The Delphian League was an English amateur football league covering Greater London and the surrounding area.
History The league was founded on 14 March 1951 after a number of clubs who had been unable to join the 'big three' amateur leagues - the Athenian League, Isthmian League and Corinthian League - decided to create their own league. While the initial meeting was attended by representatives from 22 clubs, only 14 were elected for the league's initial season.
The league was, effectively, a level below the Corinthian League.The Delphian League 1951-1963 Non League Matters
Due to the severe winter during the 1962–63 season the league was abandoned and an emergency competition played in which the clubs were split into two groups, playing each other only once. The two champions, Edmonton and Hertford Town, met in a two-legged final, with Edmonton winning 5–2.
At the end of the 1962–63 season both the Delphian League and the Corinthian League merged into the Athenian League, with the Corinthian League clubs forming Division One and Delphian League clubs forming Division Two.
From 1956, members of the league also competed in the Delphian League Cup.
List of champions SeasonChampions 1951–52Brentwood & Warley1952–53Dagenham1953–54Aylesbury United1954–55Bishop's Stortford1955–56Dagenham1956–57Dagenham1957–58Letchworth Town1958–59Brentwood & Warley1959–60Brentwood & Warley1960–61Hertford Town1961–62Hertford Town1962–63Edmonton
Member clubs During its twelve-season history, the league had 28 member clubs:
Aveley Aylesbury United Berkhamsted Town Bishop's Stortford Brentwood & Warley Cheshunt Dagenham
Edmonton Harlow Town Harrow Town Hemel Hempstead Town Hertford Town Histon Hornchurch & Upminster
Leatherhead Letchworth Town Rainham Town Slough Centre Stevenage Town Tilbury Ware
Wembley Willesden Windsor & Eton Wingate Wokingham Town Woodford Town Yiewsley
See also List of Delphian League seasons
References