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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

Southern Football League
Premier Division Central
Season2023–24
ChampionsNeedham Market
PromotedNeedham Market
RelegatedLong Eaton United F.C.
Berkhamsted F.C.
Nuneaton Borough F.C. (Resigned)

Premier Division Central comprises 22 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season.

Team changes

Premier Division Central table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Needham Market (C, P) 40 26 7 7 74 34 +40 85 Promotion to the National League North
2 AFC Telford United (Q) 40 24 10 6 69 34 +35 82 Qualification for the play-offs[a]
3 Leamington (Q) 40 19 14 7 61 32 +29 71
4 Redditch United (Q) 40 21 7 12 65 52 +13 70
5 Mickleover (Q) 40 25 6 9 77 43 +34 69[b]
6 Stratford Town 40 21 6 13 69 57 +12 69
7 Stamford 40 19 9 12 80 58 +22 66
8 Halesowen Town 40 18 8 14 54 50 +4 62
9 St Ives Town 40 18 4 18 87 72 +15 58
10 Royston Town 40 17 6 17 63 61 +2 57
11 Coalville Town 40 15 10 15 68 57 +11 55
12 Stourbridge 40 14 10 16 52 50 +2 52
13 Leiston 40 14 10 16 56 71 −15 52
14 Barwell 40 13 12 15 64 65 −1 51
15 Kettering Town 40 13 9 18 49 74 −25 48
16 Alvechurch 40 12 9 19 49 70 −21 45
17 Bromsgrove Sporting 40 12 8 20 44 51 −7 44
18 AFC Sudbury 40 10 10 20 53 62 −9 40
19 Hitchin Town (R) 40 11 6 23 46 64 −18 39 Relegation to Step 4
20 Long Eaton United (R) 40 5 7 28 39 109 −70 22
21 Berkhamsted (R) 40 3 12 25 31 84 −53 21
22 Nuneaton Borough 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Resigned from the league
Updated to match(es) played on 27 April 2024. Source: Southern League, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams played for one spot and promotion to Step 2.
  2. ^ Mickleover were deducted twelve points for for fielding an ineligible player.[2]

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 AFC Telford United
5 Mickleover
 
 
3 Leamington
4 Redditch United

Semifinals

AFC Telford United v Mickleover Telford
Stadium: New Bucks Head
Leamington v Redditch United Leamington
Stadium: New Windmill Ground

Final

v

Stadia and locations

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Locations of the Premier Division Central clubs
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 15 February 2024
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Jonathan Edwards St. Ives Town 16
2 Timothy Berridge Coalville Town 15
3 Miracle Okafor Halesowen Town 14
4 Oliver Greaves Mickleover 13
5 Alex Cameron Redditch United 12
Callum Ebanks Stratford Town
Reece Flanagan Redditch United
Brandon Njoku St Ives Town
9 Beck-Ray Enoru Barwell 11
Joe Neal AFC Sudbury
Callum Stewart Leamington

Premier Division South

Southern Football League
Premier Division South
Season2023–24
ChampionsChesham United
PromotedChesham United
RelegatedHarrow Borough
Didcot Town

Premier Division South comprises 22 teams, 16 of which competed in the previous season.

Team changes

Premier Division South table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Chesham United (C, P) 42 28 6 8 83 46 +37 90 Promotion to the National League South
2 AFC Totton (Q) 42 23 12 7 89 45 +44 81 Qualification for the play-offs[a]
3 Salisbury (Q) 42 23 10 9 70 46 +24 79
4 Gosport Borough (Q) 42 23 9 10 75 43 +32 78
5 Bracknell Town (Q) 42 21 5 16 84 71 +13 68
6 Merthyr Town 42 20 7 15 85 59 +26 67
7 Walton & Hersham 42 18 11 13 78 67 +11 65
8 Hungerford Town 42 18 10 14 77 70 +7 64
9 Dorchester Town 42 17 9 16 66 77 −11 60
10 Hendon 42 14 16 12 70 65 +5 58
11 Winchester City 42 15 12 15 63 67 −4 57
12 Basingstoke Town 42 15 8 19 69 83 −14 53
13 Poole Town 42 16 4 22 70 76 −6 52
14 Tiverton Town 42 14 10 18 64 74 −10 52
15 Sholing 42 13 10 19 52 63 −11 49
16 Swindon Supermarine 42 13 10 19 73 92 −19 49
17 Hanwell Town 42 12 12 18 64 71 −7 48
18 Plymouth Parkway 42 12 12 18 60 68 −8 48
19 Beaconsfield Town (R) 42 13 9 20 63 78 −15 48 Relegation to Step 4
20 Hayes & Yeading United (R) 42 11 13 18 59 67 −8 46
21 Harrow Borough (R) 42 10 9 23 60 97 −37 39
22 Didcot Town (R) 42 6 10 26 45 94 −49 28
Updated to match(es) played on 27 April 2024. Source: Southern League, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Assured a place in the promotion play-off; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Step 2

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 AFC Totton
5 Bracknell Town
 
 
3 Salisbury
4 Gosport Borough

Semifinals

AFC Totton v Bracknell Town Totton
Stadium: Testwood Stadium
Salisbury v Gosport Borough Salisbury
Stadium: Raymond McEnhill Stadium

