Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The Merseyrail Business Houses Football League stands as one of Liverpool's longstanding amateur football competitions, bringing together teams from various businesses and organizations across the Merseyside region. With the current player signing period closing on February 28, 2025, teams have just concluded their final opportunity to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season.
The league operates with a well-structured format including multiple divisions - Premier Division, Championship Division, Division One, and additional categories for Under-18 teams. This tiered approach ensures competitive matches for teams of varying skill levels, while cup competitions like the LBH Senior Cup, Junior Cup, and U18 Cup provide additional opportunities for silverware.
In 2022, Merseyrail agreed to a three-year sponsorship package with the league, demonstrating the railway operator's commitment to supporting local sporting initiatives. This partnership has helped enhance the league's operations and visibility throughout Merseyside, creating a stronger football community for participating businesses and their employees.
History
The Merseyrail Business House Football League (BHFL) has been a significant part of Liverpool's amateur football scene for many years. The league provides competitive football opportunities for businesses and organizations throughout the Merseyside region.
In a notable development, Merseyrail agreed to sponsor the Business Houses Football League in a three-year deal starting from September. This sponsorship package strengthened the relationship between the regional rail network and local amateur football.
The league operates with multiple divisions, including Division 4 as mentioned in the search results. This tiered structure allows teams of different skill levels to compete appropriately.
Teams that have participated in the league include Campfield, Mayfair, Huyton Cons, Kensington Fields, and Oyster Martyrs. These clubs represent various businesses and community organizations across the Liverpool area.
Historical match records show competitive fixtures between these teams. For example, on May 21, 2018, Campfield and Mayfair played to a 0-0 draw, while on May 20, 2018, Mayfair and Oyster Martyrs finished with a 2-2 result.
The league has maintained detailed statistics and records, including fixtures, results, and league tables. This comprehensive approach has helped establish the BHFL as an organized and respected competition in Merseyside amateur football.
Age Groups and Divisions
The Merseyrail Business House Football League operates across multiple age groups and divisions to accommodate teams of varying skill levels and player ages. The league primarily features two age categories: Open (adult) and Under-18 (youth).
In the Open age group, the league employs a tiered divisional structure. The Premier Division sits at the top of the hierarchy, representing the highest level of competition within the league.
Below the Premier Division is the Championship Division, followed by Division One. Some seasons have included additional lower divisions such as Division Two, Division Three, and Division Four depending on the number of participating teams.
The Under-18 division, also referred to as the Youth Division, provides competitive opportunities for younger players developing their skills in the Liverpool area.
Teams can progress through these divisions via promotion and relegation systems. This structure ensures that teams compete against others of similar ability, creating balanced and competitive matches.
The league also organizes various cup competitions for different skill levels. These include the Senior Cup, Junior Cup, Intermediate Cup, and the Challenge Cup, giving teams additional opportunities for silverware beyond their league campaigns.
This multi-tiered structure allows the Merseyrail Business House Football League to serve a wide range of teams throughout the Liverpool region, from highly competitive adult sides to developing youth squads.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Merseyrail Business House Football League is managed by a dedicated committee who oversee operations for the 2024/25 season. The league maintains a professional structure with designated officials responsible for various administrative aspects.
Contact information for league secretaries is provided to all participating teams through the "Sec Details & Ref Contacts 2024/25" document. This resource ensures clubs can easily reach out to administrative staff regarding fixtures, rules, and other inquiries.
A referee panel for the 2024/25 season has been established and published. The panel consists of qualified officials who oversee matches throughout the league schedule.
Key Contacts:
- League Secretary
- Fixture Secretary
- Referee Coordinator
- Disciplinary Officer
- Treasurer
League officials can typically be reached via email or phone, with contact details distributed to registered clubs at the beginning of the season. Response times are generally within 48 hours for standard inquiries.
The committee meets monthly to address ongoing matters related to league governance. These meetings ensure consistent application of the Standard Code of Rules that govern all competitions within the league structure.
For emergency match day issues, designated committee members remain on call to assist with unexpected situations or clarifications regarding league regulations.
Teams
The Merseyrail Business House Football League features numerous teams across different divisions. Based on the available information, several teams compete regularly in this league structure.
The Premier Division represents the top tier of competition within the league hierarchy. Other divisions provide opportunities for teams of varying skill levels.
Some notable teams in the league include:
- AFC Sparta
- BRNESC (including BRNESC BLUE)
- Aigburth Arms
- Black Bull
- Canada
- Home Bargains
- Custy's (and Custy's OTB)
- FC Dovecot
- Mackenzies
- Mayfair
Additional teams competing in the league structure are:
- Dengo United
- FC Waterloo
- Mottram
- Netherley Woodlane Legion
- Quarry Green
- St Teresa's
- City of Liverpool Development
- Cobra
- F.C. Mersey City
- Fazakerley Rangers
- L9
- Liverpool Athletic 1207
These teams represent various businesses, organizations, and communities throughout the Merseyside region. The league provides a competitive football environment for these teams to showcase their talents.
The league's structure allows for promotion and relegation between divisions, creating ongoing competition and interest throughout the season.
Players
The Merseyrail Business House Football League features numerous talented players across its various teams. From the search results, we can identify several players who participate in this local football competition.
Teams like MOERS include players such as Ryan Barrow, Christopher Boydell, Ben Campbell, Nathan Campbell, and Danny (surname not specified). These individuals contribute to their team's performance in the league standings.
FC MNF's roster features James Adderley, Bobby Banks, Anthony Bohanna, Christopher Brady, and Kyle (surname not specified). Each player brings unique skills and abilities to their respective squads.
The league table shows teams like Mayfair, Aigburth Arms, MOLLY, and Black Bull competing alongside others such as Mottram, BRNESC, FC Waterloo, and Quarry Green. These teams rely on their registered players to achieve success in the competition.
Player registration is a key component of the league organization, ensuring fair competition between the business house teams. The official Twitter account (@BusinessHouses2) likely provides updates on player performances and achievements throughout the season.
Most players in the league are local to the Merseyside area, representing their business houses with pride in this community football competition.
