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| Founded | 1900 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Divisions | 3 |
| Number of clubs | 39 |
| Feeder to | Gloucestershire Northern Senior League |
| Promotion to | Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two |
| Current champions | FC Wickhamford (2025–26) |
| Website | cheltenhamleague.co.uk |
The Cheltenham Association Football League is a football competition based in England and has a total of three divisions. Its top division, the Premier Division, is a feeder to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.
The Cheltenham League is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.
Background
The Cheltenham Association Football League is based in and around Cheltenham, providing league football for teams in a 50-mile radius of the town. The league originally began with Division One in 1900, and was won by St Paul's United.[1] A second division was formed in 1903, and a third in 1906.[2][3] More divisions continued to be instated, with seven divisions being active from 1958-1971.[4] A senior cup also began in 1924, which is still played today.[5]
The league system now has 3 divisions, The Premier Division, Division One, and Division Two, comprising a total of 35 teams. The Premier Division is a feeder league for the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.[6] The league system also hosts two cup tournaments each season.[5][7]
Among the clubs that have left the Cheltenham League and now compete at a higher level are:
- Bishop's Cleeve, Southern League Division One South
- Cheltenham Town, EFL League Two
- Cirencester Town, Hellenic League Premier Division
- Cheltenham Saracens, Hellenic League Division One
- Evesham United, Southern League Premier Division South
- Gloucester City, Southern League Premier Division South
The Herd are another side that progressed from the Cheltenham League to the Hellenic Football League and in more recent years were known as Cirencester United, but the club has now disbanded.[8]
Member clubs 2023–24
- Premier Division
- AFC Cheltenham
- AFC Kempsey
- Bishops Cleeve 'A'
- FC Lakeside Reserves
- FC Wickhamford
- Fintan
- Generation Next
- Prestbury Rovers
- Shurdington Rovers
- Smiths Barometrics Reserves
- Southside Star
- Tewkesbury Athletic
- Winchcombe Town
- Division One
- Bishops Cleeve 'B'
- Cheltenham United
- Cheltenham Civil Service 'A'
- Falcons Reserves
- Hanley Swan
- Kings AFC
- Leckhampton Rovers
- Montpellier
- Pitville United
- St Johns Colts
- Tewkesbury Town Reserves
- Tredworth Tigers Reserves
- Whaddon Utd Reserves
- Winchcombe Town Reserves
- Division Two
- Bredon Reserves
- Charlton Rovers Reserves
- Cheltenham Tigers
- Fintan Reserves
- Gloucester Athletic
- Montpellier Reserves
- Pittville United Reserves
- Shurdington Rovers Reserves
- St Johns Colts Reserves
- Tewkesbury Town 'A'
- Tredworth Tigers 'A'
- Welland Reserves
Source:[9]
Champions
Division One
|
|
Divisions Two to Six (recent champions)
| Season | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four | Division Five | Division Six |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Dynamos | Newton Heath | Phoenix United | Warden Hill United Reserves | |
| 2001–02 | Smiths Athletic Reserves | Bishop's Cleeve 'A' | Warden Hill United Reserves | Northway Reserves | |
| 2002–03 | Newton Heath | Warden Hill Reserves | Northway Reserves | Naunton Park | |
| 2003–04 | Rowanfield United | St Marks Reserves | Charlton Rovers | Tewkesbury YMCA Reserves | |
| 2004–05 | Bishop's Cleeve 'A' | Gala Wilton Reserves | Tewkesbury YMCA Reserves | Tewkesbury Dynamos | |
| 2005–06 | Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves | High Tech Rangers | AC Olympia | Tewkesbury Town | |
| 2006–07 | Finlay Rovers | Whaddon United | Tewkesbury Town | Churchdown Panthers | |
| 2007–08 | Whaddon United | Winchcombe Town Reserves | Tewkesbury Rovers | FC Barometrics Reserves | |
| 2008–09 | Whaddon United Reserves | Broadway United | Churchdown Panthers | Cheltenham & Gloucester | Cheltenham Saracens 'C' |
| 2009–10 | Real Whaddon | Gloucester Elmleaze | Cheltenham & Gloucester | Cheltenham Saracens 'B' | FC Lakeside |
| 2010–11 | Falcons | Smiths Athletic Reserves | RSG | FC Lakeside | Cheltonians |
| 2011–12 | Bibury | Hanley Swan | FC Lakeside | Welland | Newlands Athletic |
| 2012–13 | Gala Wilton Reserves | FC Lakeside | Priors | Pittville United | Hatherley |
| 2013–14 | Churchdown Panthers | Cheltenham Patriots | Shurdington Rovers Reserves | Northway | FC Lakeside Reserves |
| 2014–15 | Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves | Welland | Northway | FC Lakeside Reserves | Malvern Vale |
| 2015–16 | Welland | Shurdington Rovers | Bredon Reserves | Apperley Reserves | |
| 2016–17 | Andoversford | FC Barometrics Thirds | Cheltenham Civil Service Fourths | St Pauls United | |
| 2017–18 | Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves | St Pauls United | Prestbury Rovers Reserves | ||
| 2018–19 | AFC Renegades | Malvern Vale | FC Lakeside Reserves | ||
| 2019–20 | Not Completed – COVID-19 | Not Completed – COVID-19 | Not Completed – COVID-19 | ||
| 2020–21 | Not Completed – COVID-19 | Not Completed – COVID-19 | Not Completed – COVID-19 | ||
| 2021–22 | Whaddon United (Div-One North) | Kempsey Corinthians | Montpellier |
| Season | Division One | Division Two | Division Three |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | AFC Kempsey | Montpellier | Montpellier Reserves |
List of recent play-off winners
| Season | Division Two | Division Three | Division Four |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | FC Barometrics Reserves | AFC Renegades | Malvern Vale Academy |
| 2018–19 | Bredon Reserves | Leckhampton Rovers | Malvern Cave |
References
- "CAFL - Division 1 History". www.cheltenhamleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "CAFL - Division 3 History". www.cheltenhamleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "CAFL - Division 3 History". www.cheltenhamleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "CAFL - Division 7 History". www.cheltenhamleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "CAFL - Senior Cup History". www.cheltenhamleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "Cheltenham Association League". Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- "CAFL - Minor Cup History". www.cheltenhamleague.co.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "FOOTBALL: Cirencester United go under after 41 years". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "Cheltenham Association League website". Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- "Cheltenham Association League- Division 1 Winners". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- "Cheltenham Association League – TheFA.com". Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- "Cheltenham Association League". Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- "Cheltenham Association League – TheFA.com". Retrieved 30 May 2011.
