1996–97 Southern Football League

The 1996–97 Southern Football League season saw Gresley Rovers win the Premier Division.[1] However, as their ground failed to meet the required standard, second-placed Cheltenham Town were promoted to the Football Conference instead. Baldock Town, Chelmsford City and Newport were relegated to the Midland and Southern Divisions, whilst Sudbury Town (who had finished in thirteenth place) resigned from the league and dropped into the Eastern Counties League due to financial problems.

Tamworth, Forest Green Rovers, Rothwell Town and St Leonards Stamcroft (in their first season in the Southern League) were promoted to the Premier Division, the former two as champions of their divisions. Meanwhile, Midland Division club Dudley Town resigned from the league at the end of the season and did not compete in any competitions the following season. Leicester United folded during the season, and Buckingham Town were relegated to the United Counties League.

Tables

Premier Division

The Premier Division featured four new clubs:

PosTeamPldWDLFAGDPtsNotes
1Gresley Rovers422510775403585
2Cheltenham Town4221111076443274Promoted to the Football Conference
3Gloucester City4221101181562573
4Halesowen Town4221101177542373
5King's Lynn42208146561468
6Burton Albion4218121270531766
7Nuneaton Borough42199146152966
8Sittingbourne421971676651164
9Merthyr Tydfil42179166961860
10Worcester City421514135250259
11Atherstone United421513144647−158
12Salisbury City421513145766−958
13Sudbury Town42167197272055Dropped into Eastern Counties League
14Gravesend & Northfleet42167196373−1055Transferred to Isthmian League
15Dorchester Town42149196266−451
16Hastings Town421215154960−1151
17Crawley Town42138214967−1847
18Cambridge City421113185765−846
19Ashford Town42918155379−2645
20Baldock Town42118235290−3841Relegated to Midland and Southern Divisions
21Newport42913204060−2040
22Chelmsford City42614224970−2132

Midland Division

The Midland Division featured five new clubs:

PosTeamPldWDLFAGDPtsNotes
1Tamworth40307390286297Promoted to Premier Division
2Rothwell Town402011982542871
3Ilkeston Town401913876502670
4Grantham Town402241465461970
5Bedworth United4018111177413665
6Solihull Borough401981384622265
7Bilston Town4018101274571764
8Moor Green401871588682061
9Stafford Rangers40179146862660
10Raunds Town401611136165−459
11Racing Club Warwick401610147072−258
12Shepshed Dynamo401412146465−154
13Redditch United40158175659−353
14Paget Rangers40139184255−1348
15Dudley Town401210186989−2046Resigned from League at end of season
16Hinckley Town401111183963−2444Merged with Hinckley Athletic to form Hinckley United at end of season
17Stourbridge40109216181−2039
18Evesham United40912195577−2239
19VS Rugby4099224981−3236
20Corby Town4088244988−3932
21Sutton Coldfield Town4079242985−5630
22Leicester United00000000Folded mid-season, record expunged

Southern Division

The Southern Division featured four new clubs

PosTeamPldWDLFAGDPtsNotes
1Forest Green Rovers422710587404791Promoted to Premier Division
2St.Leonards Stamcroft42269794484687
3Havant Town422310981493279
4Weston-super-Mare422113882433976
5Margate422191270472372
6Witney Town4220111171422971
7Weymouth4220101282513170
8Tonbridge Angels4217151056441266
9Newport IOW4215151273581560
10Fisher Athletic42186187777060
11Clevedon Town42179167576−160
12Fareham Town421412165369−1654
13Bashley42158197384−1153
14Dartford421410185964−552
15Waterlooville42149195867−951
16Cirencester Town421212185068−1848
17Cinderford Town42137226476−1246
18Trowbridge Town421111205061−1144
19Yate Town42128225587−3244
20Fleet Town42126244791−4442
21Erith & Belvedere42910236095−3537
22Buckingham Town42283227107−8014Relegated to United Counties League

References

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