The Suffolk County Football Association is the governing body for

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 ...

in the county of

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowes ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Football in Suffolk before formation

Before the formation of the Suffolk County football Association, the county lacked both a

and a

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

association. However, this is not to say that before 1885 there was no desire for one, for an unsuccessful call for an Eastern Counties Football Association was projected from the

Essex Standard The ''Essex County Standard'' is a weekly newspaper, published in Colchester, Essex. In August 2019 Newsquest announced it would no longer subscribe to the Audit Bureau of Circulation, the body that provides independently verified circulation f ...

in 1881. Furthermore, on 3 November 1883, a columnist of the ''Ipswich Journal'' announced that "An Eastern Counties Football Association is an institution so much needed that if volumes were to be written nothing more conclusive could be said in its favour than it would give a ''locus standi'' to the game, which would cause it to be followed with far more vigour than at present."

History

Suffolk FA was formed in 1885 and had eleven founder member clubs, they were, Ipswich Association (now

Ipswich Town Ipswich Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. They play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn profession ...

), Ipswich School, Ipswich Rangers, Cowell's Club (

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line r ...

), Stowmarket,

Bury Town Bury Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club, based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The club are currently members of the and play at Ram Meadow. History Early history The club was established by William Lake at a meetin ...

, Bury School, Beccles College, Sudbury Town, Framlingham College and Woodbridge Town The first President of the Association was The Duke of Hamilton, his presidency ran between 1885 and 1894. There were 41 registered referees shown in the County handbook for the 1903–1904 season, compared with the figure in today's book of over 400. In the same 1903–1904 handbook there are 100 clubs shown, that were affiliated to the Association, compared with today's figure of over 600. Key dates in the history of the Association are provided below: 1898 – In 1898 a County Fixture was held against Aston Villa, who at the time were the previous season's F.A. Cup Holders. The gate receipts for this game was £238 5s. 4d. in comparison the Senior Cup Final of 1905 realised gate receipts of £48 12s. 6d. 1907–14 – The period 1907 to 1914 saw the years of "the split" when there were two associations, one affiliated to the F.A. and the other to the A.F.A. In 1914 the F.A. and A.F.A. effected a compromise which resulted in the association being again a harmonious and united body. 1935 – On 20 March 1935 Suffolk County Football Association held its Jubilee celebration, amongst the guests was Stanley Rouse, later to become Sir Stanley. It was reported in the programme for this celebration that over the previous fifty years the progress on interest in the game had been 'wonderful' and that there was hardly a village which did not possess a football club and that practically each town had its own charity competition. 1946 onwards – Again interrupted by war during 1939–1945 the County F.A. started the era after World War II with J.W. Yallop continuing as Hon. Secretary, a post he held since 1919 and would continue to hold until 1960. In addition to J.W. Yallop the county has only had four other Hon. Secretaries since the Second World War, E.A. Brown, B.A.H. Collings, W.M. Steward and Martin Head. E.A. Brown was made a life member of this association in 1980 and its president in 1986. 1985 – A Centenary Banquet was held at Ipswich Moat House on 30 September 1985 to celebrate its 100th birthday. Sir Stanley Rous, C.B.E., Hon. President of FIFA and Hon. Vice-President of the Football Association, proposed the toast to the SCFA. 2000 – The Suffolk County Football Association became a Limited Company in 2000. 2001 – For the first time in its history in April 2001 the County F.A. appointed two full-time employees, namely Will Cook, County Development Officer and James Payne, Clerical Officer, and both gentlemen were installed at the new County FA office at Felaw Maltings in

. 2003 – In April 2003, the Association moved its headquarters to purpose built offices in Stowmarket; which were officially opened by FA Vice-Chairman Ray Kiddell. 2003 – In July 2003, Martin Head became the first salaried Secretary in the Association's history. 2005 – Suffolk defeated Hampshire 2 – 1 at Portman Road, Ipswich in 2005 to win the FA County Youth Cup. This was actually the county's first ever Cup Final appearance. 2006 – In 2006, all disciplinary administration transferred from volunteers to staff at the Association's HQ. 2007 – Suffolk's 2nd FA County Youth Cup Final appearance was in April 2007. Suffolk drew 1 – 1 with West Riding after extra time at Valley Parade, Bradford. However, West Riding won the match 4 – 3 on penalties. Today the Association is served by President G.S. Blake (elected in 2001) and Chairman David Porter in addition to the board of Directors, Honorary Officers and the members of Council.

