Anyone who moves to London looking for Saturday football soon hears about the Amateur Football Combination. A colleague mentions his Old Boys side. A fixture list shows names like Old Hamptonians and Old Meadonians. Then the questions start. Is it non-league? Is it part of the pyramid? Can anyone actually play?
The confusion makes sense. The AFC sat outside the usual pyramid. It answered to a county FA that had no county. Then, in 2025, it merged into another league entirely.
This guide clears things up. It explains what the AFC was, how its divisions worked and where it fits in English football. It also shows players how to find Saturday amateur football in London today.
AFC quick facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Formed from | Old Boys’ Football League (1907) and Southern Olympian League (1911) |
| Later merger | London Financial Football Association (2006) |
| Governing body | Amateur Football Alliance (AFA) |
| Area | London and the Home Counties |
| Size | Around 75 clubs and 200 teams |
| Season | September to May, Saturday afternoons |
| Current status | Merged with the Southern Amateur League in 2025 |
What Is the Amateur Football Combination?
The Amateur Football Combination was a Saturday league for adult amateur clubs in London and the Home Counties. It was affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance rather than a regional county FA.
At its height, the AFC ran around 75 clubs and 200 teams. It was often described as one of the biggest adult football leagues in Europe. Matches ran from September to May, on Saturday afternoons.
Its members were a real mix. There were Old Boys sides, university clubs, workplace teams, local authority teams and social clubs. Every club was amateur, and nobody was paid to play.
Does the AFC Still Exist?
No. The AFC merged with the Southern Amateur League (SAL) in July 2025. The combined league kept the SAL name.
The merger created what is described as the largest adult football league in Europe. In its first merged season, 2025/26, it had more than 100 member clubs. Those clubs ran around 320 teams across 30 divisions.
So anyone looking for the AFC football league in London today should head to the Southern Amateur League. Most former AFC clubs now play there.
A Short History of the AFC
The AFC was young as a name, but its roots go back more than a century.
The Old Boys’ Football League and Southern Olympian League
The AFC formed in 2002 when two older competitions joined forces. The first was the Old Boys’ Football League, founded in 1907. The second was the Southern Olympian League, founded in 1911.
The old boys football league did what its name suggests. It gave former pupils of London schools a way to keep playing together. Many clubs took their school’s name and added “Old” in front. That tradition explains the many “Old -ians” names on fixture lists.
Old Boys league football has always had a strong social side. Players often stay with the same club for decades.
The London Financial FA Joins (2006)
In 2006, the London Financial Football Association merged into the AFC. That body was itself a merger of two City leagues. The London Banks FA dated from 1900, and the London Insurance FA from 1908.
Bank and insurance clubs joined as a result. The move made the Amateur Football Combination league bigger and far more varied.
The Spirit of Football Campaign
Also in 2006, the AFC launched its “Spirit of Football” campaign. It promoted fair play and respect for referees and opponents. The FA later championed the same ideas nationally through its Respect campaign.
Respect for officials matters even more at this level. There’s no VAR like at the World Cup, so the referee’s call is final.
The 2025 Merger with the Southern Amateur League
By the 2020s, two large AFA leagues were covering much the same area. The SAL had been founded in 1907, the same year as the AFA itself.
Merging the two made practical sense. There would be one league to run and deeper divisions for everyone. From the 2025/26 season, the two leagues became one under the Southern Amateur League name.
How the AFC Was Structured
The AFC used its own internal pyramid. Teams moved up and down between divisions but never left the AFA system.
The AFC Premier Division and Senior Divisions
The AFC Premier Division sat at the top and held the strongest first XIs in the league.
Below it came the senior divisions, split into North and South sections. Senior 1 North and Senior 1 South came first. Senior 2 North and Senior 2 South sat underneath.
Intermediate and Numbered Divisions
The Intermediate divisions came next, again split North and South. Below those were numbered divisions, running from Division 1 to Division 6 in each section.
Most clubs fielded several teams. A club’s first XI might play in a senior division. Its reserves, “A” team and “B” team would play further down. This multi-team model is common across AFA leagues.
Promotion and Relegation
Teams went up by finishing near the top of their division and went down by finishing near the bottom. Splitting the lower divisions into North and South kept travel times sensible.
