London and South East Merit League

The London and South East Merit League is a rugby league competition founded in 1965. It is also known as the "London League" (LL), "London, South and East Merit League", "London Amateur Rugby League" (LARL) and "London Merit League" (LML).
It is now one of four feeder leagues for the Rugby League Conference (RLC). There is also a London Junior League for youth teams.
Structure.
The merit system, which gives its unofficial name to the league as the London Merit League, came about as a way to accommodate the needs of as many of clubs as possible. The “merit table” system gives teams, freedom to arrange as many or few games amongst the other league participants as they wish. The results of fixtures worked out between the teams are compiled into a league table based on average scores. The top six teams then go through to a play-off system to determine the champion club. The London League participants also have the opportunity to arrange games with clubs participating in the RL Merit League or Midlands Rugby League.
History.
When the Acton & Willesden and Streatham & Mitcham clubs joined the Rugby Football League in 1935, a number of supporters and rejected trialists formed a number of amateur teams in London. There was no amateur competition in London at that time but leading clubs were Acton Hornets, Park Royal Rangers, Hendon, Dagenham, and Harlesden All Blacks. None of these clubs survived the failure of the two professional clubs.
Amateur clubs were again formed in Morden, Brixton, Mitcham, Slough and Southampton; and a four-team "Southern Amateur Rugby League" took place in 1949–50 before folding. There was an attempt to revive the league in 1955, when a Mr Tim Wood, of Chigwell Row, Essex, wrote to the Rugby Football League to enquire about possible assistance.
In 1965 Gordon Anderton placed an advert in the London Evening Standard saying that anyone interested in starting a rugby league side should meet at a Hackney pub and from this about half a dozen enthusiasts began to train in the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace. Brian Blessed was the first coach, training moved to Hackney marshes and within twelve months the "London Amateur Rugby League Association" was formed, with Eddie Waring as its first president. It was soon renamed the "Southern Amateur Rugby League" as teams from outside London joined.
Hackney expanded and as many players came from the Ealing area a second club formed using the council pitch at Gunnersbury Park that was also used by a rugby union team. Ealing also grew quickly and with many new players coming from the Hillingdon area a third team soon followed. In these early days 2nd Para Division at Aldershot also often fielded a team, when not on duty in Northern Ireland plus a team from Portsmouth University and then came Peckham who were based at Herne Hill Stadium. The stadium had been resurfaced to host the cycling world championships but unfortunately, a few months before the event the officials measured the track and found it was a metre short so no records would stand. The request to use the stadium for rugby league was an offer the council jumped at and as a result of playing at a relatively prestige stadium Peckham expanded and for many years was the premier team in the Southern League.
By 1981, there were enough teams competing to form a Second division and a Third division ran between 1984 and 1988. The league was rebranded the "London Amateur Rugby League" in 1986 to reflect the concentration of sides in the London area after outpost clubs Cheltenham, Aberavon, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes and Wokingham (soon renamed Surrey Heath) all switched to the newly formed Midlands & South West League (MASWARLA) by its second season (Wokingham had been founder members). In 1995–96 there were two regionalised Second divisions due to the "Eastern Counties League" being absorbed into the London League and an influx of teams from South West England.
The "Southern Conference League", founded in 1997, was the fore-runner of the Rugby League Conference. It included some of the top teams in the London Amateur Rugby League, focusing on clubs that either had or promised junior sections. As the best of the London League was gradually included into the Conference, the rest reformed as a summer merit league for new clubs, police / prison sides and second and third teams. The last winter season completed was 1998/99 and the first summer season was 2000.
The Gordon Anderton Memorial Trophy knock-out competition was established in 1997 and ran for two seasons. It was named after Gordon who ran the London League from 1965 to just before his death in the mid-90s.
The switched from the traditional winter season to a summer league in 2000 following the lead of the Super League which made the switch in 1996. The last winter London League season in 98/99 finished with only four teams still playing; London Colonials, South London Storm, London Skolars A and Metropolitan Police. The first London summer merit league started with eight teams.
From 2000 the London League Champions were determined via a play-off series culminating in a Grand Final. In 2011 the league was renamed "London, South and East Merit League" with teams joining from the East of England. In 2012 it became the London & South East Entrance League with the Eastern teams leaving to form the East Merit League.
Rugby League Conference Pyramid.
The London League is the lowest level on the Rugby League Conference pyramid for clubs in the South of England.
Participating teams.
In 2013 the following teams have entered:
Teams joining the Rugby League Conference.
Many of the foundation clubs of the Rugby League Conference (RLC) came from the London League and the league has continued to provide teams such as North London Skolars, Ipswich Rhinos, Cambridge Eagles, St Albans Centurions, South London Storm and Kingston Warriors.
Since adopting its current format the London League has provided fifteen teams to the RLC:-
NB: These are the years these clubs joined the RLC.
Winners.
From 2000 the London League Champions were determined via a play-off series culminating in a Grand Final.