Southern Football League

For other uses, see Southern Football League (disambiguation).

Southern Football League

Founded	1894
Country	England
Other club(s) from	Wales (1 team)
Divisions	Premier Central Premier South Division One Central Division One South
Number of teams	87 Central Division: 22 South Division: 22 Division One Central: 21 Division One South: 22
Level on pyramid	Level 7 and Level 8
Promotion to	National League North National League South
Relegation to	Combined Counties League North Essex Senior League Hellenic League Spartan South Midlands League United Counties League South Wessex League Western League
Domestic cup(s)	Southern League Cup
Current champions	Needham Market (Premier Division Central) Chesham (Premier Division South) Biggleswade (D1 Central) Wimborne (D1 South) (2023–24)
Website	Official website
Current: 2024–25 Southern Football League

The Southern League is a football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from East Anglia, the South and Midlands of England, and South Wales. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.

The structure of the Southern League has changed several times since its formation in 1894, and currently there are 87 clubs which are divided into four divisions. The Central and South Divisions are at step 3 of the National League System (NLS), and are feeder divisions, mainly to the National League South but also to the National League North. Feeding the Premier Divisions are two regional divisions, Division One Central and Division One South, ^[1] which are at step 4 of the NLS. ^[2] These divisions are in turn fed by various regional leagues.

The league has its administrative head office at Eastgate House in Gloucester.

History

Football in the south of England

Professional football (and, indeed, professional sports in general) developed more slowly in Southern England than in Northern England. Professionalism was first sanctioned by The Football Association as early as 1885, but when The Football League was founded in 1888 its member clubs were based entirely in the North and Midlands, as the county football associations in the South were firmly opposed to professionalism.

Woolwich Arsenal (nowadays simply Arsenal) were the first club in London to turn professional in 1891 and were one of the prime motivators behind an attempt to set up a Southern League to mirror the existing Northern and Midlands based Football League. However, this venture failed in the face of opposition from the London Football Association, and Woolwich Arsenal instead joined the Football League as its only representative south of Birmingham in 1893. Additionally, an amateur league, the Southern Alliance, was founded in 1892, with seven clubs from the region, but that folded after one incomplete season.

Formation of the Southern League

Nonetheless, another attempt was made to form the Southern League, and this time it was successful. A competition for both professional and amateur clubs was founded in 1894 under the initiative of Millwall Athletic (now simply Millwall). Initially only one division was envisaged, but such was the enthusiasm for the idea, that eventually two divisions were formed. The sixteen original founder members were: ^[3]

Division One Chatham Clapton Ilford Luton Town Millwall Athletic Reading Royal Ordnance Factories 2nd Scots Guards Swindon Town

Division Two Bromley Chesham Maidenhead New Brompton Old St Stephen's Sheppey United Uxbridge

2nd Scots Guards withdrew before the first season started and were replaced by Southampton St Mary's. Woolwich Arsenal attempted to add their reserve side to the second division but this application was refused due to the club's existing membership of The Football League.

Success of the Southern League

The Southern League soon became the dominant competition below The Football League in Southern and Central England, and by the turn of the century a few of the Southern League sides began to seriously rival the Football League in the FA Cup. ^[4] A preview of the 1900–01 season in the Daily News described the league as "now, without a doubt, second only in importance and the strength of its clubs to the Football League itself. With the exception of Woolwich Arsenal, who prefer to remain members of the Second Division of the Football League, all the best professional teams in the South are now enrolled in the ranks of the Southern League". ^[5]

Two Southern League clubs, Southampton (in 1900 and 1902) and Tottenham Hotspur (in 1901) reached the final of the FA Cup around the turn of the twentieth century. Tottenham Hotspur remain the only club from outside the Football League (and since its inception, also the Premier League) to have won the FA Cup.

Several of the best players in England moved from the Football League to the Southern League around this time, due to the restrictions on their freedom of movement and wages implemented by the Football League between 1893 and 1901, and the failed efforts of the Association Footballers' Union (the AFU) to relax the restrictions. This ended in 1910 when the League came to a reciprocal agreement with the Football League. ^[6]

The champions of the two leagues during this period met in the annual Charity Shield. Out of the six meetings the respective league champions had in the Shield, however, only one was won by the Southern League champions – Brighton & Hove Albion, in 1910, and this remains their only top level national honour. Up until World War I, the league also organised several representative 'inter-league' matches, against the Football League XI ^[7] and the Scottish Football League XI. ^[8] They won the inaugural inter-league equivalent of the British Home Championship in 1910, defeating the Football League 3–2, Scottish League 1–0 and the Irish League 4–0. ^[9]

