| Abbreviation | LFA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1882 |
| Purpose | Football association |
| Headquarters | Wembley Stadium |
| Location |
|
| Paul Bickerton | |
| Website | www |
TheLondon Football Association (LFA) is the regional Football Association for inner areas ofLondon. The London FA was established in 1882 and is affiliated toThe Football Association. The London FA administers all levels of men's, women's and youth football within its area, a circle 12 miles in radius withCharing Cross at the centre.
The London Football Association (LFA) is unique for the reason that it is the only one founded byThe Football Association. While others were founded to organise football locally around the country, Charles Alcock and Lord Kinnaird, then Secretary and Chairman of The FA, created the London FA to deal with local clubs and competitions while the main body focused on the Laws of the Game and international football matters.
According to theMemorandum on Areas and Overlapping of Associations the London FA covers the area 12 miles from Charing Cross.[1] The association is ‘overlapped’ by a number of its colleague County FA’s:Essex FA,Kent FA,Middlesex FA,Surrey FA and theAmateur Football Alliance.
The first Secretary wasN. L. 'Pa' Jackson who was also serving on the FA Council. He was famous for founding theCorinthians Football Club[2] and is said to be the inventor of the international cap.[3]
The London FA's other claim to fame is thatits representative team was the first ever English team to play in a European final, theInter-Cities Fairs Cup final in 1958 where they lost over two legs toBarcelona.[4] Friendly matches had also been played against foreign opposition after the end ofWorld War II, including annual matches in Belgium.[4]
It has had many headquarters since its foundation in 1882, includingPaternoster Row, St. Mark's College Chelsea,Finsbury Barracks,Leytonstone,Manor Park,Barking, andLewisham. It even stayed temporarily atUpton Park andHighbury during the Second World War, having been bombed out of its previous homes. The current headquarters inFulham were moved into in August 2004. A centenary match for the association was played in 1981 between a London XI and anEngland XI at Highbury, however only 5,000 fans attended.[5][4]
The London Football Association is one of the biggest in the country with just under 1,000 clubs, nearly 1,500 referees and over 30 leagues.
The association has a history of long-serving, dedicated officials. For example, Tommy Kirkup served as Secretary for 44 years between 1903 and 1947. Basil Stallard is by far the longest serving Treasurer having been in that position since 1973. There have been only nine Presidents since 1882, Lionel Seymour being the current incumbent.
In 1922 the London Minor Football Association was founded for youth football. It became the London Youth Football Association and continues to administer youth football in the capital to this day. It did, however, come under the London FA Limited when it incorporated in 2001.
Both the Inner London County Schools Football Association and London Football Coaches Association work in collaboration with the London FA for the mutual benefit of its members. This provides participants in the capital with a complete range of opportunities in football.
In 2022, the London FA relocated its headquarters from Fulham to Wembley Stadium, the home of English football. The move formed part of a wider effort to strengthen its connection with the national game and improve accessibility for staff, partners, and stakeholders. In 2024, the London FA unveiled a new brand identity and strategic plan titledLondon For All aimed at enhancing grassroots football across the capital for the 2024 to 2028 period.[1]
Men's Saturday leagues[edit]
Footnote: No leagues belong to theEnglish football league system. Men's Sunday leagues[edit]
Small Sided leagues[edit]
| Other leagues[edit]
Ladies and girls leagues[edit]
| Youth leagues[edit]
Futsal leagues[edit]
Cup competitions[edit]
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Leagues that were affiliated to the London FA (or FA) but have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues include:
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It is difficult to provide a comprehensive list of those notable clubs that are (or at one time were) affiliated to the London FA. However, by identifying those clubs that have competed in theLondon Senior Cup along with those clubs that are (or were) located in theGreater London area it is possible to establish the following list:
Clubs in thePremier League andThe Football League that have competed in the London FA'sLondon Charity Cup or are located in the Greater London area include:
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Today the London Football Association runs 9 different County Cup competitions:
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The LFA also formerly ran the following competitions:
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The London FA also jointly administers theCapital Women's Cups alongside theSurrey FA, theAmateur Football Alliance and theMiddlesex FA.[8]
Source[7]
| Season | London Sunday Challenge Cup | London Sunday Intermediate Cup | London Sunday Junior Cup | London Veterans Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Livingstone | Sporting Club Tropic | Regent Celtic | |
| 2001–02 | Green Island United | Libra Arms | Black Horse | Reginald Vets |
| 2002–03 | Memorial Sports | Aris | Roebuck | Walthamstow Pennant Vets |
| 2003–04 | St Anselm's | Aris | Mottingham Village | Walthamstow Pennant Vets |
| 2004–05 | Aris | Mehmetcik | Fenerbahce | Walthamstow Pennant Vets |
| 2005–06 | Aris | Albion Manor | Red Star (Camden) | Fisher Athletic (London) |
| 2006–07 | Akincilar | Frenford Sunday | Rolls Park | Baldon Sports |
| 2007–08 | New Salamis | Eureka | Clapton Rangers | Waltham Forest Vets |
| 2008–09 | Baldon Sports | Clapton Rangers | Cetinkaya Cinar | |
| 2009–10 | New Salamis | |||
| 2010–11 | New Salamis | Greengate | Yalova | Livingstone RARA |
| 2011–12 | Eltham Town | |||
| 2012–13 | APOEL UK | |||
| 2013–14 | FC Tripimeni | |||
| 2014–15 | New Salamis | |||
| 2015–16 | Baldon Sports | |||
| 2016–17 | New Salamis | |||
| 2017–18 | New Salamis |
Source[7]
President[edit]
Vice presidents[edit]
| Chairman[edit]
Vice chairman[edit]
Honorary treasurer[edit]
Honorary life members[edit]
|
Board of directors[edit]
| Key officials[edit]
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
