The Bridgnorth and District Football League (commonly known as the Bridgnorth League) was an association football league in Shropshire, based around the town of Bridgnorth. It was founded in 1925, after a failed attempt to form a league a year earlier. It folded in 1936 due to a lack of teams but was reformed just two years later. It was believed to be the oldest league in Shropshire when it folded in 2001.
Towards the end of its existence it was described as a "starter league for clubs wishing to progress to a higher standard" and having been a "solid grounding for younger players".
History On the evening of Monday 25 February 1924, a meeting was held at the clubroom of Woodman Athletic Football Club to discuss the formation of a Bridgnorth and District League. Eight clubs were represented – Woodman Athletic, St Mary's, St Leonard's, Linley, Highley, Chelmarsh, Eardington, and Glazeley – and apologies were received from several others."Local Football Revival" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 01 March 1924 (page 5) It can be assumed that this league was not formed, as no results are reported.
On Friday 21 August 1925, a meeting was held at the Blue Coat School, described as the new league's "first meeting". The Blue Coat School became the league's headquarters. A silver cup was donated to the league by Rev. Southwell of Chetton, for the league champions, and medals would be given to the individual players."Bridgnorth & District League" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 28 August 1925 (page 11) The league's inaugural champions were St Leonard's, and the cup was presented to them after a 5–3 loss to a "Pick of League" team."Hundred Coals for St Leonard's" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 08 May 1926 (page 4)
In August 1936, it was reported that the league was under threat of folding, with just two clubs present at its annual general meeting."Future of Bridgnorth League" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 15 August 1936 (page 8) Two weeks later, it had become certain that the league would not be played for the 1936–37 season. By July 1937, there had been multiple unsuccessful attempts to reform the league."Secretary's Report" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 23 July 1937 (page 11) In July 1938, the league was reformed, which the league secretary said was thanks to the efforts of Mr. W. Huson."Shropshire F.A.'s 'Spare' Trophy" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 23 July 1938 (page 3)
The league was played throughout World War II.
For the 1972–73 season the league introduced a second division. Wheathill United were the first winners of the new Division Two."Malcolm's cup gift" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 18 April 1973 (page 39) Worfield were Division Two champions in 1973–74 and by 1974–75 the league had reverted to one division.
In 1990 Tom Farmer, chairman of the Wellington League, proposed that local leagues including the Bridgnorth League should feed into the Shropshire County League."New clubs may breathe life into old league" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 09 May 1990 (page 35)
In August 2001, it was reported that the league had just five teams intending to compete for the following season. They were Bridgnorth 2000, Shakespeare, Woodberry '98, Norton, and Claverley. Four more sides had competed in the 2000–01 season and left – Wrockwardine Wood United joined the Shropshire County League, Castle Inn joined the Kidderminster League, and Inter Valley and Worfield both folded."League Lay-off" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 24 August 2001 (page 44) The league did indeed fold, and four of its surviving teams (all bar Norton) joined the Telford Combination for the 2001–02 season."Teams make league move" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 05 September 2001 (page 36) At the time of its folding, it was believed to be the oldest league in Shropshire.
Division One champions
1920s
1925–26: St Leonard's 1926–27: Broseley Victoria? 1927–28: Bridgnorth St Mary's"Bridgnorth League" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 11 May 1928 (page 4) 1928–29: Whitehall Rovers"Whitehall Rovers Football Club" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 08 June 1929 (page 14) 1929–30: Coalbrookdale Old Boys"Bridgnorth and District League" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 09 May 1930 (page 4)
1930s
1930–31: Whitehall Rovers"Bridgnorth and District League" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 18 April 1931 (page 2) 1931–32: St Leonard's"Local Football Gossip" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 23 April 1932 (page 2) 1932–33: Ditton Priors"Bridgnorth and District League" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 29 April 1933 (page 2) 1933–34: Coalbrookdale Old Boys"Football Supper" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 04 May 1934 (page 5) 1934–35: Coalbrookdale Old Boys"Notes on Sports Topics" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 03 May 1935 (page 12) 1935–36: Ditton Priors"Bridgnorth and District League" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 09 May 1936 (page 2) 1936–37: not running"Bridgnorth St Leonard's Football Club" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 29 August 1936 (page 2) 1937–38: not running 1938–39: Bridgnorth St Leonard's"St Leonard's are Champions" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 21 April 1939 (page 11) 1939–40: Posenhall Rovers"Bridgnorth League" - Sports Argus, Saturday 20 April 1940 (page 4)
1940s
