2005–06 Southern Football League
# 2005–06 Southern Football League

The 2005–06 season was the 103rd in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales.

At the end of the season Eastern and Western divisions were restructured after a single Division One of the Isthmian League was divided into Division One North and Division One South, while large number of the clubs left to the Isthmian League. For the next season regional divisions were renamed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

## Premier Division

The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from last season, and six new clubs:

* Three clubs were transferred from the Isthmian League Premier Division:
   * Cheshunt
   * Northwood
   * Salisbury City
* Three were promoted from the Western Division:
   * Evesham United
   * Mangotsfield United
   * Yate Town

Salisbury City won the division and were promoted to the Conference along with play-off winners Bedford Town, both clubs for the first time in their history. Aylesbury United, Chesham United and Evesham United were relegated to the Division One.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Salisbury City | 42 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 83 | 27 | +56 | 95 | Promoted to the Conference South |
| 2 | Bath City | 42 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 66 | 33 | +33 | 83 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 3 | King's Lynn | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 73 | 41 | +32 | 82 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 4 | Chippenham Town | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 69 | 45 | +24 | 77 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 5 | Bedford Town | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 69 | 53 | +16 | 76 | Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Conference South |
| 6 | Yate Town | 42 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 78 | 74 | +4 | 68 | |
| 7 | Banbury United | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 66 | 61 | +5 | 62 | |
| 8 | Halesowen Town | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 54 | 45 | +9 | 60 | |
| 9 | Merthyr Tydfil | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 60 | |
| 10 | Mangotsfield United | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 58 | |
| 11 | Grantham Town | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 56 | Transferred to the Northern Premier League |
| 12 | Tiverton Town | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 69 | 65 | +4 | 52 | |
| 13 | Gloucester City | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 57 | 60 | −3 | 52 | |
| 14 | Hitchin Town | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 59 | 76 | −17 | 51 | |
| 15 | Rugby Town | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 58 | 66 | −8 | 50 | |
| 16 | Cheshunt | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 57 | 70 | −13 | 48 | |
| 17 | Team Bath | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 55 | 68 | −13 | 48 | |
| 18 | Cirencester Town | 42 | 14 | 4 | 24 | 49 | 68 | −19 | 46 | |
| 19 | Northwood | 42 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 53 | 88 | −35 | 42 | |
| 20 | Evesham United | 42 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 46 | 58 | −12 | 41 | Relegated to Division One Midlands |
| 21 | Aylesbury United | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 43 | 69 | −26 | 39 | Relegated to Division One Midlands |
| 22 | Chesham United | 42 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 43 | 84 | −41 | 36 | Relegated to Division One South & West |

* ↑ Northwood had superior record to same placed Isthmian League team, and consequently kept place in the division.

### Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | Bath City | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Bedford Town | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Bedford Town | 1 | 5 | Bedford Town | 3 |
| | | | 4 | Chippenham Town | 2 |
| 3 | King's Lynn | 1 | 4 | Chippenham Town | 2 |
| 4 | Chippenham Town | 3 | | | |

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium |
| - | - |
| Aylesbury United | Buckingham Road |
| Banbury United | Spencer Stadium |
| Bath City | Twerton Park |
| Bedford Town | The Eyrie |
| Chesham United | The Meadow |
| Cheshunt | Cheshunt Stadium |
| Chippenham Town | Hardenhuish Park |
| Cirencester Town | Corinium Stadium |
| Evesham United | Common Road |
| Gloucester City | Meadow Park, Gloucester |
| Grantham Town | South Kesteven Sports Stadium |
| Halesowen Town | The Grove |
| Hitchin Town | Top Field |
| King's Lynn | The Walks |
| Mangotsfield United | Cossham Street |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Penydarren Park |
| Northwood | Chestnut Avenue |
| Rugby Town | Butlin Road |
| Salisbury City | Raymond McEnhill Stadium |
| Team Bath | Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City) |
| Tiverton Town | Ladysmead |
| Yate Town | Lodge Road |

## Eastern Division

The Eastern Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from last season, and seven new clubs:

* Two clubs transferred from Western Division:
   * Corby Town
   * Rothwell Town
* Two clubs promoted from Isthmian League Division Two:
   * Enfield
   * Ilford
* Plus:
   * Enfield Town, promoted from the Essex Senior League
   * Potters Bar Town, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League
   * Stamford, relegated from the Premier Division

Boreham Wood won the division and returned to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League after relegation in 2003. Runners-up Corby Town and play-off winners Stamford promoted to the Premier Division. At the end of the season a single Division One of the Isthmian League was divided into Division One North and Division One South. Fifteen Eastern division clubs left the Southern League and joined new divisions, while Eastern and Western divisions were renamed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Boreham Wood | 42 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 84 | 41 | +43 | 84 | Promoted to IL Premier Division |
| 2 | Corby Town | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 63 | 33 | +30 | 84 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 3 | Enfield Town | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 75 | 43 | +32 | 81 | Qualified for the play-offs, then transferred to IL Division One North |
| 4 | Stamford | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 73 | 53 | +20 | 70 | Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division |
| 5 | Barking & East Ham United | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 63 | 47 | +16 | 70 | Qualified for the play-offs, then transferred to IL Division One North |
| 6 | Wivenhoe Town | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 56 | 54 | +2 | 62 | Qualified for the play-offs, then transferred to IL Division One North |
| 7 | Dartford | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 65 | 57 | +8 | 61 | Transferred to IL Division One South |
| 8 | Waltham Forest | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 64 | 66 | −2 | 59 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 9 | Harlow Town | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 57 | 56 | +1 | 58 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 10 | Arlesey Town | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 56 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 11 | Rothwell Town | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 48 | 53 | −5 | 53 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 12 | Wingate & Finchley | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 57 | 64 | −7 | 53 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 13 | Great Wakering Rovers | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 65 | 67 | −2 | 51 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 14 | Uxbridge | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 50 | Placed in Division One South & West |
| 15 | Potters Bar Town | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 60 | 66 | −6 | 50 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 16 | Enfield | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 50 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 17 | Chatham Town | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 51 | 57 | −6 | 49 | Transferred to IL Division One South |
| 18 | Sittingbourne | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 53 | 69 | −16 | 48 | Transferred to IL Division One South |
| 19 | Barton Rovers | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 59 | 73 | −14 | 47 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 20 | Aveley | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 51 | 70 | −19 | 46 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 21 | Ilford | 42 | 8 | 17 | 17 | 35 | 59 | −24 | 41 | Transferred to IL Division One North |
| 22 | Berkhamsted Town | 42 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 51 | 81 | −30 | 36 | Placed in Division One Midlands |

### Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | Enfield Town | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Wivenhoe Town | 3* | | | |
| 5 | Wivenhoe Town | 3* | 5 | Wivenhoe Town | 1 |
| | | | 3 | Stamford | 2 |
| 3 | Stamford | 3 | 3 | Stamford | 2 |
| 4 | Barking & East Ham United | 2 | | | |

* after extra time

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium |
| - | - |
| Arlesey Town | Hitchin Road |
| Aveley | The Mill Field |
| Barking & East Ham United | Mayesbrook Park |
| Barton Rovers | Sharpenhoe Road |
| Berkhamsted | Broadwater |
| Boreham Wood | Meadow Park |
| Chatham Town | The Sports Ground |
| Dartford | Stonebridge Road (groundshare with Gravesend & Northfleet) |
| Corby Town | Steel Park |
| Enfield | Wodson Park (groundshare with Ware) |
| Enfield Town | Goldsdown Road (groundshare with Brimsdown Rovers) |
| Great Wakering Rovers | Burroughs Park |
| Harlow Town | Barrows Farm |
| Ilford | Cricklefield Stadium |
| Potters Bar Town | Parkfield |
| Rothwell Town | Cecil Street |
| Sittingbourne | Bourne Park |
| Stamford | Hanson's Field |
| Uxbridge | Honeycroft |
| Waltham Forest | Wadham Lodge |
| Wingate & Finchley | The Harry Abrahams Stadium |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad Lane |

