2023–24 Southern Football League
The 2023–24 Southern Football League season is the 121st in the history of the Southern League since its establishment in 1894. The league has two Premier divisions (Central and South) at Step 3 of the National League System (NLS) and two Division One divisions (Central and South) at Step 4. These correspond to levels 7 and 8 of the English football league system.
The allocations for Step 4 this season were announced by The Football Association (FA) on 15 May 2023.[1]
Premier Division Central
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Premier Division Central comprises 22 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
Relegated from the National League North Promoted from the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands Promoted from the Northern Premier League East Division Promoted from Division One Central Promoted from the Isthmian League North Division |
Promoted to the National League North Transferred to the Northern Premier League Premier Division Relegated to Division One Central Relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One West Relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
|
Premier Division Central table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mickleover | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 8 | +29 | 35 | Promotion to the National League North or South |
| 2 | Needham Market | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 9 | +15 | 24 | Qualification for the play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | Halesowen Town | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 22 | |
| 4 | Redditch United | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 22 | |
| 5 | Stamford | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 22 | |
| 6 | Coalville Town | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 21 | |
| 7 | Hitchin Town | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 20 | |
| 8 | Leamington | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 20 | |
| 9 | Bromsgrove Sporting | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 20 | |
| 10 | Nuneaton Borough | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 19 | |
| 11 | AFC Telford United | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 18 | |
| 12 | Royston Town | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 18 | |
| 13 | Alvechurch | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 18 | |
| 14 | Stratford Town | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 17 | |
| 15 | Barwell | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 16 | |
| 16 | Stourbridge | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 19 | −1 | 14 | |
| 17 | Leiston | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 22 | −7 | 13 | |
| 18 | Kettering Town | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 23 | −7 | 10 | |
| 19 | St Ives Town | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 9 | Relegation to Step 4 |
| 20 | Berkhamsted | 13 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 29 | −19 | 9 | |
| 21 | AFC Sudbury | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 25 | −15 | 8 | |
| 22 | Long Eaton United | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 32 | −24 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Notes:
- Four teams played for one spot and promotion to Step 2.
Stadia and locations
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Sudbury | Sudbury | King's Marsh | 2,500 |
| AFC Telford United | Telford | New Bucks Head | 6,300 |
| Alvechurch | Alvechurch | Lye Meadow | 3,000 |
| Barwell | Barwell | Kirkby Road | 2,500 |
| Berkhamsted | Berkhamsted | Broadwater | 2,500 |
| Bromsgrove Sporting | Bromsgrove | Victoria Ground | 4,893 |
| Coalville Town | Coalville | Owen Street Sports Ground | 2,000 |
| Halesowen Town | Halesowen | The Grove | 3,150 |
| Hitchin Town | Hitchin | Top Field | 4,554 |
| Kettering Town | Kettering | Latimer Park (groundshare with Burton Park Wanderers) | 2,400 |
| Leamington | Leamington | New Windmill Ground | 3,050 |
| Leiston | Leiston | Victory Road | 2,250 |
| Long Eaton United | Long Eaton | Grange Park | 3,000 |
| Mickleover | Derby (Mickleover) | Station Road | 1,500 |
| Needham Market | Needham Market | Bloomfields | 4,000 |
| Nuneaton Borough | Nuneaton | Liberty Way | 4,614 |
| Redditch United | Redditch | The Valley | 5,000 |
| Royston Town | Royston | Garden Walk | 5,000 |
| Stamford | Stamford | Borderville Sports Centre | 2,000 |
| St Ives Town | St Ives | Westwood Road | 2,000 |
| Stourbridge | Stourbridge | War Memorial Athletic Ground | 2,626 |
| Stratford Town | Stratford-upon-Avon | Knights Lane | 2,000 |
Top goalscorers
- As of 30 September 2023
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Barnes | Mickleover | 8 |
| Luke Benbow | Stourbridge | ||
| Miracle Okafor | Halesowen Town | ||
| Matthew Stenson | Nuneaton Borough | ||
| 5 | Timothy Berridge | Coalville Town | 7 |
| Reece Flanagan | Redditch United | ||
| Oliver Greaves | Mickleover | ||
| 8 | Montel Gibson | AFC Telford United | 6 |
| Andre Wright | Mickleover | ||
| 10 | 6 Players | 5 | |
