# 1898–99 Southern Football League

The 1898–99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. This season saw the expansion of Division One up to 14 teams and creation of Division Two South-West, though it was disbanded at the end of the season after all its clubs left. No Southern League clubs applied for promotion to the Football League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated Cowes 3-1 at The Den.

## Division One

A total of 14 teams contest the division, including ten sides from previous season and four new teams.
Teams promoted from 1897-98 Division Two:
* Royal Artillery Portsmouth - test matches winners
* Warmley - test matches winners
Newly elected teams:
* Bedminster (elected from the Western League)
* Brighton United
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Southampton | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 54 | 24 | 2.250 | 35 | |
| 2 | Bristol City | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 55 | 33 | 1.667 | 33 | |
| 3 | Millwall Athletic | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 59 | 35 | 1.686 | 30 | |
| 4 | Chatham Town | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 32 | 23 | 1.391 | 28 | |
| 5 | Reading | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 31 | 24 | 1.292 | 26 | |
| 6 | New Brompton | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 30 | 1.267 | 25 | |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 40 | 36 | 1.111 | 24 | |
| 8 | Bedminster | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 35 | 39 | 0.897 | 24 | |
| 9 | Swindon Town | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 43 | 49 | 0.878 | 23 | |
| 10 | Brighton United | 24 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 37 | 48 | 0.771 | 20 | |
| 11 | Gravesend United | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 42 | 52 | 0.808 | 19 | |
| 12 | Sheppey United | 24 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 23 | 53 | 0.434 | 13 | Relegation test matches |
| 13 | Royal Artillery Portsmouth | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 60 | 0.283 | 12 | Relegation test matches. Disbanded at end of season after relegation |
| 14 | Warmley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Resigned from League after 17 matches, record expunged |

## Division Two London

Division Two London was formed on basis of previous season Division Two. A total of 12 teams contest the division, including eight sides from previous season and four new teams.
Team relegated from Division One:
* Wolverton L&NWR - test matches losers
Newly elected teams:
* Thames Ironworks - London League winners
* Brentford
* Fulham
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Thames Ironworks | 22 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 64 | 16 | 4.000 | 39 | Promotion test matches |
| 2 | Wolverton L&NWR | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 88 | 43 | 2.047 | 30 | |
| 3 | Watford | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 62 | 35 | 1.771 | 30 | |
| 4 | Brentford | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 59 | 39 | 1.513 | 25 | |
| 5 | Wycombe Wanderers | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 55 | 57 | 0.965 | 22 | |
| 6 | Southall | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 44 | 55 | 0.800 | 22 | |
| 7 | Chesham | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 45 | 62 | 0.726 | 20 | |
| 8 | St Albans | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 45 | 59 | 0.763 | 19 | Folded at end of season |
| 9 | Shepherds Bush | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 37 | 53 | 0.698 | 17 | |
| 10 | Fulham | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 36 | 44 | 0.818 | 16 | |
| 11 | Uxbridge | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 29 | 48 | 0.604 | 16 | Left league at end of season |
| 12 | Maidenhead | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 33 | 86 | 0.384 | 8 | |
* ↑ Changed name to Chesham Town at end of season

## Division Two South-West

Division Two South-West was newly formed and short-lived formation. At the end of the season the division was liquidated and the League returned to 2-division structure.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Cowes | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 10 | 5.200 | 20 | Promotion test matches |
| 2 | Ryde | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 11 | 2.727 | 14 | Left league at end of season |
| 3 | Freemantle | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 32 | 0.656 | 10 | Left league at end of season |
| 4 | Sandown Bay | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 34 | 0.647 | 8 | Left league at end of season |
| 5 | Eastleigh Athletic | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 32 | 0.594 | 4 | Left league at end of season |
| 6 | Andover | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 16 | 41 | 0.390 | 4 | Left league at end of season |
| 7 | East Lancs Regiment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged |
| 8 | Trowbridge Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged |

## 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 club in both Division Twos. Royal Artillery Portsmouth lost 4-1 to Cowes and were relegated to Division Two, whilst Cowes were promoted. Royal Artillery Portsmouth then disbanded. Sheppey United and Thames Ironworks drew 1-1, leading to Sheppey remaining in Division One and Thames Ironworks joining them.