The 2023–24 season is the 109th season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England. The league operates four divisions, the Premier Division at Step 3 and three divisions, North, South Central and South East at Step 4 of the National League System. This is the sixth season since the former South Division was subdivided into the South Central and South East divisions. The league is also known as the Pitching In League under a sponsorship deal with Entain, formerly GVC Holdings.
The allocations for Step 4 this season were announced by The Football Association (FA) on 15 May 2023.[1]
Premier Division
The Premier Division comprised sixteen teams from the previous season, as well as six clubs who newly joined the division.
Team changes
Promoted from the North Division Promoted from the South East Division Relegated from the National League South |
Promoted to the National League North Promoted to the National League South Relegated to the North Division Relegated to the South Central Division Relegated to the South East Division
|
Premier Division table
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Hornchurch |
Promoted | Hornchurch |
Relegated | Haringey Borough Kingstonian Concord Rangers |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hornchurch (C, P) | 42 | 31 | 7 | 4 | 95 | 34 | +61 | 100 | Promotion to the National League South |
2 | Chatham Town (Q) | 42 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 87 | 61 | +26 | 79 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Enfield Town (Q) | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 81 | 54 | +27 | 77 | |
4 | Wingate & Finchley (Q) | 42 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 78 | 62 | +16 | 76 | |
5 | Horsham (Q) | 42 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 76 | |
6 | Billericay Town | 42 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 78 | 52 | +26 | 73 | |
7 | Hastings United | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 71 | 54 | +17 | 67 | |
8 | Lewes | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 68 | 70 | −2 | 67 | |
9 | Whitehawk | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 63 | 54 | +9 | 65 | |
10 | Bognor Regis Town | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 78 | 63 | +15 | 62 | |
11 | Carshalton Athletic | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 73 | 59 | +14 | 62 | |
12 | Dulwich Hamlet | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 77 | 72 | +5 | 62 | |
13 | Hashtag United | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 82 | 75 | +7 | 59 | |
14 | Canvey Island | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 62 | 74 | −12 | 54 | |
15 | Potters Bar Town | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 65 | 70 | −5 | 51 | |
16 | Folkestone Invicta | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 60 | 71 | −11 | 50 | |
17 | Cray Wanderers | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 50 | |
18 | Cheshunt | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 58 | 72 | −14 | 43 | |
19 | Margate (R) | 42 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 50 | 80 | −30 | 39 | Relegated to step 4 |
20 | Haringey Borough (R) | 42 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 32 | 88 | −56 | 27 | |
21 | Concord Rangers (R) | 42 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 34 | 82 | −48 | 26 | |
22 | Kingstonian (R) | 42 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 55 | 102 | −47 | 21 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Chatham Town | ||||||||
5 | Horsham | ||||||||
3 | Enfield Town | ||||||||
4 | Wingate & Finchley |
Semifinals
1 May | Chatham Town | v | Horsham | Chatham |
19:45 | Stadium: The Bauvil Stadium |
1 May | Enfield Town | v | Wingate & Finchley | Enfield |