Final positions work much like they do in the professional game. For a look at how the top flight separates teams level on points, see our guide to Premier League tiebreaker rules.
Winning the Premier Division did not lead anywhere higher. The AFC sat outside the national pyramid, so there was no further step to climb.
Amateur Football Combination Divisions at a Glance
| Level | Divisions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Premier Division |
| 2 | Senior 1 North and Senior 1 South |
| 3 | Senior 2 North and Senior 2 South |
| 4 | Intermediate North and Intermediate South |
| 5 and below | Divisions 1 to 6, North and South |
The exact line-up shifted between seasons. Division counts changed as clubs joined, folded or added teams.
What the Merged League Looks Like Now
In its first merged season, 2025/26, the Southern Amateur League had three main sections:
- Senior section: four divisions.
- Northern section: 11 divisions.
- Southern section: 15 divisions.
The official league website lists the current season’s set-up. Names and numbers can change every summer.
Where the AFC Fits in English Football
This is the part that confuses most people. In short, AFA football runs alongside the main pyramid, not inside it.
What Is the Amateur Football Alliance?
The Amateur Football Alliance is a county FA with no county. Most county FAs cover an area, such as Surrey or Middlesex. The AFA instead looks after amateur clubs, wherever they are based.
That AFA county FA status is unusual in English football.
The AFA began in 1906 as the Amateur Football Defence Council. It became the Amateur Football Association in July 1907 and took its current name in April 1934.
Its heartland is London and the Home Counties, and most AFA football in London is played on Saturday afternoons. The main amateur football alliance leagues today are the Southern Amateur League and the Arthurian League.
AFA vs FA: What’s the Difference?
The AFA broke away from The FA in 1907 over professionalism. The FA required county associations to admit professional clubs, and many amateur clubs refused.
The split lasted until 1914. The FA then agreed that the AFA could keep its amateur policy.
Today, the AFA vs FA question has a simple answer. The FA governs English football. The AFA is one of its county associations, with a strictly amateur focus.
Is AFA Football Part of the Pyramid?
No. AFA leagues sit outside the National League System. A title-winning AFA side cannot move up into semi-professional football.
That is deliberate. AFA leagues exist for players who want competitive football without semi-pro ambitions.
Non-League Football vs Amateur Football
People often mix these two up. Non-league football covers every club below the EFL. Most of it sits inside the English football pyramid. Clubs there can climb step by step, and many pay their players.
Amateur football, in the AFA sense, works differently. Players are unpaid, and clubs stay within their own leagues. Among English football pyramid amateur leagues, AFA competitions stand out because they sit outside it.
Want the full picture? The English football league system sets out every step from the Premier League down.
Notable AFC Clubs
The AFC was best known for its old boys football clubs in London. There was plenty of variety beyond them, though.
Old Boys Sides
An old boys football team is a club formed by former pupils of one school. Many AFC clubs followed this model. Examples include Old Hamptonians, Old Meadonians and Old Minchendenians.
Some of these clubs still keep close school ties, while others welcome anyone. Policies vary, so it’s always worth asking.
University and Alumni Clubs
Old boys and university football often overlap. University alumni football in London has a long tradition. UCL Academicals, for example, won AFC Senior Division 1 in 2010/11.
Clubs like this are among the best football clubs for graduates in London. They offer a ready-made team and a social circle.
Past Premier Division Champions
| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2002/03 to 2006/07 | Old Meadonians (five titles in a row) |
| 2007/08 | Old Aloysians |
| 2008/09 | Bealonians |
| 2009/10 | Albanian |
| 2013/14 to 2015/16 | Old Hamptonians |
| 2022/23 | Dorkinians |
Old Hamptonians dominated the later years. They won the title seven times between 2014 and 2022.
AFC Cups and Competitions
League football was only half the story. AFC clubs also chased silverware in several cups.
The AFA Senior Cup and AFA County Cups
The AFA Senior Cup is the AFA’s flagship competition, contested by AFA-affiliated clubs on Saturday afternoons. The AFA’s cup tradition goes back to 1907, when the Corinthians offered a trophy for a new competition.
