[1] The league was founded in 1949 after several clubs learnt plans for a second division of the Southern League would come to nothing shortly before the start of the season,[2] and was driven by Dagenham secretary Dave Thake, whose club were disappointed about being placed in the lower division of the London League.

[1] The league started with ten clubs and was largely composed of professional clubs or their reserve or youth teams, and was frequently described as an unofficial lower division of the Southern League.

[2] The league added a second division in 1963, but it ran for only a single season, which saw Gillingham Reserves win the title.

For three seasons an Amateur Cup was contested between the league's amateur teams; in 1951–52 and 1952–53 it was won by Windsor & Eton, whilst Vickers Armstrong won it in 1953–54.

Thereafter it was awarded to the amateur team that finished highest in the league.