Premier Division South
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 | |
Premier Division South comprises 22 teams, 16 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
Promoted from Division One Central Promoted from Division One South Promoted from the Isthmian League South Central Division Relegated from the National League South |
Promoted to the National League South Relegated to Division One Central Relegated to Division One South Relegated to the Isthmian League South Central Division
|
Premier Division South table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gosport Borough | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 12 | +19 | 32 | Promotion to the National League South |
| 2 | Salisbury | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 30 | Qualification for the play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | Chesham United | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 14 | +16 | 29 | |
| 4 | Walton & Hersham | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 20 | +17 | 28 | |
| 5 | Merthyr Town | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 18 | +11 | 26 | |
| 6 | AFC Totton | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 15 | +17 | 23 | |
| 7 | Basingstoke Town | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 32 | 35 | −3 | 21 | |
| 8 | Poole Town | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 32 | 26 | +6 | 19 | |
| 9 | Bracknell Town | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 19 | |
| 10 | Hungerford Town | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 19 | |
| 11 | Hendon | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 19 | |
| 12 | Hayes & Yeading United | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 18 | |
| 13 | Winchester City | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 22 | −1 | 18 | |
| 14 | Sholing | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 18 | |
| 15 | Hanwell Town | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 31 | −6 | 17 | |
| 16 | Beaconsfield Town | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 29 | −7 | 15 | |
| 17 | Harrow Borough | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 36 | −15 | 13 | |
| 18 | Dorchester Town | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 31 | −13 | 12 | |
| 19 | Plymouth Parkway | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 10 | Relegation to Step 4 |
| 20 | Tiverton Town | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 33 | −11 | 10 | |
| 21 | Didcot Town | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 38 | −20 | 6 | |
| 22 | Swindon Supermarine | 13 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 39 | −22 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Step 2
Stadia and locations
Division One Central
| Season | 2022–23 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 | |
Division One Central comprises 19 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
Promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Relegated from the Premier Division Central Relegated from the Premier Division South |
Promoted to the Premier Division Central Promoted to the Premier Division South Relegated to the Hellenic League Premier Division Relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Resigned from the league, joined the Eastern Counties League Transferred to the Isthmian League North Division
|
Division One Central table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedford Town | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 | +14 | 15 | Promotion to Step 3 |
| 2 | Kings Langley | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 12 | Qualification for the play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | AFC Dunstable | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 12 | |
| 4 | Leighton Town | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 11 | |
| 5 | Cirencester Town | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 10 | |
| 6 | Waltham Abbey | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 10 | |
| 7 | Hertford Town | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 10 | |
| 8 | North Leigh | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 9 | |
| 9 | Biggleswade | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 7 | |
| 10 | Biggleswade Town | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 7 | |
| 11 | Stotfold | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 7 | |
| 12 | Ware | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 7 | |
| 13 | Thame United | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 6 | |
| 14 | Kidlington | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 6 | |
| 15 | Barton Rovers | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 5 | |
| 16 | Welwyn Garden City | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | −7 | 4 | |
| 17 | Aylesbury United | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 3 | |
| 18 | Kempston Rovers | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | −12 | 2 | Relegation to Step 5 |
| 19 | Hadley | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and possible promotion to Step 3.
