2004–05 Southern Football League

The 2004–05 season was the 102nd in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the East Midlands, West Midlands, East, South East and South West England.

Also, it was the first season after the creation of the Conference North and South, one step above the Isthmian League. Therefore, it was the inaugural season for the league at the seventh and eighth tiers in the English league system.

Premier Division

After the creation of the Conference North and South placed above the Southern League, most of the previous season clubs were transferred to the newly created divisions.

Histon won the Premier Division and get a second promotion in a row along with play-off winners Hednesford Town. Hemel Hempstead, Dunstable, Stamford and Solihull Moors were relegated and returned to division One.

League formation

The Premier Division featured only six clubs from the previous season and 16 new clubs:

League table
Southern Football League
Premier Division
Season2004–05
ChampionsHiston
PromotedHiston
Hednesford Town
RelegatedHemel Hempstead Town
Dunstable Town
Stamford
Solihull Borough
Matches played462
Goals scored1,391 (3.01 per match)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Histon 42 24 6 12 93 57 +36 78 Promoted to the Conference South
2 Chippenham Town 42 22 9 11 81 55 +26 75 Qualified for the play-offs
3 Merthyr Tydfil 42 19 14 9 62 47 +15 71
4 Hednesford Town 42 20 10 12 68 40 +28 70 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Conference North
5 Bedford Town 42 19 12 11 70 52 +18 69 Qualified for the play-offs
6 Bath City 42 19 12 11 57 43 +14 69
7 Cirencester Town 42 19 11 12 63 52 +11 68
8 Tiverton Town 42 18 13 11 70 55 +15 67
9 Halesowen Town 42 19 9 14 64 52 +12 66
10 Aylesbury United 42 20 3 19 67 66 +1 63
11 King's Lynn 42 19 4 19 78 69 +9 61
12 Chesham United 42 18 5 19 84 82 +2 59
13 Grantham Town 42 17 7 18 57 55 +2 58
14 Team Bath 42 14 12 16 54 68 −14 54
15 Gloucester City 42 12 17 13 63 61 +2 53
16 Rugby United 42 13 12 17 48 60 −12 51
17 Banbury United 42 13 9 20 56 69 −13 48
18 Hitchin Town 42 13 9 20 55 77 −22 48
19 Hemel Hempstead Town 42 11 10 21 60 88 −28 42[lower-alpha 1] Relegated to the Western Division
20 Dunstable Town 42 11 6 25 56 98 −42 39
21 Stamford 42 6 18 18 40 60 −20 36 Relegated to the Eastern Division
22 Solihull Borough 42 10 4 28 45 85 −40 34 Relegated to the Western Division
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. Hemel Hempstead Town deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player.

Play-offs
Semifinals Final
      
2 Chippenham Town 2(5)
5 Bedford Town 2(4)
2 Chippenham Town 0
4 Hednesford Town 1
3 Merthyr Tydfil 1(3)
4 Hednesford Town 1(5)

Stadia and locations
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
Club Stadium
Aylesbury UnitedBuckingham Road
Banbury UnitedSpencer Stadium
Bath CityTwerton Park
Bedford TownThe Eyrie
Chesham UnitedThe Meadow
Chippenham TownHardenhuish Park
Cirencester TownCorinium Stadium
Dunstable TownCreasey Park
Gloucester CityMeadow Park, Gloucester
Grantham TownSouth Kesteven Sports Stadium
Halesowen TownThe Grove
Hednesford TownKeys Park
Hemel Hempstead TownVauxhall Road
HistonBridge Road
Hitchin TownTop Field
King's LynnThe Walks
Merthyr TydfilPenydarren Park
Rugby TownButlin Road
Solihull BoroughDamson Park
StamfordHanson's Field
Team BathTwerton Park (groundshare with Bath City)
Tiverton TownLadysmead

Eastern Division

After the creation of the Conference North and South one step above the Southern League, most of the Premier Division clubs were transferred to the newly created divisions. Consequently, most of the Eastern Division clubs took up the empty spots in higher divisions.

Fisher Athletic won the division and were promoted along with runners-up East Thurrock United and play-off winners Maldon Town, who get the second promotion in a row. Erith & Belvedere and Tilbury finished bottom of the league and were relegated.

League formation

In the first season as an eighth tier league, the Eastern Division featured five clubs from the previous season and 17 new clubs:

League table
Southern Football League
Eastern Division
Season2004–05
ChampionsFisher Athletic
PromotedFisher Athletic
East Thurrock United
Maldon Town
RelegatedErith & Belvedere
Tilbury
Matches played462
Goals scored1,434 (3.1 per match)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Fisher Athletic 42 30 6 6 96 41 +55 96 Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division
2 East Thurrock United 42 25 12 5 92 38 +54 87
3 Maldon Town 42 27 6 9 92 51 +41 87 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to IL Premier Division
4 Uxbridge 42 26 7 9 87 37 +50 85 Qualified for the play-offs
5 Wivenhoe Town 42 21 11 10 74 49 +25 74
6 Barking & East Ham United 42 20 10 12 63 37 +26 70
7 Boreham Wood 42 19 9 14 80 61 +19 66
8 Barton Rovers 42 20 4 18 76 72 +4 64
9 Waltham Forest 42 16 9 17 68 61 +7 57
10 Leighton Town 42 13 15 14 57 59 −2 54 Transferred to the Western Division
11 Chatham Town 42 15 9 18 53 63 −10 54
12 Wingate & Finchley 42 15 8 19 60 75 −15 53
13 Arlesey Town 42 14 10 18 53 67 −14 52
14 Beaconsfield SYCOB 42 12 12 18 54 65 −11 48 Transferred to the Western Division
15 Harlow Town 42 13 8 21 53 65 −12 47
16 Dartford 42 11 13 18 58 75 −17 46
17 Aveley 42 12 9 21 57 69 −12 45
18 Berkhamsted Town 42 15 7 20 66 101 −35 45[lower-alpha 1]
19 Sittingbourne 42 10 12 20 53 70 −17 42
20 Great Wakering Rovers 42 9 11 22 45 78 −33 38
21 Erith & Belvedere 42 11 7 24 56 92 −36 37[lower-alpha 2] Relegated to the Kent League
22 Tilbury 42 6 9 27 41 108 −67 27 Relegated to the Essex Senior League
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. Berkhamsted Town deducted 7 points for fielding an ineligible player.
  2. Erith & Belvedere deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player.