In 1907, it accepted newly converted-to-Association and future Football League club Bradford, a northern club, as a member, reflecting its senior position at the time. Stalybridge Celtic and Stoke also joined before the First World War. ^[9]

In 1920, virtually the entire top division of the Southern League was absorbed by the Football League to become that league's new Third Division. A year later the Third Division was expanded and regionalised. The Third Division clubs from the previous season became the Third Division South, with the addition of the Third Division North.^{[ citation needed ]}

Of the original founder members, six – Gillingham (formerly New Brompton), Luton Town, Millwall, Reading, Southampton and Swindon Town – went on to be Football League clubs.^{[ citation needed ]}

A feeder league

For the next six decades, the Football League and Southern League would occasionally exchange a limited number of clubs as a result of the older league's re-election process. From 1920 onward, the Southern League's status as a semi-professional league was firmly established. In 1977, Wimbledon became the last Southern League club to successfully achieve election into the Football League.^{[ citation needed ]}

With its clubs seeking a more regular means of advancing to the Football League, in 1979 the Southern League became a feeder to the new Alliance Premier League along with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League, and the top Southern clubs of the day joined the new league. In turn, the APL (renamed Football Conference in 1986 and National League in 2015) would eventually succeed in becoming a feeder to the Football League. The league lost more of its top clubs in 2004 when the Conference added two regional divisions below the existing National League, the Conference South and Conference North.^{[ citation needed ]}

In May 2017, the FA chose the Southern League to add an additional division at step 3 as part of another restructuring in the NLS; the two Premier Divisions were set at 22 clubs each. The new Central Division started playing in the 2018–19 season. ^[10]

Sponsorship

The first sponsor of the Southern League was Beazer Homes who sponsored the league from 1987 to 1996. The sponsors after Beazer Homes to the present day are: Dr Martens (1996–2004), British Gas (2006–2009), Zamaretto (2009–2011), Evo-Stik (2011–2013), ^[11] Calor Gas (2013–2014), Evo-Stik (2014–2019) and BetVictor (2019–2020). From the 2020–21 season the league has been sponsored by Pitching In, Entain's grassroots sports investment programme. At the time of announcement, Entain went by its former name GVC Holdings. Under this partnership, the Southern League is marketed as one of the three Trident Leagues, alongside its Isthmian and Northern Premier counterparts. ^[12]

Current members

Premier Central

Club Home ground AFC Sudbury King's Marsh AFC Telford United New Bucks Head Alvechurch Lye Meadow Banbury United Spencer Stadium Barwell Kirkby Road Bedford Town The Eyrie Biggleswade Town Langford Road Bishop's Stortford Woodside Park Bromsgrove Sporting Victoria Ground Halesowen Town The Grove Harborough Town Bowden Park Hitchin Town Top Field Kettering Town Latimer Park Leiston Victory Road Lowestoft Town Crown Meadow Redditch United Valley Stadium Royston Town Garden Walk Spalding United Sir Halley Stewart Field Stamford Borderville Sports Centre St Ives Town Westwood Road Stourbridge War Memorial Athletic Ground Stratford Town Knights Lane

AFC Telford United AFC Sudbury Alvechurch Banbury United Barwell Bedford Town Biggleswade Town Bishop's Stortford Bromsgrove Sporting Halesowen Town Harborough Town Hitchin Town Kettering Town Leiston Lowestoft Town Redditch United Royston Town Spalding United Stamford St Ives Town Stourbridge Stratford Town class=notpageimage| Locations of the Southern Football League clubs by division – Prem Central

Premier South

Club Home ground AFC Totton Testwood Stadium Basingstoke Town Winklebury Football Complex Bracknell Town Bottom Meadow Chertsey Town Alwyns Lane Dorchester Town The Avenue Stadium Frome Town Badger's Hill Gloucester City Meadow Park Gosport Borough Privett Park Hanwell Town Reynolds Field Havant & Waterlooville Westleigh Park Hungerford Town Bulpit Lane Marlow Alfred Davis Memorial Ground Merthyr Town Penydarren Park Plymouth Parkway Bolitho Park Poole Town Tatnam Ground Sholing Portsmouth Road Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Taunton Town Wordsworth Drive Tiverton Town Ladysmead Walton & Hersham Elmbridge Sports Hub Wimborne Town New Cuthbury Winchester City City Ground

