{{Short description|Local governing bodies of association football in England and the Crown dependencies}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
The '''county football associations''' are the local governing bodies of association football in England and the Crown dependencies. County FAs exist to govern all aspects of football in England. They are responsible for administering club and player registration as well as promoting development amongst those bodies and referees.
There are currently 50 county FAs. Most county FAs align roughly along historic county boundaries, although some cover more than one county, and some of the major cities, particularly those with a strong football tradition, have their own FAs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2013-14/areas-and-overlapping-of-associations.ashx|title=Memorandum on Areas and Overlapping of Associations|date=12 January 1951|website=The FA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022013220/http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2013-14/areas-and-overlapping-of-associations.ashx|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=live|access-date=22 September 2017}}</ref> The Sheffield FA was the first to be created, in 1867. Additionally, the three branches of the British Armed Forces, as well as the Amateur Football Alliance, which has a strong presence in the south-east of England, are listed as having their own County FAs not corresponding to geography.<ref name="Associations">{{cite web | author=The Football Association | title=County FAs | website=www.thefa.com | url=http://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/county-fas | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Handbook 2022">{{cite web | title=The FA Handbook 2022/2023 | website=thefa.com | date=May 7, 2023 | url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2022-23/individual-sections/the-fa-handbook-2022-23-april-update.ashx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507135208/https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2022-23/individual-sections/the-fa-handbook-2022-23-april-update.ashx | archive-date=May 7, 2023 | url-status=dead | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> County football associations host 'county cups' – knockout cup competitions held at a sub-regional level, which are open to affiliated members of the county FA. Typically, county FAs will host cup competitions at the following levels: senior, intermediate, junior, women's, veterans, senior Sunday football, intermediate Sunday football and junior Sunday football.
==List of county FAs==
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;" ! Association<ref name="Associations"/> ! Area ! Founded ! Main county cup |- | Amateur Football Alliance | {{na}} | 1907<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.amateur-fa.com | url=http://www.amateur-fa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | AFA Senior Cup |- | Army | {{na}} | 1888<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.armyfa.com | url=http://www.armyfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Army FA Challenge Cup |- | Bedfordshire | {{flag|Bedfordshire}} | 1894<ref>{{cite web | title=125 Years | website=www.bedfordshirefa.com | date=September 5, 1994 | url=http://www.bedfordshirefa.com/about/125th-anniversary | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Bedfordshire Senior Cup |- | Berks & Bucks | {{flag|Berkshire}}<br/>{{flag|Buckinghamshire}} | 1878<ref>{{cite web | title=History Berks & Bucks FA | website=www.berks-bucksfa.com | url=http://www.berks-bucksfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Berks & Bucks Senior Cup |- | Birmingham | {{flag|Black Country}}<br/>(within 30 miles of Stevenson Place, Birmingham)<br/>{{flag|Warwickshire}} | 1875<ref>{{cite web | title=MS 519 - Birmingham County Football Association | website=Birmingham City Council | url=http://calmview.birmingham.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=MS+519 | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Birmingham Senior Cup |- | Cambridgeshire | {{flag|Cambridgeshire}} | 1884<ref>{{cite web | title=About (County Handbook) | website=www.cambridgeshirefa.com | date=March 21, 2023 | url=http://www.cambridgeshirefa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup |- | Cheshire | {{flag|Cheshire}} | 1878<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.cheshirefa.com | url=http://www.cheshirefa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Cheshire Senior Cup |- | Cornwall | {{flag|Cornwall}} | 1889<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.cornwallfa.com | date=April 6, 2023 | url=http://www.cornwallfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Cornwall Senior Cup |- | Cumberland | {{flag|Cumberland}} | 1885<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.cumberlandfa.com | url=http://www.cumberlandfa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Cumberland Senior Cup |- | Derbyshire | {{flag|Derbyshire}} | 1883<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.derbyshirefa.com | url=http://www.derbyshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Derbyshire Senior Cup |- | Devon | {{flag|Devon}} | 1887<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.devonfa.com | url=http://www.devonfa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Devon St Lukes Cup |- | Dorset | {{flag|Dorset}} | 1887<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.dorsetfa.com | date=April 19, 2023 | url=http://www.dorsetfa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Dorset Senior Cup |- | Durham | {{flag|County Durham}} | 1883<ref>{{cite web | title=Our History | website=www.durhamfa.com | url=http://www.durhamfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Durham