Sunday league football in England consists of a series of leagues of amateur

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

clubs that play matches on Sundays. Most Sunday leagues across England consist of multiple divisions including promotion and relegation, but are not part of the

English football league system The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in England, with five teams from Wales, one from Guernsey, one from Jersey and one from the Isl ...

. Every Sunday League operates under the jurisdiction of the local county association. Since 1964, all the Sunday Leagues (adult, junior and youth) have been under the auspices of

the Football Association The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the ...

and their clubs are eligible to compete in the

FA Sunday Cup The FA Sunday Cup is a knock-out competition founded in 1964 for English Sunday league football teams. Prior to 1960 The Football Association did not permit clubs or players under its jurisdiction to take part in competitive football played on S ...

and the local county cups.

History

Beginnings

The idea mainly started among young unemployed men in the 1920s in the Greater London area, with kick-abouts taking place in open spaces on Sunday afternoon. Soon, the first matches were organised but under difficult conditions for the players and the clubs: there were no changing rooms, no nets or corner flags and pitch markings. In the early 1930s a large percentage of workers were brought in London from Ireland, Manchester and Wales and these new immigrants formed their own Sunday football clubs.
The first Sunday League to be formed in England was the Edmonton & District Sunday Football League of North London in 1925. The East London Sunday League followed in 1930, the Metropolitan Sunday League in 1934, the West Fulham in 1936 and the Essex Corinthian in 1937.
Despite the fact that businessmen helped the clubs financially the new Leagues could not affiliate to the local County Football Association.

Sunday league football Sunday league football is a term used in Britain and Ireland to describe the amateur association football competitions which take place on Sunday rather than the more usual Saturday. The term pub league may also be used, owing to the number of ...

was not recognised by any County FA and footballers who were under contract by a Saturday side or referees had to play under assumed names or risk being suspended.

FA's hostile stance

Sunday leisure and entertainment activities had long been constrained by successive ''Sunday Observance Acts'' which also prohibited the charging for admission to such events. Additionally, in the religious areas of society it was considered unacceptable to partake in such activities on a Sunday, which was deemed a "day of rest". However, for those fans that worked on Saturdays and supported their local teams later in the day, Sundays were the only days to play football.

The Football Association The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the ...

went along with the traditional view and would refuse to officially recognise Sunday football, and thus place restrictions on it. However, many players and officials used false names when participating on a Sunday.
In August 1939 the FA finally decided to appoint a Sub-Committee to review the situation and potentially recognise

, but the World War II intervened.

Post war

With the parks being turned into anti-aircraft gun sites and with most young people becoming involved in the war effort and going into the services, very little football was played. On 24 September 1943 the Sub-Committee members were actually appointed and of these was Edward "Teddy" Eden, the F.A. Councillor for Birmingham, who was to spend the next 17 years persuading other F.A. Councillors to recognise Sunday football.
After end of the World War II football activities were resumed and

attracted interest again with more London leagues being founded: the Southern Sunday League in 1944, Hackney and Leyton, and Hampstead & District (later renamed to Camden Sunday League) in 1947, Wandsworth and District in 1949 with most matches played at

Hackney Marshes Hackney Marshes is an area of open space in London's Lower Lea Valley, lying on the western bank of the River Lea. It takes its name from its position on the eastern boundary of Hackney, the principal part of the London Borough of Hackney, and ...

. In 1947 the Manchester Amateur Sunday League became the first one to start outside the area of Greater London, while the FA via its Sub-Committee had already made a few recommendations Sunday football restrictions since October 1945. When those recommendations were reviewed in July 1946 it was decided that no changes in the restrictions against Sunday football would be made.
Despite that, large crowds with an attendance of 300 to 400 very common in mid 1940s. Nearly every pub in London used to have and sponsor a football team, while other teams were funded by working men's clubs. Another reason for the creation of Sunday teams was the fact that many amateur football players had work commitments on a Saturday and they could only play football on Sundays. Sunday football's popularity rose rapidly in the 1950s with many more leagues starting to form around England: the Watford Sunday League was founded in 1955, the South Birmingham Sunday League in 1957, the Wolverhampton & District in 1958 and the Middleton & District in 1959.

