The St. Edmundsbury Football League was a football competition based around the town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England. At various points it had up to four divisions.

The league was affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.

History

The league was founded in 1907 and for most of its history has been known as the Bury & District Football League. In its early years the league had a much higher status and served a good standard of football in the West Suffolk area. However, in the last 25 years those clubs with better facilities left the league for higher standard competitions with Bacton Utd 89, Bartons, Cockfield Utd, Elmswell, Sporting 87, Stanton, St. Edmunds 65, Thurston, Walsham-le-Willows moving to the Suffolk and Ipswich Football League and Barton Mills, Exning Athletic, Lakenheath, Tuddenham Rovers and West Row Gunners moving to the Cambridgeshire League.

As a consequence there was a significant reduction in the number of divisions from three in the 1990s to two over the last decade (with the exception of 2006–07) and eventually just one division. At the same time the number of teams participating in the league has halved from around 40 teams in the 1990s to 20 teams in the 2011–12 season. The league temporarily re-added Division Three for the 2014–15 season.

In 2007 the Bury & District Football League celebrated its centenary and in the same year made the decision to rename the league as the St. Edmundsbury Football League.

Among the clubs that at one time played in the Bury & District Football League and now compete at a higher level are:

Cambridge City (known as Cambridge Town) Cornard United Mildenhall Town Newmarket Town Sudbury Town Walsham-le-Willows

Many of the remaining clubs had very basic changing and pitch facilities and in later years the Division One Champions had not taken advantage of seeking promotion to the Suffolk and Ipswich League competition. This trend was broken by the 2011–12 champions Bartons, who moved to Division Three of the Suffolk and Ipswich League for the 2012–13 season. Bartons subsequently gained promotion from Division Three to the Suffolk and Ipswich League Division Two in their first season.

Final member clubs Beck Row Bury Town Rams 'A' RF Saints St Edmunds 1965 Vipers Walsham-le-Willows 'A' Walsham-le-Willows 'B'

