Representative Team

​The League has fielded a representative team since its inception in 1907. From that time until the early 21st century the fixture list remained more or less the same, consisting of other AFA-affiliated leagues, universities, public schools and member clubs celebrating milestone occasions.

Since 2007, however, the FA Inter-League Cup has provided more varied opponents from across the country. Winning the competition at the first attempt allowed the team to represent England at the UEFA Regions Cup, a feat they hope to achieve again in the near future.

New players

Manager Bob Leeds selects players from across the League by visiting as many matches as possible. 

However, he is always grateful for tips on promising players so if your club has someone who could make a mark then email Bob at [email protected]​. 

FA Inter-League Cup

Since 2007 the team has entered the FA Inter-League Cup (previously the FA National League System Cup) which sees league representative teams from across England compete with the winning team qualifying for the UEFA Regions Cup. Most of the leagues are part of Step 7 of the National League System - the official name for the higher reaches of England's non-league football pyramid - but certain others like the SAL are also invited to enter.

The SAL won the competition at the first time of asking by defeating the Midland Combination (Division 1) on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena on 3 May 2008. The team went on to represent England at the Regions Cup in Italy in October 2008, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final tournament despite remaining unbeaten and not conceding a goal in a group containing sides from Italy, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. The team has since reached the semi-finals in 2012 and 2016.

Read More

The 2023-2024 competition

First Round
29.NOV	Liverpool Premier League		vs		Manchester League	1–2	at M.S.B. Woolton
Second Round (by 20 January)
TBC	Isle of Man Premier League		vs		Cheshire League	TBC	TBC
13.JAN	Manchester League		vs		West Cheshire League	KO 3.00pm	at Avro FC
13.JAN	York League		vs		West Yorkshire League	KO 3.00pm	at Pickering Town FC
13.JAN	Humber Premier League		vs		Yorkshire Amateur League	KO 1.00pm	at East Riding FA, Hull
TBC	Essex Olympian League		vs		Essex & Suffolk Border League	TBC	TBC
13.JAN	Herts Senior County League		vs		Southern Amateur League	KO 3.00pm	at Herts FA, Letchworth
20.JAN	Amateur Football Combination		vs		Arthurian League	KO 6.00pm	at Dorking Wanderers
13.JAN	Thames Valley Premier League		vs		Dorset Premier League	KO 3.00pm	at Reading City, FC
Third Round (by 24 February)
Semi Final (by 23 March)
Final (4 May)

Argonaut Trophy

Since 2016 the League contests the Argonaut Trophy against the Amateur Football Combination and the Arthurian League. The teams play against each other once each in a mini-league with drawn matches decided by penalties with the winners getting a bonus point.

Argonaut Trophy 2022-23		P	W	D2	D1	L	F	A	GD	PTS	SAL	AFC	AL
	Southern Amateur League	2	0	1	1	0	4	4	0	3	―	2―2 (5―4)	2―2 (2―4)
	Arthurian League	1	0	1	0	0	2	2	0	2	2―2 (4―2)	―	26.Apr
	Amateur Football Combination	1	0	0	1	0	2	2	0	1	2―2 (4―5)	26.Apr	―

Steve Langley Cup

Since 2003 the Steve Langley Cup has been contested with the Amateur Football Combination in memory of the former SAL and Crouch End Vampires captain who died, aged 42, from lung cancer. ​​

Manager
DOMINIC ROBERTS

Dom has been Manager of the Southern Amateur League (SAL) representative side since 2022, bringing with him years of experience both on and off the pitch. He founded Old Blues back in 2011, guiding the club into the SAL, and even squeezed in a representative team appearance himself in 2014 while juggling duties as player-manager.

A qualified coach, Dom earned his UEFA B licence in 2014/15 before going on to complete the FA Youth Award and Advanced Youth Award. His coaching journey has taken him into the professional game with Portsmouth FC’s academy, a non-league foray with Sutton Common Rovers as well as working with the ISFA South (England Schools) U16–U18 teams; selected to lead the u-16 team at St George’s Park in 2018. Currently, he’s pushing on with his UEFA A licence, with ambitions to progress to the Pro Licence in the future — something he hopes will serve the SAL well in competitions such as the FA Inter-Leagues Trophy and, one day, the UEFA Regions’ Cup.

On the touchline, Dom draws inspiration from his network and some of the game’s greats, including Aidy Boothroyd, Shaun North, Sean O’Driscoll, Eddie Howe, Steve Gatting and two late-greats, Dick Bate and (asa a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan), Brian Clough.

Representative Team videos

Wherever possible representative fixtures are filmed by FC Video. Along with cup final videos, these are available to view on the SAL YouTube channel. Below are a selection of matches in recent seasons. DVDs of these are available from FC Video for £5.00.

SAL vs Amateur Football Combination
11 September 2019

SAL vs Amateur Football Combination
14 November 2018

SAL vs Herts Senior County League
19 May 2018