2019–20 Southern Football League
The 2019–20 Southern Football League season (known as the BetVictor Southern League, following a sponsorship deal with BetVictor) was the 117th 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 of the NLS. These correspond with Levels 7 and 8 of the English football league system.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's competition was formally abandoned on 26 March 2020, with all results from the season being expunged, and no promotion or relegation taking place to, from, or within the competition.[1] On 30 March 2020, sixty-six non-league clubs sent an open letter to the Football Association requesting that they reconsider their decision.[2] A legal appeal against the decision, funded by South Shields of the Northern Premier League, was dismissed in June 2020.[3]
Premier Division Central
Season | 2019–20 |
---|---|
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
Team changes
Promoted from the Southern League Division One Central Relegated from the National League North Transferred from the Southern League Premier Division South Transferred from the Northern Premier League Premier Division
|
Promoted to the National League North
Relegated to the Southern League Division One Central
|
Premier Division Central table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peterborough Sports | 33 | 19 | 8 | 6 | 90 | 46 | +44 | 65 |
2 | Tamworth | 30 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 63 | 27 | +36 | 65 |
3 | Royston Town | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 62 | 28 | +34 | 63 |
4 | Bromsgrove Sporting | 32 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 80 | 43 | +37 | 57 |
5 | Rushall Olympic | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 58 | 43 | +15 | 53 |
6 | Stourbridge | 32 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 53 | 52 | +1 | 53 |
7 | Banbury United | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 48 | 31 | +17 | 52 |
8 | Coalville Town | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 51 | 32 | +19 | 51 |
9 | Nuneaton Borough | 33 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 50 |
10 | Kings Langley | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 51 | 41 | +10 | 50 |
11 | AFC Rushden & Diamonds | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 45 | +5 | 49 |
12 | Barwell | 32 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 58 | 54 | +4 | 48 |
13 | Needham Market | 33 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 43 | 40 | +3 | 48 |
14 | Hednesford Town | 32 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 47 |
15 | Biggleswade Town | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 43 |
16 | Lowestoft Town | 33 | 13 | 2 | 18 | 48 | 62 | −14 | 41 |
17 | Hitchin Town | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 39 |
18 | Stratford Town | 33 | 8 | 4 | 21 | 42 | 74 | −32 | 28 |
19 | Leiston | 32 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 39 | 87 | −48 | 26 |
20 | St Ives Town | 33 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 33 | 76 | −43 | 23 |
21 | Alvechurch | 30 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 25 | 58 | −33 | 17 |
22 | Redditch United | 33 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 24 | 89 | −65 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [4]
Results
Ranking of 20th-placed teams across Level 7 divisions
Of the four 20th-placed teams from each of the leagues at Level 7, the two with the lowest points-per-game ratio at the end of the 2019–20 season were to be relegated to Level 8.[5]
Stadia and locations
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
AFC Rushden & Diamonds | Rushden | Hayden Road | 2,000 |
Alvechurch | Alvechurch | Lye Meadow | 3,000 |
Banbury United | Banbury | Spencer Stadium | 2,000 |
Barwell | Barwell | Kirkby Road | 2,500 |
Biggleswade Town | Biggleswade | Langford Road | 3,000 |
Bromsgrove Sporting | Bromsgrove | Victoria Ground | 4,893 |
Coalville Town | Coalville | Owen Street Sports Ground | 2,000 |
Hednesford Town | Hednesford | Keys Park | 6,039 |
Hitchin Town | Hitchin | Top Field | 4,554 |
Kings Langley | Kings Langley | Sadiku Stadium | 1,963 |
Leiston | Leiston | Victory Road | 2,250 |
Lowestoft Town | Lowestoft | Crown Meadow | 3,000 |
Needham Market | Needham Market | Bloomfields | 4,000 |
Nuneaton Borough | Nuneaton | Liberty Way | 4,614 |
Peterborough Sports | Peterborough | Lincoln Road | 2,300 |
Redditch United | Redditch | The Valley | 5,000 |
Royston Town | Royston | Garden Walk | 5,000 |
Rushall Olympic | Walsall (Rushall) | Dales Lane | 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 |
Tamworth | Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,565 |
Premier Division South
Season | 2019–20 |
---|---|
Relegated | Blackfield & Langley (voluntary demotion) |
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
Team changes
Promoted from the Southern League Division One South Promoted from the Isthmian League Division One South Central Relegated from the National League South
|
Promoted to the National League South Relegated to the Southern League Division One South Transferred to the Southern League Premier Division Central
|
Premier Division South table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Truro City | 31 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 65 | 30 | +35 | 67 | |
2 | Chesham United | 33 | 21 | 3 | 9 | 70 | 44 | +26 | 66 | |
3 | Hayes & Yeading United | 32 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 65 | 42 | +23 | 57 | |
4 | Swindon Supermarine | 32 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 57 | |