AFC Totton Basingstoke Town Bracknell Town Chertsey Town Dorchester Town Frome Town Gloucester City Gosport Borough Hanwell Town Havant & Waterlooville Hungerford Town Marlow Merthyr Town Plymouth Parkway Poole Town Sholing Swindon Supermarine Taunton Town Tiverton Town Walton & Hersham Wimborne Town Winchester City class=notpageimage| Locations of the Southern Football League clubs by division – Prem South

Division One Central

Club Home ground AFC Dunstable Creasey Park Aylesbury United The Meadow Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe Road Beaconsfield Town Holloways Park Berkhamsted Broadwater Biggleswade The Eyrie Enfield Hertingfordbury Park Flackwell Heath Wilks Park Hadley Brickfield Lane Hertford Town Hertingfordbury Park Kidlington Yarnton Road Kings Langley Gaywood Park Leighton Town Bell Close Leverstock Green Pancake Lane North Leigh Eynsham Park Northwood Northwood Park Real Bedford McMullen Park Stotfold New Roker Park Thame United Meadow View Park Ware Wodson Park Welwyn Garden City Herns Way

AFC Dunstable Aylesbury United Barton Rovers Beaconsfield Town Berkhamsted Biggleswade Enfield Flackwell Heath Hadley Hertford Town Leighton Town Leverstock Green Kidlington Kings Langley North Leigh Northwood Real Bedford Stotfold Thame United Waltham Abbey Welwyn Garden City class=notpageimage| Locations of the Southern Football League clubs by division – Div 1 Central

Division One South

Club Home ground Bashley Bashley Road Bemerton Heath Harlequins Moon Park Bideford The Sports Ground Bishop's Cleeve Kayte Lane Bristol Manor Farm The Creek Cinderford Town Causeway Ground Cribbs The Lawns Didcot Town Loop Meadow Evesham United The Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium Exmouth Town Southern Road Falmouth Town Bickland Park Helston Athletic Kellaway Park Larkhall Athletic Plain Ham Malvern Town Langland Stadium Melksham Town Oakfield Stadium Mousehole Trungle Parc Shaftesbury Cockrams Tavistock Langsford Park Thatcham Town Waterside Park Westbury United Meadow Lane Willand Rovers Silver Street Yate Town Lodge Road

Bashley Bideford Bishop's Cleeve Bristol Manor Farm Bemerton Heath Harlequins Cinderford Town Cribbs Didcot Town Evesham United Exmouth Town Falmouth Town Helston Athletic Larkhall Athletic Malvern Town Melksham Town Mousehole Shaftesbury Tavistock Thatcham Town Westbury United Willand Rovers Yate Town class=notpageimage| Locations of the Southern Football League clubs by division – Div 1 South

Champions

This section lists the past winners of the Southern League. ^[13] Winners to 1993 source: ^[14]

Season	Division One	Division Two
1894–95	Millwall Athletic	New Brompton
1895–96	Millwall Athletic	Wolverton L & NWR
1896–97	Southampton St Mary's	Dartford
1897–98	Southampton	Royal Artillery Portsmouth

For the 1898–99 season, Division Two was divided into London and South-West sections, with a playoff contested between the winners of each section.

Season	Division One	Division Two (London)	Division Two (SW)	Division Two Playoff
1898–99	Southampton	Thames Ironworks	Cowes	Thames won 3–1

For the 1899–1900 season, the league reverted to the old format, after all the members of the South-West section resigned. ^[15]

Season	Division One	Division Two
1899–1900	Tottenham Hotspur	Watford
1900–01	Southampton	Brentford
1901–02	Portsmouth	Fulham
1902–03	Southampton	Fulham
1903–04	Southampton	Watford
1904–05	Bristol Rovers	Fulham Reserves
1905–06	Fulham	Crystal Palace
1906–07	Fulham	Southend United
1907–08	Queens Park Rangers	Southend United
1908–09	Northampton Town	Croydon Common

For the 1909–10 season, Division Two was split into an 'A' section and a 'B' section, with the winners of each section contesting a play-off for the Division Two championship.

Season	Division One	Division Two (A)	Division Two (B)	Division Two Playoff
1909–10	Brighton & Hove Albion	Stoke	Hastings & St Leonards United	Stoke won 6–0

For the 1910–11 season, the league again reverted to the previous format.