Stadia and locations
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Dunstable | Dunstable | Creasey Park | 3,200 |
| Aylesbury United | Chesham | The Meadow (groundshare with Chesham United) | 5,000 |
| Barton Rovers | Barton-le-Clay | Sharpenhoe Road | 4,000 |
| Bedford Town | Bedford | The Eyrie | 3,000 |
| Biggleswade | Biggleswade | The Eyrie (groundshare with Bedford Town) | 3,000 |
| Biggleswade Town | Biggleswade | Langford Road | 3,000 |
| Cirencester Town | Cirencester | Corinium Stadium | 4,500 |
| Hadley | London (Arkley) | Brickfield Lane | 2,000 |
| Hertford Town | Hertford | Hertingfordbury Park | 6,500 |
| Kempston Rovers | Kempston | Hillgrounds Leisure | 2,000 |
| Kidlington | Kidlington | Yarnton Road | 1,500 |
| Kings Langley | Kings Langley | Sadiku Stadium | 1,963 |
| Leighton Town | Leighton Buzzard | Bell Close | 2,800 |
| North Leigh | North Leigh | Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground | 2,000 |
| Stotfold | Stotfold | The JSJ Stadium | 1,500 |
| Thame United | Thame | Meadow View Park | 2,000 |
| Waltham Abbey | Waltham Abbey | Capershotts | 3,500 |
| Ware | Ware | Wodson Park | 3,300 |
| Welwyn Garden City | Welwyn Garden City | Herns Way | 1,000 |
Division One South
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 | |
Division One South comprises 20 teams, 15 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
Promoted from the Hellenic League Premier Division Promoted from the Wessex League Premier Division Promoted from the Western League Premier Division Relegated from the Premier Division South |
Promoted to the Premier Division South Relegated to the Hellenic League Premier Division Relegated to the Wessex League Premier Division
|
Division One South table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willand Rovers | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 15 | Promotion to Step 3 |
| 2 | Bemerton Heath Harlequins | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 13 | Qualification for the play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
| 3 | Melksham Town | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 12 | |
| 4 | Mousehole | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 11 | |
| 5 | Wimborne Town | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 10 | |
| 6 | Frome Town | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 10 | |
| 7 | Bishop's Cleeve | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 10 | |
| 8 | Westbury United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 10 | |
| 9 | Bashley | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 8 | |
| 10 | Bideford | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 8 | |
| 11 | Cribbs | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 7 | |
| 12 | Larkhall Athletic | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 7 | |
| 13 | Paulton Rovers | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 7 | |
| 14 | Malvern Town | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 22 | −7 | 6 | |
| 15 | Yate Town | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 5 | |
| 16 | Hamworthy United | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 5 | |
| 17 | Tavistock | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 4 | |
| 18 | Evesham United | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 13 | −6 | 4 | |
| 19 | Bristol Manor Farm | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 3 | Relegation to Step 5 |
| 20 | Exmouth Town | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[2]
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and possible promotion to Step 3.
Stadia and locations
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bashley | Bashley | Bashley Road | 4,250 |
| Bemerton Heath Harlequins | Bemerton | Moon Park | 2,100 |
| Bideford | Bideford | The Sports Ground | 2,000 |
| Bishop's Cleeve | Bishop's Cleeve | Kayte Lane | 1,500 |
| Bristol Manor Farm | Bristol (Sea Mills) | The Creek | 2,000 |
| Cribbs | Cribbs Causeway | The Lawns | 1,000 |
| Evesham United | Evesham | Jubilee Stadium | 3,000 |
| Exmouth Town | Exmouth | Southern Road | n/a |
| Frome Town | Frome | Badgers Hill | 2,000 |
| Hamworthy United | Hamworthy | The Country Ground | 2,000 |
| Larkhall Athletic | Bath (Larkhall) | The Plain Ham Ground | 1,000 |
| Malvern Town | Malvern | Langland Stadium | 2,500 |
| Melksham Town | Melksham | Oakfield Stadium | 2,500 |
| Mousehole | Mousehole | Trungle Parc | n/a |
| Paulton Rovers | Paulton | Athletic Field | 2,500 |
| Tavistock | Tavistock | Langsford Park | 2,000 |
| Westbury United | Westbury | Meadow Lane | n/a |
| Willand Rovers | Willand | The Stan Robinson Stadium | 1,000 |
| Wimborne Town | Wimborne Minster | The Cuthbury | 3,000 |
| Yate Town | Yate | Lodge Road | 2,000 |
References
- "National League System Allocations for the Southern Football League". Pitching In partners with Southern Football League. 17 May 2023.
- "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.