## Western Division

The Western Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from last season, and seven new clubs:

* Three clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
   * Dunstable Town
   * Hemel Hempstead Town
   * Solihull Borough
* Two clubs transferred from the Eastern Division:
   * Beaconsfield SYCOB,
   * Leighton Town
* Plus:
   * Rushall Olympic, promoted from the Midland Alliance
   * Willenhall Town, transferred from the Northern Premier League Division One

Clevedon Town won the title and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Hemel Hempstead Town, returning after relegation in 2004. Runners-up Ashford Town were promoted and transferred to the Isthmian League Premier Division. Thame United finished bottom and were the only Southern League club relegated from the league. Remaining clubs were divided between the newly formed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Clevedon Town | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 86 | 45 | +41 | 90 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Ashford Town (Middlesex) | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 84 | 50 | +34 | 80 | Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division |
| 3 | Brackley Town | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 71 | 34 | +37 | 78 | Qualified for play-offs, then placed in Division One Midlands |
| 4 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 86 | 47 | +39 | 75 | Qualified for play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division |
| 5 | Swindon Supermarine | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 70 | 47 | +23 | 75 | Qualified for play-offs, then placed in Division One South & West |
| 6 | Marlow | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 62 | 59 | +3 | 72 | Qualified for play-offs, then placed in Division One South & West |
| 7 | Sutton Coldfield Town | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 91 | 62 | +29 | 69 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 8 | Leighton Town | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 55 | 48 | +7 | 65 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 9 | Willenhall Town | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 78 | 61 | +17 | 63 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 10 | Rushall Olympic | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 73 | 57 | +16 | 62 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 11 | Bromsgrove Rovers | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 65 | 50 | +15 | 62 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 12 | Solihull Borough | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 50 | 51 | −1 | 58 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 13 | Beaconsfield SYCOB | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 60 | 66 | −6 | 55 | Placed in Division One South & West |
| 14 | Burnham | 42 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 58 | 71 | −13 | 53 | Placed in Division One South & West |
| 15 | Cinderford Town | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 71 | 79 | −8 | 51 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 16 | Bedworth United | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 51 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 17 | Paulton Rovers | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 55 | 76 | −21 | 46 | Placed in Division One South & West |
| 18 | Taunton Town | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 67 | 81 | −14 | 45 | Placed in Division One South & West |
| 19 | Bracknell Town | 42 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 53 | 77 | −24 | 42 | Placed in Division One South & West |
| 20 | Stourport Swifts | 42 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 55 | 80 | −25 | 41 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 21 | Dunstable Town | 42 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 45 | 91 | −46 | 36 | Placed in Division One Midlands |
| 22 | Thame United | 42 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 30 | 122 | −92 | 17 | Relegated to the Hellenic Football League |

### Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | Brackley Town | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Marlow | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Marlow | 1 | 2 | Brackley Town | 2 |
| | | | 3 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 3 |
| 3 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 3 | 3 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 3 |
| 4 | Swindon Supermarine | 0 | | | |

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium |
| - | - |
| Ashford Town (Middlesex) | The Robert Parker Stadium |
| Beaconsfield SYCOB | Holloways Park |
| Bedworth United | The Oval |
| Brackley Town | St. James Park |
| Bracknell Town | Larges Lane |
| Bromsgrove Rovers | Victoria Ground |
| Burnham | The Gore |
| Cinderford Town | Causeway Ground |
| Clevedon Town | Hand Stadium |
| Dunstable Town | Creasey Park |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | Vauxhall Road |
| Leighton Town | Bell Close |
| Marlow | Alfred Davis Memorial Ground |
| Paulton Rovers | Athletic Field |
| Rushall Olympic | Dales Lane |
| Solihull Borough | Damson Park |
| Stourport Swifts | Walshes Meadow |
| Sutton Coldfield Town | The Central Ground |
| Swindon Supermarine | Hunts Copse Ground |
| Taunton Town | Wordsworth Drive |
| Thame United | Buckingham Road (groundshare with Aylesbury United) |
| Willenhall Town | Noose Lane |