19:45 | Stadium: Queen Elizabeth II Stadium |
Final
6 May | v | |||
15:00 |
Stadiums and locations
North Division
The North Division comprises 20 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season. This was the first season with play-offs at step five, meaning that just two teams would be relegated from the division.[2]
Team changes
Promoted from the Eastern Counties League Promoted from the Essex Senior League Relegated from the Premier Division Transferred from Southern League Division One Central |
Promoted to the Southern League Premier Division Central Promoted to the Premier Division Relegated to the Essex Senior League
|
North Division table
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Lowestoft Town |
Promoted | Lowestoft Town |
Relegated | Stowmarket Town East Thurrock United (resigned) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lowestoft Town (C, P) | 35 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 90 | 39 | +51 | 78 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
2 | Bowers & Pitsea (Q) | 35 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 70 | 47 | +23 | 73 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Bury Town (Q) | 35 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 87 | 46 | +41 | 71 | |
4 | Felixstowe & Walton United (Q) | 35 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 72 | 39 | +33 | 71 | |
5 | Brentwood Town (Q) | 35 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 67 | 32 | +35 | 69 | |
6 | Walthamstow | 36 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 62 | |
7 | Brightlingsea Regent | 35 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 66 | 50 | +16 | 57 | |
8 | Heybridge Swifts | 35 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 51 | 44 | +7 | 57 | |
9 | Basildon United | 35 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 65 | 60 | +5 | 52 | |
10 | Maldon & Tiptree | 35 | 15 | 4 | 16 | 65 | 60 | +5 | 49 | |
11 | Gorleston | 35 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 54 | 49 | +5 | 47 | |
12 | Redbridge | 35 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 47 | |
13 | Wroxham | 35 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 45 | 47 | −2 | 45 | |
14 | Witham Town | 35 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 42 | |
15 | New Salamis | 35 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 57 | 76 | −19 | 35 | |
16 | Grays Athletic | 35 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 43 | 67 | −24 | 30 | |
17 | Ipswich Wanderers | 35 | 8 | 5 | 22 | 36 | 72 | −36 | 29 | |
18 | Enfield | 35 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 29 | 86 | −57 | 19 | |
19 | Stowmarket Town (R) | 35 | 0 | 6 | 29 | 34 | 121 | −87 | 6 | Relegation to step 5 |
20 | East Thurrock United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[a] | Resigned from the league |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ East Thurrock United folded in September 2023 the club's playing record of Pld3 W1 D1 L1 GF4 GA6 ₧4 was expunged.[3]
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Bowers & Pitsea | ||||||||
5 | Brentwood Town | ||||||||
3 | Bury Town | ||||||||
4 | Felixstowe & Walton United |
Semifinals
30 April | Bowers & Pitsea | v | Brentwood Town | Pitsea |
19:45 | Stadium: Len Salmon Stadium |
30 April | Bury Town | v | Felixstowe & Walton United | Bury St Edmunds |
19:45 | Stadium: Ram Meadow |
Final
4 May | v | |||
15:00 |
Stadiums and locations
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Basildon United | Basildon | Gardiners Close | 2,000 |
Bowers & Pitsea | Pitsea | Len Salmon Stadium | 3,500 |
Brentwood Town | Brentwood | The Brentwood Centre Arena | 1,800 |
Brightlingsea Regent | Brightlingsea | North Road | 2,000 |
Bury Town | Bury St Edmunds | Ram Meadow | 3,500 |