Football Development

The Suffolk FA is committed to developing the game at every level. The aim of the development team is to make a positive difference within football, and to give everyone the opportunity to access quality football opportunities and experiences to fulfil their potential. They are keen to develop partnerships to promote the benefits of football and improve the facilities where football is played.

Governance

Football Services is a core function of the County Football Association. This involves the day-to-day running of key areas such as the administration of clubs, leagues and referees along with the running of the discipline process, County Competitions and our representative teams. The Suffolk FA Football Services Department offers advice on all aspects and all questions no matter how trivial they may seem.

Affiliated Leagues

Men's Saturday Leagues

Anglian Combination The Anglian Combination (known as the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination under the terms of a sponsorship deal) is an English football league that operates in the East Anglia area. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern Suffolk ...

** *

Suffolk and Ipswich League The Suffolk and Ipswich Football League is a association football, football competition based in Suffolk, England. The league has a total of eight divisions; the Senior Division and Divisions 1–3 for first teams, three divisions (Leagues A, B ...

** *

Essex and Suffolk Border Football League The Essex and Suffolk Border Football League is a football competition based in England. The league has a total of four divisions headed by the Premier Division which sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System. The top club may a ...

** *Lowestoft and District League *

St Edmundsbury League The St. Edmundsbury Football League was a association football, football competition based around the town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England. At various points it had up to four divisions and sits at level 18 of the English football league ...

** ''Footnote: **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 ...

.''

Youth Leagues

Ipswich and Suffolk Youth LeagueSouth Suffolk Youth LeagueNorfolk and Suffolk Youth LeagueSuffolk WAYS League

Men's Sunday Leagues

Bury and District Sunday Football LeagueIpswich and District Licensed Trades LeagueIpswich Sunday LeagueLowestoft Sunday LeagueSudbury and District Sunday League

Ladies and Girls Leagues

Suffolk Girls and Women's League

Other Leagues

Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League

Small Sided Leagues

*Premier Fives – Chantry, Cornard, Hadleigh,

, Stowmarket &

Sudbury Sudbury may refer to: Places Australia * Sudbury Reef, Queensland Canada * Greater Sudbury, Ontario (official name; the city continues to be known simply as Sudbury for most purposes) ** Sudbury (electoral district), one of the city's federal e ...

*Suffolk Sixes –

Felixstowe Felixstowe ( ) is a port town in Suffolk, England. The estimated population in 2017 was 24,521. The Port of Felixstowe is the largest container port in the United Kingdom. Felixstowe is approximately 116km (72 miles) northeast of London. His ...

, Haverhill &

Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as Bury, is a historic market town, market, cathedral town and civil parish in Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – ...

(Male and Female) *Champion Soccer –

*Raw Soccer –

Lowestoft Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the most easterly UK settlement, it is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and sou ...

*Prostar Leagues –

Disbanded or Amalgamated Leagues

A number of leagues that were affiliated to the Suffolk County FA have disbanded or amalgamated with other leagues including: * Bury and District League ''(became the

)'' *East Anglian League ''(amalgamated with the Norfolk and Suffolk League in 1964 to become the

)'' *Eye and District League *Felixstowe & District Junior League ''(now known as the South Suffolk Youth League)'' *Ipswich & District League ''(became the

)'' *Ipswich and District Sunday Youth League ''(merged with the Suffolk and Essex Youth Combination to become the Ipswich and Suffolk Youth League)'' *Ipswich Boys Combination (became the Ipswich & District Sunday Youth League) *Norfolk and Suffolk League ''(amalgamated with the East Anglian League in 1964 to become the

)'' *North Suffolk League *Stowmarket and District League *Suffolk and Essex Youth Combination ''(merged with the Ipswich and District Sunday Youth League to become the Ipswich and Suffolk Youth League)'' *Waveney Youth League *West Suffolk Football League

Affiliated Member Clubs

Among the notable clubs that are (or were at one time) affiliated to the Suffolk County FA are: *

AFC Sudbury Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury is a football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers, the process giving rise to the name Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury. ...

