Loughborough & District League medal 1896-97.
The Loughborough & District League was formed in 1896, at the time when there was already a junior league serving the Loughborough area (North Leicestershire League, which was formed a year earlier). The Loughborough & District League quickly became one of the top junior leagues in the county, regularly promoting teams to the Leicestershire Senior League. Twelve clubs competed for the inaugural Loughborough & District League competition – Belton Villa, Bardon Wanderers, Barrow Excelsior, Hathern Victoria, Loughborough Emmanuel, Loughborough Park, Loughborough Victoria, Markfield Albion, Mountsorrel Castle, Mountsorrel St Peters, Rothley Swifts, Woodhouse Rovers. Hathern Victoria won the title.
Champions for the first and second season were Hathern Victoria. There was a game played at the Athletic Grounds in 1897 between the Champions and a League representative team, where they received their medals.
Loughborough & District 1897 ‘League Team’ at the Athletic Grounds.
Standing: Mr W Bates (Hon. Sec. League), W. Sutton, W. H. Baum, G. Thomas, C. Limberts J.
Bishop, R. Hibbins (Capt.), M. G. Beale (Referee).
Sitting: T. Webster, G. Hewitt, G. Clapham, A. F. Haynes, H. James (Barrow Rising Star)
A second division was added in 1898 and a third division in 1904. But a decline set in during the 1930’s. Two events saw the demise of this league, the first being the creation of the Loughborough & District Amateur Football Alliance in 1931-32, and the reforming of the Leicestershire Senior League in 1934-35, both of which saw teams resign from the Loughborough & District League.