The end of Season 1992/93 saw the completion of 100 years of Wragg League Football and the 1993 Dinner/Dance and Presentation Evening was a Marvellous celebration of this event.Appropriately the four longest serving members of the present Committee,whose combined total service exceed 100 years,were made Honarary Life Members of the League. All who attended from the Official guests to Member clubs were presented with a memento to remember the occasion with all players taking part in the Centenary Season receiving a Commemorative Medal.
Over its one hundred year history the Wragg League has operated as a Cup Competition only,a midweek evening League Competition with its member clubs drawn from other Saturday League's by invitation,as well as the usual Saturday league format.
Until 1986 the Competitions provided by the Wragg Football League were open to players of all ages and with a dwindling membership of clubs the decision to try an over 35's League,thereby restricting player entry,was seen by many as a tremendous gamble.
The Wragg league unfortunately does not hold very much information by way of Minutes or Records of the Season's Competitions prior to 1954 as they were disposed of following the death of the Secretary holding these records at the time.
Following many hours of research by Stuart and Sylvia Topham who checked both the records of the Sheffield and Hallamshire and the Sheffield City Library Archives a pattern of the early years of the League was established.

1892-This was the year of formation but the original name is somewhat obscure as the review of the early records concerning local Football refers to midweek K.O.Competitions,rather than a League in its own right,which was formed by clubs from other League's being invited to take part on a straightforward knock-out basis.
There is also the existence of an "Attercliffe Liscensed Victuallers League" up until the turn of the Century and it is felt that this was the forerunner of the Wragg League.
The lack of detail regarding this League by the Sheffield & Hallamshire County F.A could be due to the fact that,Ernest Clegg,who was Secretary for the County Associaion,and a very dominant force in local Football,would not allow League's or Clubs who were linked to Public Houses as he was known for being a devout Methodist,Tee-totaler and totally against any form of gambling
However,the League flourished along with many others as Football grew in popularity in this region allied,I suspect,to the sucess of both United and Wednesday during the late 1890's and early 1900's.
Evidence to support the theory that the Wragg League was preceded by the Attercliffe Licensed Victuallers league was given by J.Bennison,a former member of the S & H C.F.A,who held a Winners Medal won by his father whilst playing for a team in 1902 in this League and went on to play in the Wragg league as it then became known in 1904.

1904-This was the year that the present Trophy for clubs winning the League's top division was donated by "Wragg Cycles of Darnall" and although showing signs of 'wear and tear' is a splendidly crafted Cup and an inspiring Trophy for all teams in our Premier division strive for as they start the Season in search of honours.
Entries in the Sheffield Star and Sheffield Independant newspapers at this time recorded matches being played for the "Wragg League Cup". It would appear that from this time onward the various forms that the League took never exceeded two divisions or four short Leagues of 4,5 or 6 teams playing each other and then culminating in knockout Semi-finals and the Final
1986- With the close of Season 1985/86 fast approaching and only 9 teams taking part in one division,and several of these indicating they probably would not enter the following Season,Committee members met during February to May to discuss the way forward for the League.
Geoff Burgess had outlined to the Committee the success of an Over 40 League in County Durham which played on a Saturday morning, that he had heard of and with the backing of Stuart Topham who confirmed that he also had heard about this League too,enough of the Committee were convinced to give the idea of Over 35's Football a try,although some Committee members were not sure that such a league would be viable in this area.
The 'die was cast',the gamble taken,and from that historic first Season in 1986/87 with the formation of one division of 9 teams,the rest is,as they say 'history' with "The Wragg Football League-Over 35's" simply growing from strength to strength to the current healthy position of FIVE divisions containing 64 teams as we start the 23rd Season of Over 35's Football in 2008/009

1995-Having reached five divisions and a toatl of 60 clubs by the start of 1995/96 it was felt that we should look at restructuring the league to allow faster promotion to the top division.Under the existing format it would take new teams in division 5 at least four years to gain promotion to the top division and with players starting in the bottom division at 35 years of age they would be pushing 40 before they had a chance of playing in the top flight
With the introduction of the pyramid system new teams entering the lowest divisions of 2A and 2B,which are comparable in strength,can now gain promotion to the premier division in only 2 years.
By and large the system has been very successful but in the early years the problem of Clubs gaining promotion to the Premier division only to withdraw before they had even kicked a ball in the new Season,or very quickly into it, was leaving the top division short for the rest of the season
The benefit of settling on 60 teams had seen the League establish continuity and with a waiting list of teams wishing to join ensures complete divisions at the start of each new campaign,however,the Wragg League have constantly been asked by the County F.A to open up a sixth division to accomodate the demand for entry of new Clubs.

2002-With improvement to the League and the above in mind,the Treasurer,suggested to Committee members at the early meetings of the season 2001/02 that the League could be expanded to 64 teams. This would give divisions 2A & 2B four extra League matches as they are invariably the two divisions that finish their programme early,quite often in March,some of the teams then asking for friendly games. The League's Cup Competitions would also be "rounded off" without the need for byes in the early rounds and all teams would have at least two Cup matches. The Committee agreed to bring in the changes for season 2002/03 after acceptance by the existing member Clubs in January/February 2002.
There is a comprehensive list of all the teams,shown in the League handbook,which have taken part in the Over 35's since its inception. Unfortunately some have come and gone quickly,other have changed their name on a regular basis,some then slipping out of the League.Following the withdrawal of Railway Wincobank,who were one of the founder members clubs as Huntsman Juniors in that first season,there are now two Clubs who joined in 1987/88 as the oldest surviving teams. The number of Over 35's teams entering the League has reached 139.
The Wragg league Committee wish all Clubs a successful and trouble free Season for 2008/09 but stress good discipline both on and off the pitch is essential by all Players ,Officials AND Supporters in ensuring the good nature and spirit of the WRAGG LEAGUE is maintained and that we do not lose any more Referee's as a result of increased verbal and/or physical abuse thrown at them.
Every endeavour to provide Referees for all matches will be made but this,of course,may not always be possible.

Compiled by:-Ian Mellor