1980–81Hoveton UnitedBungay TownGorleston ReservesHarleston TownSouth WalshamHoveton United ReservesKirkley ReservesBradenham Wanderers Reserves
1981–82WroxhamWymondham TownHarleston TownMundfordMundham & SeethingHoveton United ReservesBradenham Wanderers ReservesAttleborough Reserves
1982–83WroxhamGorleston ReservesBradenham WanderersAcle UnitedHempnallWroxham ReservesC E Y M S ReservesWells Town Reserves
1983–84WroxhamBlofield UnitedSwaffham TownHempnallMulbarton UnitedWroxham ReservesWells Town ReservesEast Harling Reserves
1984–85WroxhamThetford RoversHempnallAshleaNorth Walsham TownWroxham ReservesThetford Rovers ReservesLoddon United Reserves
1985–86Watton UnitedWymondham TownWortwellThurton & AshbyMattishallWatton United ReservesBlofield United ReservesPoringland United Reserves
1986–87St AndrewsAshleaAylsham WanderersTown HallWatton United ReservesWroxham ReservesAylsham Wanderers ReservesLoddon United Reserves
1987–88WroxhamBungay TownTown HallWatton UnitedBeccles CaxtonWroxham ReservesCarrow ReservesHempnall Reserves
1988–89Norwich UnitedKirkleyStalham TownPoringland WanderersWroxham ReservesSt Andrews ReservesOverstrand ReservesAshlea Reserves
1989–90Newton FlotmanDereham HobbiesMulbarton UnitedAttleborough TownNorwich United ReservesBlofield United ReservesLakeford Rangers ReservesStalham Town Reserves
1990–91Blofield UnitedWymondham TownMattishallScole UnitedCortonNewton Flotman ReservesStalham Town ReservesMulbarton United Reserves
1991–92OverstrandHorsford UnitedDiss Town ReservesTown Hall ScriptsSouth WalshamWymondham Town ReservesMulbarton United ReservesReepham Town Reserves
1992–93Mulbarton UnitedWroxham ReservesThorpe VillageSouth WalshamAnglian WindowsCarrow ReservesLoddon United ReservesCaister United Reserves
1993–94Blofield UnitedLowestoft Town ReservesPoringland WanderersAnglian WindowsHalvergate UnitedBlofield United ReservesThorpe Village ReservesC E Y M S Reserves
1994–95Wroxham ReservesThorpe VillageNorth Walsham TownAcle UnitedHingham AthleticSt Andrews ReservesPoringland Wanderers ReservesWortwell Reserves
1995–96Horsford UnitedLoddon UnitedAttleborough TownScole UnitedThetford Town ReservesBlofield UnitedBeccles Town ReservesAnglian Windows Reserves
1996–97Mulbarton UnitedAcle UnitedScole UnitedSwaffham Town ReservesDownham Town ReservesAcle United ReservesBrandon Town ReservesAylsham Wanderers Reserves
1997–98Dereham TownScole UnitedWells TownEast HarlingGreat RyburghAcle United ReservesOulton Broad / L R ReservesThetford Rovers Reserves
1998–99Attleborough TownLakeford RangersSprowston AthleticWatton United ReservesDereham Town ReservesAcle United ReservesCaister United ReservesSaham Toney Reserves
1999–00KirkleySprowston AthleticNorwich UnionDereham Town ReservesHindringhamAcle United ReservesScole United ReservesWells Town Reserves
2000–01Blofield UnitedGorleston ReservesHalvergate UnitedHolt UnitedGayton UnitedBlofield United ReservesWells Town ReservesWatton United Reserves
2001–02KirkleyBeccles TownHindringhamGayton UnitedFosters AthleticWells Town ReservesHalvergate United ReservesFosters Athletic Reserves
2002–03KirkleyHalvergate UnitedHorsford UnitedSheringhamSouthwold TownKirkley ReservesNorwich Union ReservesCostessey Sports Reserves