The Anglian Combination (currently known as the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination for sponsorship reasons) is an English football league that operates in East Anglia. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern Suffolk, with rules stating that clubs should be within a 50-mile radius from the centre of Norwich.http://resources.thefa.com/images/ftimages/data/league4780817/48979.pdf
It consists of 85 teams and has seven divisions – the Premier Division, Division One, Division Two, plus the regionalised Division Three North, Division Three South, Division Four North, and Division Four South.
CNSOBU (City of Norwich School Old Boys Union) were the first champions of the Anglian Combination in 1965, winning the Senior A Division in the league's transitional season. Blofield United is the most successful club in the Anglian Combination's history, with six top division league titles, while Acle United and Wroxham have won the most consecutive titles, with both clubs winning the Anglian Combination four times in succession.
History The league was formed in 1964, as a merger of the East Anglian League and the Norfolk & Suffolk League (established 1897) and had a transitional season in 1964–65 before settling down to a regular format for the 1965–66 season of four divisions for first teams and three for reserves. A further division for first teams was added for 1966–67, and that format remained unchanged until the previously separate reserve divisions incorporated into the main structure for the 2003–04 season. The winners of the Premier Division are also known as the Sterry Cup winners and are eligible for promotion to the Eastern Counties League.
After a league meeting of the Anglian Combination clubs on 9 February 2011, it was decided the Anglian Combination would adopt the FA's Respect programme. This included the practice of all players on the two teams and match officials shaking hands before the game.
Sponsorship From 1992 to 2006, the chartered accountants Lovewell Blake sponsored the league. Dolphin Autos took over sponsorship of the league from 2006 to 2010. Gleave & Associates sponsored the league for one year during 2010–11 season. This was followed by three seasons without sponsorship before the independent financial advisors, Almary Green, agreed to sponsor the league for three years from the 2014–15 to 2016–17 seasons. Hadley and Ottaway were the sponsors from the 2017–18 to the 2020–21 season. Fosters Solicitors announced a new sponsorship partnership in April 2021 and continue to support the league. PeriodSponsor1992–2006Lovewell Blake2006–2010Dolphin Autos2010–2011Gleave & Associates2011–2014No sponsor2014–2017Almary Green2017–2021Hadley and OttawayFosters Solicitors
Format and regulations No more than 80 clubs and 132 teams (first and reserve teams) are to be permitted to the league system. In theory this means that no more than 52 clubs can have both a first and reserve team competing in the league. No more than one team from a club can play in the same division. The Premier Division and Division One are "senior" divisions, while the rest of the divisions are "junior" divisions. There is a limit of sixteen teams for each division. Some divisions are reduced in size either at the start of the season or during the season because of teams withdrawing either for financial reasons or a lack of players. Their places for the next season are taken by teams elected from the feeder leagues. Teams play each other twice, home and away, in a double round-robin format.
In Division One to Division Three, the top two clubs are promoted while the bottom two are relegated. In Division Four, the top two are promoted and the bottom four are relegated. In Division Five, the top two are promoted from each regional division. In the Premier Division, there is no automatic promotion as clubs need to meet the FA's ground grading guide for admission to the Eastern Senior League in order to do so. Only teams finishing in the top two of the Premier Division are eligible for promotion (the runners-up are eligible if the champions decide not to apply for promotion). The bottom two clubs are relegated to Division One. Clubs need to be elected from the feeder leagues below, in order for relegation to occur from the regional Division Fives, providing that there are no places in other divisions in the league to fill due to withdrawals. http://resources.thefa.com/images/ftimages/data/league4780817/48979.pdf
There are some interesting rules in the Anglian Combination. Unlike professional leagues, no team or goalkeeper is allowed to wear black or very dark shirts. This is because referees' kits in this division are all black, compared to professional leagues in which referees wear different coloured kits where appropriate. Another rule of interest is that matches can be less than 90 minutes (but no less than 70 minutes), although this rule only comes into play if the two team captains and referee agree prior to kick-off and it is deemed appropriate for the match to be shorter than 90 minutes. A typical reason that this rule comes into play is for evening kick-offs due to a lack of natural light if the home team's ground does not have floodlights. Similarly, half-time intervals can be less than 10–15 minutes with the consent of the referee.
