2007–08 Southern Football League

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The 2007–08 season was the 105th 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.

Premier Division

The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 17 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:

King's Lynn won the Southern League Premier and were promoted to the

Nuneaton Borough
were demoted to Division One Midlands.

League table

Southern Football League
Premier Division
Season2007–08
ChampionsKing's Lynn
PromotedKing's Lynn
Team Bath
RelegatedBromsgrove Rovers
Cirencester Town
Cheshunt
Matches played462
Goals scored1,301 (2.82 per match)
Top goalscorerSean Canham (Team Bath) - 31
Biggest home winBrackley Town 6 – 0 Cheshunt, 5 January 2008
Gloucester City, 26 February 2008
Highest scoringMerthyr Tydfil 5 – 4 Corby Town, 5 April 2008
Highest attendance2336 (King's Lynn 0 – 0 Team Bath, 5 April 2008)
Lowest attendance72 (Team Bath 3 – 1 Cirencester Town, 11 March 2008)
Average attendance325
→

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 King's Lynn 42 24 13 5 91 36 +55 85 Promoted to the Conference North
2 Team Bath 42 25 8 9 71 41 +30 83 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Conference South
3 Halesowen Town 42 22 13 7 80 46 +34 79 Qualified for the play-offs
4 Chippenham Town 42 20 13 9 73 44 +29 73
5 Bashley 42 19 12 11 60 46 +14 69
6 Gloucester City 42 19 11 12 81 50 +31 68
7 Hemel Hempstead Town 42 19 11 12 67 50 +17 68
8 Brackley Town 42 16 12 14 57 53 +4 60
9 Banbury United 42 14 16 12 55 57 −2 58
10 Yate Town 42 16 10 16 71 76 −5 58
11 Clevedon Town 42 13 18 11 49 46 +3 57
12 Swindon Supermarine 42 14 12 16 51 67 −16 54
13 Merthyr Tydfil 42 13 14 15 65 70 −5 53
14 Mangotsfield United 42 12 16 14 38 42 −4 52
15 Rugby Town 42 13 12 17 55 66 −11 51
16 Corby Town 42 14 8 20 60 67 −7 50
17 Tiverton Town 42 13 11 18 45 60 −15 50
18 Hitchin Town 42 12 11 19 46 61 −15 47
19 Bedford Town 42 12 9 21 54 73 −19 45 Reprieved from relegation
20 Bromsgrove Rovers 42 10 12 20 46 67 −21 42 Relegated to Division One Midlands
21 Cirencester Town 42 8 8 26 44 80 −36 32 Relegated to Division One South & West
22 Cheshunt 42 5 8 29 42 103 −61 23 Relegated to IL Division One North
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Play-offs