saw this development as a threat to the ''legitimate'' Saturday football. But, by the late 1950s several Sunday leagues were getting unofficially recognised by the local County Associations. One of the first leagues was the Essex Sunday league which was unofficially recognised by the Essex County FA in 1955. Moreover, many young talents of the time would start of their careers playing

and

Jimmy Greaves James Peter Greaves (20 February 1940 – 19 September 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Greaves is regarded as one of England’s best ever players. He is England's fifth-highest international goalscorer ...

and

Bobby Moore Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore (12 April 1941 – 24 February 1993) was an English professional footballer. He most notably played for West Ham United, captaining the club for more than ten years, and was the captain of the England natio ...

were among them before joining amateur or professional youth sides.
In 1959 the FA announced that any players or referees participating in the Sunday leagues would be banned from the official Saturday football, after noticing that many professionals - including England's and

Wolves The wolf (''Canis lupus''; plural, : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been reco ...

' outside left, Jimmy Mullen were also playing

.
Nevertheless, that announcement resulted in the creation of a national knock-out competition by the Sunday league Committees, the Sunday Cup between teams from the various Sunday leagues in 1960 and soon after

the FA The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world and ...

changed its policy and allowed Sunday leagues to become affiliated to County Associations.

The creation of the national Sunday Cup

The big step that the Committees of the various Sunday leagues across England took was the launch of a national cup competition in the 1960-61 season, similar to the

FA Amateur Cup The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when the Football Association abolished official amateur status. History Following the legalisation of professionalism within footba ...

which had commenced in 1893. The inaugural final saw Walsall Waflers from the Lichfield & Walsall Sunday league facing the Stamford Rovers of the Grantham & District. Forest Gate Mount Athletic from the Essex Sunday Corinthian Sunday League won the next 3 finals until 1964 when

persuaded by Teddy Eden who had become the Chairman of the Committee decided to sanction the competition and rename it to

.
The format under the FA's jurisdiction would change in the 1964-65 season with a new trophy presented to the F.A. by

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , title = Shahanshah Aryamehr Bozorg Arteshtaran , image = File:Shah_fullsize.jpg , caption = Shah in 1973 , succession = Shah of Iran , reign = 16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979 , coronation = 26 October ...

, the King of Iran was allocated to this new revamped competition which was held on a County basis. Counties could enter either a representative XI league side or nominate one of their clubs to represent them. Only London used a nominated club, the Summerstown Athletic from Wimbledon. At the end 16 counties entered the new competition, with

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

(Summerstown Athletic) being crowned the winners against

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

(3-0).

The rise in the 1960s

After the FA allowed all Sunday leagues to be affiliated to the County Associations, there was a rapid increase in the creation of more leagues. Burton & District was founded in 1964, Gloucester & District and the Tameside Sunday League in 1965, Barnet & District, Coventry & District, Bletchley & District, Leamington & District, Nuneaton & District, Sutton & District in 1966, Cheltenham Sunday League and Hyde & District in 1968 etc. That unprecedented boom was also coupled up with England winning the

FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the ' ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament ha ...

in the summer of 1966. A few months earlier, on 26 January 1966, Teddy Eden, died, aged 86, just two days after presiding at what was to be his final Sunday Football committee meeting.

The 1980s

Amateur players continued to also feature in the Sunday league. On several occasions key players for amateur sides picked up injuries sustained whilst playing

and many senior Saturday clubs not only followed suit against the Sunday League, but also encouraged their players to sign professional forms. Such a development would automatically exclude them from playing Sunday league football and it meant that several Sunday League clubs would lose their quality players. The majority of those amateur players eventually signed professional forms and that had a domino effect on some of the smaller Sunday sides of that time, all over the country.

The importance of Hackney Marshes

The

pitch complex was formed in 1946 with some rubble from the Blitz used as part of the sub-surface. The Marshes located in Stratford, East

were divided into north, south, east and west, and at its peak in the 1950s and 60s there were 120 full-size pitches bringing over 2,500 local footballers down to the area every Sunday morning. The number of football pitches was down to 106 by 1990 and the hosting of the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

by London meant that 12 pitches were converted to a car park. There are 88 left today, of which 60 are described as full-size adult pitches.
In 2010

Lionel Messi Lionel Andrés Messi (; born 24 June 1987), also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the ...

had expressed the desire to play at the

and he flew into the spiritual home of English Sunday football via helicopter from London City Airport. Messi was expected to come on as a substitute in a match with amateurs, as part of a publicity stunt by

Adidas Adidas AG (; stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufactur ...

