In the summer of 2019, the South West Peninsula League, who were responsible for football at step seven in Devon & Cornwall, had a pyramid reshuffle and the Devon Football League was formed.

Taking the place of the South West Peninsula League Division One East, the newly formed Devon Football League launched with two divisions, one covering the South and West and one for the North and East. The following thirty two teams became founder members:

Joined from South West Peninsula Division One East: Waldon Athletic, Teignmouth, University of Exeter, Budleigh Salterton, St Martins, Alphington, Liverton United

Joined from South West Peninsula Division One West: Plymstock United & Bere Alston United

Joined from Devon & Exeter League Premier Division: Exwick Villa, Newtown, Witheridge, Heavitree United, Clyst Valley, Topsham Town, Exmouth Town Res

Joined from Devon & Exeter League Division Three: Ottery St Mary

Joined from South Devon League Premier Division: Buckland Athletic Res, Kingsteignton Athletic, Watcombe Wanderers, Totnes & Dartington, Roselands, Paignton Villa, Chudleigh Athletic

Joined from the South Devon League Division One: Paignton Saints, Newton Abbot Spurs Res, Bovey Tracey Res

Joined from Plymouth & West Devon Combination League Premier Division: Plympton Athletic, Lakeside Athletic

Joined from North Devon League Premier Division: Braunton

Joined from East Cornwall Premier League: Tavistock Res

New club: Plymouth Argyle Development

The 2019/2020 season was in full flow when football was stopped, in February of 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic; this meant that a premature end to the season occurred and the future of football was uncertain. At the time of the season being abandoned, Newtown found themselves ten points clear in the North & East Division whilst Buckland Athletic Reserves were nine points clear in the South & West Division. The FA made the decision to cancel the season declare null & void across the country, this meant that the debut season of the new Devon Football League would not be completed.

In the summer of 2020 Okehampton Argyle joined the South & West Division in place of the departing Tavistock Reserves whilst the North & East Division remained unchanged, although Bovey Tracey Reserves and Witheridge did later pull out due to the knock on effect of Covid-19 restrictions. With a later September start due to restrictions, the league didn’t even make it until Christmas before the season was once again abandoned due to a rise in Covid cases around the country. Exwick Villa were top of the North & East Division, although University of Exeter, who were ninth in the table, were the only club with a 100% record. In the South & West Division Ottery St Mary were top of the league when football came to an end with new side Okehampton Argyle a close second. Although the season was once again declared as null & void, Okehampton Argyle and Ottery St Mary became the first clubs to take promotion from the Devon League as they joined the South West Peninsula League Premier East.

It was a case of third time lucky as the 2021/2022 season was the first season that the new Devon Football League was played to a conclusion. In the South & West Division a thrilling title race went all the way to the end with Teignmouth lifting the trophy, and with it promotion, by a point over Mount Gould, who had been promoted to the league at the beginning of the season. Ipplepen Athletic also took part in their first season in the league but struggled to adapt to life at a higher level as they finished bottom of the division. University of Exeter were the first side to win the North & East Division as they pipped Exwick Villa to the title by eight points. It was a struggle for Clyst Valley who finished bottom having failed to win a single game all season. Feniton finished a respectable ninth in their first season in the league. The first final of the league cup also threw up an entertaining end as the winners of both divisions went head to head at Liverton United as University of Exeter won 4-2 on penalties against Teignmouth following a 1-1 draw.

The 2022/2023 season was probably one of the most exciting and entertaining campaigns to date. Beer Albion were crowned North & East Division winners in their first season in the league, beating North Molton SC to top spot by two points. In the South & West Division, Mount Gould had a 100% record winning every match on the way to lifting the title by fifteen points. So it was a fitting end to the season to see the two sides go head to head in the League Cup final, played at Barnstaple Town. With Beer Albion reduced to ten men and Mount Gould finding themselves 2-0 up it looked likely that Mount Gould would end the season with their 100% record still intact, but a spirited Beer Albion side had other ideas. A second half turn around to win 4-2 saw Beer Albion complete a league and cup double in their first ever season at step seven.

In the summer of 2023, the league made the decision to merge the two divisions into one to create a stronger county wide division. Elmore and Plymouth Marjon joined the league following relegation from the South West Peninsula League and the new division was formed of eighteen clubs.