Divisional champions SeasonDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1907–08 Long Melford 1908–09 Bury United 1909–10Cambridge TownCambridge Town playing record Cambridge City F.C. 1910–11Cambridge Town 1911–12 Orwell Works 1912–13Cambridge Town 1913–14 n/a 1914–15 n/a 1915–16 n/a 1916–17 n/a 1917–18 n/a 1918–19 n/a 1919–20Cambridge Town 1920–21 Bury United 1921–22 Long Melford 1922–23 Newmarket 1923–24 Stowmarket 1924–25 Stowmarket 1925–26Sudbury Town 1926–27n/a 1927–28 Newmarket TownHistory Newmarket Town F.C. 1928–29 n/a 1929–30 Thetford Town 1930–31 Newmarket Town 1931–32 Bury Town 1932–33 Bury Town 1933–34 n/a 1934–35 n/a 1935–36Sudbury Town (TBC, not on trophy?) 1936–37 n/a 1937–38 n/a 1938–39 n/a 1939–40 n/a 1940–41 n/a 1941–42 n/a 1942–43 n/a 1943–44 n/a 1944–45 n/a 1945–46 n/a 1946–47 Exning United 1947–48 Exning United 1948–49 Exning United 1949–50 Bradfield St. Geo. 1950–51n/a 1951–52 n/a Freckenham F.C1952–53 Bradfield St. Geo. n/a1953–54 Brandon Town n/a1954–55 Brandon Town ST. Kennett & Kentford United1955–56Brandon Town ST. Mundford F.C1956–57 n/a Mildenhall F.C1957–58 n/a n/a1958–59 n/a Pakenham F.C1959–60 Elmswell West Row F.C1960–61 Haughley United Fornham & Hengrave F.C1961–62 R.A.F. Honington Northbury Sports F.C1962–63 Finningham Thetford Rovers F.C1963–64 Finningham Bury-St-Eds YMCA F.C1964–65 Finningham n/a1965–66 Finningham Moulton F.C1966–67 Finningham F.C. n/a1967–68 Finningham F.C. Rougham F.C1968–69 Finningham F.C. St. Andrews F.C1969–70 Finningham F.C. Howards F.C1970–71 St Edmunds R.C. F.C Thurston F.C1971–72 Joint Champions & Runners-Up Elmswell F.C St Edmunds R.C. F.C Elmswell Reserves1972–73 St Edmunds R.C. F.C Centa F.C1973–74 St Edmunds R.C. F.C Springfield F.C1974–75 St Edmunds R.C. F.C Woolpit F.C1975–76 St Edmunds R.C. F.C S.N.F.C1976–77 Centa F.C. n/a1977–78 St Edmunds R.C. F.C Mundford F.C1978–79 Centa F.C. Rattlesden F.C1979–80 Centa F.C. Kingfishers F.C1980–81 Northbury F.C. Cockfield Utd F.C1981–82 Northbury F.C. Barrow Res.1982–83 Northbury F.C. Barber Greene1983–84 Fornham St Martin Y.C. Santon Downham Res. F.C1984–85 Fornham St Martin Y.C. Fordham St. Martin F.C1985–86 Fornham St Martin Y.C. Stanton F.C1986–87 Fornham St Martin Y.C. Kings Head F.C1987–88 Walsham-Le-Willows Thomas Ridley C.C. F.C1988–89 Walsham-Le-Willows Barrow F.C1989–90 Stanton F.C. Sporting 87' F.C1990–91 Newbury United F.C. Lakenheath 'A'1991–92 Newbury United F.C. Eriswell Res.1992–93 St Edmunds R.C. F.C Wickhambrook F.C1993–94 Cockfield Utd. F.C Barrow F.C1994–95 Northbury F.C. 1995 n/a1995–96 St Edmunds (1965) F.C. Macebearer F.C1996–97 n/a Jubilee 96 F.C1997–98 Cockfield Utd Sicklesmere Utd F.C1998–99 Cockfield Utd Ixworth Raiders F.C1999–2000 St Edmunds 65 Bartons F.C2000–01 Macebearer n/a2001–02 Black Eagles F.C. n/a2002–03 Karooze n/a2003–04Fornham St. MartinBaronsn/a2004–05 Black Eagles F.C. n/a2005–06Black Eagles F.C.Westbury Unitedn/a2006–07Black Eagles F.C.Priors InnElephant & Castle2007–08Ixworth Pykkerell F.C.Elveden Phoenixn/a2008–09Priors F.C.Haughley United Reservesn/a2009–10Ixworth Pykkerell F.C.Elephant & Castlen/a2010–11St. Edmunds 1965 Garboldishamn/a2011–12Bartons F.C. Tollgate Innn/a2012–13Home Guard FC RF Saintsn/a2013–14St. Edmunds 1965 F.C. AFC Hoxne 'A'n/a2014–15Home Guard 2014 Ram Meadow Cedars Park 'A' (TBC, not on trophy?)2015–16Bedricksworth F.C.TrunkVipers F.C2016–17St Edmunds 1965 F.C.Bury Town Rams 'B'n/a2017–18St Edmunds 1965 F.C. n/a

Knock-Out Cup winners SeasonDivision One K/O CupDivision Two K/O CupDivision Three K/O CupMick McNeil CupBill Utting Cup1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 Northbury1979–80 Northbury1980–81 Elmswell1981–82 Elmswell1982–83 St Edmunds (1965)Sicklesmere Res.1983–84 NorthburySanton Downham Res.1984–85 St Edmunds (1965)Walsham Res.1985–86 St Edmunds (1965)Northbury1986–87 SicklesmereStanton F.C1987–88 StantonIxworth F.C1988–89 WalshamHeron F.C1989–90 StantonFornham St. Marton Y C1990–91 Thomas Ridley F.C.Hundon F.C1991–92 Newbury United F.C Res Newbury Utd F.CHundon F.C1992–93 Wickhambrook F.C Bury Town 'A' F.C.Wanderers Social F.C1993–94 Barrow F.C WickhambrookeThomas Ridley F.C1994–95 Tuddenham Rovers F.C St Edmunds (1965)Thomas Ridley F.C1995–96 Macebearer F.C Cockfield Utd F.C.Tuddenham Rovers1996–97 Fornham St. Martin Tuddenham Rovers F.C.Thurston F.C1997–98 Sicklesmere Utd F.C St Edmunds 65 F.C.1998–99 Jubliee 96' Res St Edmunds 65 F.C. ResIxworth Raiders1999–2000 Westbury Utd F.C St Edmunds 65 F.C.Barons F.C2000–01 Black Eagles F.C.Sicklesmere Utd2001–02 Black Eagles F.C.Beck Row F.C2002–03 Fornham St MartinBarrow 2001 F.C2003–04 Karooze F.C.Black Eagles F.C2004–05 Priors InnBlack Eagles F.C2005–06 Black Eagles F.C.Macebearer2006–07 Ipswich Arms Black Eagles F.C.The Bushel F.C2007–08 Priors Inn F.C.Studlands Park F.C2008–09 Rising SunThe Bushel F.C2009–10 Ixworth Pykkerell F.C.Barons F.C2010–11 BushelBeck Row F.C2011–12 BartonsTollgate Inn2012–13 St Edmunds 19652013–14 Elephant & CastleGarboldisham F.C2014–15 Home Guard 2014St Edmunds 19652015–16 Vipers F.C St Edmunds 1965Thurston F.C2016–17 Vipers F.C.Walsham B2017–18 St Edmunds 1965

