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Following Special General Meetings held on 30 July, we are proud to announce the merger of the Amateur Football Combination and the Southern Amateur League, effective for 2025/26 season. This landmark merger brings together two of the most respected amateur leagues in the country, forming what will be the largest amateur football league in Europe. The newly unified league, which will be called the Southern Amateur Football League, will be overseen by a League Management Committee made up of equal numbers of officers from each league. This gives us the exciting opportunity to build a modern, progressive competition that supports and develops grassroots football while upholding the traditions that make the amateur game so special. The league will actively champion the FA’s Respect and Spirit of Football campaigns, fostering a fun, safe, inclusive environment for all participants both on and off the pitch. This is more than a merger: it is a statement of intent about the future of amateur football.
We are sad to report the passing of Southgate Olympic’s Brian Mead away after a long illness. Brian played for the 1st XI for many years and was a member of the AFA Senior Cup and Middlesex Cup winning sides of the early 70’s. He first played for Olympic in the early 60’s and continued playing until the mid-80’s. He was an old school centre forward and as much a character on the pitch as he was afterwards in many opposition club houses. Those of you that played against him may still be carrying the bruises! Brian's funeral will take place at 4pm on Tuesday 5th August at New Southgate Cemetery and Crematorium, Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate N11 1JJ. After the service there will be a gathering to remember Brian at Enfield Golf Club, Old Park Road (South), Enfield EN2 7DA. It would be great to see ‘old’ opponents on the 5th to celebrate Brians life. If you would like to attend please email Roger Philo so that we can inform Brian’s family. We are sad to report Alexandra Park President, Bryan King, has passed away. He died peacefully in the early hours of Sunday morning, 13 July, with his beloved daughters at his side.
He was a football and cricket club stalwart for over 60 years, Bryan's support at events across the whole spectrum of Club activities was so special throughout his long tenure as President from 2011-2025. Bryan’s funeral service will take place on Wednesday 6 August 2025 at 2.00pm at Harwood Park Crematorium, Watton Road, Stevenage, SG2 8XT. Friends from the the SAL and AFA communities are invited to attend. After the Service the family have arranged for a farewell gathering at The White Horse Hotel, Hertingfordbury Road, Hertford, SG14 2LB IMPORTANT: Please indicate to Bryan’s daughter, Ruth, if able to attend and would like to join the post-match gathering on [email protected] We are sorry to report the passing of League Vice-President Mike Redhouse of the Bank of England club, today. Mike was a member of the League Management Committee, serving for nearly 40 years as Match and Referees Secretary. He played his first game for the Bank on 6th December 1956 and continued playing until the early 1990s. He played for every team in and in every position, scoring over 500 goals. He was captain and vice captain of the 3rd and 5th XIs. He joined the club committee in 1964 and was chairman for 10 years. An immense contribution. In addition to his administrative contributions, Mike was a tremendously kind man who welcomed new members to the committee with open arms and had a mischievous sense of humour, to boot. He will be sadly missed by all involved with the League. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and footballing associates at the Bank and beyond, at this time. We are saddened to report the passing of Winchmore Hill stalwart Chris Langford (pictured) Monday 23rd December 2024, aged 78.
Chris was a familiar figure at the club throughout the year, involved with the cricket section as well as the football section, and will be known to many around the SAL and AFA. He was responsible for the weekly programmes the club produced for many years, and was a supporter of league and AFA representative football, also. Our thoughts are with Chris' friends and family at this time. Funeral details will be published on the Winchmore Hill F.C. website in due course. For a full review of Chris' involvement with the club, please visit the website. 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 26 November at Maccabi London, Rowley Ln, Barnet EN5 3HW 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 As you know the SAL League Management Committee have been in discussions with the AFC to discuss all aspects of the potential merger.
These discussions have been ongoing since the start of the season and have touched a number of subjects. 1- Constitution including the number of London-wide Divisions 2- Rules 3- Referees 4-Cups 5-Finance 6-Discipline 7-England Football Accreditation 8-Registration 9-New Committee Setup The co-ordinating committee comprising of members from both the LMC and AFC Executive Committee have met every month since early September last year. We have now come to a point in time where there are a number of issues where there is a difference between the two sides. This is not something new in any negotiation between 2 parties. The points being -
The LMC have recently held an emergency LMC to discuss this and have reached a decision to halt the discussions for the time being. The LMC feel strongly on the points where we have a difference and feel it is the right thing to suspend discussions. It is also worth noting that both parties have acted in good faith during these negotiations and I would like to place on record my thanks to those AFC Executive Committee Members as well as the SAL LMC members who have put in a lot of effort during these discussions. There is an opportunity to go back to the negotiating table in the future but for the time being and next season the two leagues will remain separate entities. As promised the Council meeting we will be looking at some regionalisation in the Intermediate Divisions. Further information on this will follow in due course. Nick Hamilton Chairman Southern Amateur Football League 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. |
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