Durham County Football Association

The Durham County Football Association (also simply known as the Durham FA) is the governing body of football in the historic county of Durham, including Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees and Sunderland. The Durham FA was founded on 25 March 1883[1] and is the governing body for football in Durham from grass roots to professional level. They also run a number of cups for teams of all levels across the county, leagues for under-18, under-21 and ladies teams, and an under-18 representative team.

Durham County Football Association
Formation1883 (1883)
PurposeFootball association
Headquarters'Codeslaw'
Riverside South
Location
Company Secretary
John Topping
Websitedurhamfa.com

History

In 1879 the joint Durham and Northumberland Football Association was founded and they stayed that way until 1883 when increasing numbers and travel problems for the clubs necessitated a change. On 11 May 1883, 40 clubs met in the Alexandra Hotel in Newcastle and voted to form an independent body known as the Northumberland Football Association. The Durham clubs followed suit holding a meeting at the Three Tuns Hotel, Durham City, on 25 May 1883. The nine clubs who were represented at that meeting formed the Durham County Football Association.

In its second season 18 clubs took part in the Durham Challenge Cup, the only county cup competition in the country at that time. On the 125 year anniversary in 2007–08, the association organised 11 county cup competitions at various levels and a total of 988 clubs participated. The association now has 2,386 teams and 1,055 referees affiliated and also has a staff of 13, who deal with all issues relating to governance and development of football within the county. In 1883, the staff consisted of a part-time honorary secretary.

The association opened its first rented office at 10 Tenters Terrace, Durham City, on 1 October 1913. In June 1923, it purchased Codeslaw, The Avenue, Durham City, to provide "an office, meeting rooms and residence for the secretary". In 1971, the association moved to larger offices at The Sands, Durham City, which were officially opened by its then President, Arthur Askew. Owing to an increase in staff, another move was required and a custom-built suite of offices was erected at The Riverside, Chester-le-Street, which were officially opened on 9 June 2005 by the association's president, Frank Pattison, and the chairman of The Football Association, Geoffrey Thompson.[2]

Development

Durham County FA supports clubs, leagues, and the education sector to up skill the football workforce to ensure, through engaging key partners, that high quality football experiences are available to all regardless of sex, race, disability, geographical location and playing ability.

Durham County FA continues to lead on core football development across the County and engages with external Football Development Officers to deliver a coordinated approach to increasing participation and raising standards. The strengthening of existing partnerships and the creation of new partnerships during 2008–2012 will enable the County FA to focus on its core football development work whilst broadening access through a collaborative approach.[3]

Governance

The work of the Governance department involves the day-to-day running of the County Football Association. The main functions are to provide assistance and advice in all administration matters relating to leagues, cups, clubs, discipline, referees and answer any other general football related queries.[4]

Affiliated Leagues

Disbanded or Amalgamated Leagues

Leagues that were affiliated to the Durham County FA but have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues include:

  • Auckland and District League (also known as Bishop Auckland and District League)
  • Auckland and District Junior League
  • Barnard Castle and District League
  • Chester-le-Street and District League
  • Darlington Church & Friendly League
  • Darlington and District League
  • Darlington and District Sunday Morning League
  • Darlington Weekend League
  • Darlington Youth League
  • Durham Central League
  • Gaunless Valley League
  • Houghton and District League
  • Jarrow and District Junior League
  • Mid Durham League
  • Seaham and District League
  • South Durham League
  • Stanley and District League
  • Stanley and District Sunday League
  • Stockton League
  • Sunderland & District Nonconformist & Brotherhood League (now known as Wearside Combination League)
  • Washington and District League (known as the Durham Alliance League from 1996)

Affiliated Member Clubs

Among the notable clubs that are (or at one time were) affiliated to the Durham County FA are:

County Cup Competitions

The Durham County FA run the following Cup Competitions:

Source[5]

County Cup Winners
Competition Winners (2010–11)
Durham County Challenge Cup Gateshead Reserves
Durham County Trophy Hebburn Reyrolle
Durham County Minor Cup Sunderland Redhouse
Durham County Youth Cup Gateshead Under 18s

Source[5]

Directors and Officials
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References
  1. "Durham FA – About Us". Durham FA. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  2. "Team's Work- The magazine of the Durham County FA Ltd – Issue 1 – Summer 2008 Edition" (PDF). Durham County FA. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  3. "Durham County FA – Development". Durham County FA. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  4. "Durham County FA – Governance". Durham County FA. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. "Durham County FA – Fixtures & Results – County Cups". Durham County FA. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  6. "Durham County FA – About Us – Directors of The Durham County FA Ltd". Durham County FA. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  7. "Durham County FA – About Us – Staff of The Durham County FA Ltd". Durham County FA. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
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