The Suffolk County Football Association is the governing body for

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

in the county of

Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

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 union: 15 players per side *** American flag rugby *** Beach rugby *** Mini rugby *** Rugby sevens, 7 players per side *** Rugby tens, 10 players per side *** Snow rugby *** Tou ...

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. It is currently owned by the Newsquest Media Group, part of the American Gannett Company. History The Essex County Standard was founded in January 1831, the ...

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 football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The club currently competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. Ipswich Town were founded in 1878 but did not turn ...

Ipswich School Ipswich School is a public school (English fee-charging boarding and day school) for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. North of the town centre, Ipswich School has four parts on three adjacent sites. The Pre-Prep and Nur ...

, Ipswich Rangers, Cowell's Club (

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

Stowmarket Stowmarket ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England,OS Explorer map 211: Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton A2 edition. Publishing Date:2008. o ...

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 meeti ...

, Bury School, Beccles College, Sudbury Town,

Framlingham College Framlingham College is a public school ( boarding and day school) in the town of Framlingham, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. Together with its preparatory school and nursery at Brandeston Hall, it serves pupils from 3 to 18 years of age ...

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

; 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 (currently known as the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination for sponsorship reasons) is an English association football, football league that operates in East Anglia. The league specifically covers Norfolk and northern ...

** *

Suffolk and Ipswich League The Suffolk and Ipswich Football League is a 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 and C) for reserve tea ...

** *

Essex and Suffolk Border Football League The Essex and Suffolk Border Football League is a football competition 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 apply f ...

** *Lowestoft and District League * St Edmundsbury 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 ...

.''

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,

Sudbury Sudbury may refer to: Places Australia * Sudbury Reef, Queensland Canada * Greater Sudbury, Ontario ** Sudbury (federal electoral district) ** Sudbury (provincial electoral district) ** Sudbury Airport ** Sudbury Basin, a meteorite impact cra ...

*Suffolk Sixes –

Felixstowe Felixstowe ( ) is a port town and civil parish in the East Suffolk District, East Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England. The estimated population in 2017 was 24,521. The Port of Felixstowe is the largest Containerization, containe ...

, Haverhill &

Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as ''Bury,'' is a cathedral as well as market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk District, West Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St. Edmunds an ...

(Male and Female) *Champion Soccer –

*Raw Soccer –

Lowestoft Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk (district), East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the List of extreme points of the United Kingdom, most easterly UK se ...

*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 St Edmundsbury League)'' *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 association football, football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town F.C., Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers F.C., Sudbury Wanderers, the proc ...

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

Achilles In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus () was a hero of the Trojan War who was known as being the greatest of all the Greek warriors. The central character in Homer's ''Iliad'', he was the son of the Nereids, Nereid Thetis and Peleus, ...

* 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 Haverhill Rovers Football Club are a football club based in Haverhill, Suffolk, England. They are currently members of the and play at the New Croft. History The club was established in 1886. They joined the East Anglian League in 1906, and b ...

* Hadleigh United * Ipswich Wanderers *

* Kirkley & Pakefield *

Leiston Leiston ( ) is a town and civil parish in the East Suffolk (district), East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. It is close to Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, north-east of Ipswich and north-east of London. The town had a population of 5,508 at th ...

Long Melford Long Melford, colloquially and historically also referred to as Melford, is a large village and civil parish in the Babergh district, in the county of Suffolk, England. It is on Suffolk's border with Essex, which is marked by the River Stour ...

* Lowestoft Town * Mildenhall Town *

Needham Market Needham Market is a small town in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, set in the Gipping Valley. Nearby villages include Barking, Suffolk, Barking, Darmsden, Badley and Creeting St Mary. The town is located just east of the A14 road ( ...

* Newmarket Town * 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 * 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