Central Alliance

The Central Alliance was a football league in England, covering the East Midlands.

Central Alliance
Founded1911
First season1911–12
Folded1985
CountryEngland
Domestic cup(s)FA Cup

History

The league was established in 1911 with twelve clubs, most of which had previously been members of the Notts & Derbyshire League; Derby County Reserves, Grantham, Grantham Avenue, Ilkeston United, Long Eaton St Helens, Mansfield Mechanics, Mansfield Town, Nottingham Forest Reserves, Peterborough GN Loco, Sutton Junction, Sutton Town and Walsall Reserves.[1]

Following the outbreak of World War I the league was played in two series in 1915–16, with the nine clubs playing each other once; however, three clubs dropped out before the second series, and the remaining six only played nine or ten matches before the league was abandoned.[1] It restarted in 1919–20.[1] However, at the end of the 1924–25 season the league was dissolved, with five clubs joining the Midland League, three joining the Derbyshire Senior League and one joining the Leicestershire Senior League.[1]

In 1947 the league was re-established with 14 clubs.[2] By 1950 it had expanded to the extent that a second division was added.[2] A third division was added in 1956, with Division One split into North and South sections, above Division Two.[2] This system remained in place until 1961 when several clubs moved to the reformed Midland League, and the league reverted to two divisions,[2] a Premier Division and Division One. The following season Division One was divided into A and B sections.[3] However, the two were combined for the 1963–64 season.[3]

The league lost all but four of its Premier Division clubs to the new East Midlands Regional League in 1967. The two leagues subsequently merged to form the Midlands Regional Alliance in 1985.

Divisional champions
Season Champions
1911–12Derby County Reserves
1912–13Long Eaton St Helens
1913–14Shirebrook
1914–15Notts County Reserves
League abandoned during World War I
1919–20Mansfield Town
1920–21Leicester City Reserves
1921–22Leicester City Reserves
1922–23Leicester City Reserves
1923–24Alfreton Town
1924–25Grantham
Competition abolished
1947–48Nottingham Forest 'A'
1948–49Whitwick Colliery
1949–50Linby Colliery
SeasonDivision OneDivision Two
1950–51Sutton Town
1951–52Ilkeston Town
1952–53Ilkeston Town
1953–54Ilkeston Town
1954–55Ilkeston Town
1955–56Ransome & MarlesCreswell Colliery Reserves
SeasonDivision One NorthDivision One SouthDivision Two
1956–57Heanor TownSkegness TownHeanor Town Reserves
1957–58Heanor TownSkegness TownSutton Town Reserves
1958–59Belper TownLong Eaton UnitedHeanor Town Reserves
1959–60Matlock TownBourne TownMatlock Town Reserves
1960–61Matlock TownSkegness Town ReservesRansome & Marles
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
1961–62Boston UnitedIlkeston Town Reserves
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One ADivision One B
1962–63Arnold St Mary'sLong Eaton United ReservesArnold St Mary's Reserves
SeasonPremier DivisionDivision One
1963–64Eastwood TownDerby County 'A'
1964–65Gresley RoversCreswell Colliery
1965–66BostonGrantham St John's
1966–67Gresley RoversMeadows Old Boys
1967–68Derby Roe Farm Athletic
1968–69Littleover Old BoysSt Helens United
1969–70Radcliffe OlympicClifton All Whites Reserves
1970–71Graham Street PrimsHucknall Miners Association
1971–72Heage United
1972–73Hucknall Miners AssociationGreenwood
1973–74Derby Roe Farm Athletic ReservesRuddington Village
1974–75FairhamNew Villa
1975–76AttenboroughBirnam Sports
1976–77
1977–78Derby Carriage & Wagon
1978–79
1979–80Priory
1980–81Radcliffe Olympic
1981–82Slack & Parr
1982–83
1983–84
1984–85

References
  1. The Central Alliance 1911–1925 Non-League Matters
  2. The Central Alliance 1947–1962 Non-League Matters
  3. The Central Alliance 1962–1976 Non-League Matters
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