SSFL League History

"A LEAGUE TO BE PART AND PROUD OF"

SSFL - London's fastest growing Sunday football League on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram!

http://twitter.com/SouthernSunday

The Southern Sunday Football League was formed in 1944 as the Second World war was coming to an end. Its first headquarters was the Bulls Head at Clapham Old Town. The four principle founders were Home Guard Captain Jim Sips (Chairman for the first 15 years), Cliff Miller (General Secretary for 24 years), Bert Swift (Attendance Secretary) and Frank Woods, the first president who donated two cups and a shield to start the league.

In 1960 the league moved its headquarters to the Old White Horse on Brixton Road and stayed there for the next 20 years. Marcus Lipton, MP for Brixton donated a cup in 1959, which all teams still play for every season. Frank Blunstone (Chelsea and England) donated a cup in 1964 which replaced the existing senior cup.

In the early 1960's the Southern Sunday Football League, the Sunday Sportsman's League and the Association of Jewish Youth League's led a deputation to the Football Association to have Sunday football legitimised by the FA. Their efforts were rewarded in 1962 when the FA recognised Sunday football leagues which even today account for 70% of all football clubs.

South London has changed considerably over the 70 years since the start of the SSFL but the league continues to prosper.

The SSFL continues to be one of the biggest men's 11-a-side league in London and recently we were awarded the London FA Grassroots League of the Year and attained FA Charter Standard Status. Both are huge achievements for the league and we are very proud to have received some recognition for the tireless work of our league committee members, member clubs and match officials.

In 2021/2022 we have introduced two new divisions and a new cup competition which will increase our divisions to twelve overall.

The new divisions and cup competition will accommodate up to 120 teams which is something that we are very excited to be doing at what is a very difficult time for all in football and as society in general.

We wish both new and existing teams a fantastic season!