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The Wearside League started in 1892.  There were a number of ‘inspirations’ for this – the popularity of the game locally, the success of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup competition started three years before and the election to the recently-founded Football League of Sunderland A.F.C..  After a season’s settling in, the club had won the championship and enthusiasm for the game was high on Wearside.

 

On June 15^th, 1892, a letter was published in the Sunderland Daily Post and Herald suggesting the formation of a local league competition on Wearside.  A similar letter was printed a day later in the Sunderland Daily Echo.  The writer of this was the secretary of Sunderland Swifts F.C., Charles Kirtley.  Three months later the league competition, known as The Wearside League began.

 

From the off the Wearside League was a success.  Sadly, however, many of the records have proved impossible to find as yet, and much of the history of this proud competition lies somewhere waiting to be unearthed and brought once more to public notice. 

 

What’s contained here is the product of research to date.  The ‘history’ page contains a list of the league champions for all seasons + league tables for the first two seasons and, thanks to Patrick (Donmouth), the final tables for seasons 1900-1901, 1904-1905 and 1911-1912.  From the ‘history’ page you can go to the ‘Post-WW2 page where final tables for the first two post-World War Two campaigns and for the period 1977-1980 appear.  After 1980 the picture is complete up to 2009.  If more information comes to light, this will be added in due course. 

The first season saw 10 clubs play each other home and away.  There was a problem with pitches and one side played its home games on the beach.  Another problem was with equipment, with one of the clubs having to use a rugby ball as its match ball.  The competition was, however, a success - all the fixtures were completed and there were no withdrawals from the league.

 

 

 

 

The Wearside League has continued to run since its foundation, with the only 'break in activity' coming with the Second World War.  The earlier worldwide conflict 1914-1918 disturbed things a little and charity 'friendlies' were played rather than a proper league competition 1915-1918.

 

With the advent of the Non-League Pyramid, leading sides in the Wearside League (Step 7) have moved up a grade to the Northern League - details of which can be found via the North East page.