FA Charter Standard
The Anglian Combination is looking to become a designated FA Charter Standard League. Member clubs had until the end of the 2014–15 season to become an FA Charter Standard club or they face expulsion from the league. New member clubs have one season to achieve Charter Standard status. Players
Any team shall not have more than three players who have played in a more senior cup competition in two of the three consecutive games immediately prior to a league game. Players must be at least 16 years old to play an Anglian Combination game.
Premier Division ground grading
Clubs in the Premier Division are subject to the FA's Ground Grading regulations where they are subject to the regulations of Grade H. Clubs that fail to comply with the regulations by a certain deadline could face expulsion to Division 1 at the end of the season. Every Premier Division club in the 2011–12 competition met the deadline of 31 March 2012 except North Walsham Town. They were given a deadline of 25 June 2012 to raise the funds and complete the work needed to meet regulations. Otherwise, North Walsham Town would have been demoted to Division 1. However, after finding the funds and getting the necessary upgrades done in time, they stayed in the Premier Division for the 2012–13 season, but were relegated at the end of the season.
Current members
Premier Division (Sterry Cup) ClubHome ground2025–26 positionAcle UnitedWar Memorial Recreation Centre, AcleAylshamYoungs Park, AylshamBeccles TownCollege Meadow, BecclesBlofield UnitedOld Yarmouth Road. BlofieldBungay TownMaltings Meadow Sports Ground, DitchinghamCastle Acre SwiftsMassingham Road, Castle AcreEastonSouth Green, MattishallHolt UnitedWoodfield Road, HoltLong StrattonManor Road, Long StrattonNorton AthleticLoddon Road, Norton SubcourseNorwich CEYMSHilltops Sports Ground, SwardestonScole UnitedRansome Avenue, ScoleSprowstonBlue Boar Lane, NorwichThetford RoversEuston Park, ThetfordUEABowthorpe Park, NorwichWatton UnitedDereham Road, Watton
Division One (East Anglian Division One Cup) ClubHome ground2025–26 positionAttleborough TownStation Road, AttleboroughBeccles Caxton Caxton Meadow, BecclesBrandon TownChurch Road, BrandonCaisterAllendale Road, Caister-on-SeaCostessey SportsBowthorpe Park, NorwichDersingham RoversThe Pastures, DersinghamFakenham Town ReservesClipbush Park, FakenhamKirkley & Pakefield ReservesWalmer Road, KirkleyLoddon UnitedGeorge Lane, LoddonNorth Walsham TownGreens Road, North WalshamSwaffham TownShoemakers Lane, SwaffhamTacolnestonWest Way, TacolnestonWatlingtonThe Rabbit Hole, School Road, Runcton HolmeWaveneySaturn Close Sports Ground, LowestoftWells TownBeach Road, Wells-next-the-SeaYelvertonGarrick Field, Yelverton
Division Two (Allerton Cup) ClubHome ground2025–26 positionBeccles Town ReservesCollege Meadow, BecclesDussindale & Hellesdon Rovers ReservesThe Nest, NorwichEast HarlingChurch Road, East HarlingFeltwell UnitedPaynes Lane, FeltwellGreat Yarmouth Town ReservesBeaconsfield, Great YarmouthHempnallBungay Road, HempnallHorsford Holt Road, HorsfordLong Stratton ReservesManor Road, Long StrattonMarshland SaintsSmeeth Road, Marshland St JamesMartham5 Star Landscapes Ground, MarthamMulbarton Wanderers ReservesMulberry Park, MulbartonMundfordThe Glebe, MundfordStalham TownRivers Park, StalhamSwaffham Town ReservesShoemakers Lane, SwaffhamSWFC LingwoodStation Road, Lingwood
