The 1904–05 season was the 11th in the history of
Southern League.
Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers FC is a men's professional football club in Bristol. The team competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club is affiliated to Bristol Rovers W.F.C., whose team play in the FA Women's National Leag ...
won Division One for the first time and
Fulham reserves finished top of Division Two. Division Two club
Clapton Orient were the only Southern League club to apply for election to
the Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from ...
, and were successful after a decision was made to expand the League to 40 clubs.
Division One
A total of 18 teams contest the division, including 17 sides from previous season and one new team. Watford returned to Division after one season of absence.
Teams promoted from Division Two:
* Watford
Division Two
A total of 12 teams contest the division, including 8 sides from previous season and four new teams, three of which were reserve teams.
Newly elected teams:
* Clapton Orient
* Brighton & Hove Albion II
* Watford II
* West Ham United II,
Football League elections
Only one Southern League club, Clapton Orient of Division Two, applied for election to Division Two of the Football League. Although they were not elected in the first round, it was later agreed to expand the
Football League from 36 to 40 clubs and all the unsuccessful candidates except Doncaster Rovers were elected.
* Chelsea had played no games, nor had any players when they were elected. Hull City had been formed in 1904, but had only played friendly matches during the 1904–05 season.
A history of admission to the Football League
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Football League, 1904-05
1904-05
1904–05 in English association football leagues