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History of The National League

The National League was first staged under the name of the John Player's County League in 1969. It has since been known as the Refuge Assurance League, the Axa & Equity Law League, CGU National League, Norwich Union League and now the totesport League as various sponsors come and go. It has undergone many changes and restructures over the last 30 years.

Here are some of the highlights of The National League competition's history:

1969 Relaxation of the laws for sporting events on Sunday sees the introduction of the John Player's County League. The format is a 40-over single innings cricket league involving all 17 first-class counties. The first winners are Lancashire.

1970 The competition is renamed The John Player League and Lancashire successfully defend their title.

1982 Fielding restrictions are introduced and Sussex win their first title.

1984 The competition is renamed The John Player Special League and Essex retain the title.

1987 John Player ends its association and the competition is renamed The Refuge Assurance League. The winners are Worcestershire.

1988 The Refuge Assurance Cup is introduced with the top 4 teams from the league playing in an end of season knock-out competition. It lasts for 4 years.

1992 Refuge Assurance ends its association and no sponsor is found for this year's league, the first time that Durham take part.

1993 A new sponsor is found, and the competition is renamed The Axa Equity & Law League. The competition is now 50-overs per innings with coloured cricket clothing and a white cricket ball are introduced. Glamorgan are the winners that season

1994 The format changes back to 40-overs per innings.

1999 The two division format is introduced with 9 teams in each division. The competition is renamed after the new sponsor, The CGU National League, and the format changes to 45-overs per innings. Lancashire are the winners of Division 1, their fifth title.

2000 CGU is taken over by Norwich Union so the league is renamed The Norwich Union League.

2001 Kent Spitfires win their fifth title in the history of the National League.

2003 There is no sponsor for the league.

2004 A sponsor is found and the league is renamed the totesport League

2006 The format changes to 40 overs per side, and matches are played in the last third of the season rather than throughout the season. Scotland Saltires are removed from Division 2.

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