5 | Tiverton Town | 29 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 69 | 41 | +28 | 55 | |
6 | Taunton Town | 31 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 63 | 53 | +10 | 53 | |
7 | Salisbury | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 57 | 42 | +15 | 51 | |
8 | Gosport Borough | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 49 | |
9 | Poole Town | 27 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 46 | 28 | +18 | 48 | |
10 | Weston-super-Mare | 29 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 54 | 45 | +9 | 45 | |
11 | Metropolitan Police | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 46 | 48 | −2 | 43 | |
12 | Farnborough | 30 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 41 | 43 | −2 | 42 | |
13 | Merthyr Town | 31 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 38 | |
14 | Hendon | 31 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 47 | 51 | −4 | 38 | |
15 | Wimborne Town | 33 | 10 | 7 | 16 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 37 | |
16 | Hartley Wintney | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 36 | |
17 | Harrow Borough | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 44 | 62 | −18 | 36 | |
18 | Blackfield & Langley | 31 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 33 | 50 | −17 | 33 | Resigned and demoted to Wessex League[lower-alpha 1] |
19 | Yate Town | 31 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 38 | 56 | −18 | 29 | |
20 | Walton Casuals | 33 | 7 | 6 | 20 | 40 | 71 | −31 | 27 | |
21 | Beaconsfield Town | 32 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 29 | 54 | −25 | 25 | |
22 | Dorchester Town | 32 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 36 | 81 | −45 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [4]
Notes:
- Blackfield & Langley resigned from the Southern League at the end of the season.[6]
Results
Ranking of 20th-placed teams across Level 7 divisions
Of the four 20th-placed teams from each of the leagues at Level 7, the two with the lowest points-per-game ratio at the end of the 2019–20 season were to be relegated to Level 8.[7]
The points-per-game rankings of the 20th-placed teams in Level 7 divisions at the time of stoppage were as follows:
Pos | Team | League | Pld | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Grantham Town | Northern Premier League Premier Division |
29 | 26 | 0.90 | Remain in Level 7 |
2 | Walton Casuals | Southern League Premier Division South |
32 | 26 | 0.81 | |
3 | Merstham | Isthmian League Premier Division |
31 | 24 | 0.77 | Relegated to Level 8 |
4 | St Ives Town | Southern League Premier Division Central |
30 | 19 | 0.63 | |
Updated to match(es) played on 22 February 2020. Source: FlashScore.
Stadia and locations
Division One Central
Season | 2019–20 |
---|---|
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
Team changes
Promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Promoted from the United Counties League Premier Division Promoted from the Hellenic League Premier Division Relegated from the Southern League Premier Division Central
|
Promoted to the Southern League Premier Division Central Relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Transferred to the Northern Premier League Division One South East Transferred to the Isthmian League Division One North
|
Division One Central league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Berkhamsted | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 69 | 24 | +45 | 64 |
2 | Halesowen Town | 27 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 72 | 19 | +53 | 63 |
3 | Corby Town | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 26 | +38 | 59 |
4 | Welwyn Garden City | 29 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 59 | 36 | +23 | 51 |
5 | Aylesbury United | 29 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 49 | 30 | +19 | 49 |
6 | Biggleswade | 27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 44 |
7 | Barton Rovers | 29 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 65 | 55 | +10 | 44 |
8 | Yaxley | 29 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 44 |
9 | Bedworth United | 27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 44 |
10 | North Leigh | 27 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 42 |
11 | Thame United | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 51 | 35 | +16 | 40 |
12 | Bedford Town | 29 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 49 | 54 | −5 | 40 |
13 | Daventry Town | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 40 |
14 | Coleshill Town | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 36 |
15 | AFC Dunstable | 29 | 10 | 4 | 15 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 34 |
16 | Kidlington | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 33 |
17 | Didcot Town | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 44 | −24 | 25 |
18 | St Neots Town | 28 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 33 | 59 | −26 | 21 |
19 | Kempston Rovers | 28 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 29 | 68 | −39 | 17 |
20 | Wantage Town | 28 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 16 | 121 | −105 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [4]
Results
Stadia and locations
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
AFC Dunstable | Dunstable | Creasey Park | 3,200 |
Aylesbury United | Aylesbury | The Meadow (groundshare with Chesham United) | 5,000 |
Barton Rovers | Barton-le-Clay | Sharpenhoe Road | 4,000 |