. However the exhibition event was cancelled due to security fears, after being surrounded by fans just moments after stepping out of the helicopter.

21st century: the diversity of the clubs

In the 1950s there were various Sunday teams formed by Irish or Italian immigrants. With the turn of the century the scene has changed. Several new clubs reflect different ethnic backgrounds such as Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Ghanaian, Arabic, Nigerian, Turkish, Caribbean, Brazilian and others. Most of these ethnic teams consist of football players who had previously competed in semi-professional or even professional leagues in their countries before migrating to England. A great example is F.C. Romania a Sunday club that switched to Saturday football and currently plays in the

Isthmian League The Isthmian League () is a regional men's football league covering Greater London, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs. Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, the league now consists of 82 tea ...

Structure

Most of the Sunday leagues have named their first tier as the Premier Division while the Division One was previously considered the top level. Some leagues had even 10 divisions overall in the past (like the Wolverhampton & District in the 1950), while most of them they had up to 8. In the recent years 5 divisions is the most common number, though some Sunday leagues consist of just 2. All the divisions are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. A certain number of the most successful clubs in each division can rise to a higher division, whilst those that finish the season at the bottom of their league can find themselves sinking down a level.
The Sunday leagues are not officially part of the

, but are recognised at various levels by county football associations. They are eligible to enter County Sunday cup competitions (league cups, cups, charity cups etc.) and the

. Sunday clubs may, if they feel they meet the appropriate standard of play and have suitable facilities, apply to join a Saturday league and join the

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...

Finances and costs

has been financially supported to a certain extent by pubs and working men's clubs throughout its long history. But in recent years most clubs are either self-funded with their players contributing to the running costs or partially funded by various sponsors, though there are still quite a few pub clubs. The expenditure per season varies from £1,800 to £2,500, depending on the living standards of each area. The costs could include league affiliation (around £160), insurance and registration fees, pitch fees (up to £500 a year), kit and equipment costs (at least £350), also nets-corner flags-balls (around £200), referee fees (£250 and £500 per year payable by the home team) and fines. The increase of those costs resulted into the demise of many clubs which has drastically brought down the total number of Sunday teams registered in the local counties. A 2015 study commissioned by the FA revealed that 2,360 grassroots football teams had folded in a three year period between 2012 and 2015.

