Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The Arthurian League stands as a unique fixture in English football, established in 1961 specifically for old boys of public schools. This distinctive association football league has created a sporting community that maintains the connections between alumni of these prestigious educational institutions. The league has grown to include multiple divisions, currently featuring a Premier Division and several lower tiers.
Beyond regular league competition, the Arthurian League has developed meaningful traditions over its six-decade history. Since the 1960s, the league has fielded a representative team that competes annually in the Argonaut Trophy against the Southern Amateur League. This representative side showcases the best talent from across the league's member clubs.
The league maintains a structured competitive format with various divisions and cup competitions, including the Arthur Dunn Cup. This organization allows for appropriate levels of competition while preserving the special character of a league founded on shared educational backgrounds and sporting values.
History
The Arthurian League has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. It was established as a football league for Old Boys' teams from prestigious English public schools.
The Arthur Dunn Cup, one of the league's premier competitions, began in the 1902-03 season. Old Salopians won the inaugural competition, though a replay was needed against Old Carthusians.
Old Carthusians dominated the early years, winning the cup in the 1903-04 and 1904-05 seasons. This established them as one of the league's powerhouse teams in its formative period.
The Arthurian League representative team has been active since the 1960s. They participate annually in the Argonaut Trophy, competing against the Southern Amateur League.
League competition has been fiercely contested over the decades with various schools taking championship honors. Records show recent champions include Old Foresters II (2008-09), Old Etonians II (2009-10), and Old Wellingtonians (2010-11).
Other notable champions in recent years include Old Cholmeleians II (2011-12) and Old Marlburians (2012-13). The league maintains comprehensive archives of its history in annual handbooks.
The league preserves its traditions while continuing to organize competitive football for Old Boys' teams. Its structure includes multiple divisions to accommodate teams of varying strengths and abilities.
Age Groups and Divisions
The Arthurian League organizes football competitions across different age groups and divisions. The league primarily operates in two main age categories: Open and Veterans.
The Open age group represents the standard adult competition, while the Veterans category is specifically for older players. Both categories maintain their own divisional structures to ensure fair competition among teams of similar abilities.
The league's divisional structure is quite extensive. At the top sits the Premier Division, which was historically known as the Senior Division until 1975 and Division One until 1981. This represents the highest level of competition within the league.
Below the Premier Division is Division 1, followed by Division 2, Division 3, and Division 4. The fifth tier is split geographically into Division 5 North and Division 5 South to reduce travel times for participating teams.
For substitution rules, the league permits repeat substitutions with a maximum of 3 for Open aged matches and 5 for Veterans matches. This allows for greater flexibility in team management during games.
Eligibility criteria are quite specific - players must have been full-time pupils at UK-based schools of their associated teams for at least 6 months. This maintains the educational connection that defines the Arthurian League's identity.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Arthurian League is managed by a dedicated committee that oversees its operations and activities. Based on current information, the committee's key positions include William Hoyle (Chairman) representing Old Malvernians, Jonathan Hunter (Secretary) from Old Kimboltonians, and Tony Barker (Treasurer) from Old Salopians.
The league maintains a structured organization to handle various administrative aspects of the competition. Club representatives can notify the League Management of any changes to club or referee details through a designated form available on their official platform.
For clubs participating in the Arthurian League, several resources are available including:
- Club Portal login
- RefSec Login
- Club Guidance documents
- League Rules
The Arthurian League also operates a representative team that has been active since the 1960s. This team competes annually in the Argonaut Trophy against the Southern Amateur League.
Contact information for specific clubs within the league, such as Old Carthusians, can be found through the League Directory. Any amendments to club information should be submitted directly to the League Management through official channels.
Teams
The Arthurian League consists of various "Old Boys" teams representing alumni from prestigious British schools. Some prominent teams include Old Reptonians, Old Alleynians, and Old Carthusians, which frequently appear near the top of the league table.
Old Bradfieldians are also among the stronger competitors in the league. The composition reflects the league's connection to educational institutions with long-standing football traditions.
Other teams in the league include:
- Lancing Old Boys
- Old Albanians
- Old Aldenhamians
- Old Alleynians II
- Old Ardinians
- Old Berkhamstedians
- Old Chigwellians II
- Old Cholmeleians II
Many teams field multiple squads, as evidenced by the Roman numerals following some team names. This allows for broader participation across different competitive levels.
The Arthurian League also maintains a representative team that has been active since the 1960s. This select squad competes in special fixtures against other leagues and organizations.
The representative team participates annually in the Argonaut Trophy against the Southern Amateur League. They also face various club teams and business house teams throughout the season.
In recent years, the Arthurian League has expanded its competitive reach, with representation in UEFA's Regions' Cup competition for 2024/25, showcasing the league's quality on a European stage.
Players
The Arthurian League draws its players exclusively from alumni of public schools across England. This unique recruitment approach creates a distinctive sporting environment where educational background forms the basis of participation.
Players in the Arthurian League compete at various skill levels across multiple divisions. The league maintains a representative team that has been active since the 1960s, selecting the best talents from member clubs.
This representative squad participates in prestigious competitions including the annual Argonaut Trophy against the Southern Amateur League. More recently, they have competed in the UEFA Regions' Cup, representing the league at an international level.
Team and player statistics are tracked and shared through dedicated channels like the Arthurian Stats social media account (@ArthurianStats). This platform provides performance data and other information about the league's competitors.
Many players balance their Arthurian League commitments with professional careers, maintaining the amateur tradition that defines the competition. The connection to their educational institutions creates strong team loyalties and rivalries.
The league's emphasis on fair play and sportsmanship reflects the values instilled in players during their school years. This ethos has helped maintain the league's distinctive character since its founding in 1961.