East Thurrock United | Corringham | Rookery Hill | 3,500 |
Enfield | Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park (groundshare with Bishop's Stortford) | 4,525 (525 seated) |
Felixstowe & Walton United | Felixstowe | Dellwood Avenue | 2,000 |
Gorleston | Gorleston-on-Sea | Wellesley Recreation Ground (groundshare with Great Yarmouth Town) | 3,600 (500 seated) |
Grays Athletic | Grays | Parkside (groundshare with Aveley) | 3,500 |
Heybridge Swifts | Heybridge | Scraley Road | 3,000 |
Ipswich Wanderers | Rushmere | Humber Doucy Lane | 550 |
Lowestoft Town | Lowestoft | Crown Meadow | 3,000 |
Maldon & Tiptree | Maldon | Wallace Binder Ground | 2,000 |
New Salamis | Bowes Park | Coles Park (groundshare with Haringey Borough) | 3,000 |
Redbridge | Barkingside | Oakside Stadium | 3,000 (316 seated) |
Stowmarket Town | Stowmarket | Greens Meadow | 1,000 |
Walthamstow | London (Walthamstow) | Wadham Lodge | 3,500 |
Witham Town | Witham | Spa Road | 2,500 |
Wroxham | Wroxham | Trafford Park | 2,500 |
South Central Division
The South Central Division consists of 21 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous campaign. Only two teams would be relegated following the restructuring of the step 4/5 promotion.[2]
Team changes
Promoted from the Combined Counties League Premier Division North Promoted from the Combined Counties League Premier Division South Relegated from the Premier Division Relegated from the Southern League Premier Division South |
Promoted to the Southern League Premier Division South Relegated to the Combined Counties Premier Division North Relegated to the Combined Counties Premier Division South Transferred to South East Division
|
South Central Division table
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Chertsey Town |
Promoted | Chertsey Town |
Relegated | Corinthian-Casuals |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chertsey Town (C, P) | 39 | 30 | 8 | 1 | 101 | 31 | +70 | 97[a] | Promotion to Step 3 |
2 | Marlow (Q) | 39 | 28 | 2 | 9 | 103 | 48 | +55 | 86 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Leatherhead (Q) | 39 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 68 | 32 | +36 | 83 | |
4 | Southall (Q) | 39 | 25 | 5 | 9 | 79 | 43 | +36 | 80 | |
5 | Westfield (Q) | 39 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 78 | 50 | +28 | 80 | |
6 | Raynes Park Vale | 39 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 65 | 45 | +20 | 75 | |
7 | Hanworth Villa | 39 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 76 | 56 | +20 | 65 | |
8 | South Park | 40 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 72 | 61 | +11 | 61 | |
9 | Thatcham Town | 39 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 59 | |
10 | Hartley Wintney | 39 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 64 | 76 | −12 | 55 | |
11 | Badshot Lea | 39 | 15 | 9 | 15 | 64 | 68 | −4 | 54 | |
12 | Uxbridge | 39 | 15 | 5 | 19 | 69 | 70 | −1 | 50 | |
13 | Ascot United | 39 | 12 | 6 | 21 | 53 | 65 | −12 | 42 | |
14 | Sutton Common Rovers | 39 | 11 | 7 | 21 | 49 | 68 | −19 | 40 | |
15 | Northwood | 39 | 11 | 6 | 22 | 67 | 72 | −5 | 39 | |
16 | Metropolitan Police | 39 | 9 | 10 | 20 | 37 | 61 | −24 | 37 | |
17 | Guernsey | 39 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 64 | 92 | −28 | 34 | |
18 | Ashford Town | 39 | 9 | 6 | 24 | 40 | 70 | −30 | 33 | |
19 | Binfield | 39 | 8 | 9 | 22 | 58 | 108 | −50 | 33 | |
20 | Chipstead | 39 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 44 | 80 | −36 | 30 | Relegation to Step 5 |
21 | Corinthian-Casuals (R) | 39 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 34 | 98 | −64 | 21 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Chertsey Town were deducted one point having fielded an ineligible player on 3 October 2023 in a 1–1 draw with Binfield.