Sunday Leagues by County Association

;London Football Association *Camden Sunday League (1947) - 2 divisions (formerly 8 divisions) *Central London Super Sunday League (2008) *East London Sunday League (1930) *Ford Sunday League *Hackney and Leyton Sunday League (1947) *Inner London League (2001) *London and Kent Border Football League *Metropolitan Sunday League (1934) *North London Sunday League (1985) *Southern Sunday League (1944) *Sportsman's Senior Sunday League (1949) *Wandsworth and District Sunday League (1949) *West Fulham Sunday League (1936) *Woolwich and Eltham Sunday Football Alliance (2006) ;Bedfordshire County Football Association *Bedford and District Sunday League *North Home Counties Sunday League *Leighton and District Sunday League *South Beds Sunday League ;Berks & Bucks Football Association No league, just Sunday Intermediate Cup and Junior cups ;Birmingham County Football Association * Beacon Sunday League (1977) * Burton & District Sunday League (1964) * Coventry & District Intermediate Sunday League (1966) * Coventry & District Premier Sunday League (1966) * Coventry & District Senior Sunday League (1962) * Leamington & Dist Sunday League (1966) * Nuneaton & District Sunday League (1966) * Rugby & District Sunday League * Solihull & District Oakbourne Sunday League * South Birmingham Sunday League & Sunday Premier League (1957) * Sutton & District Sunday Football League (1966) * Tamworth & District Sunday League * Warley Sunday League * Wolverhampton & District Sunday League (1958) - 7 divisions (formerly 10 divisions) ;Cambridgeshire County Football Association *Cambridge & District League ;Cornwall County Football Association *Cornwall Sunday League *West Cornwall Sunday League ;Cumberland Football Association *Carlisle City Sunday League ;Derbyshire County Football Association *Alfreton and District Sunday League *Chesterfield and District Sunday League (1966) *Derby City League - Sunday Morning *Derby Taverners Sunday League (1963) *Long Eaton Sunday League (1970) ;Devon County Football Association *Exeter and District Sunday League *Torbay Sunday League *North Devon Sunday League *Plymouth and West Devon Sunday League *Devon Wednesday League ;Dorset County Football Association *Bournemouth Hayward Sunday League *Blackmore Vale Football League *Weymouth Sunday League ;Durham County Football Association *Consett and District Sunday League *Durham and District Sunday League *Darlington Sunday Morning Invitation League *Hartlepool Sunday League *Peterlee and District Sunday League *Spennymoor Sunday League *Stockton Sunday League *Sunderland Sunday League *Wear Valley Sunday League ;East Riding County Football Associatio *Hull Sunday League ;Essex County Football Association *Braintree & North Essex Sunday League *Brentwood Sunday League *Chelmsford Sunday League *Colchester & District Sunday League *Dagenham & District Sunday League *Essex Sunday Corinthian League - 7 divisions *Essex Sunday Football Combination *Harlow & District Sunday League *Romford & District Churches League *Sceptre Sunday League *South Essex Sunday League *Southend Borough Combination Veterans League *Southend and Basildon Sunday League *Thurrock Association Sunday League ;Gloucestershire County Football Association *Bristol & District Sunday League (1966) *Bristol & Wessex Sunday League (1980) *Bristol Regional League (Sunday) (1963) *Cheltenham Sunday League (1968) - 5 divisions *Gloucester & District Sunday League (1965) ;Hampshire Football Association *Basingstoke & District Sunday League ;Herefordshire County Football Association *Herefordshire Sunday League ;Hertfordshire County Football Association *Barnet Sunday League (1966) *Berkhamsted Sunday League *East Herts Corinthian League (1993) *Hitchin Sunday League (1977) *North London and South Herts League (1985) *Olympian Sunday League – Watford (1972) *Review Sunday League *North West Essex Sunday League *Stevenage Sunday League *Waltham (Sunday) League *Watford Sunday League *Welwyn Hatfield Sunday League ;Huntingdonshire Football Association *Huntingdonshire Sunday League ;Kent County Football Association *Ashford and District Sunday League *Dover Sunday League *Herne Bay and Whitstable Sunday League *Maidstone and Mid Kent Sunday League *Medway Messenger Sunday League *North Kent Sunday League *Orpington and Bromley District Sunday League *Sheppey Sunday League *Thanet Sunday League *West Kent Sunday League ;Lancashire County Football Association *Blackburn Sunday League *Blackpool and Fylde Sunday Alliance *Burnley and District Sunday League *Bury and District Sunday League *Chorley Nissan Sunday League *Harry Dewhurst Memorial Sunday League *Middleton and District Sunday League *Lancashire Evening Post Sunday League *Ormskirk and District Sunday League *Pendle Charity League *Skelmersdale and District Sunday League *South Lancashire Counties League ;Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association *Alliance Football League *Charnwood Sunday Football League *Hinckley & District Football League *Leicester Sunday Football League *Melton & District Sunday Football League ;Lincolnshire Football Association *Boston and District Sunday League *Grantham & District Sunday League *Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Sunday League *Grimsby Intermediate League (Sunday) *Lincoln and District Sunday League *Scunthorpe and District Sunday League *Spalding and District Sunday League ;Liverpool County Football Association *Birkenhead Sunday League *Crosby and District Sunday League *Ellesmere Port Senior Sunday League *Formers League – Sunday Competition *Liverpool Business Houses League – Sunday Competition *Ormskirk and District Sunday League *Skelmersdale and District Sunday League *Southport and District League – Sunday Competition *Wallasey and District Sunday League *Wirral Sunday League ;London FA *Camden Sunday League (1948) *Central London Super Sunday League (2008) *East London Sunday League (1930) *Ford Sunday League *Hackney and Leyton Sunday League (1947) - 5 divisions *Inner London League (2001) *London and Kent Border Football League *London City Airport Sunday League *Metropolitan Sunday League (1934) *North London Sunday League (1985) *Southern Sunday League (1944) *Sportsman's Senior Sunday League (1949) *Wandsworth and District Sunday League (1949) *West Fulham Sunday League (1936) *Woolwich and Eltham Sunday Football Alliance (2006) ;Manchester Football Association *Cheshire and Manchester Sunday League (1971) *Eccles Sunday League (1969) *Hyde & District Sunday League (1968) *Manchester Accountants Sunday League *Manchester Amateur Sunday League (1947) *Middleton and District Sunday League (1959) *Oldham Sunday Football League (1970) *Stockport and Cheadle Sunday League *Tameside Sunday League (1965) ;Middlesex County Football Association *Middlesex County Sunday League ;Norfolk County Football Association *Great Yarmouth Sunday League *King's Lynn and District Sunday League *Norwich and District Sunday League ;North Riding County Football Association *Langbaurgh Sunday League - 3 Divisions *MB Distribution Redcar Sunday League - 2 Divisions *Ian's Cars of Barlby York Sunday Morning League - 4 Divisions *Scarborough and District Sunday League - 3 Divisions *Teesborough Football League - 2 Divisions *Black Sheep Brewery Hambleton Football Combination - 3 Divisions ;Northamptonshire Football Association *Daventry & District Sunday League *Kettering Area Sunday League *Northants Sunday Combination *Northants Sunday Conference *Peterborough & District Sunday League] *Peterborough Sunday Morning League *Rushden & District Sunday League ;Northumberland Football Association *Blyth and Wansbeck Sunday League *Cramlington and District Sunday League *Hexham and District Sunday League *Morpeth Sunday League *Newcastle Central Sunday Afternoon League *North East Sunday League ;Nottinghamshire County Football Association *Nottinghamshire Sunday League ;Oxfordshire County Football Association *Upper Thames Valley Sunday Football League (1980 - Present) ;Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association *Sheffield Sunday League ;Shropshire Football Association *Greenhous Shrewbury and District Sunday League ;Somerset County Football Association *