Season	Division One	Division Two
1910–11	Swindon Town	Reading
1911–12	Queens Park Rangers	Merthyr Town
1912–13	Plymouth Argyle	Cardiff City
1913–14	Swindon Town	Croydon Common
1914–15	Watford	Stoke
1919–20	Portsmouth	Mid Rhondda

At the end of the 1919–20 season, the majority of the clubs in the First Division moved into the new Third Division of the Football League. The Southern League was therefore split into two sections for England and Wales, with the winners of each section contesting a playoff for the Southern League championship.

Season	English Section	Welsh Section	Championship Playoff
1920–21	Brighton & Hove Albion	Barry	Brighton won 2–1
1921–22	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Ebbw Vale	Plymouth won 3–0
1922–23	Bristol City Reserves	Ebbw Vale	Ebbw Vale won 2–1

For the 1923–24 season, the league was split into two regional sections, with the winners of each section contesting a playoff for the Southern League championship.

Season	Eastern Section	Western Section	Championship Playoff
1923–24	Peterborough & Fletton United	Yeovil & Petters United	Peterborough won 3–1
1924–25	Southampton Reserves	Swansea Town Reserves	Southampton won 2–1
1925–26	Millwall Reserves	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Plymouth won 1–0
1926–27	Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves	Torquay United	Brighton won 4–0
1927–28	Kettering Town	Bristol City Reserves	Kettering won 5–0
1928–29	Kettering Town	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Plymouth won 4–2
1929–30	Aldershot Town	Bath City	Aldershot won 3–2
1930–31	Dartford	Exeter City Reserves	Dartford won 7–2
1931–32	Dartford	Yeovil & Petters United	Dartford won 2–1
1932–33	Norwich City Reserves	Bath City	Norwich won 2–1

For the 1933–34 season an extra section, the Central Section was introduced to provide additional fixtures. The Central included clubs from the other two sections and did not contribute to the overall championship.

Season	Eastern Section	Western Section	Central Section	Championship Playoff
1933–34	Norwich City Reserves	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Plymouth won 3–0
1934–35	Norwich City Reserves	Yeovil & Petters United	Folkestone	Norwich won 7–2
1935–36	Margate	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Margate	Margate won 3–1

For the 1936–37 season, the Eastern and Western sections were merged into a single division. Additional fixtures were obtained through the Midweek Section which did not contribute to the overall championship.

Season	Southern League	Midweek Section
1936–37	Ipswich Town	Margate
1937–38	Guildford City	Millwall Reserves
1938–39	Colchester United	Tunbridge Wells Rangers

For the 1945–46 season, the Midweek Section was not played due to power restrictions after World War II.

Season	Southern League
1945–46	Chelmsford City
1946–47	Gillingham
1947–48	Merthyr Tydfil
1948–49	Gillingham
1949–50	Merthyr Tydfil
1950–51	Merthyr Tydfil
1951–52	Merthyr Tydfil
1952–53	Headington United
1953–54	Merthyr Tydfil
1954–55	Yeovil Town
1955–56	Guildford City
1956–57	Kettering Town
1957–58	Gravesend & Northfleet

For the 1958–59 season the Southern League was again divided into two sections: North-Western and South-Eastern. The winners of each section contested a playoff for the Southern League championship.

Season	North-Western Section	South-Eastern Section	Championship Playoff
1958–59	Hereford United	Bedford Town	Bedford won 2–1

The following season saw the two sections merged to form a Premier Division, and a new Division One introduced.

Season	Premier Division	Division One
1959–60	Bath City	Clacton Town
1960–61	Oxford United	Kettering Town
1961–62	Oxford United	Wisbech Town
1962–63	Cambridge City	Margate
1963–64	Yeovil Town	Folkestone Town
1964–65	Weymouth	Hereford United
1965–66	Weymouth	Barnet
1966–67	Romford	Dover
1967–68	Chelmsford City	Worcester City
1968–69	Cambridge United	Brentwood Town
1969–70	Cambridge United	Bedford Town
1970–71	Yeovil Town	Guildford City

For the 1971–72 season Division One was regionalised.

Season	Premier Division	Division One North	Division One South
1971–72	Chelmsford City	Kettering Town	Waterlooville
1972–73	Kettering Town	Grantham	Maidstone United
1973–74	Dartford	Stourbridge	Wealdstone
1974–75	Wimbledon	Bedford Town	Gravesend & Northfleet
1975–76	Wimbledon	Redditch United	Minehead
1976–77	Wimbledon	Worcester City	Barnet
1977–78	Bath City	Witney Town	Margate
1978–79	Worcester City	Grantham	Dover

For the 1979–80 season, thirteen Premier Division clubs joined the newly formed Alliance Premier League. The Premier Division and Division One were subsequently merged, and two regional divisions formed.

