Combined Counties League Premier Division South

The Combined Counties League Premier Division South, is essentially ‘twinned’ with its ‘sister’ league, the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and similarly is classed as one of the most prestigious leagues on the Step 5 tier of the English football pyramid.  It sits above the Combined Counties League Division One at Step 6.

Covering Surrey, Hampshire and parts of London, it focuses on the ‘southern’ half, since the club’s restructure that saw the creation of the CCL Premier Division North.

Like its ‘sister’ the league was born from the Surrey Senior League which was formed in 1922 and for over half a century it was the definitive league for clubs in the leafy suburbs and industrial areas of Surrey. After a brief rebrand to the Home Counties League in 1978, a year later in 1979, the Combined Counties League launched.

Over the decades, the ‘south’ region of the league has long been considered a ‘breeding ground’ for clubs that went on to become notable professional clubs, including AFC Wimbledon.

Key Information About The CCL Premier Division South

Following the split into two leagues (north and south) in 2021, the CCL Premier Division South retained a number of core, traditional Surrey sides, while adding a first; a logistical wonder with the Jersey Bulls, who became the first mainland UK league side based in the Channel Islands. An addition, which transformed the division into a unique tactical and travel challenge for every club that was involved.

Similar to its sister league, the CCL Premier Division South has been a consistent producer of FA Vase contenders since its inception with Farnham Town and Badshot Lea and Raynes Park Vale all having considerable success in recent years. Indeed, Farnham Town produced one of the best records in Step 9 football when the club went unbeaten with 31 wins and seven draws over the course of a season.

One of the brighter points of the league is that, over the years, it has had a great reputation in terms of ground grading, with many of its clubs having excellent facilities in place that exceed the requirements.

This has helped to contribute to the sterling reputation of the league and one of the reasons why it is so well-regarded among many of the country’s County Football Associations.

It is fair to say that the league has had its fair share of high attendances over the years, with the game between AFC Wimbledon and Sandhurst Town in 2003 setting a new record for a crowd at the Step 9 level, hosting 4,657 fans.

Including the Jersey Bulls has also added to the novelty and excitement of the league, with many clubs now taking chartered flights for the away fixture, which has helped to contribute further towards a professional environment in the league.