Aetolian League (football)


The Aetolian League was a short-lived football league in the south east of England. It was established in 1959 after the Kent League folded, leaving a number of clubs without a league to play in. Seven of the founder members were from the Kent League and four from the London League. The league had two divisions, although Division Two consisted mainly of the reserve teams of clubs in Division One; Medway Corinthians and Orpington Athletic were the only two clubs to field a first team in Division Two; Medway joined in 1959 and left in 1961, with Orpington joining in 1960 and remaining until the league folded. As a result of Division Two being largely reserve teams, there was no promotion or relegation between the two divisions.
In 1964 after only five seasons of existence, it merged with the London League to form the Greater London League. This later merged with the Metropolitan League to form the Metropolitan–London League, which in turn merged with the Spartan League and later the South Midlands League to form the modern Spartan South Midlands League.

History

1959–60

Fourteen clubs joined the league for its first season:
Ford United won the League Cup in the 1960–61 season.

1961–62

One new club, Beckenham Town, joined prior to the start of the 1961–62 season.

1962–63

joined from the London League prior to the start of the 1962–63 season.

1963–64

Whistable Town rejoined the league for the 1963–64 season. At the end of the season most clubs joined the newly formed Greater London League.