Semifinals Final
      
2 Team Bath 4
5 Bashley 1
2 Team Bath 2
3 Halesowen Town 1
3 Halesowen Town 2
4 Chippenham Town 1

Results

Home \ Away BAN BAS BED BRK BRO CHE CHI CIR CLE COR GLO HAL HEM HIT KLY MAN MER RUG SWI TBA TIV YAT
Banbury United 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–4
Bashley 2–1 1–1 0–0 4–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–3 2–3 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 4–3 2–1 3–1
Bedford Town 0–0 2–1 3–4 0–4 5–3 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–3 1–1 3–2 0–3 0–1 3–3 1–1 4–0 1–2 1–0 2–2
Brackley Town 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 6–0 2–4 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–2 0–3 3–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–1 0–2 2–2
Bromsgrove Rovers 0–2 0–0 0–2 1–1 3–3 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–4 1–0 0–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 0–0 2–3 1–1 1–2
Cheshunt 1–1 1–3 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–4 2–0 1–2 1–5 0–3 0–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–3
Chippenham Town 2–2 2–2 5–0 1–2 2–2 5–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 4–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 5–1 3–2
Cirencester Town 0–1 0–3 2–1 1–0 2–1 4–3 1–2 1–2 0–0 1–4 2–3 1–0 2–3 0–4 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 3–2 1–2
Clevedon Town 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–2 2–1 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 3–3 3–2 1–2 0–2 4–0 1–1
Corby Town 2–1 4–2 1–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 0–0 2–4 1–1 2–5 1–2 0–2 3–0 0–2 1–2 0–1 3–4 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–2
Gloucester City 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–3 5–0 4–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 3–1 2–3 5–0 2–1 4–1 2–3
Halesowen Town 1–2 4–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–2 2–1 4–1 2–0 3–0 4–1 4–4 3–1 5–1 1–0
Hemel Hempstead Town 2–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 4–1 0–2 2–1 0–1 3–2 1–1 3–3 1–1 4–2 2–0 0–0 3–1 0–1 1–3 2–1 1–2
Hitchin Town 3–3 2–0 2–2 0–1 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–3 0–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 2–1
King's Lynn 3–1 5–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 4–0 2–0 6–2 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 6–1 0–0 1–1 5–0
Mangotsfield United 2–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–0
Merthyr Tydfil 1–1 0–2 3–2 4–1 2–0 1–2 2–0 3–0 1–2 5–4 1–3 2–2 0–0 3–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–5
Rugby Town 2–2 1–1 5–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–0 0–5 2–1 1–2 0–2 1–0 1–0 3–3 1–2 0–2 2–2 4–0
Swindon Supermarine 4–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–2 5–1
Team Bath 3–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 2–1 4–2 0–3 3–2 4–0 0–4 2–1 3–1 0–0 5–0 0–1 1–1
Tiverton Town 0–2 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 5–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–1 0–2 1–1
Yate Town 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–2 2–2 7–1 0–4 4–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–3 0–2 3–0 1–2 1–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Statto.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Gloucester City
Halesowen Town
Hemel Hempstead Town
Hitchin Town
King's Lynn
Mangotsfield United
Merthyr Tydfil
Rugby Town
Swindon Supermarine
Team Bath
Tiverton Town
Yate Town
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Locations of the Premier Division clubs
Club Stadium Capacity
Banbury United Spencer Stadium 2,000
Bashley Bashley Road 2,000
Bedford Town The Eyrie 3,000
Brackley Town St. James Park 3,500
Bromsgrove Rovers Victoria Ground 4,893
Cheshunt Cheshunt Stadium 3,500
Chippenham Town Hardenhuish Park 2,815
Cirencester Town Corinium Stadium 4,500
Clevedon Town Hand Stadium 3,500
Corby Town Steel Park 3,893
Gloucester City The New Lawn (groundshare with Forest Green Rovers) 5,032
Halesowen Town The Grove 5,000
Hemel Hempstead Town Vauxhall Road 3,152
Hitchin Town Top Field 4,000
King's Lynn The Walks 5,733
Mangotsfield United Cossham Street 2,500
Merthyr Tydfil Penydarren Park 4,500
Rugby Town Butlin Road 6,000
Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Ground 3,000
Team Bath Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City) 4,500
Tiverton Town Ladysmead 3,500
Yate Town Lodge Road 2,000

Division One Midlands

Division One Midlands consisted of 21 clubs, including 18 clubs from previous season and three new clubs:

Also, shortly before the start of the season Slimbridge withdrew and were not replaced. Therefore, the relegation zone was reduced to one place in order to make up the numbers for the next season.

Evesham United won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Stourbridge, who returned to the top Southern League division after the relegation in 1984. Berkhamsted finished bottom of the table and were the only club relegated this season.

League table

Southern Football League
Division One Midlands
Season2007–08
ChampionsEvesham United
PromotedEvesham United
Stourbridge
RelegatedBerkhamsted Town
Matches played420
Goals scored1,217 (2.9 per match)
Top goalscorerMark Bellingham (Leamington) - 45
Biggest home winChesham United 11 – 0 Malvern Town, 24 November 2007
Biggest away winRothwell Town 0 – 6 Rushall Olympic, 8 January 2008
Highest scoringChesham United 11 – 0 Malvern Town, 24 November 2007
Highest attendance860 (Leamington 2 – 4 Chasetown, 8 March 2008)
Lowest attendance38 (Stourport Swifts 0 – 1 Rothwell Town, 4 December 2007)
Average attendance166

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Evesham United 40 28 7 5 68 24 +44 91 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Leamington 40 27 8 5 74 27 +47 89 Qualified for the play-offs
3 Stourbridge 40 25 3 12 97 48 +49 78 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
4 Sutton Coldfield Town 40 23 8 9 93 52 +41 77 Qualified for the play-offs
5 Rushall Olympic 40 23 7 10 68 23 +45 76 Qualified for play-offs, then transferred to NPL Division One South
6 Chesham United 40 23 7 10 78 40 +38 76
7 Chasetown 40 23 6 11 71 38 +33 75
8 Aylesbury United 40 19 9 12 64 49 +15 66
9 Leighton Town 40 17 12 11 59 42 +17 63
10 Romulus 40 18 8 14 60 53 +7 62
11 Barton Rovers 40 14 16 10 54 45 +9 58
12 Bishop's Cleeve 40 17 7 16 63 61 +2 58 Transferred to Division One South & West
13 Dunstable Town 40 14 5 21 63 65 −2 47
14 Willenhall Town 40 12 13 15 53 58 −5 46[a] Transferred to NPL Division One South
15 Bedworth United 40 12 10 18 40 51 −11 46
16 Cinderford Town 40 12 6 22 47 82 −35 42 Transferred to Division One South & West
17 Stourport Swifts 40 10 8 22 40 81 −41 38
18 Rothwell Town 40 9 5 26 34 69 −35 32
19 Woodford United 40 7 6 27 30 88 −58 27
20 Malvern Town 40 3 9 28 34 95 −61 18
21 Berkhamsted Town 40 2 4 34 27 126 −99 10 Relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League
22 Slimbridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Before the start of the season Slimbridge withdrew and were not replaced
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Willenhall Town deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player