Division Three North ClubHome ground2025–26 positionAFC LynnLeonard Towler Playing Field, Wiggenhall St GermansAttleborough Town ReservesStation Road, AttleboroughBradenham & MattishallHale Road, BradenhamBristonStone Beck Lane, BristonDereham Town DevelopmentAldiss Park, DerehamDersingham Rovers ReservesThe Pastures, DersinghamEaston ReservesSouth Green, MattishallGayton UnitedLime Kiln Road, GaytonHeacham ReservesStation Road, HeachamHolt United ReservesWoodfield Road, HoltKLSCkings Way Playing Field, King's LynnNorth Walsham Town ReservesGreens Road, North WalshamTerrington TigersChurchgateway, Terrington St ClementUEA ReservesFDC Open 3G, Norwich
Division Three South ClubHome ground2025–26 positionAC Mill LaneMill Lane Playing Fields, BradwellBlofield United ReservesOld Yarmouth Road, BlofieldBohemiansNew Road Sports & Leisure Centre, BeltonBungay Town ReservesMaltings Meadow, DitchinghamCaister ReservesAllendale Road, Caister-on-SeaCorton & Carlton ColvilleMills Drive, CortonEarshamThe Street, EarshamFC SteamersLaundry Lane, ThorpeHethersett AthleticMemorial Playing Field, HethersettNorwich CEYMS ReservesHilltops Sports Ground, SwardestonShrublandsSouthtown Common, GorlestonSprowston ReservesBlue Boar Lane, NorwichWaveney ReservesSaturn Close, LowestoftWymondham TownKings Head Meadow, Wymondham
Division Four North ClubHome ground2025–26 positionAylsham ReservesYoungs Park, AylshamFakenham Town DevelopmentClipbush Park, FakenhamGayton United ReservesLime Kiln Road, GaytonIngoldisthorpeThe Drift, IngoldisthorpeKLSC ReservesKings Way Playing Field, King's LynnMadra Hall Lane, KnaptonNorth ElmhamHolt Road, North ElmhamReffley YouthRiver Lane, King's LynnRuntonCromer Road, East RuntonThorpe VillageLaundry Lane, ThorpeWatlington ReservesThe Rabbit Hole, School Road, Runcton HolmeWatton United ReservesDereham Road, WattonWells Town ReservesBeach Road, Wells-next-the-SeaWoottonsCranmer Avenue, North WoottonWroxham DevelopmentTrafford Park, Wroxham
Division Four South ClubHome ground2025–26 positionBeccles Caxton ReservesCaxton Meadow, BecclesBeltonNew Road Sports & Leisure Centre, BeltonCorton & Carlton Colville ReservesMills Drive, CortonFilby WanderersFlegg High School, MarthamGorleston DevelopmentLynn Grove Academy, GorlestonGreat Yarmouth Town DevelopmentBeaconsfield, Great YarmouthKirkley & Pakefield U23Walmer Road, KirkleyLoddon United ReservesGeorge Lane, LoddonMartham Reserves5 Star Landscapes Ground, MarthamNorton Athletic ReservesLoddon Road, Norton SubcourseRockland UnitedGreen Lane, AttleboroughSouthwold TownYork Road, SouthwoldTacolneston ReservesWest Way, TacolnestonWymondham Town ReservesKings Head Meadow, WymondhamYelverton ReservesGarrick Field, Yelverton
Anglian Combination winners
1964–65 For the league's first "transitional" season, the members of the amalgamating leagues were split into three tiers, "Senior", "Junior" and "Reserves". Each of these three tiers was split into two parallel divisions, designated simply "A" and "B".
SeasonSenior ASenior BJunior AJunior BReserves AReserve B1964–65C N S O B UDereham TownYork AthleticSouthwold TownGothic ReservesHenderson Reserves
1965–2003