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Marlow | ||||||||
5 | |||||||||
3 | Leatherhead | ||||||||
4 |
Semifinals
1 May | Marlow | v | Marlow | |
19:45 | Stadium: Alfred Davis Memorial Ground |
1 May | Leatherhead | v | Leatherhead | |
19:45 | Stadium: Fetcham Grove |
Final
5 May | v | |||
15:00 |
Stadiums and locations
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Ascot United | Ascot | The Racecourse Ground | 1,150 |
Ashford Town | Ashford, Surrey | Robert Parker Stadium | 2,550 |
Badshot Lea | Wrecclesham | Westfield Lane | 1,200 |
Binfield | Binfield | Hill Farm Lane | 1,000 |
Chertsey Town | Chertsey | Alwyns Lane | 2,500 |
Chipstead | Chipstead | High Road | 2,000 |
Corinthian-Casuals | Tolworth | King George's Field | 2,700 |
Guernsey | Saint Peter Port | Footes Lane | 5,000 |
Hanworth Villa | Hanworth | Rectory Meadow | 1,000 |
Hartley Wintney | Hartley Wintney | The Memorial Playing Fields | 2,000 |
Leatherhead | Leatherhead | Fetcham Grove | 3,400 |
Marlow | Marlow | Alfred Davis Memorial Ground | 3,000 |
Metropolitan Police | East Molesey | Imber Court | 3,000 |
Northwood | Northwood | Northwood Park | 3,075 |
Raynes Park Vale | Raynes Park | Grand Drive | 1,500 |
South Park | Reigate | King George's Field | 2,000 |
Southall | Stanwell | Robert Parker Stadium (groundshare with Ashford Town) | 2,550 |
Sutton Common Rovers | Tandridge, Surrey | Church Road (groundshare with AFC Whyteleafe) | 2,000 |
Thatcham Town | Thatcham | Waterside Park | 1,500 |
Uxbridge | West Drayton | Honeycroft | 3,770 |
Westfield | Woking (Westfield) | Woking Park | 1,000 |
South East Division
The South East Division consists of 20 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season. Only two teams would be relegated following the restructuring of the step 4/5 promotion.[2]
Team changes
Promoted from the Southern Combination League Promoted from the Southern Counties East League Promoted from the Wessex League Relegated from the Premier Division Transferred from South Central Division
|
Promoted to the Premier Division Relegated to the Southern Combination League Relegated to the Southern Counties East League
|
South East Division table
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Relegated | Beckenham Town Erith & Belvedere |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cray Valley Paper Mills (T) | 37 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 101 | 32 | +69 | 92 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
2 | Ramsgate (T) | 37 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 105 | 39 | +66 | 89 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Sittingbourne (Q) | 37 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 81 | 37 | +44 | 75 | |
4 | Three Bridges (Q) | 37 | 21 | 7 | 9 | 96 | 67 | +29 | 70 | |
5 | Chichester City (Q) | 37 | 21 | 5 | 11 | 80 | 40 | +40 | 68 | |
6 | Lancing | 37 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 70 | 65 | +5 | 63 | |
7 | Sheppey United | 37 | 17 | 7 | 13 | 74 | 56 | +18 | 58 | |
8 | Herne Bay | 37 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 71 | 60 | +11 | 58 | |
9 | Broadbridge Heath | 37 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 56 | 54 | +2 | 49 | |
10 | Sevenoaks Town | 37 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 60 | 63 | −3 | 46 | |
11 | Ashford United | 37 | 14 | 3 | 20 | 55 | 79 | −24 | 45 | |
12 | Horndean | 37 | 12 | 7 | 18 | 57 | 74 | −17 | 43 | |
13 | Hythe Town | 37 | 12 | 7 | 18 | 53 | 70 | −17 | 43 | |
14 | Burgess Hill Town | 37 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 70 | −12 | 41 | |
15 | Merstham | 37 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 57 | 69 | −12 | 41 | |
16 | Phoenix Sports | 37 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 50 | 90 | −40 | 35 | |
17 | Littlehampton Town | 37 | 9 | 7 | 21 | 45 | 75 | −30 | 34 | |
18 | East Grinstead Town | 37 | 9 | 7 | 21 | 51 | 84 | −33 | 34 | |
19 | Beckenham Town (R) | 37 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 57 | 92 | −35 | 29 | Relegation to step 5 |
20 | Erith & Belvedere (R) | 37 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 85 | −61 | 23 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Ramsgate | ||||||||
5 | Chichester City | ||||||||
3 | Sittingbourne | ||||||||
4 | Three Bridges |
Semifinals
30 April | Ramsgate | v | Chichester City | Ramsgate |
19:45 | Stadium: Southwood Stadium |
30 April | Sittingbourne | v | Three Bridges | Sittingbourne |
19:45 | Stadium: Woodstock Park |
Final
3 May | v | |||
19:45 |
Results table
Stadiums and locations
See also
References
- ^ "THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2023-24 TERM". The Football Association. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "It's the end of the Rocky road as East Thurrock United fold". Thurrock Nub News. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.