Season	Midland Division	Southern Division
1979–80	Bridgend Town	Dorchester Town
1980–81	Alvechurch	Dartford
1981–82	Nuneaton Borough	Wealdstone

For the 1982–83 season, the Premier Division was re-introduced, above the regional divisions.

Season	Premier Division	Midland Division	Southern Division
1982–83	AP Leamington	Cheltenham Town	Fisher Athletic
1983–84	Dartford	Willenhall Town	Road-Sea Southampton
1984–85	Cheltenham Town	Dudley Town	Basingstoke Town
1985–86	Welling United	Bromsgrove Rovers	Cambridge City
1986–87	Fisher Athletic	VS Rugby	Dorchester Town
1987–88	Aylesbury United	Merthyr Tydfil	Dover Athletic
1988–89	Merthyr Tydfil	Gloucester City	Chelmsford City
1989–90	Dover Athletic	Halesowen Town	Bashley
1990–91	Farnborough Town	Stourbridge	Buckingham Town
1991–92	Bromsgrove Rovers	Solihull Borough	Hastings Town
1992–93	Dover Athletic	Nuneaton Borough	Sittingbourne
1993–94	Farnborough Town	Rushden & Diamonds	Gravesend & Northfleet
1994–95	Hednesford Town	Newport County	Salisbury City
1995–96	Rushden & Diamonds	Nuneaton Borough	Sittingbourne
1996–97	Gresley Rovers	Tamworth	Forest Green Rovers
1997–98	Forest Green Rovers	Grantham Town	Weymouth
1998–99	Nuneaton Borough	Clevedon Town	Havant & Waterlooville

For the 1999–2000 season, the regional divisions were renamed the Eastern and Western divisions.

Season	Premier Division	Eastern Division	Western Division
1999–2000	Boston United	Fisher Athletic	Stafford Rangers
2000–01	Margate	Newport IOW	Hinckley United
2001–02	Kettering Town	Hastings Town	Halesowen Town
2002–03	Tamworth	Dorchester Town	Merthyr Tydfil
2003–04	Crawley Town	King's Lynn	Redditch United
2004–05	Histon	Fisher Athletic	Mangotsfield United
2005–06	Salisbury City	Boreham Wood	Clevedon Town

For the 2006–07 season, the two regional divisions were renamed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

Season	Premier Division	Division One Midlands	Division One South & West
2006–07	Bath City	Brackley Town	Bashley
2007–08	King's Lynn	Evesham United	Farnborough
2008–09	Corby Town	Leamington	Truro City

For the 2009–10 season, Division One Midlands was renamed Division One Central.

Season	Premier Division	Division One Central	Division One South & West
2009–10	Farnborough	Bury Town	Windsor & Eton
2010–11	Truro City	Arlesey Town	AFC Totton
2011–12	Brackley Town	St Neots Town	Bideford
2012–13	Leamington	Burnham	Poole Town
2013–14	Hemel Hempstead Town	Dunstable Town	Cirencester Town
2014–15	Corby Town	Kettering Town	Merthyr Town
2015–16	Poole Town	Kings Langley	Cinderford Town
2016–17	Chippenham Town	Royston Town	Hereford

For the 2017–18 season, the Central and South & West divisions were renamed back into East and West respectively.

Season	Premier Division	East Division	West Division
2017–18	Hereford	Beaconsfield Town	Taunton Town

For the following season, the Premier Division was regionalised, becoming the South Division, and a Central Division was added. The East and West divisions were realigned into Central and South again.

Season	Premier Division Central	Premier Division South	Division One Central	Division One South
2018–19	Kettering Town	Weymouth	Peterborough Sports	Blackfield & Langley
2019–20 1	Tamworth	Truro City	Berkhamsted	Thatcham Town
2020–21 2	Coalville Town	Poole Town	Corby Town	Cirencester Town
2021–22	Banbury United	Taunton Town	Bedford Town	Plymouth Parkway
2022–23	Tamworth	Weston-super-Mare	Berkhamsted	AFC Totton
2023–24	Needham Market	Chesham United	Biggleswade Town	Wimborne Town

¹ The 2019–20 season was terminated on 26 March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic; the teams listed here were in first place in the standings at the time of the termination, but were not recognised as champions.

² The 2020–21 season was also terminated on 24 February 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic; the teams listed here were in first place in the standings at the time of the termination, but were not recognised as champions.

