2006–07 Southern Football League

The 2006–07 season was the 104th 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. This season was the first to feature the new Division One sections after reform of the Isthmian League structure.

Premier Division

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The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs:

Bath City won the league and were promoted to the Conference South along with play-off winners Maidenhead United, who returned to the Conference after relegation in 2006. Only Northwood were relegated this season, and the other clubs finished in the relegation zone were reprieved due to Farnborough Town and Scarborough folding, and Hayes merging with Yeading.

League table

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Southern Football League
Premier Division
Season2006–07
ChampionsBath City
PromotedBath City
Maidenhead United
RelegatedNorthwood
Matches played462
Goals scored1,321 (2.86 per match)
Top goalscorerAnthony Thomas (Hemel Hempstead Town) – 25
including League Cup goals
Biggest home winBath City 6 – 0 Rugby Town, 28 April 2007
Biggest away winCirencester Town 1 – 6 King's Lynn, 2 September 2006
Maidenhead United 0 – 5 Clevedon Town, 23 September 2006
Highest scoringCirencester Town 6 – 3 Northwood, 13 January 2007
Highest attendance2044 (Bath City 1 – 0 Chippenham Town, 9 April 2007)
Lowest attendance84 (Team Bath 1 – 0 Northwood, 18 November 2006)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Bath City 42 27 10 5 84 29 +55 91 Promoted to the Conference South
2 Team Bath 42 23 9 10 66 42 +24 78 Qualified for the play-offs
3 King's Lynn 42 22 10 10 69 40 +29 76
4 Maidenhead United 42 20 10 12 58 36 +22 70 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Conference South
5 Hemel Hempstead Town 42 19 12 11 79 60 +19 69 Qualified for the play-offs
6 Halesowen Town 42 18 13 11 66 53 +13 67
7 Chippenham Town 42 19 9 14 61 56 +5 66
8 Stamford 42 16 11 15 65 62 +3 59 Transferred to the Northern Premier League Premier Division
9 Mangotsfield United 42 13 19 10 44 45 −1 58
10 Gloucester City 42 15 13 14 67 70 −3 58
11 Hitchin Town 42 16 9 17 55 68 −13 57
12 Merthyr Tydfil 42 14 14 14 47 46 +1 56
13 Banbury United 42 15 10 17 60 64 −4 55
14 Yate Town 42 14 12 16 59 71 −12 54
15 Tiverton Town 42 14 8 20 56 67 −11 50
16 Cheshunt 42 14 7 21 56 71 −15 49
17 Rugby Town 42 15 4 23 58 79 −21 49
18 Clevedon Town 42 12 12 18 60 61 −1 48
19 Wealdstone 42 13 9 20 69 82 −13 48 Transferred to the Isthmian League Premier Division
20 Corby Town 42 10 9 23 52 69 −17 39 Reprieved from relegation[a]
21 Cirencester Town 42 9 12 21 46 76 −30 39
22 Northwood 42 8 10 24 44 74 −30 34 Relegated to Isthmian League Division One North
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Corby Town and Cirencester Town were reprieved from relegation due to Farnborough Town and Scarborough folding and Hayes merging with Yeading (see 2006–07 Football Conference).

Play-offs

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Semifinals Final
      
1 Team Bath 3
4 Hemel Hempstead Town 1
1 Team Bath 0
3 Maidenhead United 1
2 King's Lynn 0
3 Maidenhead United 1

Stadia and locations

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Club Stadium
Banbury United Spencer Stadium
Bath City Twerton Park
Cheshunt Cheshunt Stadium
Chippenham Town Hardenhuish Park
Cirencester Town Corinium Stadium
Clevedon Town Hand Stadium
Corby Town Steel Park
Gloucester City Meadow Park, Gloucester
Halesowen Town The Grove
Hemel Hempstead Town Vauxhall Road
Hitchin Town Top Field
King's Lynn The Walks
Maidenhead United York Road
Mangotsfield United Cossham Street
Merthyr Tydfil Penydarren Park
Northwood Chestnut Avenue
Rugby Town Butlin Road
Stamford Hanson's Field
Team Bath Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City)
Tiverton Town Ladysmead
Wealdstone Chestnut Avenue (groundshare with Northwood)
Yate Town Lodge Road

Division One Midlands

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After the end of the previous season, the regional divisions were restructured due to the reorganisation of the Isthmian League. Most of the previous season's Eastern Division clubs were transferred to the Isthmian League. Southern League Eastern and Western divisions were replaced by Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

