Wearside Combination Football League

The Wearside Combination Football League was a non-league football competition based in County Durham, England. It was confirmed that as of the 2015–16 season the Wearside Combination League would come to an end after 70 years.

The Combination crest

Sunderland Hendon were the last champions of the league. Hall Farm are the last ever runners up of the league.

History

The Combination in its most recent guise was established in 1945. Prior to the Second World War it had operated as the Sunderland and District Nonconformist and Brotherhood League. As well as the change of name it also came under the control of the Durham County Football Association for the first time.

Many players joined the Combination from pub, club and factory teams, and in turn moved up to the Wearside League or the Northern League. The Wearside Combination had no official place in the English football league system, but could be approximated at level 13 below the Wearside League (11) and the Durham Alliance League (12).

Cups

In addition to the league, the teams also competed for a number of cups.

  • Wearmouth and Hylton Aged Peoples Trophy (formerly Aged Miners Homes Cup)
This cup was established in 1934 to raise funds for the Aged Miners homes in Sunderland. As the charity was wound up, the competition was renamed in 2001.
  • Alan Hood Memorial Trophy (formerly Sunderland Blind Institute Cup)
This charity competition was established in 1926 to support the Blind Institute charity. In 1989 it was renamed in honour of Combination vice-chairman Alan Hood, who had been killed in a road accident. The trophy is a full-size replica of the European Cup.
  • Alan Croft Memorial Trophy for Sportsmanship
This trophy is awarded each season to the club which is judged the most sportsmanlike in both on- and off-field conduct. It is named after Alan Croft, who was Combination vice chairman until his death in 1980.
  • League Challenge Cup
This cup was donated to the League in 1950 by noted local ice cream manufacturers the Notarianni Brothers.

Recent divisional champions

Divisional champions since 2000 are:[1]

Season Premier Division One
2000-01 Belford House Reserves Voyager Foods
2001-02 Hendon Grange Nissan Reserves
2002-03 Gate Mountain Daisy
2003-04 Hendon Grange The Dolphin
2004-05 TWR Trade Frames The Cauld Lad
2005-06 TWR Trade Frames The Dagmar
2006-07 The Dagmar Sportsmans Arms
2007-08 Redhouse Fulwood Blue Bell
2008-09 Jolly Potter Hylton Colliery Welfare
2009-10 Jolly Potter Washington Cricket
2010-11 Sunderland West End Sunderland Thorney Close Inn
2011-12 Sunderland Farringdon Dolphin Wearside Wildcats
2012-13 Sunderland Hendon Sunderland Blue Stone Construction
2013-14 Sunderland Hendon
2014-15 Sunderland Hendon

Closure

In February 2015 following an emergency meeting of clubs, after the resignation of Sunderland Cheers left only nine clubs in the league, three unnamed clubs stated their intention to fold at the end of the season. The remaining six clubs unanimously voted to seek a merger with the Wearside Football League and join the new Wearside League Development Division.[2]

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References
  1. "Wearside Combination roll of honour". Wearside Combination Football League. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  2. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/local-football/city-league-to-close-after-70-years-as-saturday-football-crisis-deepens-1-7131420


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