The Inter-Club League

On Monday 12 September 1949 the LCBA Committee agreed to run 'an eight-a-side LEAGUE run on an inter-CLUB basis.' Subsequently both Mrs Cole and Mr Alton offered to give trophies for this competition. The committee accepted the offer of Mrs Cole. The shield she provided, inscribed "Inter-Club League" "Presented by Mrs O J B Cole", was the League Trophy for the first season, and in 1949-50 and thereafter the Division 1 Trophy.

Ten teams contested the first league, playing a single round robin with 2 - 0 points for a win - loss, by 110 aggregate plus, and 1 - 1 if the difference was 100 aggregate or less. Two clubs tied with 16/18 and there was a play-off.

More clubs wanted to play in the second season; two divisions were created, with double round robins (as now) and clubs were allowed to enter a second team. The joint second division winners gained promotion.

Division 2 Winners from 1950
Mr Alton then provided a Division 2 Trophy "Presented by N Alton Esq." first played for in 1951-52.

This two division structure served the needs until the mid-sixties when the league was re-organised into three divisions for the season 1965-66 and despite initially strong opposition the management provided a genuine league programme including a schedule of dates.

Division 3 Winners from 1965
The trophy for the new Division 3 is inscribed "Presented by Mrs Fabian Jackson."

An inscription on the 'aesthetically unusual' Division 4 Trophy indicates the existence of a fourth division in 1968-69, although official records refer only to Gordon Broad the then Secretary agreeing to provide such a trophy for presentation at the end of the following season.

Division 4 Winners from 1968

In any event rapid growth continued with a fifth division starting in 1970-71 and a sixth in 1972-73. By 1976-77 there were in total 55 teams in the six divisions.

Division 5 Winners from 1970

Division 6 Winners from 1972
A decision was made to have a Division 7 for 1977-78, but before this took effect a subsequent change of mind led instead to the lowest three divisions being replaced by a regionalised fifth division split into East, North & West sections.

[Further research is awaited]