Promoted

Since the league's formation in 1894, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system -

Seasons	Promoted to
1892–1921	Football League Second Division
1920–1921	Football League Third Division
1921–1958	Football League Third Division South
1958–1979	Football League Fourth Division
1979–1986	Alliance Premier League
1986–2003	Football Conference
2003–2005	Football Conference National
2004–2015	Football Conference North
2004–2015	Football Conference South
2015–present	National League North
2015–present	National League South

Season	Club	Position	Promoted to
1900–01	Bristol City	2nd	Football League Second Division
1904–05	Clapton Orient (D2)	8th	Football League Second Division
1906–07	Fulham	1st	Football League Second Division
1907–08	Bradford Park Avenue Tottenham Hotspur	13th 7th	Football League Second Division Football League Second Division
1914–15	Stoke (D2) Coventry City (D2) West Ham United (D1)	1st 5th 1st	Football League Second Division Football League Second Division Football League Second Division
1919–20	Cardiff City Portsmouth Watford Crystal Palace Plymouth Argyle Queens Park Rangers Reading Southampton Swansea Town Exeter City Southend United Norwich City Swindon Town Millwall Brentford Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol Rovers Newport County Northampton Town Luton Town Merthyr Town Gillingham	4th 1st 2nd 3rd 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd	Football League Second Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division Football League Third Division
1920–21	Charlton Athletic (SLes) Aberdare Athletic (SLws)	8th 2nd	Football League Third Division S Football League Third Division S
1922–23	Boscombe (SLes)	2nd	Football League Third Division S
1926–27	Torquay United (SLwd)	1st	Football League Third Division S
1929–30	Thames Association(SLed)	3rd	Football League Third Division S
1931–32	Aldershot Town (SLed) Newport County (SLwd)	9th 6th	Football League Third Division S Football League Third Division S
1937–38	Ipswich Town	3rd	Football League Third Division S
1949–50	Colchester United Gillingham	2nd 5th	Football League Third Division S Football League Third Division S
1961–62	Oxford United (PD)	1st	Football League Fourth Division
1969–70	Cambridge United (PD)	1st	Football League Fourth Division
1971–72	Hereford United (PD)	2nd	Football League Fourth Division
1976–77	Wimbledon (PD)	1st	Football League Fourth Division
1978–79	Worcester City Kettering Town Telford United Maidstone United Bath City Weymouth AP Leamington Redditch United Yeovil Town Nuneaton Borough Gravesend & Northfleet Barnet Wealdstone	1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 11th 12th 13th 15th	Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League
1980–81	Trowbridge Town (md) Dartford (sd)	3rd 1st	Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League
1981–82	Nuneaton Borough (md) Wealdstone (sd)	1st 1st	Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League
1982–83	Kidderminster Harriers	2nd	Alliance Premier League
1983–84	Dartford	1st	Alliance Premier League
1984–85	Cheltenham Town	1st	Alliance Premier League
1985–86	Welling United	1st	Football Conference
1986–87	Fisher Athletic	1st	Football Conference
1987–88	Aylesbury United	1st	Football Conference
1988–89	Merthyr Tydfil	1st	Football Conference
1989–90	Bath City	2nd	Football Conference
1990–91	Farnborough Town	1st	Football Conference
1991–92	Bromsgrove Rovers	1st	Football Conference
1992–93	Dover Athletic	1st	Football Conference
1993–94	Farnborough Town	1st	Football Conference
1994–95	Hednesford Town	1st	Football Conference
1995–96	Rushden & Diamonds	1st	Football Conference
1996–97	Cheltenham Town	2nd	Football Conference
1997–98	Forest Green Rovers	1st	Football Conference
1998–99	Nuneaton Borough	1st	Football Conference
1999–00	Boston United	1st	Football Conference
2000–01	Margate	1st	Football Conference
2001–02	Kettering Town	1st	Football Conference
2002–03	Tamworth	1st	Football Conference
2003–04	Crawley Town Stafford Rangers Nuneaton Borough Worcester City Hinckley United Moor Green Weymouth Newport County Cambridge City Welling United Weston-super-Mare Eastbourne Borough Havant & Waterlooville Dorchester Town Redditch United (SLwd)	1st 3rd 4th 5th 6th 13th 2nd 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 17th* 1st*	Football Conference National Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference North Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference North
2004–05	Histon Hednesford Town	1st 4th*	Football Conference South Football Conference North
2005–06	Salisbury City Bedford Town	1st 5th*	Football Conference South Football Conference South
2006–07	Bath City Maidenhead United	1st 4th*	Football Conference South Football Conference South
2007–08	King's Lynn Team Bath	1st 2nd*	Football Conference North Football Conference South
2008–09	Corby Town Gloucester City	1st 3rd*	Football Conference North Football Conference North
2009–10	Farnborough Nuneaton Town	1st 2nd*	Football Conference South Football Conference North
2010–11	Truro City Salisbury City	1st 3rd*	Football Conference South Football Conference South
2011–12	Brackley Town Oxford City	1st 2nd*	Football Conference North Football Conference North
2012–13	Leamington Gosport Borough	1st 5th*	Football Conference North Football Conference South
2013–14	Hemel Hempstead Town St Albans City	1st 4th*	Football Conference South Football Conference South
2014–15	Corby Town Truro City	1st 3rd*	National League North National League South
2015–16	Poole Town Hungerford Town	1st 4th*	National League South National League South
2016–17	Chippenham Town Leamington	1st 2nd*	National League South National League North
2017–18	Hereford Slough Town	1st 3rd*	National League North National League South
2018–19	Kettering Town (PDC) King's Lynn Town (PDC) Weymouth (PDS)	1st 2nd* 1st	National League North National League North National League South
2019–20	No promotion to National League North or South
2020–21	Step 3 promotion cancelled
2021–22	Banbury United (PDC) Peterborough Sports (PDC) Taunton Town (PDS) Farnborough (PDS)	1st 2nd* 1st 3rd*	National League North National League North National League South National League South
2022–23	Tamworth (PDC) Rushall Olympic (PDC) Weston-super-Mare (PDS) Truro City (PDS)	1st 5th* 1st 3rd*	National League North National League North National League South National League South
2023–24	Needham Market (PDC) Leamington (PDC) Chesham United (PDS) Salisbury (PDS)	1st 3rd* 1st 3rd*	National League North National League North National League South National League South

