The 2020–21 Southern Football League season was the 118th 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. These correspond to levels 7 and 8 of the English football league system.
The allocations for Steps 3 and 4 for season 2020–21 were announced by the FA on 21 July 2020.[1]
Due to the restrictions on clubs' ability to play matches in the lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, competitions at Steps 3–6 were curtailed on 24 February 2021.[2] The scheduled restructuring of non-league took place at the end of the season, with a new division to be added to Northern Premier League at step 4 for 2021–22,[3] which resulted in some reallocations into or out of, and promotions to, the Southern League's Step 4 divisions.[3]
Premier Division Central
edit| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
The Premier Division Central comprised the same set of 22 teams which competed in the aborted competition the previous season.
League table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coalville Town | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 5 | +16 | 17 | |
| 2 | Needham Market | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 17 | |
| 3 | Stratford Town | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 15 | |
| 4 | Rushall Olympic | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 13 | |
| 5 | Tamworth | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 12 | |
| 6 | Redditch United | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 12 | |
| 7 | Stourbridge | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 11 | |
| 8 | Royston Town | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 11 | |
| 9 | Kings Langley | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 11 | Transferred to Premier Division South |
| 10 | Hitchin Town | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 10 | |
| 11 | St Ives Town | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 10 | |
| 12 | Peterborough Sports | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 9 | |
| 13 | AFC Rushden & Diamonds | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 9 | |
| 14 | Lowestoft Town | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 9 | |
| 15 | Nuneaton Borough | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 8 | |
| 16 | Biggleswade Town | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −4 | 8 | |
| 17 | Alvechurch | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 8 | |
| 18 | Banbury United | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 8 | |
| 19 | Bromsgrove Sporting | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 8 | |
| 20 | Hednesford Town | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 7 | |
| 21 | Leiston | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 21 | −10 | 5 | |
| 22 | Barwell | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 17 | −11 | 4 |
Source: Southern League website, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[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
editStadia and locations
edit
Locations of the Premier Division Central clubs
Premier Division South
edit| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
The Premier Division South comprised 20 teams, two fewer than the previous season, following Blackfield & Langley's resignation and voluntary relegation to the Wessex League,[5] and Merthyr Town's decision to withdraw for one season due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.
League table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poole Town | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 19 |
| 2 | Tiverton Town | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 18 |
| 3 | Salisbury | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 17 |
| 4 | Truro City | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 16 |
| 5 | Metropolitan Police | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 14 |
| 6 | Swindon Supermarine | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 12 |
| 7 | Chesham United | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 12 |
| 8 | Taunton Town | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 11 |
| 9 | Hendon | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 11 |
| 10 | Hayes & Yeading United | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 10 |
| 11 | Gosport Borough | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 8 |
| 12 | Walton Casuals | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 7 |
| 13 | Wimborne Town | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 7 |
| 14 | Hartley Wintney | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 6 |
| 15 | Weston-super-Mare | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 5 |
| 16 | Harrow Borough | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 14 | −3 | 5 |
| 17 | Yate Town | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 17 | −9 | 5 |
| 18 | Farnborough | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | −9 | 4 |
| 19 | Dorchester Town | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 4 |
| 20 | Beaconsfield Town | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 2 |
Source: Southern League website, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[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
editStadia and locations
edit 
Harrow Borough
Hayes & Yeading
Hendon
Metropolitan Police
Walton Casuals
Locations of the Premier Division South clubs
Greater London and environ Premier Division South clubs
Division One Central
edit| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Division One Central comprised the same set of 20 teams which competed in the aborted competition the previous season.
League table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corby Town | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 15 | Transferred to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| 2 | Bedworth United | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 15 | |
| 3 | St Neots Town | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 13 | |
| 4 | Aylesbury United | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 13 | |
| 5 | Bedford Town | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 12 | |
| 6 | Daventry Town | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 12 | Transferred to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| 7 | Halesowen Town | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 10 | +10 | 11 | |
| 8 | Berkhamsted | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 11 | |
| 9 | Barton Rovers | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 11 | |
| 10 | AFC Dunstable | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 11 | |
| 11 | Welwyn Garden City | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 10 | |
| 12 | Kidlington | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 9 | |
| 13 | Coleshill Town | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 9 | Transferred to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| 14 | Wantage Town | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 9 | |
| 15 | Yaxley | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 8 | Transferred to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands |
| 16 | Thame United | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 7 | |
| 17 | Kempston Rovers | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 18 | −7 | 6 | |
| 18 | Biggleswade | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 16 | −9 | 6 | |
| 19 | North Leigh | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 6 | |
| 20 | Didcot Town | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 22 | −15 | 6 |
Source: Southern League website, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[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
editStadia and locations
edit
Locations of Division One Central clubs
| 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
edit| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
Division One South comprised the same set of 20 teams which competed in the aborted competition the previous season.
League table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cirencester Town | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 4 | +22 | 24 | |
| 2 | AFC Totton | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 8 | +14 | 20 | |
| 3 | Basingstoke Town | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 13 | +10 | 16 | Transferred to Isthmian League South Central Division |
| 4 | Winchester City | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 15 | |
| 5 | Slimbridge | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 14 | |
| 6 | Paulton Rovers | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 13 | |
| 7 | Willand Rovers | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 13 | |
| 8 | Highworth Town | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 14 | −3 | 13 | |
| 9 | Frome Town | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 11 | |
| 10 | Larkhall Athletic | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 10 | |
| 11 | Bristol Manor Farm | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 10 | |
| 12 | Sholing | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 9 | |
| 13 | Evesham United | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 8 | |
| 14 | Cinderford Town | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 21 | −11 | 7 | |
| 15 | Thatcham Town | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 6 | Transferred to Isthmian League South Central Division |
| 16 | Bideford | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 4 | |
| 17 | Moneyfields | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Demoted voluntary to the Wessex League |
| 18 | Melksham Town | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 14 | −9 | 3 | |
| 19 | Barnstaple Town | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 22 | −13 | 2 | |
| 20 | Mangotsfield United | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 20 | −16 | 0 |
Source: Southern League website, Non League Matters
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[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
editStadia and locations
edit
Locations of Division One South clubs
| 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 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "National League System club allocations – Steps 1 to 4, Season 2020–21" (PDF). The Non-League Paper. 21 July 2020.
- ^ "FA Update On Steps 3-6". 24 February 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ a b "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ "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.