1940–41: Madeley C.C."Local Junior Football Topics" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 26 April 1941 (page 4) 1941–42: Madeley C.C."Bridgnorth League Notes" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 23 May 1942 (page 4) 1942–43: Highley M.W."Bridgnorth League" - Shrewsbury Chronicle, Friday 07 May 1943 (page 8) 1943–44: R.A.F. Bridgnorth (1)"End of successful season" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 15 April 1944 (page 4) 1944–45: Alveley M.W."Local football" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 12 May 1945 (page 4) 1945–46: Madeley M.W."Madeley lose only one league game" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 04 May 1946 (page 4) 1946–47: Broseley Athletic"Broseley win league" - Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 03 May 1947 (page 4) 1947–48: Madeley M.W."Bridgnorth League" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 08 May 1948 (page 3) 1948–49: Madeley M.W."Bridgnorth League" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 14 May 1949 (page 7) 1949–50: Stirchley United"Bridgnorth League had Good Year" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 12 May 1950 (page 6)
1950s
1950–51: Much Wenlock"Bridgnorth League" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 19 May 1951 (page 9) 1951–52: R.A.F. Bridgnorth"R.A.F's 100 per cent season is a league record" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 09 May 1952 (page 10) 1952–53: R.A.F. Bridgnorth"Title held by R.A.F." - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 24 April 1953 (page 10) 1953–54: Bridgnorth Town reserves"Bridgnorth League" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 08 May 1954 (page 5) 1954–55: Brown Clee North"Bridgnorth League" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 14 May 1955 (page 5) 1955–56: Brown Clee North"Bridgnorth League" - Wellington Journal, Saturday 12 May 1956 (page 5) 1956–57: Friars"League Champions' Cup" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 10 May 1957 (page 6) 1957–58: 1958–59: 1959–60:
1960s
1960–61: 1961–62: 1962–63: 1963–64: 1964–65: Ditton Priors"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Friday 07 May 1965 (page 22) 1965–66: Brown Clee"Champions celebrate" - Shropshire Star, Saturday 11 June 1966 (page 23) 1966–67: Star Aluminium"Benefit game for Breeze" - Wellington Journal, Friday 19 May 1967 (page 28) 1967–68: Wheathill United"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 15 May 1968 (page 31) 1968–69: Beckbury Y.C."Beckbury take the title" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 14 May 1969 (page 27) 1969–70: Claverley"Claverley soccer celebration" - Wolverhampton Express and Star, Saturday 16 May 1970 (page 34)
1970s
1970–71: Star Aluminium"Goal rush ends the season" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 19 May 1971 (page 39) 1971–72: Friars Social Club"Busy Friars" - Shropshire Star, Saturday 06 May 1972 (page 32) 1972–73: 1973–74: Star Aluminium"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 01 May 1974 (page 37) 1974–75: Claverley"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 14 May 1975 (page 37) 1975–76: Star Aluminium"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Friday 14 May 1976 (page 41) 1976–77: 1977–78: 1978–79: 1979–80: Plough Inn"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 07 May 1980 (page 27)
1980s
1980–81: Plough Inn"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 06 May 1981 (page 29) 1981–82: 1982–83: Riverside Sports"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 11 May 1983 (page 29) 1983–84: Riverside Sports"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 02 May 1984 (page 25) 1984–85: Tavern"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 22 May 1985 (page 43) 1985–86: Bache Arms"Third time lucky for Claverley" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 16 May 1986 (page 31) 1986–87: Claverley"Claverley 6, Ocean XI 2" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 22 May 1987 (page 36) 1987–88: Broseley Wood"Wood take league title" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 13 May 1988 (page 36) 1988–89: Broseley Wood"Double on cards" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 07 April 1989 (page 40) 1989–90: New Inn"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 23 May 1990 (page 37)
1990s
1990–91: Claverley"Claverley take title by point" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 31 May 1991 (page 31) 1991–92: Claverley"Claverley begin chase for treble" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 01 May 1992 (page 31) 1992–93: Claverley"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 12 May 1993 (page 35) 1993–94: Elephant and Castle"B'north title is decided" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 06 May 1994 (page 35) 1994–95: Norton"Bridgnorth League" - Shropshire Star, Wednesday 17 May 1995 (page 38) 1995–96: Norton"Norton take title" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 26 April 1996 (page 36) 1996–97: Norton"Bridgnorth League" - South Shropshire Journal, Friday 02 May 1997 (page 43) 1997–98: Albion Broseley"Bridgnorth League" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 15 May 1998 (page 42) 1998–99: Claverley"Bridgnorth League Final Table" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 14 May 1999 (page 40) 1999–2000: Randlay Farmhouse"Bridgnorth League" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 05 May 2000 (page 40)
2000s
2000–01: Norton"Double joy for Norton" - Bridgnorth Journal, Friday 27 April 2001 (page 40)
Notes
Division Two champions 1972–73: Wheathill United 1973–74: Worfield
References