timbo
Programmes Room Manager 
QUO fan 4life.
Posts: 2,432
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Post by timbo on Jul 16, 2010 7:15:18 GMT
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Post by stefano on Jul 17, 2010 6:12:42 GMT
I noticed in this 1955 programme that the reserves were playing in Division 2 of the Western League.
In the 1960's / early 70's the Western League consisted of only one division before re-introducing a second division in the 1970's (Premier / Division 1). I hadn't realised until seeing this that it was a re-introduction, I thought it was the first time the league had had two divisions.
Does anybody know whether in the 1950's it was Division 2 of 2, and when and why the Division 2 ceased to exist?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2010 8:13:56 GMT
I noticed in this 1955 programme that the reserves were playing in Division 2 of the Western League. In the 1960's / early 70's the Western League consisted of only one division before re-introducing a second division in the 1970's (Premier / Division 1). I hadn't realised until seeing this that it was a re-introduction, I thought it was the first time the league had had two divisions. Does anybody know whether in the 1950's it was Division 2 of 2, and when and why the Division 2 ceased to exist? Ferreting through the records, it’s the case that the Western League has actually been a two-division set-up for the greater part of its history which stretches back to 1892. There were nine clubs in the league’s first season and a second division was in place for 1893/94 prior to the league changing its name from the Bristol & District League to the Western League in 1895. Then, from 1900 to 1909, the league’s two sections were split on professional and amateur lines with clubs such as – wait for it – Portsmouth, Millwall, Spurs, QPR, Reading, Southampton, Brentford, Fulham and Luton in membership at various times. The professionals – with just a handful of reserve sides remaining - moved on and the Western League reverted to a single division until WW1. Then, aside from a few seasons in the 1920s there were two sections for most of the period between the wars and through until 1960. Indeed, 1949/50 even saw three divisions. The single division constitution – of Stefano’s youth – lasted from 1960 to 1976 with a low-point of just fourteen clubs in 1971/72. A second division, complete with Torquay United Reserves, was introduced in 1976 and has remained in place ever since. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2010 9:24:25 GMT
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Post by stefano on Jul 17, 2010 10:54:36 GMT
Thanks Barton most interesting.
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