Anglian Combination

History

The league was formed in 1964, as a merger of the East Anglian League and the Norfolk & Suffolk League (established 1897) 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.

On 25 June 2012, a proposed trial for rolling substitutions was rejected by Anglian Combination clubs at a league AGM

To try and solve problems with decreasing youth participation, an U19 Development Division was agreed on at a league AGM on 17 June 2013 with the competition expected to start from the 2014–15 season at the earliest.

Sponsorship

From 1992–2006, the chartered accountants Lovewell Blake sponsored the league. Dolphin Autos took over sponsorship of the league from 2006–2010. Gleave & Associates sponsored the league for the 2010–11 season.

Gleave & Associates ended their sponsorship of the league after the 2010–11 following which there was a period of three seasons without sponsorship before the independent financial advisors, Almary Green, agreed to sponsor the league for the 2014–15 season

Format and regulations

No more than 80 clubs and 132 teams (first and reserve 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 1 are "senior" divisions while the rest of the divisions are "junior" divisions. There is a limit of 16 teams for each division except for the Premier Division, which has a limit of 24 teams. Some divisions do get reduced in size either at the start of the season or during the season because of teams withdrawing, due to not enough players or financial problems. 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 1 to Division 5, the top two clubs are promoted while the bottom two are relegated. In the Premier Division, there is no automatic promotion as clubs need to meet the FA's ground grading guide for Eastern Counties Division 1 in order to do so, as well as being in competition for promotion with champions of other feeder leagues to the Eastern Counties leagues. Only teams finishing in the top two of the Premier Division are eligible for promotion (the runners-up are eligible if the champions decide not to apply for promotion). The bottom two clubs are relegated to Division 1. In Division 6, the top two earn promotion, but there is no automatic relegation. Clubs need to be elected from the feeder leagues below, in order for relegation to occur, 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 but no less than 70 minutes, although this rule only comes into play if the two team captains and referee agree prior to kick-off and it is common sense 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 ground of the home team doesn't have floodlights. Similarly half-time intervals can be less than 10–15 minutes with the consent of the referee.

The Anglian Combination is looking to become a designated FA Charter Standard League. Member clubs have 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 are allowed to move clubs at any point during the season. However each player is only permitted one move during the season. Once they move, they cannot move again until after the season's end.

Clubs in the Premier Division are subject to the FA's Ground Grading regulations where they are subject to the regulations of Grade H [1] Clubs that fail to comply to 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 (although they were relegated at the end of the 2012–13 season).

U19 Development Division

Over the years, the Anglian Combination has had problems with retaining players who have come from U16 Youth football with the numbers going on to play in the Anglian Combination dwindling. A big reason for this has been the gap between youth and adult football in terms of physicality where young 15- to 16-year-old players suddenly come up against adult players, some of whom are big and physical and have been around the adult scene for years. To try and bridge the gap, an U19 Development Division was voted for at the Anglian Combination AGM on 17 June 2013. To further help youth players, three over age players will be able to play in the starting eleven to pass on vital experience for these youngsters. There will be a maximum of 12 teams in the division The 2014–15 season will be the earliest the U19 competition will start.

Clubs for 2016–17 season

Source

Acle United | Blofield United | Caister | Cromer Town | Harleston Town | Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves | Long Stratton | Mattishall | Mulbarton Wanderers | Norwich CEYMS | Reepham Town | Spixworth | St. Andrews | Stalham Town | Waveney | Wroxham Reserves

Attleborough Town | Aylsham | Beccles Town | Bradenham Wanderers | Bungay Town | Dersingham Rovers | Foulsham | Hellesdon | Hindringham | Holt United | Loddon United | Mundford | North Walsham Town | Scole United | Sheringham | Wymondham Town

Acle United Reserves | Blofield United Reserves | Caister Reserves | East Harling | Easton | Hempnall | Hoveton Wherrymen | Martham | Mattishall Reserves | Poringland Wanderers | Sprowston Athletic | Thetford Rovers | University of East Anglia | Watton United | Wells Town | Yelverton

Beccles Caxton | Brandon Town | Buxton | Fakenham Town Reserves | Freethorpe | Gayton United | Hemsby | Horsford United | Loddon United Reserves | Long Stratton Reserves | Norwich CEYMS Reserves | Redgate Rangers | Sheringham Reserves | South Walsham | Sprowston Wanderers | Swaffham Town Reserves

Bradenham Wanderers Reserves | Bungay Town Reserves | Costessey Sports | Dersingham Rovers Reserves | Downham Town Reserves | Earsham | Feltwell United | Gorleston F.C. Reserves | Hingham Athletic | Horsford United Reserves | North Walsham Town Reserves | Reepham Town Reserves | St. Andrews Reserves | Stalham Town Reserves | Thorpe Village | Wymondham Town Reserves

Aylsham Reserves | Castle Acre Swifts | Cromer Town Reserves | Easton Reserves | Gayton United Reserves | Heacham | Hellesdon Reserves | Hindringham Reserves | Martham Reserves | Mundford Reserves | Narborough | Necton | South Walsham Reserves | Spixworth Reserves | University of East Anglia Reserves | Wells Town Reserves

Attleborough Town Reserves | Beccles Town Reserves | Belton | East Harling Reserves | Freethorpe Reserves | Great Yarmouth Town Reserves | Harleston Town Reserves | Hempnall Reserves | Mulbarton Wanderers Reserves | Newton Flotman | Poringland Wanderers Reserves | Scole United Reserves | Thetford Rovers Reserves | Thetford Town Reserves | Waveney Reserves | Yelverton Reserves

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".

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. A Division 4 was added for the 1966–67 season. Reserve sides were similarly split into three divisions, Reserve Divisions 1, 2 and 3.

2003–2015

In 2003 the league was re-organised, reducing the number of divisions from eight to seven. The reserve divisions were included within the main structure of the league, allowing the reserve teams the possibility of promotion to the divisions containing other clubs' first teams.

2015-present

To try and tackle the issue of travel costs for players and clubs at lower levels of the league, the Anglian Combination's bottom two divisions were regionalised into Division 5 North and South for the 2015-16 season. This meant that Division 6 ceased to exist. Travel costs are one of a number of reasons why teams fold in the lower divisions of the league and it is hoped that the new system will help slow and maybe even reverse the negative trend. Generally the A47 road from King's Lynn to Great Yarmouth is the cut off point for determining whether clubs in Division 5 are placed in the North or South division

Cup competitions

In addition to the league, clubs take part in the following cup competitions:

Single match between the winners of the Senior League (Mummery) Cup and the winners of the Premier Division from the previous season.

Cup competition for all clubs in the Premier Division and Division 1. The two teams drawn together for each tie play one match with extra-time then penalties separating the sides.

Cup competition for any side competing in Divisions 2,3,4,5 and 6 plus the reserve sides of Eastern Counties League clubs competing in the Norfolk or Suffolk county cups. The two teams drawn together for each tie play one match with extra-time then penalties separating the sides.

Cup competition for any of the reserve sides in Divisions 2,3,4,5 and 6.

Norfolk's premier cup competition with all teams from Norfolk that play in the Premier Division, Division 1 and any Norfolk sides that compete in the Eastern Counties League.

Main cup competition for junior sides from Norfolk that compete in Divisions 2,3,4,5 and 6 of the league as well as sides from the lower leagues.

Open to teams from Suffolk that play in the Premier Division and Division 1 as well as Suffolk teams playing in the Eastern Counties League.

Cup competition for teams from Suffolk in Divisions 2,3,4,5 and 6 as well as reserve sides of clubs that are in the Eastern Counties League that are competing in the Suffolk Senior Cup.