Bath and District Football League The Bath and North Somerset District Football League was a football competition based in England. Its single division sat at level 14 of the English football league system. It was a feeder to the Somerset County Football League and was affiliat ...

*Blackmore Vale Football League (1914) – Sunday *Bridgwater & District Sunday Football League (1966) *Frome & District Sunday Football League (1968) *Taunton & District Sunday Football League *Weston-Super-Mare Sunday Football League *Yeovil Sunday Football League (1975) ;South Derbyshire Football Association *Burton and District Sunday Football League ;Staffordshire Football Association *Stafford and District Sunday Football League ;Suffolk County Football Association *Bury and District Sunday Football League *Ipswich and District Licensed Trades League *Ipswich Sunday League *Lowestoft Sunday League *Sudbury and District Sunday League ;Surrey County Football Association *Surrey Sunday League ;Sussex County Football Association *SSFL Sussex Sunday League ;West Riding County Football Association *Bradford Sunday Alliance League *Bridge Balti Halifax Sunday Football League *Castleford & District Sunday League *Claro Sunday League *Goole & District Sunday League *Heavy Woollen Sunday League *Kirklees Sunday League *Leeds Combination League *Leeds Sunday Alliance Football League *Leeds Sunday Leagues *Wakefield & District Sunday League *Wharfedale Triangle League ;Wiltshire Football Association *Wiltshire Sunday League ;Worcestershire County Football Association *Worcestershire Sunday League

Sunday League records

*In March 2012, Wheel Power F.C. won 58–0 against Nova 2010 F.C. in the Torbay Sunday League to record what was believed to be the largest victory ever achieved in British football. *On 4 May 2013, Alex Torr scored a hat-trick in world record-breaking 70 seconds in the Rawson Springs - Winn Gardens (7-1), in the Meadowhall Sunday League of Sheffield. Match referee Matt Tyers has confirmed the timings of the goals and admitted he had never seen anything like it before. Torr just three days earlier had notched another treble in just three in a 7-0 win over Penistone Church.