Challenge Cup |- | Essex | {{flag|Essex}} | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.essexfa.com | url=http://www.essexfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Essex Senior Cup |- | Gloucestershire | {{flag|Gloucestershire}} | 1886<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.gloucestershirefa.com | url=http://www.gloucestershirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Gloucestershire Senior Cup |- | Guernsey | {{flag|Guernsey}} | 1893<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.guernseyfa.com | date=July 1, 1919 | url=http://www.guernseyfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Guernsey FA Cup |- | Hampshire | {{flag|Hampshire}} | 1887<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.hampshirefa.com | date=July 1, 2000 | url=http://www.hampshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Hampshire Senior Cup |- | Herefordshire | {{flag|Herefordshire}} | 1893<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.herefordshirefa.com | url=http://www.herefordshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Herefordshire Senior Cup |- | Hertfordshire | {{flag|Hertfordshire}} | 1885<ref>{{cite web | title=Our History | website=www.hertfordshirefa.com | date=February 26, 2023 | url=http://www.hertfordshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Herts Senior Cup |- | Huntingdonshire | {{flag|Huntingdonshire}} | 1894<ref>{{cite web | title=History of Huntingdonshire FA | website=www.huntsfa.com | date=October 26, 1938 | url=http://www.huntsfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Huntingdonshire Senior Cup |- | Isle of Man | {{flag|Isle of Man}} | 1890<ref>{{cite web | title=[History] | website=www.isleofmanfa.com | url=http://www.isleofmanfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Isle of Man FA Cup |- | Jersey | {{flag|Jersey}} | 1905<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.jerseyfa.com | date=July 24, 1905 | url=http://www.jerseyfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Le Riche Cup |- | Kent | {{flag|Kent}} | 1881<ref>{{cite web | title=KR Community Partner | website=www.kentfa.com | date=September 21, 2017 | url=http://www.kentfa.com/news/2017/sep/21/kr-community-partner?c=1 | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Kent Senior Cup |- | Lancashire | {{flag|Lancashire}} | 1878<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.lancashirefa.com | url=http://www.lancashirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Lancashire Senior Cup |- | Leicestershire & Rutland | {{flag|Leicestershire}}<br/>{{flag|Rutland}} | 1887<ref>{{cite web | title=Leicestershire & Rutland County FA Strategy 2021-2024 | website=calameo.com| url=https://www.calameo.com/read/001230235dffed03bb9b3/#page/7 | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup |- | Lincolnshire | {{flag|Lincolnshire}} | 1881<ref>{{cite web | title=Our History | website=www.lincolnshirefa.com | url=http://www.lincolnshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Lincolnshire Senior Cup |- | Liverpool |{{flag|Merseyside}}<br/>18 mile radius / 8 miles on the Wirral from Liverpool Town Hall | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.liverpoolfa.com | url=http://www.liverpoolfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Liverpool Senior Cup |- | London | {{flag|Greater London}}<br />(within 12 miles of Charing Cross) | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.londonfa.com | date=January 30, 1923 | url=http://www.londonfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | London Senior Cup |- | Manchester |{{flag|Greater Manchester}}<br/>(within 12 miles of Manchester Town Hall in historic Lancashire) | 1884<ref>{{cite web | title=Our Game In Manchester | website=www.manchesterfa.com | url=http://www.manchesterfa.com/ | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Manchester Senior Cup |- | Middlesex | {{flag|Middlesex}} | 1883<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.middlesexfa.com | url=http://www.middlesexfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Middlesex Senior Cup |- | Norfolk | {{flag|Norfolk}} | 1881<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.norfolkfa.com | date=August 24, 1999 | url=http://www.norfolkfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Norfolk Senior Cup |- | Northamptonshire | {{flag|Northamptonshire}} | 1887<ref>{{cite web | title=Football Association, Regional | website=The Straw Plaiters – Victorian History of Luton Town Football Club | date=April 11, 2021 | url=https://thestrawplaiters.com/library/football-association-regional/ | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Northamptonshire Senior Cup |- | Northumberland | {{flag|Northumberland}} | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.northumberlandfa.com | url=http://www.northumberlandfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Northumberland Senior Cup |- | Nottinghamshire | {{flag|Nottinghamshire}} | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.nottinghamshirefa.com | date=April 19, 2023 | url=http://www.nottinghamshirefa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Nottinghamshire Senior Cup |- | Oxfordshire | {{flag|Oxfordshire}} | 1884<ref>{{cite web | title=The website for the Oxfordshire FA | website=www.oxfordshirefa.com | date=September 9, 1999 | url=http://www.oxfordshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Oxfordshire Senior Cup |- | Royal Air Force | {{na}} | 1920<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.royalairforcefa.com | url=http://www.royalairforcefa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | RAF Challenge Cup |- | Royal Navy | {{na}} | 1904<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.royalnavyfa.com | date=January 13, 1904 | url=http://www.royalnavyfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Royal Navy Cup |- | Shropshire | {{flag|Shropshire}} | 1877<ref>{{cite web | title=The website for the Shropshire Football Association | website=www.shropshirefa.com | date=November 1, 2022 | url=http://www.shropshirefa.com/ | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Shropshire Senior Cup |- | Somerset | {{flag|Somerset}} | 1885<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.somersetfa.com | date=December 7, 1940 | url=http://www.somersetfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Somerset Premier Cup |- | Staffordshire | {{flag|Staffordshire}} | 1877<ref>{{cite web | title=Our History | website=www.staffordshirefa.com | url=http://www.staffordshirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Staffordshire Senior Cup |- | Suffolk | {{flag|Suffolk}} | 1885<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.suffolkfa.com | date=March 20, 1935 | url=http://www.suffolkfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Suffolk Senior Cup |- | Surrey | {{flag|Surrey}} | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.surreyfa.com | url=http://www.surreyfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Surrey Senior Cup |- | Sussex | {{flag|Sussex}} | 1882<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.sussexfa.com | date=November 2, 1999 | url=http://www.sussexfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Sussex Senior Challenge Cup |- | Westmorland | {{flag|Westmorland}} | 1897<ref>{{cite web | title=History Westmorland County FA | website=www.westmorlandfa.com | url=http://www.westmorlandfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Westmorland Senior Challenge Cup |- | Wiltshire | {{flag|Wiltshire}} | 1884<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.wiltshirefa.com | url=http://www.wiltshirefa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Wiltshire County FA Senior Cup |- | Worcestershire | {{flag|Worcestershire}} | 1893<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.worcestershirefa.com | date=January 1, 2001 | url=http://www.worcestershirefa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Worcestershire Senior Cup |- | East Riding | {{flag|East Riding of Yorkshire}} | 1902<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=www.eastridingfa.com | date=February 10, 1902 | url=http://www.eastridingfa.com/about/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | East Riding Senior Cup |- | North Riding |{{flag|North Riding of Yorkshire}} | 1881<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=www.northridingfa.com | date=April 19, 2023 | url=http://www.northridingfa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | North Riding Senior Cup |- | Sheffield and Hallamshire | 20 mile radius from Sheffield Cathedral | 1867<ref>{{cite web | title=Changing Lives Through Football - About us | website=www.sheffieldfa.com | url=http://www.sheffieldfa.com/about | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> | Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup |- | West Riding | {{flag|West Riding of Yorkshire}}<br/>(except within 20 miles of Sheffield Cathedral) | 1896<ref>{{cite web | title=Our History | website=Leeds & District FA | date=July 1, 2021 | url=https://e-leedsfa.org/our-history/ | access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref> | West Riding County Cup |}
==Other FAs with equivalent status== There are an additional five recognised bodies that have representation on the FA Council on the same level as County FAs.<ref name="Handbook 2022"/>
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;" ! Association<ref name="Handbook 2022"/> ! Founded |- | Cambridge University | 1856<ref>{{cite web | last=Knapton | first=Sarah | title=How Sheffield lost their position as world's oldest club | website=The Telegraph | date=July 30, 2020 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2363479/How-Sheffield-lost-their-position-as-worlds-oldest-club.html | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> |- | English Schools | 1904<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=English Schools' Football Association | date=August 1, 2018 | url=https://schoolsfootball.org/about-us/esfa-history/ | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> |- | Independent Schools | 1960s<ref>{{cite web | title=5. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FA AND ISFA | website=Independent Schools Football Association | date=August 27, 1953 | url=https://www.isfa.org.uk/about-isfa/isfa-history/story/239/5-the-public-schools-fa-and-isfa | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> |- | Oxford University | 1872<ref>{{cite web | title=History | website=OUAFC | date=August 10, 2020 | url=https://www.ouafc.club/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> |- | Women's Football Conference | 1983<ref>{{cite web | author=The Football Association | title=History of women's football | website=www.thefa.com | url=http://www.thefa.com/womens-girls-football/history | access-date=May 8, 2023}}</ref> |}
==See also== *English football league system *The Football Association *The FA Council
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/county-fas The County FAs] at The FA official website *[http://www.thefa.com/countyfa County FA contact details] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140611125632/http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/other/English-Football-Inclusion-and-Anti-Discrimination-Action-Plan.pdf County Football Associations, page 5], Premier League (archived 11 June 2014). {{Authority control}} {{County Football Association}}
Category:County football associations England