LEAGUE IN FOCUS....

The Hackney and Leyton Sunday League

Priding themselves on being one of the most widely recognised Sunday League organisations in the world having played football on the World famous Hackney marshes since 1949 the league currently has five divisions from the Premier down to division four with most matches taking place on the East and South Marshes and Victoria Park. With the advent of 2012 in near-by Stratford part of the development is to temporarily concrete over the East Marsh turning it into a coach park whilst the Olympics takes place. Promises have been made to convert the area back with improved facilities after the games but according to their website the league is yet to be convinced. From 2011 the league will suffer massive disruption with only the South Marsh and Victoria Park available. More information about the development of the East Marsh on:
http://www.clubplan.org/CMS/pageasp?org=2673&name=Olympics9

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23711302-10m-olympics-makeover-for-hackney-marshes.do;jsessionid=472ED02C4199274B19D77BE3DEFAFA9A

The cold end thinks the East Marsh should of been left alone and more space found on the Olympic park for coaches. If the proposed development does go ahead which it is looking likey, it will be a complete travesty if the area is not returned to how it was as the Marshes are an integral and historical part of football in London being synonymous with the grassroots game in the Capital and beyond.

The league contains some strange but brilliantly named teams such as Jay Cubed, FC Big Kahuna, Shoreditch Fire Penguins, Mustard and Wounded Knee.

Match action continues this Sunday with the opening round of 'The Dickie Davies Invitational Cup' which is open to all clubs who compete in the league, Clubs who got to the quarter-finals last season are exempt from the first round. Last season the competition was won by Lapton who also won the Premier Divsion being unbeaten in the league all through the season. They beat 1st Divsion Real Romania in the final who were promoted to the Premier for this season.

Lapton have dominated the league's top division since 06/07 finishing winners every season prior to this they were first division champions in 05/06, second division champions in 04/05, third division champions in 03/04, fourth division champions in 02/03. Lapton are currently joint top of the league with Clapton Rangers. The teams recently played out a 2-2 on the 4th October.

The winners in 2008 were the afformention Clapton Rangers who finished runners-up in the Premier Divsion last season. Prior to this Albion Manor, Hoxton Athletic, Bancroft, Eureka, London Aprilla and AC Eleanor have held the trophy from 2000 onwards.

The fixtures for this Sunday in the competition are (indicates Premier Divsion clubs):

Lancresse Rangers v MSW
Midfield (Hackney) v Bow Young Prince
Hackney Borough v Volker United
Delta v FC Metwin
Red Devils v East London
Cock Tavern v Athletico Angels
Ravenscroft v Mile End
London Aprilia v Clapton Rangers
Comet v Mustard
Hoxton Foxes v Cosmopolitan
FC Big Kahuna v Adam & Eve
Regents Park Rovers v Wenlock Arms
Baris Spor v Eastway Olympia
Lammas v Walthamstow Village
Gascoyne v Maynell
Jay Cubed v FC Lockers
Alpha Grove v Three Compasses
Bancroft United v Shoreditch Fire Penguins
FC Highstone v Mile End Colts
Tottenham Phoenix v FC Storm London
Hare & Hounds v Albion Manor
AFC Knights v Vio Romania

Six Premier clubs are in action with two matches being Premier versus Fourth Divsion as Bancroft United play the Shoreditch Fire Penguins and Red Devils play East London. Wounded Knee are in league action taking on FC Polit in Divsion One.

The cold end is sure there are more than one or two hidden gems turning out on the Marshes every Sunday morning waiting to be discovered by teams in the Ryman League and beyond.

http://www.hackneyandleytonfootballleague.co.uk/