The Cheltenham Association Football League is proudly celebrating 125 years since its inception, a milestone underscored by one of the season’s marquee events: the Senior Charity Cup final. This exciting match takes place at Cheltenham Town’s Whaddon Road on Wednesday evening, featuring Division One runners-up Shurdington Rovers against Premier Division side Wickhamford, with kick-off set for 7pm.
Founded in the 1900/01 season, the league’s first champions were St Paul’s United, who clinched the title by just two points over St Paul’s College II—despite the College suffering a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player. St Paul’s United went on to dominate early on, securing five titles in six seasons. The league expanded in 1903/04 with the introduction of a second division and new residency rules limiting participation to clubs within ten miles of Cheltenham.
The early years also saw famous names grace the Division One trophy, including Cheltenham Town, Gloucester City, Evesham United, Cirencester Town, and Bishop’s Cleeve. Notably, Evesham United became the first champions from outside Gloucestershire in 1909/10. By 1910, the league had grown to four divisions with 28 teams; Leckhampton joined then, maintaining an unbroken run of 81 seasons before expulsion due to misconduct.
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Cheltenham Town claimed their first league title in 1910/11 and once again in 1913/14 before World War I halted the competition. Post-war growth saw the league expand to 95 teams by the early 1950s, highlighted by Campden Town’s astonishing 219-goal season while winning the Division Three title in 1953/54.
The period from 1977 to 1990 was dominated by Borough United, who won a record 10 titles, including six consecutive championships, as well as six Senior Charity Cups. Charlton Kings shone during the 1930s, while Bishop’s Cleeve earned seven league titles alongside six Senior Cup victories over the century.
A key milestone arrived in 1986 with a sponsorship deal from Endsleigh Insurance Services, bringing financial incentives for teams and individual awards for top scorers and best disciplinary records. Endsleigh themselves clinched the title in 1990/91, edging Brockworth in a dramatic final day to earn promotion to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.
The league also provided support when Cheltenham Town reached the FA Cup second round for the first time in 46 years, allowing clubs to postpone fixtures to attend the memorable 1-1 home draw against AFC Bournemouth. Sadly, a replay defeat followed at Dean Court.
One of the league’s less fortunate records belongs to Faucets, who lost all 26 games in Division Four during the 1996/97 season, conceding an eye-watering 288 goals.
The Cheltenham League has benefited from many dedicated figures, including the late Ted Croker, former FA secretary and league vice president until his passing in 1993. Gordon ‘Jasper’ Cook offered over 50 years of service since 1965, and Derek Goddard, a long-serving Echo football reporter, covered league affairs in detail from 1963 until 2006.
Today, the league operates three divisions, sustained by a committed committee: General Secretary Ian Hamilton, Treasurer Iain Smith, Fixture Secretary John Hunt, Registration Secretary Phil Tustain, Referee Secretary Martin Pates, Results Secretary Ben Hill, and Website Administrator Rob Morrison.
The Senior Charity Cup final at Whaddon Road not only celebrates a milestone year but also honours the rich heritage and ongoing passion that define the Cheltenham Association Football League.