Thetford & District Football League Challenge Cup Founded in 1905, presented by the first president G.H.Verrall, renamed 1907 Bury Junior & District Football League SeasonWinnersCaptain1905–06 Newmarket Football Club E.Sadler captain1906–07 Newmarket E.Sadler captain1907–08 Bury St Mary’s J.M.Elliot captain1908–09 Depôt Suffolk Regiment D.Gooch captain1909–10 Brandon S.E.Day captain1910–11 Brandon S.E.Day captain1911–12 Stowmarket Reserves R.Horsley captain1912–13 Stowmarket Reserves S.James captain1913–14 Stowmarket Reserves Thetford Town, Joint Holders1914–15 n/a1915–16 n/a1916–17 n/a1917–18 n/a1918–19 n/a1919–20 Boby’s Ath F.C 1920–21 Bury North End F.C W.W.Taylor capt1921–22 n/a1922–23 Woolpit F.C L.H.Coleby capt1923–24 Bury Y.M.C.A V.J.Foreman capt1924–25 Higham F.C R.M.Jackson capt1925–26 n/a1926–27 n/a1927–28 Risby F.C J.Turner capt1928–29 411 (SUFF YEO) BTY F.C1929–30 n/a1930–31 n/a1931–32 Bury East End Rovers C.Boggis capt1932–33 n/a1933–34 Elmswell F.C J.Goymer capt1934–35 Public Service Club P.W.Wade capt1935–36 Mildenhall F.C J.Powell capt1936–37 Horringer N.Last capt1937–38 n/a1938–39 Sicklesmere Captain W.Grimwood1939–40 n/a1940–41 n/a1941–42 n/a1942–43 n/a1943–44 n/a1944–45 n/a1945–46 Norton F.C Captain E.Ong1946–47 n/a1947–48 n/a1948–49 n/a1949–50 n/a1950–51 Elmswell F.C F.E.Nunn capt1951–52 Bury Town A F.C A.Smith capt1952–53 Rougham F.C R.Shave capt1953–54 n/a1954–55 n/a1955–56 Rattlesden F.C D.Sparke capt1956–57 Felsham & Gedding J.Boast capt1957–58 Stanton F.C1958–59 Glemsford F.C R.Davies capt1959–60 Finningham F.C L.Rice capt1960–61 Hundon F.C F.Fitch capt1961–62 Wickhambrook M.Deeks capt1962–63 n/a1963–64 Barrow F.C M.Parker capt1964–65 Drinkstone Y.C C.Seymour capt1965–66 n/a1966–67 Cornard F.C T.Murray capt1967–68 St.Andrews 1968–69 Fornham St Martin Y.C R.Feakes capt1969–70 RAF Honington1970–71 Santon Downham F.C1971–72 Merry Go-round1972–73 Bradford St.Geo F.C1973–74 Woolpit F.C1974–75 Gala Sports F.C 1975–76 Beck Row M.Bowers capt1976–77 Bardwell Wasps R.J.Webber capt1977–78 Rattlesden F.C K.Gladwell capt1978–79 Priors Inn F.C1979–80 Santon Downham Res F.C1980–81 Barton Mills Reserves1981–82 West Row Gunners1982–83 Heron F.C1983–84 Tuddenham F.C

References

External links League website Wickhambrook F.C.