# 1900–01 Southern Football League

The 1900–01 season was the seventh in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the fourth time in five seasons, whilst Bristol City were the only Southern League team applied for election. Finally they were elected to the Football League.

## Division One

A total of 16 teams contest the division, including 13 sides from previous season and three new teams.
Team promoted from Division Two:
* Watford
Newly elected teams:
* Luton Town - relegated from 1899–1900 Football League
* Kettering - promoted as Midland League champions
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Southampton | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 26 | 2.231 | 41 | |
| 2 | Bristol City | 28 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 54 | 27 | 2.000 | 39 | Elected to the Football League Second Division |
| 3 | Portsmouth | 28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 56 | 32 | 1.750 | 38 | |
| 4 | Millwall Athletic | 28 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 55 | 32 | 1.719 | 36 | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 55 | 33 | 1.667 | 36 | |
| 6 | West Ham United | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 40 | 28 | 1.429 | 33 | |
| 7 | Bristol Rovers | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 46 | 35 | 1.314 | 32 | |
| 8 | Queens Park Rangers | 28 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 43 | 48 | 0.896 | 26 | |
| 9 | Reading | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 25 | 0.960 | 24 | |
| 10 | Luton Town | 28 | 11 | 2 | 15 | 43 | 49 | 0.878 | 24 | |
| 11 | Kettering | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 33 | 46 | 0.717 | 23 | |
| 12 | New Brompton | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 34 | 51 | 0.667 | 19 | |
| 13 | Gravesend United | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 32 | 85 | 0.376 | 19 | Dropped into Kent League at end of season |
| 14 | Watford | 28 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 24 | 52 | 0.462 | 16 | Relegation test matches |
| 15 | Swindon Town | 28 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 47 | 0.404 | 14 | Relegation test matches |
| 16 | Chatham Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Resigned from league after 10 matches, record expunged |

## Division Two

A total of nine teams contest the division, including 8 sides from previous season and one new team.
Team relegated from Division One:
* Sheppey United
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Brentford | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 63 | 11 | 5.727 | 30 | Promotion test matches |
| 2 | Grays United | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 62 | 12 | 5.167 | 26 | Promotion test matches |
| 3 | Sheppey United | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 44 | 26 | 1.692 | 17 | Dropped into Kent League at end of season |
| 4 | Shepherds Bush | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 30 | 30 | 1.000 | 17 | |
| 5 | Fulham London | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 38 | 26 | 1.462 | 16 | |
| 6 | Chesham Town | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 26 | 39 | 0.667 | 11 | |
| 7 | Maidenhead | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 21 | 49 | 0.429 | 9 | |
| 8 | Wycombe Wanderers | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 23 | 68 | 0.338 | 9 | |
| 9 | Southall | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 22 | 68 | 0.324 | 9 | |

## Promotion-relegation test matches

At the end of the season, test matches were held between the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top two clubs in Division Two. Both matches resulted in 0-0 draws, and both Division One teams retained their places in the top division. However, although Brentford were promoted, Grays United were not after refusing to play extra-time in their match against Watford.

## Football League elections

Only one Southern League club, Bristol City, applied for election to Division Two of the Football League. They were successful after finishing in second place in the ballot.
| Club | League | First round votes | Second round votes |
| Burton Swifts | Football League | 23 | |
| Bristol City | Southern League | 23 | |
| Stockport County | Football League | 16 | 21 |
| Doncaster Rovers | Midland League | 16 | 13 |
| Walsall Town Swifts | Football League | 7 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | Lancashire League | | |
| Darwen | Lancashire League | | |
| Stalybridge Rovers | Lancashire League | | |
| Southport Central | Lancashire League | | |