Brackley Town won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Bromsgrove Rovers. Both clubs that finished in the relegation zone were reprieved, due to clubs folding or resigning from other leagues.[1]

League formation

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Division One Midlands consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from previous season Southern League divisions and six new clubs:

League table

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Southern Football League
Division One Midlands
Season2006–07
ChampionsBrackley Town
PromotedBrackley Town
Bromsgrove Rovers
Matches played462
Goals scored1,391 (3.01 per match)
Top goalscorerNathan Lamey (Bromsgrove Rovers) – 31
including League Cup goals
Biggest home winBrackley Town 7 – 0 Barton Rovers, 28 November 2006
Biggest away winBromsgrove Rovers 1 – 7 Cinderford Town, 4 November 2006
Highest scoring8 goals – 8 matches
Highest attendance544 (Bromsgrove Rovers 2 – 0 Brackley Town, 17 March 2007),
(Stourbridge 3 – 3 Bromsgrove Rovers, 14 November 2006)
Lowest attendance40 (Bishop's Cleeve 2 – 3 Rothwell Town, 2 March 2007)
Average attendance146

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Brackley Town 42 29 4 9 95 53 +42 91 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Bromsgrove Rovers 42 23 7 12 86 62 +24 76 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
3 Chasetown 42 23 6 13 59 39 +20 75 Qualified for the play-offs
4 Willenhall Town 42 20 12 10 67 47 +20 72
5 Evesham United 42 19 15 8 66 51 +15 72
6 Aylesbury United 42 20 11 11 58 42 +16 71
7 Stourbridge 42 17 15 10 70 53 +17 66
8 Woodford United 42 18 11 13 71 54 +17 65
9 Cinderford Town 42 18 10 14 70 60 +10 64
10 Rothwell Town 42 18 7 17 72 61 +11 61
11 Dunstable Town 42 16 12 14 64 53 +11 60
12 Sutton Coldfield Town 42 16 9 17 62 63 −1 57
13 Bishop's Cleeve 42 17 5 20 68 66 +2 56
14 Solihull Borough 42 17 5 20 72 84 −12 56 Merged into Solihull Moors
15 Rushall Olympic 42 15 9 18 56 55 +1 54
16 Bedworth United 42 13 8 21 73 83 −10 47
17 Malvern Town 42 12 11 19 46 66 −20 47
18 Leighton Town 42 12 8 22 44 60 −16 44
19 Spalding United 42 12 6 24 45 62 −17 42 Transferred to NPL Division One South
20 Barton Rovers 42 11 9 22 51 93 −42 42
21 Berkhamsted Town 42 10 7 25 53 97 −44 37 Reprieved from relegation[a]
22 Stourport Swifts 42 9 7 26 43 87 −44 34
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Berkhamsted Town and Stourport Swifts were reprieved from relegation as they were the two clubs in the relegation zones of the Midland and South & West Divisions with the highest points total. These two clubs were not relegated due to space created by clubs moving across to the restructured first divisions of the Northern Premier League and Lymington & New Milton (of the South & West Division) and Solihull Borough withdrawing from the league.

Play-offs

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Semifinals Final
      
1 Bromsgrove Rovers 1
4 Evesham United 0
1 Bromsgrove Rovers 2
3 Willenhall Town 1
2 Chasetown 0
3 Willenhall Town 1

Stadia and locations

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Club Stadium
Aylesbury United The Meadow (groundshare with Chesham United)
Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe Road
Bedworth United The Oval
Berkhamsted Broadwater
Bishops Cleeve Kayte Lane
Brackley Town St. James Park
Bromsgrove Rovers Victoria Ground
Chasetown The Scholars Ground
Cinderford Town Causeway Ground
Dunstable Town Creasey Park
Evesham United St George's Lane (groundshare with Worcester City)
Leighton Town Bell Close
Malvern Town Langland Stadium
Rothwell Town Cecil Street
Rushall Olympic Dales Lane
Solihull Borough Damson Park
Spalding United Sir Halley Stewart Field
Stourbridge War Memorial Athletic Ground
Stourport Swifts Walshes Meadow
Sutton Coldfield Town The Central Ground
Willenhall Town Noose Lane
Woodford United Byfield Road

Division One South & West

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After the end of the previous season, the regional divisions were restructured due to the reorganisation of the Isthmian League. Most of the previous season's Eastern Division clubs were transferred to the Isthmian League. Southern League Eastern and Western divisions were replaced by Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

Bashley won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Swindon Supermarine. Hanwell Town and Beaconsfield SYCOB were relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League, while Lymington & New Milton resigned from the league before the next season started.

