The Arthurian Southern Amateur League Representative Team take to the field next Tuesday, 26 November, against the Arthurian ​ League at Maccabi London in Arkley. The game is the first in this season's Argonaut Trophy where the best players in each league battle it out for the title.

The Arthurian League come into the game fresh from their UEFA Regions Cup adventure where they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final tournament, finishing unbeaten in the qualifying group in Finland. They qualified for this by winning the FA Inter-League Cup with a 1-0 win against the West Yorkshire League at Lincoln in May.

​The SAL won the competition at the first attempt in 2008, and have come close on several occasions since while the third team in the tournament - the Amateur Football Combination - have reached the semi-finals twice, so this competition will showcase some of the best amateur players in England.

Mike Brazier, founder and long-time goalkeeper for East Barnet Old Grammarians, died on 26 August at the age of 93.

He set up the football club with friends after leaving school and they made their debut in Division 2 North of the Old Boys’ League in the autumn of 1948 and won that division in their second season. They climbed steadily up the ladder, reaching the Premier Division and winning the championship for the first time in 1957/58. A second title followed in 1959/60, by which time they had four teams, each of which won their league title or finished runners-up.

Mike appeared no less than fourteen times for the League representative team and served with distinction on the League Committee. What he lacked in height as a goalkeeper he made up for in strength, sure handling and intelligent use of the ball. In the mid-1960s his first-team career was drawing to a close and he played six seasons for the 3rd team, including 1967/68 when they won every single game in Division 2 North and 1970/71 when they claimed the Division 1 North title. Remarkably, now in his forties, Mike was recalled to the 1st team who won the Premier Division Championship for the third time in 1971/72.

In 1977/78 the club made the move to the Southern Amateur League and the following season Mike was part of the 3rd team that won their division. In 1980 he celebrated his 1,000th game for the club, playing against a representative team that included all four of his sons. His remarkable achievement was celebrated by Brian Moore on ITV’s flagship football programme, The Big Match. All four of his sons would go on to play for the club for many seasons.

Mike continued to play an active part in the club’s activities throughout the decades, even once he had stopped playing regularly. He continued to remain fit, running four marathons from his fifties onwards, and played in East Barnet colours in every decade from the 1940s to the 2020s. At the age of 92, and now suffering from dementia, he characteristically dived for the ball despite having promised his son he would not.

He considered the pitch at East Barnet as his spiritual home,  the wake after his funeral on Thursday 12th September will be held in the clubhouse.

Mike's family have provided the following details for his funeral and wake:

Thursday 12th September 11:30 am

West Herts Crematorium
High Elms Lane
Garston
Watford
WD25 0JS
 
And afterwards at:
 
East Barnet Old Grammarians FC
Alan Drive
Barnet
EN5 2PU

We are sad to report the passing of SAL Vice-President Colin Ferris, yesterday . Colin had been a member of the League Management Committee since 2004 and taken on an active role in its work alongside refereeing on a weekly basis until recently,

Colin began his football 'career' at Borough Polytechnic in 1964. He joined the club committee in 1971 and saw the club through name changes and a merger into what is now South Bank Cuaco. 

He was an excellent host, always providing for visitors to Turney Road, and always had a time for clubmates or opponents alike. His work ethic on the LMC was tremendous and his efforts are greatly appreciated.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time. Thank you for your service, Colin Ferris, RIP.

We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Civil Service 3rd team player, Seb Chadwick, who died on Saturday (23 March), aged 38, after collapsing during a game.

Civil Service have issued the following statement:

Our thoughts are with his family and friends and everyone involved with Civil Service Football Club.

​We are sad to report the passing of Alan Moody (pictured above, centre of top row) who played as goalkeeper for Lloyds Bank AFC on 28 September at the age of 94.

Alan was the 1st XI goalkeeper from 1952-1968 and played in the famous 1961 AFA Senior Cup Final when Lloyds beat Old Monovians 5-4.  They finished runners-up to Broomfield in the SAL First Division the same year.

Alan represented the SAL on a number of occasions and played occasionally for Corinthian-Casuals, who shared the Lloyds Bank training ground in Copers Cope Road at that time.

John Payne, former Lloyds Bank 1st XI Captain, and later President, passed away in 2019, was a great friend of Alan’s during those years and best man at his wedding to  Pat in 1957.

When Alan’s football career ended he took up tennis with a club based at the HSBC ground, New Beckenham, continuing until the age of 88.

We are grateful to his son, Ian (former secretary of Old Bromelians F.C.), for informing us and our thoughts are with Ian and all of Alan's family and friends.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of John Cooper of Old Bromleians, a stalwart of the club and off SAL and, later, Kent football for many years.

Our thoughts are with John's family, friend and all at Old Bromleians. 

He was well know and loved by many of the older SAL members, having served as a Match Secretary for over fifty years, many of them in the SAL. His family ask that the news be passed on to as many people as possible as there will be many in our football who knew and respected John.

An online book of condolence has been created to allow people to pay their respects. Click below to access this:

It is with a very heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of Merton F.C. icon Max Herbert in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Max was an intelligent, funny and generous man and never sought to be centre of attention. He was at his most happy setting things up, pulling the strings behind the scenes and watching other people flourish in and enjoy what he’d laid on. 

His unbridled enthusiasm for the club and for SAL and AFA football resulted in a club with an excellent reputation in AFA circles and he will be sorely missed.

​Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time.

We are proud to announce that the SAL has once again be selected as AFA Grassroots League of the Year. The FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Football awards are for those who make a positive difference in football. They are the FA and AFA's way of celebrating the fantastic organisations and individuals who put their heart and soul into the grassroots game and the incredible volunteers who inspire us all.

All allocations are subject to change