Notable clubs

*Forest Gate Mount Athletic - won 3 Sunday Cups (1962, 1963, 1964) * New Salamis - played in 2 Sunday Cup Finals (2015, 2016) and afterwards switched to Saturday football, playing currently in the

Spartan South Midlands League The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering Hertfordshire, northwest Greater London, central Buckinghamshire and southern Bedfordshire. It is a feeder to the Southern Football League or the Isthmian League, ...

Senrab F.C. Senrab F.C. is a Sunday League football club, based at Wanstead Flats in the Forest Gate district of London, England. It is noted for the high number of professional players who played for the club in their youth. History The club takes its n ...

- produced more than 170 professional players and still compete in the Essex Corinthian League * Albion Sports - won 5 championships in the Bradford Sunday League (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006), played in 2 Sunday Cup Finals (2000, 2005) and afterwards switched to Saturday football, playing currently in the

Northern Counties East League The Northern Counties East Football League is a semi-professional English football league. It has two divisions – Premier Division and Division One – which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football pyramid respectively. History Th ...

* F.C. Romania - switched to Saturday football, playing currently in the

Walthamstow Avenue F.C. Walthamstow Avenue Football Club is an English football club based in Walthamstow in London. Based at Green Pond Road, they played in dark and light blue hooped shirts, and light blue shorts. The club was established in 1900, and were one of t ...

- the oldest club (founded in 1900), won the

and the

Isthmian Football League The Isthmian League () is a regional men's football league covering Greater London, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs. Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, the league now consists of 82 teams ...

3 times each, before joining the

English Sunday League Sunday league football in England consists of a series of leagues of amateur football clubs that play matches on Sundays. Most Sunday leagues across England consist of multiple divisions including promotion and relegation, but are not part of ...

*Stannington Village - won 6 championships in the Sheffield Sunday League (2004, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) *Sheffield Trades & Labour - won 4 championships in the Sheffield Sunday League (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) *Woodhouse George/West End - won 7 championships in the Sheffield Sunday League (1995, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) *Hetton Lions Cricket Club - won a record 4 Sunday Cups (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012) *Carlton United - played in 3 Sunday Cup Finals (1967, 1973,1979), currently playing in the Lowestoft Sunday League *Penn Old boys - one of the longest operating Sunday club, founded in 1958 by 16 year-olds and played in the Wolverhampton & District Sunday League for 40 years until 1998. *Imperial - won a record 7 championships in the Barnet Sunday League *Marshtons Sports FC - won a record 5 championships in the Wolverhampton & District (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996) and played in 3 Sunday Cup Finals (1990, 1992, 1997) *Riverside - won 13 championships in the Watford Sunday League (1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973) *Oakview - won a record 14 championships in the Watford Sunday League (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) *Evergreen - won 9 championships in the Watford Sunday League (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1993) and played in the 1976 Sunday Cup Final *Luton St.Josephs - won 10 championships in the Watford Sunday League (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010) and played in 6 Sunday Cup Finals (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2020) *Monica Star FC - the only Sunday team that has fielded 4 ex-

Premier League The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Foo ...

players in their squad:

Lee Hendrie Lee Andrew Hendrie (born 18 May 1977) is an English former professional footballer and pundit for Sky Sports. As a player, he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Aston Villa where he spent fourteen years. He also play ...

, Paul Devlin,

Darren Byfield Darren Asherton Byfield (born 29 September 1976) is a former professional footballer. He is currently a coach of Crawley Town. Byfield won six caps for Jamaica in 2003, and has scored 110 goals in 484 appearances across all domestic competitions ...

and

Lee Carsley Lee Kevin Carsley (born 28 February 1974) is a former professional footballer who is head coach of England U21. In a playing career lasting 17 years, he is best remembered for his spells as a midfielder in the Premier League and Football Leagu ...

*South East Dons - arguably the most popular Sunday club worldwide with more than 175,000 social media subscribers and international jersey sales. They play in the Orpington & Bromley District League *Birstall Stamford Fc - the most successful team in Sunday league history winning 83 trophy’s domestically with also getting to 4 semi finals and a final (2019) in the Sunday FA cup. They play in the Leicestershire and Charnwood Sunday league.

Notable players

Many players with professional experience before or after joining the league have played for Sunday League clubs. Some of them they were also ex-internationals.