League formation

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Division One South & West consisted of 22 clubs, including nine clubs from previous season Southern League divisions and 13 new clubs:

At the end of the season Brook House changed name to AFC Hayes.

League table

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Southern Football League
Division One South & West
Season2006–07
ChampionsBashley
PromotedBashley
Swindon Supermarine
RelegatedLymington & New Milton
Hanwell Town
Beaconsfield SYCOB
Matches played462
Goals scored1,511 (3.27 per match)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Bashley 42 32 6 4 111 35 +76 102 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Paulton Rovers 42 20 14 8 66 42 +24 74 Qualified for the play-offs
3 Burnham 42 23 4 15 74 60 +14 73
4 Swindon Supermarine 42 20 11 11 68 40 +28 71 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
5 Taunton Town 42 19 14 9 68 50 +18 71 Qualified for the play-offs
6 Thatcham Town 42 21 7 14 70 60 +10 70
7 Marlow 42 19 12 11 74 49 +25 69
8 Uxbridge 42 20 8 14 68 58 +10 68
9 Andover 42 19 9 14 70 59 +11 66
10 Didcot Town 42 16 13 13 86 67 +19 61
11 Abingdon United 42 16 11 15 68 67 +1 59
12 Oxford City 42 17 8 17 62 75 −13 59
13 Winchester City 42 16 10 16 67 65 +2 58
14 Windsor & Eton 42 16 10 16 76 75 +1 58
15 Chesham United 42 17 6 19 68 79 −11 57 Transferred to Division One Midlands
16 Hillingdon Borough 42 13 13 16 80 85 −5 52
17 Lymington & New Milton 42 16 3 23 81 79 +2 51 Resigned to the Wessex League
18 Brook House 42 14 6 22 71 92 −21 48
19 Bracknell Town 42 11 13 18 51 62 −11 46
20 Newport (Isle of Wight) 42 9 3 30 44 106 −62 30
21 Hanwell Town 42 6 7 29 52 102 −50 24[a] Relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League
22 Beaconsfield SYCOB 42 5 6 31 36 104 −68 21
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Hanwell Town deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player.

Play-offs

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Semifinals Final
      
1 Paulton Rovers 1
4 Taunton Town 4
4 Taunton Town 0
3 Swindon Supermarine 2
2 Burnham 1
3 Swindon Supermarine 2

Stadia and locations

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Greater London Division One South & West clubs
Club Stadium
Abingdon United Northcourt Road
Andover Portway Stadium
Bashley Bashley Road
Beaconsfield SYCOB Holloways Park
Bracknell Town Larges Lane
Brook House Farm Park
Burnham The Gore
Chesham United The Meadow
Didcot Town Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium
Hanwell Town Reynolds Field
Hillingdon Borough Middlesex Stadium
Lymington & New Milton Fawcetts Field
Marlow Alfred Davis Memorial Ground
Newport (Isle of Wight) St Georges Park
Oxford City Court Place Farm
Paulton Rovers Athletic Field
Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Ground
Taunton Town Wordsworth Drive
Thatcham Town Waterside Park
Uxbridge Honeycroft
Winchester City The City Ground
Windsor & Eton Stag Meadow

League Cup

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2006–07 Southern League Cup
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Teams66
Final positions
ChampionsTiverton Town
Runner-upHemel Hempstead Town

First round

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Clubs playing in the Southern League Premier Division were exempt from the first round. All teams in the two divisions One entered the competition at this stage.

Second round

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Cirencester Town and Northwood entered at this stage along with all the clubs who won their first round ties. All other Premier Division clubs were exempt.

Third round

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All clubs who had been previously exempt entered at this stage of the competition along with the 12 teams who won their second round fixtures.

Fourth round

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Quarter-finals

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Semi-finals

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Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) Att.
63 Rugby Town (P) 3–4 Hemel Hempstead Town (P)
64 Tiverton Town (P) 2–0 Banbury United (P)

Final

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Tie Home team (tier) Score Away team (tier) Att.
65 Hemel Hempstead Town (P) 0–1 Tiverton Town (P)
66 Tiverton Town (P) 2–2 Hemel Hempstead Town (P)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Swifts given relegation lifeline[permanent dead link] Worcester News, 15 May 2007