Bedford Town | Bedford | The Eyrie | 3,000 |
Bedworth United | Bedworth | The Oval | 3,000 |
Berkhamsted | Berkhamsted | Broadwater | 2,500 |
Biggleswade | Biggleswade | Langford Road (groundshare with Biggleswade Town) | 3,000 |
Coleshill Town | Coleshill | Pack Meadow | 2,070 |
Corby Town | Corby | Steel Park | 3,893 |
Daventry Town | Daventry | Communications Park | 3,000 |
Didcot Town | Didcot | Loop Meadow | 3,000 |
Halesowen Town | Halesowen | The Grove | 3,150 |
Kempston Rovers | Kempston | Hillgrounds Leisure | 2,000 |
Kidlington | Kidlington | Yarnton Road | 1,500 |
North Leigh | North Leigh | Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground | 2,000 |
St Neots Town | St Neots | New Rowley Park | 3,500 |
Thame United | Thame | Meadow View Park | 2,000 |
Wantage Town | Wantage | Alfredian Park | 1,500 |
Welwyn Garden City | Welwyn Garden City | Herns Way | 1,000 |
Yaxley | Yaxley | Leading Drove | 1,500 |
Division One South
Season | 2019–20 |
---|---|
← 2018–19 2020–21 → |
Team changes
Promoted from the Wessex League Premier Division Promoted from the Western League Premier Division Relegated from the Southern League Premier Division South
|
Promoted to the Southern League Premier Division South Relegated to the Wessex League Premier Division Relegated to the Western League Premier Division
|
Division One South table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Thatcham Town | 27 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 66 | 28 | +38 | 58 |
2 | Frome Town | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 57 | 27 | +30 | 58 |
3 | Larkhall Athletic | 27 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 37 | +8 | 49 |
4 | Winchester City | 27 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 53 | 37 | +16 | 48 |
5 | Melksham Town | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 47 |
6 | Cirencester Town | 27 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 58 | 38 | +20 | 45 |
7 | Paulton Rovers | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 61 | 43 | +18 | 45 |
8 | Cinderford Town | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 59 | 45 | +14 | 43 |
9 | Evesham United | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 41 |
10 | Sholing | 25 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 38 |
11 | Bideford | 28 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 49 | 50 | −1 | 37 |
12 | Slimbridge | 26 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 35 |
13 | Highworth Town | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 36 | 41 | −5 | 32 |
14 | Willand Rovers | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 32 |
15 | Bristol Manor Farm | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 44 | −13 | 30 |
16 | AFC Totton | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 29 |
17 | Mangotsfield United | 29 | 8 | 4 | 17 | 46 | 65 | −19 | 28 |
18 | Moneyfields | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 37 | 50 | −13 | 27 |
19 | Basingstoke Town | 27 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 34 | 76 | −42 | 18[lower-alpha 1] |
20 | Barnstaple Town | 27 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 26 | 74 | −48 | 16 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results [4]
Notes:
- Basingstoke Town were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in their draw with AFC Totton on 21 September 2019.[8]
Results
Stadia and locations
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
AFC Totton | Totton | Testwood Stadium | 3,000 |
Barnstaple Town | Barnstaple | Mill Road | 5,000 |
Basingstoke Town | Basingstoke | The City Ground (groundshare with Winchester City) | 4,500 |
Bideford | Bideford | The Sports Ground | 2,000 |
Bristol Manor Farm | Bristol (Sea Mills) | The Creek | 2,000 |
Cinderford Town | Cinderford | Causeway Ground | 3,500 |
Cirencester Town | Cirencester | Corinium Stadium | 4,500 |
Evesham United | Evesham | Jubilee Stadium | 3,000 |
Frome Town | Frome | Badgers Hill | 2,000 |
Highworth Town | Highworth | The Elms Recreation Ground | 2,000 |
Larkhall Athletic | Bath (Larkhall) | The Plain Ham Ground | 1,000 |
Mangotsfield United | Mangotsfield | Cossham Street | 2,500 |
Melksham Town | Melksham | Oakfield Stadium | 2,500 |
Moneyfields | Portsmouth | Moneyfields Sports Ground | 2,000 |
Paulton Rovers | Paulton | Athletic Field | 2,500 |
Sholing | Sholing | Universal Stadium | 1,000 |
Slimbridge | Slimbridge | Thornhill Park | 1,500 |
Thatcham Town | Thatcham | Waterside Park | 1,500 |
Willand Rovers | Willand | The Stan Robinson Stadium | 1,000 |
Winchester City | Winchester | The City Ground | 4,500 |
References
- "Coronavirus: All football below National League to end". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- "Sixty-six non-league clubs send open letter to FA over expunging season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- "South Shields: Legal challenge to steps three to seven season voiding dismissed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- "The FA Handbook 2019/20 (part 30 Standardised Rules section 12.2)". The FA. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- The Non-League Football Paper (17 April 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "Two-times champions Blackfield & Langley set to take voluntary relegation back into the Wessex League Premier Division". The News. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- The Non-League Football Paper (17 April 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- "Basingstoke Town deducted one point". Southern Football League. 23 January 2020.