The Central League| Country |
 England
 Wales |
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| Founded |
1911 |
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| Divisions |
4 |
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| Number of teams |
17 |
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| Levels on pyramid |
2 |
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| Current champions |
Middlesbrough
(2011–12) |
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The Central League is a football league for reserve teams primarily of Football League clubs in the North of England, Midlands and North Wales.
The league was formed in 1911 and in its early years consisted of a mix of first teams and reserve teams. However, when the Football League Third Division North was created in 1921, all the first teams in the Central League became founder members.
Since then, the league has been for reserve teams only, and eventually expanded to include virtually every professional team in the Midlands and North of England (teams in the South play in the Football Combination). In recent years, the FA Premier Reserve League was created for reserve sides of FA Premier League teams, and so the Central League's membership has been reduced.
From the 2006–07 season the FA Premier Reserve League was restricted to the reserve sides of FA Premier League clubs. This meant that the reserve sides of Championship clubs rejoined the Central League.
Teams are not promoted to the Premier Reserve League based on their final league position, but on the league position of their respective clubs' senior teams. If the senior team is promoted to the Premier League, then the reserve team is promoted to the Premier Reserve League and replaced by the reserve teams of the relegated teams.
Participating teams
- The League is split into two competitions, with each split into two divisions. Each team competes in either Division 1 or Division 2 and either the East or West Division. The participating teams for 2012–13 are:
East Division
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West Division
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Champions
1911–2005
2005–2008
In 2005, the league re-organised into three geographic divisions, with the overall champions being decided after a series of play-offs.
2008–2012
From 2008 the league set up remained the same as the three years before it, but instead of a series of end of season play-offs, the overall winners trophy was given to the side with the best points per game record over the course of the season
Championships by club
Central League Cup
Since 1996 the league has also operated a cup competition – The Central League Cup.
Participating teams
The participating teams for 2012–13 are:
Winners
See also
References
External links
- Official page on the Football League website
Reserve and youth football in England |
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| | National teams | |
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| | League competitions | |
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| | Cup competitions | |
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| | Defunct competitions | |
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| | Related |
- Elite Player Performance Plan
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