Asterisk indicates club was promoted via play-offs

League Cup winners

Main article: Southern Football League Cup

Season	Champions	Result	Runners-up
1932–33	Plymouth Argyle Reserves (WD)
1933–34	Plymouth Argyle Reserves (WD)
1934–35	Folkestone (ED)
1935–36	Plymouth Argyle Reserves (WD)
1936–37	Newport County Reserves (SL)
1937–38	Colchester United (SL)
1938–39	Not completed [16]
1939–40	Worcester City (WS)
1945–46	Chelmsford City (SL)
1946–47	Gillingham (SL)
1947–48	Merthyr Tydfil (SL)
1948–49	Yeovil Town SL)
1949–50	Colchester United (SL)
1950–51	Merthyr Tydfil (SL)
1951–52	Hereford United (SL)
1952–53	Headington United (SL)
1953–54	Headington United (SL)
1954–55	Yeovil Town (SL)
1955–56	Gloucester City (SL)
1956–57	Hereford United (SL)
1957–58	Cheltenham Town (SL)
1958–59	Hereford United (NW-D)
1959–60	Chelmsford City (PD)
1960–61	Yeovil Town (PD)
1961–62	Cambridge United (PD)
1962–63	Guildford City (PD)
1963–64	Burton Albion (D1)
1964–65	Cambridge United (PD)
1965–66	Yeovil Town (PD)
1966–67	Guildford City (PD)
1967–68	Margate (PD)
1968–69	Cambridge United (PD)
1969–70	Wimbledon (PD)
1970–71	Telford United (PD)
1971–72	Barnet (PD)
1972–73	Weymouth (PD)
1973–74	AP Leamington (D1N)
1974–75	Kettering Town (PD)
1975–76	Wimbledon (PD)
1976–77	Dartford (PD)
1977–78	Gravesend & Northfleet (PD)
1978–79	Bath City (PD)
1979–80	Kidderminster Harriers (MD)
1980–81	Bedford Town (MD)
1981–82	Wealdstone (MD)
1982–83	Alvechurch (PD)
1983–84	AP Leamington (PD)
1984–85	Fisher Athletic (PD)
1985–86	Bromsgrove Rovers (MD)
1986–87	Waterlooville (SD)
1987–88	Dartford (PD)
1988–89	Dartford (PD)
1989–90	VS Rugby (PD)
1990–91	Chelmsford City (PD)
1991–92	Dover Athletic (PD)
1992–93	Stourbridge (MD)
1993–94	Sudbury Town (SD)
1994–95	Hastings Town (PD)
1995–96	Nuneaton Borough (MD)
1996–97	Burton Albion (PD)
1997–98	Margate (SD)
1998–99	Sutton Coldfield Town (PD)	2–1 agreg.	Cambridge City (PD)
1999–00	Burton Albion (PD)
2000–01	Worcester City (PD)
2001–02	Dorchester Town (ED)
2002–03	Crawley Town (PD)
2003–04	Crawley Town (PD)
2004–05	King's Lynn (PD)
2005–06	Hitchin Town (PD)
2006–07	Tiverton Town (PD)	1–0, 2-2	Hemel Hempstead Town (PD)
2007–08	Hillingdon Borough (PD)	1–1, 3–0	Clevedon Town (SW)
2008–09	Atherstone Town (MD)	2–1, 3–1	Bridgwater Town (SW)
2009–10	Cambridge City (PD)	1–0, 0-1 (4-2 p)	VT (SW)
2010–11	Hednesford Town (PD)	2–1, 3–0	Hemel Hempstead Town (PD)
2011–12	Clevedon Town (SW)	0–0, 2–1	Banbury United (PD)
2012–13	Arlesey Town (PD)	1–0, 1-1	Frome Town (PD)
2013–14	St Neots Town (PD)	0–0, 1–0	Tiverton Town (SW)
2014–15	Poole Town (PD)	1–1, 0-0	Corby Town (PD)
2015–16	Merthyr Town (PD)	5–1, 2–0	Cambridge City (PD)
2016–17	Hayes & Yeading United (PD)	1–1 (4-2 p)	St Ives Town (PD)
2017–18	Hitchin Town (PD)	1–0	Didcot Town (DOW)
2018–19	Stratford Town (PDC)	1–0	Cinderford Town (DOS)
2019–20	No winner
2020–21	No winner
2021–22	Royston Town (PDC)	2–0, 5–0	Taunton Town (PDS)
2022–23	No winner