Final

v

Stadia and locations

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Locations of the Premier Division South clubs
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Greater London and environ Premier Division South clubs
Club Location Stadium Capacity
AFC Totton Totton Testwood Stadium 3,000
Basingstoke Town Basingstoke Winklebury Football Complex (Basingstoke) 2,000
Beaconsfield Town Beaconsfield Holloways Park 3,500
Bracknell Town Sandhurst SB Stadium 1,950
Chesham United Chesham The Meadow 5,000
Didcot Town Didcot Loop Meadow 3,000
Dorchester Town Dorchester The Avenue Stadium 5,000
Gosport Borough Gosport Privett Park 4,500
Hanwell Town Perivale Powerday Stadium 3,000
Harrow Borough Harrow Earlsmead Stadium 3,000
Hayes & Yeading United Hayes, Hillingdon SkyEx Community Stadium 3,000
Hendon Hendon Silver Jubilee Park 2,000
Hungerford Town Hungerford Bulpit Lane 2,500
Merthyr Town Merthyr Tydfil Penydarren Park 4,000
Plymouth Parkway Plymouth Bolitho Park 3,500
Poole Town Poole The BlackGold Stadium 2,500
Salisbury Salisbury Raymond McEnhill Stadium 5,000
Sholing Sholing Universal Stadium 1,000
Swindon Supermarine South Marston Hunts Copse Ground 3,000
Tiverton Town Tiverton Ladysmead 3,500
Walton & Hersham Walton-on-Thames Elmbridge Sports Hub 2,500
Winchester City Winchester The City Ground 4,500

Division One Central

Southern Football League
Division One Central
Season2022–23

Division One Central comprises 19 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season.

Team changes

Division One Central table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Biggleswade Town (X) 35 21 6 8 73 38 +35 69 Promotion to Step 3
2 Bedford Town (X) 35 19 9 7 74 37 +37 66 Qualification for the play-offs[a]
3 AFC Dunstable (Q) 35 19 4 12 73 66 +7 61
4 Ware (Q) 35 18 5 12 68 57 +11 59
5 Waltham Abbey (Q) 35 17 7 11 67 53 +14 58
6 Cirencester Town 35 15 9 11 63 44 +19 54
7 Welwyn Garden City 35 17 3 15 79 76 +3 54
8 Stotfold 35 15 7 13 65 56 +9 52
9 Hadley 35 16 4 15 63 60 +3 52
10 Biggleswade 35 14 6 15 62 57 +5 48
11 Kings Langley 36 13 9 14 71 74 −3 48
12 Barton Rovers 35 11 11 13 58 61 −3 44
13 Hertford Town 35 13 5 17 55 71 −16 44
14 North Leigh 35 14 1 20 52 76 −24 43
15 Leighton Town 35 12 6 17 51 60 −9 42
16 Kidlington 35 11 8 16 47 60 −13 41
17 Aylesbury United 35 11 7 17 60 74 −14 40
18 Thame United 35 11 4 20 49 67 −18 37 Relegation to Step 5
19 Kempston Rovers (R) 35 8 5 22 36 79 −43 29
Updated to match(es) played on 24 April 2024. Source: Southern League, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated; (X) Assured a place of the promotion play-off, but may still gain direct promotion
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and possible promotion to Step 3.

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Bedford Town
5 Ware
 
 
3 AFC Dunstable
4 Waltham Abbey

Semifinals

Bedford Town v Ware Cardington
Stadium: The New Eyrie
AFC Dunstable v Waltham Abbey Dunstable
Stadium: Creasey Park

Final

v

Stadia and locations

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Locations of Division One Central clubs
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

Southern Football League
Division One South
Season2023–24

Division One South comprises 20 teams, 15 of which competed in the previous season.

Team changes

Division One South table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Wimborne Town (C, P) 36 24 7 5 76 42 +34 79 Promotion to Step 3
2 Frome Town (Q) 36 22 9 5 74 42 +32 75 Qualification for the play-offs[a]
3 Cribbs (Q) 36 18 12 6 56 46 +10 66
4 Bristol Manor Farm (Q) 36 17 8 11 67 50 +17 59
5 Mousehole (Q) 36 17 7 12 82 58 +24 58
6 Larkhall Athletic 36 16 10 10 67 53 +14 58
7 Evesham United 36 13 12 11 56 47 +9 51
8 Yate Town 36 13 11 12 56 46 +10 50
9 Bishop's Cleeve 36 13 9 14 68 63 +5 48
10 Malvern Town 36 13 8 15 59 61 −2 47
11 Tavistock 36 13 7 16 62 71 −9 46
12 Bideford 36 13 7 16 46 58 −12 46
13 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 36 12 7 17 52 71 −19 43
14 Willand Rovers 36 11 9 16 50 60 −10 42
15 Bashley 36 11 9 16 45 59 −14 42
16 Melksham Town 36 10 10 16 52 65 −13 40
17 Westbury United 36 8 10 18 45 62 −17 34
18 Exmouth Town 36 9 6 21 49 67 −18 33
19 Paulton Rovers (R) 36 6 8 22 37 78 −41 26 Relegation to Step 5
20 Hamworthy United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0[b] Resigned from the league
Updated to match(es) played on 27 April 2024. Source: Southern League website, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[3]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and possible promotion to Step 3.
  2. ^ Hamworthy United resigned from the league on 6 October 2023 and their playing record of P7 W1 D2 L4 GF10 GA16 Pts5 was expunged.[4]

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
      
2 Frome Town
5 Mousehole
 
 
3 Cribbs
4 Bristol Manor Farm

Semifinals

Frome Town v Mousehole Frome
Stadium: Badgers Hill
Cribbs v Bristol Manor Farm Cribbs Causeway
Stadium: The Lawns

Final

v

Stadia and locations

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Locations of Division One South clubs
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

See also

References

  1. ^ "National League System Allocations for the Southern Football League". Pitching In partners with Southern Football League. 17 May 2023.
  2. ^ "MICKLEOVER FC | POINTS DEDUCTION". Southern Football League. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
  4. ^ "Hamworthy United | Announcement". The Southern League. 6 October 2023.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_Southern_Football_League

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