The 2016–17 season was the 114th 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. From the 2014–15 season onwards, the Southern League is known as Evo-Stik League Southern, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.
The league constitution was announced on 12 May 2016.
Premier Division
On 12 May 2016 the league constitution was announced. Later, Cinderford Town, who were originally promoted to the Southern Football League Premier Division as champions of Division One South & West, initially declined promotion due to financial concerns. On 27 May it was confirmed that Cinderford Town would remain in Division One South & West. As a consequence, the team with the best record among those relegated at level 7 - Stamford - were reprieved from relegation. Corby Town, who were originally placed in the Premier Division, were transferred to the Southern Football League to take the vacated place.
On 14 June 2016, Evesham United, who had been transferred from the Southern League Division One South & West to the Northern Premier League First Division South due to Cinderford's refusal to accept promotion, had an appeal against the decision to transfer them leagues heard by the Football Association. On 15 June 2016, they were informed they were successful in their appeal, meaning they would stay in their original league. The knock on effect of this was Cinderford Town were forced to take promotion to the Southern Football League Premier Division. This meant that Corby Town were placed back in the Northern Premier League Premier Division for the 2016–17 season.
The Premier Division consisted of 24 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs: Two clubs promoted from Division One Central: Kings Langley St Ives Town
Two clubs promoted from Division One South & West: Banbury United Cinderford Town
Two clubs relegated from the National League South: Basingstoke Town Hayes & Yeading United
League table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Results
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity Banbury United Spencer Stadium 2,000 Basingstoke Town The Camrose 6,000 Biggleswade Town The Carlsberg Stadium 3,000 Chesham United The Meadow 5,000 Chippenham Town Hardenhuish Park 2,815 Cinderford Town Causeway Ground 3,500 Cirencester Town Corinium Stadium 4,500 Dorchester Town The Avenue Stadium 5,009 Dunstable Town Creasey Park 3,200 Frome Town Badgers Hill 2,000 Hayes & Yeading United Beaconsfield Road Hitchin Town Top Field 4,000 Kettering Town Latimer Park (groundshare with Burton Park Wanderers) 2,400 King's Lynn Town The Walks 5,733 Kings Langley CRY Community Stadium 1,963 Leamington New Windmill Ground 3,000 Merthyr Town Penydarren Park 10,000 Redditch United The Valley 5,000 Slough Town Arbour Park 1,950 St Ives Town Westwood Road 2,000 St Neots Town New Rowley Park 3,500 Stratford Town DCS Stadium 1,400 Weymouth Bob Lucas Stadium 6,600
Division One Central
On 12 May 2016 the league constitution was announced. Three Division One Central clubs were moved to the parallel divisions: AFC Rushden & Diamonds were transferred to Northern Premier League Division One South, Godalming Town to Isthmian League Division One South and Ware to Isthmian League Division One North.
Division One Central consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from previous season and seven new clubs: AFC Dunstable, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League AFC Kempston Rovers, promoted from the United Counties League Ashford Town, promoted from the Combined Counties League Farnborough, demoted from the Isthmian League Premier Division Histon, relegated from the Premier Division Kidlington, promoted from the Hellenic League Marlow, transferred from Division One South & West
League table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Results
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity AFC Dunstable Creasey Park (groundshare with Dunstable Town) 3,500 Arlesey Town Hitchin Road 2,920 Ashford Town Robert Parker Stadium 2,550 Aylesbury Haywood Way 1,300 Aylesbury United The ASM Stadium (groundshare with Thame United) 2,000 Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe Road 4,000 Beaconsfield SYCOB Holloways Park 3,500 Bedford Town The Eyrie 3,000 Chalfont St Peter Mill Meadow 1,500 Egham Town The Runnymede Stadium 5,565 Farnborough Cherrywood Road 7,000 Fleet Town Calthorpe Park 2,000 Hanwell Town Reynolds Field 3,000 Histon Bridge Road 4,300 Kempston Rovers Hillgrounds Leisure 2,000 Kidlington Yarnton Road 1,500 Marlow Alfred Davis Memorial Ground 3,000 Northwood Northwood Park 3,075 Petersfield Town The Love Lane Stadium 3,000 Potters Bar Town Parkfield 2,000 Royston Town Garden Walk 5,000 Uxbridge Honeycroft 3,770
Division One South & West
On 12 May 2016 the league constitution was announced. One Division One South & West club were moved to the parallel division: Marlow were transferred to Division One Central. Later, Cinderford Town, who were originally promoted to the Premier Division as champions of Division One South & West, declined promotion due to financial concerns. On 27 May it was confirmed that Cinderford Town would remain in Division One South & West. As a consequence, Evesham United were transferred to the Northern Premier League Division One South to create a place for Cinderford Town.
On 14 June 2016, Evesham United, who had been transferred from the Southern League Division One South & West to the Northern Premier League First Division South due to Cinderford's refusal to accept promotion, had an appeal against the decision to transfer them leagues heard by the Football Association. On 15 June 2016, they were informed they were successful in their appeal, meaning they would stay in their original league. The knock on effect of this was Cinderford Town were forced to take promotion to the Southern Football League Premier Division.
Thus, Division One South & West featured five new clubs: Barnstaple Town, promoted from the Western League Bideford, relegated from the Premier Division Hereford, promoted from the Midland League Paulton Rovers, relegated from the Premier Division Salisbury, promoted from the Wessex League
League table
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
Results
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity AFC Totton Testwood Stadium 3,000 Barnstaple Town Mill Road 5,000 Bideford The Sports Ground 2,000 Bishops Cleeve Kayte Lane 1,500 Bridgwater Town Fairfax Park 2,500 Didcot Town Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium 3,000 Evesham United Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium 3,000 Hereford Edgar Street 4,913 Larkhall Athletic The Plain Ham Ground 1,000 Mangotsfield United Cossham Street 2,500 North Leigh Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground 2,000 Paulton Rovers Athletic Field 2,500 Salisbury Raymond McEnhill Stadium 5,000 Shortwood United Meadowbank Ground 2,000 Slimbridge Thornhill Park 1,500 Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Ground 3,000 Taunton Town The Viridor Stadium 2,500 Tiverton Town Ladysmead 3,500 Wantage Town Alfredian Park 1,500 Wimborne Town The Cuthbury 3,250 Winchester City The City Ground 4,500 Yate Town Lodge Road 2,000
League Cup
The 2016–17 Southern League Cup (billed as The League Challenge Cup) was the 79th edition of the Southern League Cup, the cup competition of the Southern Football League.
1st round
2nd round
3rd round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
See also Southern Football League 2016–17 Isthmian League 2016–17 Northern Premier League
References
External links Official website