Play-offs

Semifinals Final
      
2 Leamington 1
5 Rushall Olympic 0
2 Leamington 1
3 Stourbridge 2
3 Stourbridge 1
4 Sutton Coldfield Town 0

Stadia and locations

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Locations of Division One Midlands clubs
Club Stadium Capacity
Aylesbury United The Meadow (groundshare with Chesham United) 5,000
Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe Road 4,000
Bedworth United The Oval 3,000
Berkhamsted Broadwater 2,500
Bishops Cleeve
 Kayte Lane 1,500
Chasetown The Scholars Ground 2,000
Chesham United The Meadow 5,000
Cinderford Town
 Causeway Ground 3,500
Dunstable Town Creasey Park 3,200
Evesham United St George's Lane (groundshare with Worcester City) 3,000
Leamington New Windmill Ground 3,000
Leighton Town Bell Close 2,800
Malvern Town Langland Stadium 2,500
Romulus The Central Ground (groundshare with Sutton Coldfield Town) 2,000
Rothwell Town Cecil Street 3,500
Rushall Olympic Dales Lane 1,400
Stourbridge War Memorial Athletic Ground 2,626
Stourport Swifts Walshes Meadow 2,000
Sutton Coldfield Town The Central Ground 2,000
Willenhall Town Noose Lane 2,500
Woodford United Byfield Road 3,000

Division One South & West

Division One South & West consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from previous season and six new clubs:

Also, Brook House were renamed

A.F.C. Hayes
prior to the start of the season.

Farnborough, who replaced Farnborough Town that folded at the end of the previous season, won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Oxford City. Slough Town finished in the relegation zone for the second season in a row, but this time were reprieved due to the expulsion of

Halifax Town
from the Football Conference, so only Newport (Isle of Wight) were relegated this season.

League table

Southern Football League
Division One South & West
Season2007–08
ChampionsFarnborough
PromotedFarnborough
Oxford City
RelegatedNewport (Isle of Wight)
Matches played462
Goals scored1,523 (3.3 per match)
Top goalscorerJustin Bennett (Gosport Borough) - 28
Biggest home winThatcham Town 8 – 0 Newport IOW, 10 November 2007
Biggest away winNewport IOW 0 – 7 Farnborough, 1 December 2007
Highest scoringNewport IOW 3 – 6 Abingdon United, 2 October 2007

Slough Town 3 – 6 Didcot Town, 3 November 2007
Andover 6 – 3 Taunton Town, 3 November 2007

AFC Hayes 2 – 7 Farnborough
, 22 December 2007

AFC Hayes 1 – 2 Newport IOW, 24 November 2007)
Average attendance186
→

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Farnborough 42 27 8 7 120 48 +72 89 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Fleet Town 42 26 7 9 78 48 +30 85 Qualified for play-offs, then transferred to IL Division One South
3 Didcot Town 42 24 11 7 99 42 +57 83 Qualified for play-offs
4 Oxford City 42 24 9 9 82 41 +41 81 Qualified for play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
5 Uxbridge 42 22 9 11 72 50 +22 75 Qualified for play-offs
6
Bridgwater Town
 42 19 13 10 74 45 +29 70
7 Paulton Rovers 42 20 10 12 77 57 +20 70
8 Windsor & Eton 42 20 9 13 75 66 +9 69
9 Marlow 42 20 6 16 74 54 +20 66 Transferred to Division One Midlands
10 Burnham 42 18 9 15 67 55 +12 63
11 Gosport Borough 42 18 8 16 69 67 +2 62
12 Godalming Town 42 17 9 16 70 70 0 60 Transferred to IL Division One South
13 Hillingdon Borough 42 16 8 18 68 70 −2 56 Transferred to IL Division One North
14
AFC Hayes
 42 17 4 21 75 99 −24 55
15 Thatcham Town 42 13 10 19 59 62 −3 49
16 Abingdon United 42 13 9 20 64 75 −11 48
17 Winchester City 42 13 9 20 58 71 −13 48
18 Taunton Town 42 12 11 19 66 79 −13 47
19 Andover 42 11 7 24 62 101 −39 40
20 Bracknell Town 42 8 10 24 45 93 −48 34
21 Slough Town 42 9 5 28 44 87 −43 32 Reprieved from relegation
22
Newport (Isle of Wight)
 42 2 5 35 25 143 −118 11 Relegated to Wessex League
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Play-offs

Semifinals Final
      
2 Fleet Town 1
5 Uxbridge 2
5 Uxbridge 0
4 Oxford City 1
3 Didcot Town 2(4)
4 Oxford City 2(5)

Stadia and locations

Newport (Isle of Wight)
Oxford City
Paulton Rovers
Slough Town
Taunton Town
Thatcham Town
Winchester City
W&E
2007–08 Southern Football League
2007–08 Southern Football League
2007–08 Southern Football League
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Locations of Division One South & West clubs