2004–05 Southern Football League
# 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 Southern 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

| 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 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 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 | Relegated to the Western Division |
| 20 | Dunstable Town | 42 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 56 | 98 | −42 | 39 | Relegated to the Western Division |
| 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 |

* ↑ Hemel Hempstead Town deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player.

### Play-offs

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

### 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 |
| Chippenham Town | Hardenhuish Park |
| Cirencester Town | Corinium Stadium |
| Dunstable Town | Creasey Park |
| Gloucester City | Meadow Park, Gloucester |
| Grantham Town | South Kesteven Sports Stadium |
| Halesowen Town | The Grove |
| Hednesford Town | Keys Park |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | Vauxhall Road |
| Histon | Bridge Road |
| Hitchin Town | Top Field |
| King's Lynn | The Walks |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Penydarren Park |
| Rugby Town | Butlin Road |
| Solihull Borough | Damson Park |
| Stamford | Hanson's Field |
| Team Bath | Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City) |
| Tiverton Town | Ladysmead |

## 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

| 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 | Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division |
| 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 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 6 | Barking & East Ham United | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 63 | 37 | +26 | 70 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 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 | |
| 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 | Relegated to the Kent League |
| 22 | Tilbury | 42 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 41 | 108 | −67 | 27 | Relegated to the Essex Senior League |

* ↑ Berkhamsted Town deducted 7 points for fielding an ineligible player.
* ↑ Erith & Belvedere deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player.

### Play-offs

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

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium |
| - | - |
| Arlesey Town | Hitchin Road |
| Aveley | The Mill Field |
| Barking & East Ham United | Mayesbrook Park |
| Barton Rovers | Sharpenhoe Road |
| Beaconsfield SYCOB | Holloways Park |
| Berkhamsted | Broadwater |
| Boreham Wood | Meadow Park |
| Chatham Town | The Sports Ground |
| Dartford | Stonebridge Road (groundshare with Gravesend & Northfleet) |
| East Thurrock United | Rookery Hill |
| Erith & Belvedere | Park View Road (groundshare with Welling United) |
| Fisher Athletic | Champion Hill (groundshare with Dulwich Hamlet) |
| Great Wakering Rovers | Burroughs Park |
| Harlow Town | Barrows Farm |
| Leighton Town | Bell Close |
| Maldon Town | Wallace Binder Ground |
| Sittingbourne | Bourne Park |
| Tilbury | Chadfields |
| Uxbridge | Honeycroft |
| Waltham Forest | Wadham Lodge |
| Wingate & Finchley | The Harry Abrahams Stadium |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad 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:

* Three clubs transferred from the Eastern Division:
   * Burnham
   * Corby Town
   * Rothwell Town
* Two clubs transferred from Isthmian League Division One North:
   * Oxford City
   * Thame United
* Four clubs transferred from Isthmian League Division One South:
   * Ashford Town (Middlesex)
   * Bracknell Town
   * Egham Town
   * Marlow
* Plus:
   * Brackley Town, promoted from the Hellenic League
   * Paulton Rovers, promoted from the Western League

### League table

| 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 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 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 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 6 | Ashford Town (Middlesex) | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 63 | 46 | +17 | 64 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 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 | |
| 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 |

* ↑ Sutton Coldfield Town deducted 11 points for fielding an ineligible player.

### Play-offs

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

### Stadia and locations

| Club | Stadium |
| - | - |
| Ashford Town (Middlesex) | The Robert Parker Stadium |
| 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 |
| Corby Town | Steel Park |
| Egham Town | The Runnymede Stadium |
| Evesham United | Common Road |
| Mangotsfield United | Cossham Street |
| Marlow | Alfred Davis Memorial Ground |
| Oxford City | Court Place Farm |
| Paulton Rovers | Athletic Field |
| Rothwell Town | Cecil Street |
| Stourport Swifts | Walshes Meadow |
| Sutton Coldfield Town | The Central Ground |
| Swindon Supermarine | Hunts Copse Ground |
| Taunton Town | Wordsworth Drive |
| Thame United | Windmill Road |
| Yate Town | Lodge Road |