Play-offs
Semifinals Final
      
3 Maldon Town 1(3)
6 Barking & East Ham United 1(2)
3 Maldon Town 2(3)
4 Uxbridge 2(2)
4 Uxbridge 3
5 Wivenhoe Town 0

Stadia and locations
Aveley
Barking & East Ham United
Boreham Wood
Dartford
Erith & Belvedere
Fisher Athletic
Tilbury
Uxbridge
Waltham Forest
Wingate & Finchley
Locations of the Eastern Division clubs
Greater London Eastern Division clubs
Club Stadium
Arlesey TownHitchin Road
AveleyThe Mill Field
Barking & East Ham UnitedMayesbrook Park
Barton RoversSharpenhoe Road
Beaconsfield SYCOBHolloways Park
BerkhamstedBroadwater
Boreham WoodMeadow Park
Chatham TownThe Sports Ground
DartfordStonebridge Road (groundshare with Gravesend & Northfleet)
East Thurrock UnitedRookery Hill
Erith & BelvederePark View Road (groundshare with Welling United)
Fisher AthleticChampion Hill (groundshare with Dulwich Hamlet)
Great Wakering RoversBurroughs Park
Harlow TownBarrows Farm
Leighton TownBell Close
Maldon TownWallace Binder Ground
SittingbourneBourne Park
TilburyChadfields
UxbridgeHoneycroft
Waltham ForestWadham Lodge
Wingate & FinchleyThe Harry Abrahams Stadium
Wivenhoe TownBroad Lane

Western Division

After the creation of the Conference North and South one step above the Southern League, most of the Premier Division clubs were transferred to the newly created divisions. Consequently, most of the Western Division clubs took up the empty spots in higher divisions.

Mangotsfield United won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with runners-up Yate Town and play-off winners Evesham United. Oxford City and Egham Town finished bottom of the table and were relegated.

League formation

In the first season as an eighth tier league, the Western Division featured eleven clubs from the previous season and eleven new clubs:

League table
Southern Football League
Western Division
Season2004–05
ChampionsMangotsfield United
PromotedMangotsfield United
Yate Town
Evesham United
RelegatedOxford City
Egham Town
Matches played462
Goals scored1,316 (2.85 per match)
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Mangotsfield United 42 24 11 7 89 49 +40 83 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Yate Town 42 24 9 9 83 40 +43 81
3 Evesham United 42 23 10 9 66 31 +35 79 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
4 Clevedon Town 42 24 6 12 82 49 +33 78 Qualified for the play-offs
5 Bromsgrove Rovers 42 19 15 8 60 42 +18 72
6 Ashford Town (Middlesex) 42 17 13 12 63 46 +17 64
7 Brackley Town 42 18 10 14 69 53 +16 64
8 Paulton Rovers 42 18 7 17 62 61 +1 61
9 Burnham 42 17 7 18 64 64 0 58
10 Rothwell Town 42 16 10 16 57 57 0 58 Transferred to the Eastern Division
11 Thame United 42 17 6 19 58 69 −11 57
12 Corby Town 42 14 12 16 52 62 −10 54 Transferred to the Eastern Division
13 Marlow 42 13 14 15 58 67 −9 53
14 Stourport Swifts 42 15 7 20 62 63 −1 52
15 Bedworth United 42 15 7 20 51 60 −9 52
16 Cinderford Town 42 13 12 17 50 64 −14 51
17 Taunton Town 42 14 8 20 66 75 −9 50
18 Sutton Coldfield Town 42 16 11 15 54 61 −7 48[lower-alpha 1]
19 Swindon Supermarine 42 12 12 18 43 60 −17 48
20 Bracknell Town 42 10 13 19 53 75 −22 43
21 Oxford City 42 11 8 23 49 71 −22 41 Relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League
22 Egham Town 42 6 4 32 25 97 −72 22 Relegated to IL Division Two
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. Sutton Coldfield Town deducted 11 points for fielding an ineligible player.

Play-offs
Semifinals Final
      
3 Evesham United 2
6 Ashford Town (Middlesex) 1
3 Evesham United 4
5 Bromsgrove Rovers 0
4 Clevedon Town 2
5 Bromsgrove Rovers 3

Stadia and locations
Locations of the Western Division clubs
Club Stadium
Ashford Town (Middlesex)The Robert Parker Stadium
Bedworth UnitedThe Oval
Brackley TownSt. James Park
Bracknell TownLarges Lane
Bromsgrove RoversVictoria Ground
BurnhamThe Gore
Cinderford TownCauseway Ground
Clevedon TownHand Stadium
Corby TownSteel Park
Egham TownThe Runnymede Stadium
Evesham UnitedCommon Road
Mangotsfield UnitedCossham Street
MarlowAlfred Davis Memorial Ground
Oxford CityCourt Place Farm
Paulton RoversAthletic Field
Rothwell TownCecil Street
Stourport SwiftsWalshes Meadow
Sutton Coldfield TownThe Central Ground
Swindon SupermarineHunts Copse Ground
Taunton TownWordsworth Drive
Thame UnitedWindmill Road
Yate TownLodge Road

See also
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