Durham County Schools FA

Durham Chronicle Fri 30 Dec 1921: "Durham were much heavier than their opponents and their superiority became apparent after two minutes play. Despite the fact that five goals had been registered against the visitors at half time, frequent calls had been made on the home custodian. Durham added their sixth goal and the North Midlands retaliated and their first goal was scored by Sanderson. Durham forwards were quick on the ball and combined very nicely. A further six goals were scored by Durham in the second half. It was the finest display of schoolboy football seen at Darlington."

Durham Chronicle Fri 28 April 1922: "Durham played their third game in this competition against Lincolnshire at Scunthorpe and won handsomely by 5 goals to 1, although Durham had three boys playing in an international trial match at Brighton on the same day. Durham are the most likely team to win the championship. The outstanding players in the Lincolnshire match were Wilkinson, Churchill and Maidment. Lincolnshire gave only a moderate display."

Durham Chronicle Fri 19 May 1922: "Durham County finished their fixtures in the Northern Counties Federation when they visited Huddesfield to meet the Yorkshire boys. The fixture had no bearing on the championship as the Durham boys had already made their position at the head of the league table safe, but they were naturally anxious to retain their unbeaten record. After a hard struggle they managed to do this, gaining a well earned victory by the only goal scored."
"After the game at Huddersfield. Maidment (Sunderland) the captain of the Durham team received, on their behalf, a beautiful silver shield, which had been presented to the competition by Messr Tetley of Leeds. This splendid trophy will, by the request of the donor, bear the name not only of the champion county, but also that of the captain of the team, so that the inscription on the first of the championship shield should be as follows: 1922, Durham, T Maidment."

The competition was this season conducted in 2 divisions thus bringing a great saving in expense. The first game against Yorkshire was a friendly match. The rest were Federation matches. Yorkshire were overall winners.

The competition was again conducted in 2 divisions. The away victory over Northumberland was a friendly match. The rest were Federation matches. Lancashire were overall winners.

The away fixture with Lancashire was fixed for 15 May but owing to the General Strike it was cancelled. Lancashire were unable to offer another date. The match against Yorkshire was originally due to be played on 8 May but had to be postponed as Yorkshire were unable to travel due to the Strike.

The AGM of the Northern Counties' Federation decided "to reduce the number of County matches by dividing the membership into two groups and playing the matches on the knock-out principle. The draw for the Northern Section was:
1st Round by end of January: Yorkshire v Durham,
2nd Round by end of February: Northumberland v Yorkshire or Durham
The winner of the 2nd Round to meet the winners in the Southern Section, which consists of Lancashire, Cheshire and Nottinghamshire

At the DCESFA AGM of 1927 it "was resolved that we do not affiliate to the Northern Counties' Federation" and decided "not to send a delegate to the AGM of the ESFA."

At the Committee Meeting of 23rd September 1927 the Secretary "was empowered to attend the AGM of the Northern Counties' Federation". A report at the October meeting, about the NCF AGM, stated "that arrangements were being made to carry on the competition, that the presentation of the Balance Sheet had been deferred until the accounts are completed. Our previous decision to withdraw from the Federation was reaffirmed".

It was reported at the Committee Meeting of 21st September 1928 that the Secretary "would attend the AGM of the Northern Counties' Federation; that this season the competition is to consist of two divisions:
A: Northumberland and Durham
B: Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire".
It was resolved that "the Secretary report after the meeting to the other officers of the Association, who shall be empowered to join the Federation if they consider it advisable
At the Committee Meeting of 26th October 1928 details of the AGM were reported and "The officers, on receiving the report, had resolved to enter the Federation.

Durham won the northern section of the Tetley Shield Competition but there was no possibility of fixing up a championship match with Lancashire, the winners of the southern section, owing to the late date on which that section finished and the difficulty of securing a ground.