Junior and minor

Lee Bowyer Lee David Bowyer (; born 3 January 1977) is an English football manager and former professional player. As a player, he was a midfielder who featured for Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, West Ham United (two spells), Newcastle United, Birmingha ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham (; born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the current president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Known for his range of passing, crossing ability and bending fr ...

- Hackney and Leyton Sunday League *

Sol Campbell Sulzeer Jeremiah Campbell (born 18 September 1974) is an English professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of club Southend United. He previously managed Macclesfield Town from November 2018 to August 20 ...

- Hackney and Leyton Sunday League *

Jermain Defoe Jermain Colin Defoe (born 7 October 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He also played for the England national team. Defoe began his career with Charlton Athletic, joining their youth team aged 14, be ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Ugo Ehiogu Ugochuku Ehiogu (; 3 November 1972 – 21 April 2017) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre back from 1989 to 2009. He was the coach of the Tottenham Hotspur U23 team until his death in April 2017. He played in the Prem ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Rio Ferdinand Rio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back, and is now a television pundit for BT Sport. He played 81 times for the England national team between 1997 and 2011, and was ...

- Hackney and Leyton Sunday League *

Bedford Jezzard Bedford Alfred George Jezzard (19 October 1927 – 21 May 2005) was an English footballer. Jezzard's teenage years coincided with the Second World War, and he began football as an amateur with Croxley Boys and later Watford, for whom he made th ...

- Hackney and Leyton Sunday League *

Ledley King Ledley Brenton King (born 12 October 1980) is a former player who was a one-club man, spending his entire career at Tottenham Hotspur and playing 323 competitive matches for the club from 1999 to 2012. He is currently a club ambassador for Tot ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League] *

Stuart Pearce Stuart Pearce (born 24 April 1962) is an English professional football manager and former player, who was most recently a first-team coach for Premier League club West Ham United. He was nicknamed "Psycho" for his unforgiving style of play. ...

- Hackney and Leyton Sunday League *

John Terry John George Terry (born 7 December 1980) is an English professional football coach and former player who played as a centre-back. He was previously captain of Chelsea, the England national team and Aston Villa. He was most recently the assi ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Shaun Wright-Phillips Shaun Cameron Wright-Phillips (born 25 October 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He played in the Premier League and Football League for Manchester City, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers, in Major L ...

- Orpington and Bromley District Sunday League *

Bobby Zamora Robert Lester Zamora (born 16 January 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. Zamora began his career at Football League club Bristol Rovers, but was soon signed by Brighton & Hove Albion, where he found first ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Cliff Akurang Cliff Danquah Akurang (born 27 February 1981) is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Barnet. Early life Akurang was born in Accra. Career After prolific spells at Heybridge Swifts and Thurrock, he joined Dag ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Ade Akinbiyi Adeola Oluwatoyin Akinbiyi (born 10 October 1974) is a football coach and former professional footballer. As a player he was a forward who notably played in the Premier League for Norwich City, Leicester City and Sheffield United, as well as ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Jlloyd Samuel Jlloyd Tafari Samuel ( , 29 March 1981 – 15 May 2018) was a professional footballer who played as a defender and midfielder. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, he was raised in England and played for England up to under-21 level. He played two ful ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Simon Ford Simon Gary Ford (born 17 November 1981) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender from 2001 to 2013. Having started his career with Charlton Athletic as a youngster, he transferred to Grimsby Town in 2001. He moved on to Bri ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Muzzy Izzet Mustafa Kemal "Muzzy" Izzet (; tr, İzzet; born 31 October 1974) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Chelsea, Leicester City, Birmingham City. Born in England, he represented the Turkey national team internationa ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League

Youth

- Fulham and District Sunday League (1978–81) * Alex Torr - Meadowhall Sunday League *

Ian Wright Ian Edward Wright (born 3 November 1963) is an English television and radio personality and former professional footballer. He works as a pundit for BBC Sport and ITV Sport. Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal ...

- Orpington and Bromley District Sunday League (until 1984)

During professional career

* Jimmy Mullen - Wolverhampton & District Sunday League *

Zak Ansah Zak Andy Ansah (born 4 May 1994) is an English-born Ghanaian semi professional Association football, footballer who plays for Faversham Town F.C., Faversham Town. Club career Arsenal Ansah, the son of former Southend United F.C., Southend United ...