League structure

The league structure has changed several times over the years and currently consists of Central and South Divisions at step 3 of the National League System with Division One South and Division One Central at step 4.

Due in large part to the presence of the Isthmian League, the geographical footprint of the Southern League actually extends further north than the National League South. Therefore, while the winners of the Central and South Divisions are promoted to the National League South, those clubs in the most northerly locales are promoted to the National League North. In the past, the majority of the winners of the former Premier Division, together with the winners of a playoff, were promoted to the higher league.

Clubs relegated from the Southern League can theoretically be placed in any of fourteen lower-level leagues, but in practice it is likely to be one of the following (based on geography):

• Combined Counties League
• Hellenic League
• Midland Football League
• Spartan South Midlands League
• United Counties League
• Wessex League
• Western League

From time to time, clubs outside the promotion and relegation positions based at the geographical edges of the Southern League will be compelled to leave the League by the NLS Committee, should it be necessary for them to compete in the Northern Premier League or Isthmian League so as to correct any imbalances brought on by the geographical distribution of the clubs promoted and relegated to this level. Clubs in the Northern Premier League or Isthmian League have also been entered into the Southern League for the same reason. In general, there has been a drift southwards, with clubs in the Midlands moving into the Northern Premier League.

See also

• Isthmian League
• Northern Premier League

References

1. "Main sponsor Bostik back with two-year deal as Evo-Stik League Southern is reborn". Southern Football League. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
2. "SOUTHERN LEAGUE AGM NEWS – News – 1st Team – Southern Football League – Uxbridge Football Club". Pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
3. "The History of the Southern Football League". Southern Football League official website. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
4. Football League Archived 31 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Football Club History Database
5. "Prospects of the Southern League Teams". The Daily News. 8 September 1900. p. 7. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018– via Newspapers.com.
6. Harding, John (2009). Behind The Glory 100 Years of the PFA. DB. p. 52. ISBN   978-1-85983-682-8.
7. Football League v Southern League Archived 3 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine , Before The 'D'...Association Football around the world, 1863–1937, 27 November 2017
8. "Scotland versus Southern League". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
9. Edwards, Leigh (1993). The Official Centenary History of the Southern League. Halesowen: Paper Plane Publishing. p. 17. ISBN   1-871872-08-1.
10. "The big shake up of non-League football confirmed". pitchero.com. Pitch Hero Ltd. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
11. League tables available Archived 24 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine English Non-League Archive 1965–98
12. "Introducing 'PITCHING IN' – The new partner of the Southern League". Paulton Rovers FC. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
13. Southern League History Archived 27 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine RSSSF
14. Edwards 1993, pp. 26–93.
15. Edwards 1993, p. 16.
16. Edwards 1993, p. 58.

External links

• Official website