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:
Six clubs remained in the league:
Bath City
Chippenham Town
Grantham Town
Hednesford Town
Merthyr Tydfil
Tiverton Town
Six clubs promoted from the Western Division:
Cirencester Town
Gloucester City
Halesowen Town
Rugby United
Solihull Borough
Team Bath
Four clubs promoted from the Eastern Division:
Banbury United
Histon
King's Lynn
Stamford
Three clubs transferred from Isthmian League Premier Division:
Aylesbury United
Bedford Town
Hitchin Town
Three clubs promoted from Isthmian League Division One North:
Chesham United
Dunstable Town
Hemel Hempstead Town
League table
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
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:
14 clubs promoted from Isthmian League Division One North:
Arlesey Town
Aveley
Barking & East Ham United
Barton Rovers
Berkhamsted Town
Boreham Wood
East Thurrock United
Great Wakering Rovers
Harlow Town
Tilbury
Uxbridge
Waltham Forest
Wingate & Finchley
Wivenhoe Town
Five clubs remained in the league:
Chatham Town
Dartford
Erith & Belvedere
Fisher Athletic
Sittingbourne
Plus:
Beaconsfield SYCOB, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League
Leighton Town, promoted from the Isthmian League Division Two
Maldon Town, promoted from the Eastern Counties League
League table
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
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
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
See also
Southern Football League
2004–05 Isthmian League
2004–05 Northern Premier League
External links
Football Club History Database
Southern Football League seasons
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