Season 2005 saw the 50th anniversary of the Peterborough Sunday League.

The start of organised Sunday football in Peterborough was really down to pupils of the city's then grammar schools, Kings and Deacons, who formed teamsto play friendly maches, using council grounds at 5 shillings a game.
The league was largely run by the youngsters themselves and with much of the organisation by Roy Francis, a Deacons school sixth former who became the first league secretary. Currently living in Nottingham he is a director of Arnold Town FC. Realisin that ault input was required, Stan Harris a leader at Dogsthorpe Boys Club was enlisted as league chairman, a post held for several years before emigrating to New Zealand, his name lives on through the Harris Cup, the trophy he donated as the leagues first knockout competition.
The venture was further supported by Deacons headmaster who became a league vice president.
Among the early teams were, Star Rovers, Numsted FC, New Road FC, Walton, Dogsthorpe Boys Club and New Fenton, The New Fenton club donated the Cuff Cup, in memory of player Trevor Cuff who died in a road accident.

Both local newspapers of the time, The Peterborough Standard and the Citizen and Advertiser gave the newly formed league a wide coversge. The Citizen sent a young reporter, Russsel Plummer to cover the AGM and by the end of the meeting had been elected to the committee. Russell's association with the league lasted well into the 70s much as league secretary. In 1960 the newspaper donated the prestigious cup, still competed for today.

In 1995 the Palazzo family donated another trophy to the league in memory of their son Tony whose life was tragically cut short by an incurable illness.

In the eary days, Sunday football was not rcognised by the Football Association and affiliated players and referees were not suposed to take part, many did and the Sunday League joined the East Midlands Sunday Football Federation and the Sunday Football Federation, a body including large Sunday leagues in London, Birmingham and other major cities.

We have recolections of an inter league match played as early as 1957 against the Nottingham Sunday league, in 1960 we hosted the Hendon Sunday league at Fulbridge Road.
For almost 30 years the rep. games were played against the Bedford Sunday league, since 1995 we have been playing the Wisbech Sunday league in rep games.

Over the years the attitude of the FA softened and eventually Sunday clubs were invited to affiliate. The Peterborough Sunday Football Association decided then to join the FA and recommended that all leagues and clubs affiliate to their respective County FA

Northamptonshire FA, headed by chairman Les Underwood and secretary Norman Hillier and with local representatives including Derek Vernum, the late Tommy Peake and Laurie Sutton were eager to bring the Peterborough competition into the fold and when the FA Sunday Cup was started at County level the Peterborough Sunday League rep side was invited to carry the Northants colours.

Later the competition was switched to clubs on a national level, and the first winners of the Shar of Iran Trophy were Peterborough Sunday League champions Drovers who defeated London opposition Brooke Utd in the final played at Cambridge Uniteds Abbey Stadium.

Growth of the league was phenomenal with expansion in the 70s to seven divisions, incluging teams from Spalding, Stamford, Bourne and Huntingdon

Many notable people have served the league over the years,
Stan Harris (first Chairman), Roy Francis (first Secretary), Bill Wright (first President)

An array of excellent officers followed, their contribution to the league invaluable, to name a few, Russel Plummer, Phil Stricland, Alan King, Derek Vernum, Pete Gamble, Mick Woods, Sean O'Driscoll, Eddie Gillett, George Hair, Nick Carter and Margaret Henson.