- Orpington & Bromley District Sunday League (2019-present)

Post-career

- Central Warwickshire (2017–present) *

Paul Gascoigne Paul John Gascoigne (, born 27 May 1967), nicknamed Gazza, is an English former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is described by the National Football Museum as "widely recognised as the most naturally talente ...

- Bournemouth Sunday League (2014–15) *

Tony Hibbert Anthony James Hibbert (born 20 February 1981) is an English footballer, currently playing for French amateur side ES Louzy. Originally a midfielder, Hibbert converted to play at right-back. He spent his entire professional career with Everton, ...

- Skelmersdale Sunday league (2016–18) *

Nile Ranger Nile Ranger (born 11 April 1991) is an English former professional footballer who most recently played as a striker, for Boreham Wood. He is currently a free agent. Previously with Crystal Palace and Southampton, Ranger finished his youth car ...

- Barnet Sunday League (2020–present) *

Liam Ridgewell Liam Matthew Ridgewell (born 21 July 1984) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a defender. He was primarily a centre back but could also play at left back. He is currently a coach for the Portland Timbers. Ridgewell, wh ...

- Sutton and District Sunday League (2020–present) *

Robbie Savage Robert William Savage (born 18 October 1974) is a Welsh former professional Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder, now a association football, football pundit and director of football at club Macclesfield F.C., Macclesfie ...

- Wrexham Sunday League (2013–14) *

Chris Waddle Christopher Roland Waddle (born 14 December 1960) is an English former professional football player and manager. He currently works as a commentator. Nicknamed "Magic Chris", football journalist Luke Ginnell wrote that Waddle was "widely ackn ...

- Lincoln and District Sunday League (2019–present) *

- Central Warwickshire (2017–present) *

- Central Warwickshire (2017–present) * Paul Devlin - Central Warwickshire (2017–18) *

Julio Arca Julio Andrés Arca (born 31 January 1981) is an Argentine former professional footballer, who played as a left-back or central midfielder. Arca spent the majority of his career in the North East of England, firstly for Sunderland from 2000 to 200 ...

- Sunderland Sunday League (2014–15) *

Martin Petrov Martin Petyov Petrov ( bg, Мартин Петьов Петров; born 15 January 1979) is a Bulgarian former footballer who played as a winger. Club career Petrov began his career for Botev Vratsa. After a few good seasons, he signed with CS ...

-Central Warwickshire *

Stiliyan Petrov Stiliyan Alyoshev Petrov ( Bulgarian: Стилиян Альошев Петров, born 5 July 1979) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Petrov joined Celtic from CSKA Sofia in 1999, and won ten trophies in ...

- Central Warwickshire (2014–15) *

Ntinos Pontikas Ntinos Pontikas ( el, Ντίνος Ποντίκας; born 27 February 1982) is a Greek former footballer who played as a striker. He holds the record for the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick. Record On 21 September 1996, Pontikas be ...

- Hackney and Leyton Sunday League (2021–present) *

Ricardo Fuller Ricardo Dwayne Fuller (born 31 October 1979) is a retired Jamaican professional footballer who played as a forward. Fuller started his football career with Jamaican side Tivoli Gardens, before he moved to England with Crystal Palace in February ...

- Potteries and District Sunday League (2018–19)

Notable managers

* David Busst - Central Warwickshire *

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Ray Lewington Raymond Lewington (born 7 September 1956) is an English retired footballer. He was most recently assistant manager of Watford. Born in London, he started his playing career in the city at Chelsea. He went on to play for Vancouver Whitecaps, Wim ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League * Kevin Nolan Sr. - Liverpool and District Sunday League *

Chris Wilder Christopher John Wilder (born 23 September 1967) is an English professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who played as a right-back. He was most recently the manager of club Middlesbrough ...

- Imperial and Meadowhall Sunday League *

Ray Wilkins Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (gra ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League *

Dario Gradi Dario Gradi, MBE (born 8 July 1941) is an Italian-English former amateur football player, coach and manager. He was associated for more than 36 years with Crewe Alexandra, where he was variously manager, director of football and director of the ...

- Essex Corinthian Sunday League

References

External links

{{Football in England table cells League football Non-League football Football leagues in England