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Suffolk and Ipswich Football League

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Suffolk and Ipswich Football League
Founded1896
First season1896–97
CountryEngland
Divisions8
Level on pyramidLevels 11 (Senior Division)
Feeder toEastern Counties League
Promotion toEastern Counties League
Division One
Domestic cup(s)Suffolk Senior Cup
Current championsHenley Athletic (Senior Division)
(2022–23)
Websitesuffolkandipswichleague.co.uk

The Suffolk and Ipswich Football League is a football competition based in Suffolk, England. The league has a total of eight divisions; the Senior Division and Divisions 1–3 for first teams, three divisions (Leagues A, B and C) for reserve teams, and Division 4, which is for open to both first teams and reserves and is subordinate to both Division 3 and League C. The Senior Division is at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System. The league was founded in 1896 as the Ipswich & District League changing its name in 1978.[1]

The Senior Division champions may apply for promotion to the Eastern Counties League Division One. Clubs from the league to progress up the pyramid include Whitton United, Sudbury Town, Hadleigh United, Woodbridge Town, Needham Market, Walsham-le-Willows, and Debenham LC.

The league is affiliated to the Suffolk County Football Association.

History

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The league was established in 1896 at the initiative of F C H Gibbons. Gibbons placed an advert in the East Anglian Daily Times stating that he intended to launch a Football League for Ipswich and the surrounding area.[2] A meeting on 10 September 1896 was attended by officials from 18 clubs:

  • Brantham Athletic
  • Churchmans
  • Great Eastern Railway
  • Higher Grade School
  • Institute Rovers
  • Ipswich Rugby
  • Ipswich Town
  • Orwell Works
  • Prettys Athletic
  • Primitive Methodists
  • St Clement
  • St Helen
  • St Lawrence Works
  • St Mary Stoke
  • St Matthew
  • Stoke United
  • Trinity Old Boys
  • West End Excelsiors

The league started in October that year, but without Ipswich Town.[2] The top division was known as Division One until 1950, when it became the Premier Division. It was re–named Senior Division in 1978.

List of champions

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Senior Division

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2022–23 members

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Senior Division

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Benhall St. Mary | Bildeston Rangers | Claydon | Coplestonians | East Bergholt United | Halesworth Town | Haughley United | Henley Athletic | Leiston St Margarets | Old Newton United | Ransomes Sports | Sporting 87 | Trimley Red Devils | Westerfield United | Wickham Market

Division One

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Achilles | AFC Kesgrave | Bacton United 89 | Bramford Road Old Boys | Capel Plough | Cockfield United | Grundisburgh | Somersham | Stanton | Stowupland Falcons | Tattingstone United | Wenhaston United | Woolverstone United

Division Two

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Bardwell Sport | Bramford United | Claydon Reserves | Coplestonians Reserves | Elmswell | Great Blakenham Chequers | Ipswich Athletic | Kesgrave Kestrels | Kirton Athletic | Saxmundham Sports | Sporting 87 Reserves | Stonham Aspal | Thurston

Division Three

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AFC Kesgrave Reserves | Bacton United 89 Reserves | East Bergholt United Reserves | Halesworth Town Reserves | Haughley United Reserves | Ipswich Wanderers U23s | Laxfield | Needham Market Phoenix | Occold | Ransomes Sports Reserves | Trimley Red Devils Reserves | Wickham Market Reserves

Division Four

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Capel Plough Reserves | Cockfield United Reserves | Coplestonians ‘A’ | Framlingham Town ‘A’ | Gipping Gnats | Grundisburgh Reserves | Hope Church | Kesgrave Kestrels Reserves | Old Newton United Reserves | Sporting 87 ‘A’ | Unity | Walsham Le Willows 'A'

Division Five

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AFC Kesgrave ‘A’ | Benhall St. Mary Reserves | Bildeston Rangers Reserves | Coddenham Athletic | Debenham L.C. Reserves | East Bergholt United ‘A’ | Henley Athletic Reserves | Kirton Athletic Reserves | Leiston St Margarets Reserves | Stanton Reserves | Stowupland Falcons Reserves | Thurston Reserves | Wenhaston United Reserves | Woolverstone United Reserves

Division Six

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Bacton United 89 ‘A’ | Capel Plough 'A' | Elmswell Reserves | Eye Saints Youth | Hadleigh United Brettsiders | Kesgrave Kestrels ‘A’ | Mendlesham | Samuels | Saxmundham Sports Reserves | Somersham Reserves | Stowupland Falcons ‘A’

League Cup

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The league also runs a league cup, known as the Bob Coleman Cup. It has previously been known as the Omnico Cup and the McNeil League Knock–Out Cup/[2]

List of winners

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References

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  1. ^ KP Wood (1996). Five Score - The SIL Football Book Of The Century, p. 184. ISBN 978-0-9526272-0-3.
  2. ^ a b c League History Suffolk & Ipswich League
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