Most AFC clubs also entered the AFA county cups. These run at several levels, so lower teams get a fair chance too. For a club’s lower sides, an AFA cup run can be the highlight of the season.
Other Cup Competitions
Almost every AFC club entered the London Old Boys Cups. Depending on location, clubs could also enter Surrey FA, London FA or Middlesex FA cups.
The AFC had a smart fallback as well. In a dry winter, the league programme sometimes finished early. The league then ran its own “Spring Cups” to fill the gap.
The AFC and SAL also met each year for the Steve Langley Cup. The match honoured a former SAL and AFA captain.
Amateur Football Combination Tables, Fixtures and Results
Tables, fixtures and results for the merged league appear on the Southern Amateur League website. They also appear on FA Full-Time, The FA’s official platform for grassroots football.
Records from older AFC seasons are harder to find. Wikipedia’s AFC page lists past champions, and club websites often keep their own archives. The old AFC website is another starting point.
How to Join a Team or Enter a Club
This is where the AFC’s legacy matters most for new players. The merged league offers a huge choice of Saturday football teams in London. Anyone wanting to join a football team in London has plenty of options.
Who Can Play?
Any adult amateur player can take part once a member club registers them. The AFC itself was an adult men’s league. Women players should check the AFA for current options.
Many Old Boys clubs now welcome players with no link to their school. A few may still prefer former pupils. A quick message to the club secretary settles it.
How to Find a Saturday Team in London
- Pick a level. An honest self-assessment helps. A strong former player might aim for a senior side, while a returning player may prefer a lower team.
- Browse member clubs. The Southern Amateur League website lists clubs and their contacts.
- Check the location. The league runs Northern and Southern sections, so pick a club with a ground nearby.
- Contact the club. Many amateur football teams looking for players in London post about it on social media.
- Go to pre-season training. Most clubs start training in the summer, before the September kick-off.
- Register and pay subs. Most amateur clubs charge annual subs, match fees or both.
Entering a New Club
Starting a new club is a bigger job. It needs affiliation to a county FA, usually the AFA for these leagues. It also needs a ground, kit, officials and a reliable squad.
The league then decides whether to accept the application. New teams normally start in the lowest divisions.
Tips for New Players
- Join early. Squads fill up before September, so contacting clubs in early summer pays off.
- Stay flexible. Starting in a lower team is normal. Good form often leads to a first-team call-up.
- Enjoy the social side. Many AFA leagues require home clubs to give opponents and officials food and drink after the match. That clubhouse culture is a big part of the appeal.
- Expect the full game. London has lots of small-sided football. AFA leagues offer proper 11-a-side football in London instead.
- Look beyond Old Boys clubs. Workplace, social and graduate clubs also play in the league.
Ready to play this season? Start with the Amateur Football Alliance and the Southern Amateur League’s club list, then message a few clubs near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AFC football semi-pro?
No. AFC football was strictly amateur. Players were not paid, and clubs could not move up into semi-professional leagues.
What level is AFC football?
AFC football has no official step number, because AFA leagues sit outside the pyramid. The AFC Premier Division held London’s strongest amateur sides. The lower divisions suited casual and returning players.
Who can play in AFC football?
Any adult amateur registered with a member club could play. Some Old Boys clubs may prefer players linked to their school.
How many divisions were there in the AFC?
The AFC ran around 19 divisions, including five senior divisions. The merged Southern Amateur League ran 30 divisions in its first season.
Is the Arthurian League part of the AFC?
No. The Arthurian League is a separate AFA league. Old Etonians and Old Carthusians, both former FA Cup winners, play there.
When does the season run?
The season runs from September to May, with matches on Saturday afternoons.
What other adult football leagues are there in London?
London has many adult football leagues. Options include county FA Saturday leagues, Sunday leagues and AFA leagues. Each county FA lists its affiliated competitions.
Final Thoughts
The AFC shaped London amateur football for more than two decades. It kept the Old Boys tradition alive, welcomed graduates and workplace teams, and championed fair play long before it was fashionable.
The name may have gone, but the football hasn’t. The Amateur Football Combination lives on through its clubs in the merged Southern Amateur League. Keen to get involved? Find a club through the AFA and get your boots on before the next Saturday kick-off.