''(merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers)'' *

Achilles In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...

* Beccles Town * Brantham Athletic ''(formerly Brantham & Stutton United)'' * Bungay Town *

* Cornard United * Crane Sports * Debenham Leisure Centre * Felixstowe & Walton United ''(merger of Felixstowe Town and Walton United)'' * Framlingham Town * Haverhill Rovers * Hadleigh United * Ipswich Wanderers *

* Kirkley & Pakefield *

Leiston Leiston ( ) is an English town in the East Suffolk non-metropolitan district of Suffolk, near Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, about from the North Sea coast, north-east of Ipswich and north-east of London. The town had a population of 5,508 at the ...

* Long Melford *

Lowestoft Town Lowestoft Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club from Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. They are currently members of the and play at Crown Meadow. History The club was established in 1887 as Lowestoft F.C. by a merger of East Suf ...

* Mildenhall Town *

Needham Market Needham Market is a town in Suffolk, England. The town of Needham, Massachusetts, was named after Needham Market. History It initially grew around the wool combing industry, until the onset of the plague, which swept the town from 1663 to 1665. ...

Newmarket Town Newmarket Town Football Club is a football club based in Newmarket, Suffolk, England. Affiliated to the Suffolk County FA, they are currently members of the and play at Cricket Field Road. History The club was formed at a meeting at the Star ...

* Ransomes Sports ''(formerly Orwell Works and RSSC Ransomes)'' * Stowmarket Town * Sudbury Town ''(merged with Sudbury Wanderers to form

)'' * Sudbury Wanderers ''(merged with Sudbury Town to form

)'' * Team Bury *

Walsham-le-Willows Walsham le Willows is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district, in Suffolk, England, located around 3 miles (4 km) south-east of Stanton. Queen Elizabeth I granted Walsham le Willows to Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Great ...

* Whitton United * Woodbridge Town

County Cup Competitions

The Suffolk County FA run the following Cup Competitions: *

Suffolk FA Premier Cup The Suffolk Premier Cup is the top level football cup competition organised by the Suffolk FA. It is currently open to clubs competing at the Eastern Counties League Premier Division level and above. Suffolk's only professional football club, Ips ...

* Suffolk FA Senior Cup *Suffolk FA Senior Reserve Cup *Suffolk FA Junior Cup *Suffolk FA Primary Cup *Suffolk FA Sunday Cup *Suffolk FA Sunday Shield *Suffolk FA Sunday Trophy *Suffolk FA Veterans Cup *Suffolk FA Women's Cup *Suffolk FA Boys U15 Minor Cup *Tesco Suffolk FA Boys U13 Cup *Tesco Suffolk FA Girls U16 Cup *Tesco Suffolk FA Girls U14 Cup *Ipswich Inter-Firm Cup Source

Suffolk Premier Cup

The Suffolk Premier Cup is a county cup competition involving senior teams affiliated to the Suffolk County Football Association.

Suffolk Senior Cup

The Suffolk Senior Cup is a county cup competition involving senior teams affiliated to the Suffolk County Football Association.

List of Suffolk Junior Cup Winners

Source:

List of Suffolk Primary Cup Winners

Source:

List of other Suffolk Cup Competition Winners

Source

Directors & Officials

Board of Directors

* Gordon Blake (President) * David Porter - Chairman * Jon White - Finance Director * Laura Smith- Chief Executive * Bruce Badcock * David Steward * Andy Wilding

Key Officials

*Laura Smith (Chief Executive) *Chris Walsh (County Development Manager) *Jairo Marin (Football Services Manager) *Colin Hills (County Referee Development Manager) * Jim Hill (County Welfare Officer)

References

External links

* {{County Football Association County football associations Football in Suffolk Sports organizations established in 1885