The 2023–24 Southern Football League season was 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
The National League System comprises the six levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the English Football League. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Football Association. The National League System has a ...
(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 English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in England, with five teams from Wales, one from Guernsey, one from Jersey and one from the ...
.
The allocations for Steps 3 and 4 this season were announced by
The Football Association
The Football Association (the FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest footb ...
(FA) on 15 May 2023. There were to be 84 teams in the Southern League, 22 in each of the Step 3 divisions and 20 in each of the Step 4 divisions. However,
Marlow successfully appealed against their transfer from the
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League () is a regional Association football, football league covering Greater London, East of England, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs.
Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, th ...
leaving an unfilled vacancy in Division One Central, which therefore comprised 19 teams instead of 20.
Premier Division Central
Premier Division Central comprises 22 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
;To the Premier Division Central
Relegated from the
National League North
The National League North, officially known as Vanarama National League North for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Association football league in England. National League North is the second division of the National League (English footb ...
*
AFC Telford United
*
Kettering Town
*
Leamington
Promoted from the
Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
*
Halesowen Town
*
Stamford
Promoted from the
Northern Premier League East Division
*
Long Eaton United
Promoted from
Division One Central
*
Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted ( ) is a historic market town in Hertfordshire, England, in the River Bulbourne, Bulbourne valley, north-west of London. The town is a Civil parishes in England, civil parish with a town council within the borough of Dacorum which ...
Promoted from the
Isthmian League North Division
*
AFC Sudbury
Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury is a association football, football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town F.C., Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers F.C., Sudbury Wanderers, the proc ...
;From the Premier Division Central
Promoted to the
National League North
The National League North, officially known as Vanarama National League North for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Association football league in England. National League North is the second division of the National League (English footb ...
*
Tamworth
*
Rushall Olympic
Transferred to the
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.
Geographically, the league c ...
*
Basford United
*
Ilkeston Town
Relegated to
Division One Central
*
Kings Langley
*
Bedford Town
Relegated to the
Northern Premier League Division One West
*
Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town Football Club is a football club based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Keys Park. They won the FA Trophy in 2004.
History
The club was established in 1880 as a merger of t ...
Relegated to the
Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
*
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Premier Division Central table
Results table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
Top goalscorers
Premier Division South
Premier Division South comprises 22 teams, 16 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
;To the Premier Division South
Promoted from
Division One Central
*
Didcot Town
Promoted from
Division One South
*
AFC Totton
*
Sholing
Promoted from the
Isthmian League South Central Division
*
Basingstoke Town
*
Walton & Hersham
Relegated from the
National League South
The National League South, officially Vanarama National League South, is a professional Association football league in England. National League South is the second division of the National League (English football), National Leagues and step ...
*
Hungerford Town
;From the Premier Division South
Promoted to the
National League South
The National League South, officially Vanarama National League South, is a professional Association football league in England. National League South is the second division of the National League (English football), National Leagues and step ...
*
Truro City
*
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
Relegated to
Division One Central
*
North Leigh
North Leigh is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish about northeast of Witney in Oxfordshire. The parish includes the Hamlet (place), hamlet of East End and since 1932 has also included the hamlet of Wilcote. The United Kingd ...
Relegated to
Division One South
*
Yate Town
Relegated to the
Isthmian League South Central Division
*
Hartley Wintney
Hartley Wintney is a large village and civil parish in the Hart district of Hampshire, England. It lies about northwest of Fleet and east of Basingstoke. The parish includes the smaller contiguous village of Phoenix Green as well as the ...
*
Metropolitan Police
Premier Division South table
Results table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
Division One Central
Division One Central comprises 19 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season. It had been intended that there be 20 teams, but
Marlow, due to have transferred from the
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League () is a regional Association football, football league covering Greater London, East of England, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs.
Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, th ...
, successfully appealed against the transfer.
Team changes
;To Division One Central
Promoted from the
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
*
Leighton Town
*
Stotfold
Relegated from the
Premier Division South
*
North Leigh
North Leigh is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish about northeast of Witney in Oxfordshire. The parish includes the Hamlet (place), hamlet of East End and since 1932 has also included the hamlet of Wilcote. The United Kingd ...
Relegated from the
Premier Division Central
*
Bedford Town
*
Kings Langley
;From Division One Central
Promoted to the
Premier Division Central
*
Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted ( ) is a historic market town in Hertfordshire, England, in the River Bulbourne, Bulbourne valley, north-west of London. The town is a Civil parishes in England, civil parish with a town council within the borough of Dacorum which ...
Promoted to the
Premier Division South
*
Didcot Town
Transferred to the
Isthmian League North Division
*
Walthamstow
Walthamstow ( or ) is a town within the London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London. The town borders Chingford to the north, Snaresbrook and South Woodford to the east, Leyton and Leytonstone to the south, and Tottenham to the west. At ...
Relegated to the
Hellenic League Premier Division
*
Highworth Town
Relegated to the
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
*
FC Romania
Resigned to the
Eastern Counties League Division One South
*
Harlow Town
Division One Central table
Results table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
Division One South
Division One South comprises 20 teams, 15 of which competed in the previous season.
Team changes
;To Division One South
Promoted from the
Hellenic League Premier Division
*
Cribbs
*
Malvern Town
Promoted from the
Wessex League Premier Division
*
Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Promoted from the
Western League Premier Division
*
Mousehole
Relegated from the
Premier Division South
*
Yate Town
;From Division One South
Promoted to the
Premier Division South
*
AFC Totton
*
Sholing
Relegated to the
Hellenic League Premier Division
*
Cinderford Town
*
Slimbridge
Slimbridge is a village and civil parish near Dursley in Gloucestershire, England.
It is best known as the home of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge Reserve which was started by Sir Peter Scott.
Canal and Patch Bridge
The Glou ...
Relegated to the
Wessex League Premier Division
*
Lymington Town
Division One South table
Results table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Stadia and locations
See also
*
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 a ...
*
2023–24 Isthmian League
*
2023–24 Northern Premier League
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Southern Football League
Southern Football League seasons
7