2003–04 Southern Football League

March 2026 The 2003–04 Southern Football League season was the 101st in the history of the league, an English football competition. It was the last season for the Southern Football League as a feeder for the Conference Premier. At the end of the season, the Premier Division was replaced as a level 6 league (along with the Northern Premier League Premier Division and Isthmian League Premier Division) by the newly formed Conference North and Conference South. The Premier Division lost more than half its clubs to newly formed divisions, and the two regional divisions had a number of their clubs promoted to the Premier Division to replace them. Thus, the Southern Football League divisions downgraded to 7-8 levels. Premier Division The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 17 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs: Two clubs promoted from the Eastern Division: Dorchester Town Eastbourne Borough Two clubs promoted from the Western Division: Merthyr Tydfil Weston-super-Mare Plus: Nuneaton Borough, relegated from the Football Conference Crawley Town won the division and were promoted to the Conference National. Clubs finished higher than 14th position were to transfer to the newly created Conference North and South divisions and clubs finished higher than 18th position plus winners of divisions One were to participate in the play-offs for a two final spots in Conference North/South. There were no relegation from the Premier Division this season, though, due to league reform, clubs remained in the division downgraded from sixth tier to seventh. League table Southern Football LeaguePremier Division 2003–04 Crawley Town Crawley Town 462 1238 2002–03 2004–05 main WDL PR Premier Division CRA Crawley Town WEY Weymouth STA Stafford Rangers NUN Nuneaton Borough WOR Worcester City HIN Hinckley United NPC Newport County CAM Cambridge City WEL Welling United WSM Weston-super-Mare EBB Eastbourne Borough H&W Havant & Waterlooville MOO Moor Green MER Merthyr Tydfil TIV Tiverton Town BAT Bath City DOR Dorchester Town CHE Chelmsford City DOV Dover Athletic HED Hednesford Town CHI Chippenham Town GRN Grantham Town 25 9 8 77 43 20 12 10 76 47 19 11 12 55 43 17 15 10 65 49 18 9 15 71 50 15 14 13 55 46 15 14 13 52 50 14 15 13 54 53 16 8 18 56 58 14 13 15 52 52 14 13 15 48 56 15 10 17 59 70 14 12 16 42 54 13 14 15 60 66 12 15 15 63 64 13 12 17 49 57 14 9 19 56 69 11 16 15 46 53 12 13 17 50 59 12 12 18 56 69 10 17 15 51 63 10 15 17 45 67 #ACE1AF Promoted to the Conference National P #D0F0C0 Qualified for the Conference South QCS QCS QCS QCS QCS QCS QCS #D0F0C0 Qualified for the Conference North QCN QCN QCN QCN QCN #F5FFD7 Qualified for the play-offs, then qualified to the Conference South QTCS #F5FFD7 Qualified for the play-offs QP QP QP #F5FFD7 Qualified for the play-offs, then transferred to the Isthmian League QPT #CCCCFF Transferred to the Isthmian League TIL complete fchd.com rsssf.com 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Play-offs Semifinals Final 16P Bath City 2 17P Dorchester Town 4 15P Tiverton Town 1 18P Chelmsford City 0 15P Tiverton Town 1 17P Dorchester Town 3 Semifinals Final 1ed King's Lynn 0 1wd Redditch United 1 14P Merthyr Tydfil W/O 14P Merthyr Tydfil 0 1wd Redditch United 3 Stadia and locations England south right 800 Locations of the Premier Division clubs England south 51.3787 -2.3951 BathCity 85 bottom England south 52.2164 0.1225 Cambridge City 85 right England south 51.6219 0.4033 Chelmsford City 85 right England south 51.4656 -2.1287 Chippenham Town 85 right England south 51.0997 -0.1947 Crawley Town 85 right England south 50.7005 -2.4456 Dorchester Town 85 top England south 51.1378 1.2850 Dover Athletic 85 top England south 50.8042 0.3208 Eastbourne Borough 85 right England south 52.9060 -0.6649 Grantham Town 85 bottom 1 England south 50.8671 -0.9741 Havant & Waterlooville 85 top England south 52.6976 -1.9888 Hednesford Town 85 left England south 52.5527 -1.3725 Hinckley United 85 right England south 51.7511 -3.3778 Merthyr Tydfil 85 left England south 52.4303 -1.8467 Moor Green 85 left England south 51.5883 -2.9880 Newport County 85 top England south 52.5207 -1.4425 Nuneaton Town 85 left England south 52.8185 -2.1168 Stafford Rangers 85 left England south 50.9092 -3.4902 Tiverton Town 85 bottom England south 51.4603 0.1165 Welling United 85 bottom England south 51.3307 -2.9561 Weston-super-Mare 85 left England south 50.6199 -2.4852 Weymouth 85 bottom England south 52.2054 -2.2222 Worcester City 85 bottom Club Stadium Bath City Twerton Park Cambridge City City Ground Chelmsford City New Lodge (groundshare with Billericay Town) Chippenham Town Hardenhuish Park Crawley Town Broadfield Stadium Dorchester Town The Avenue Stadium Dover Athletic Crabble Athletic Ground Eastbourne Borough Priory Lane Grantham Town South Kesteven Sports Stadium Havant & Waterlooville West Leigh Park Hednesford Town Keys Park Hinckley United Middlefield Lane Merthyr Tydfil Penydarren Park Moor Green The Moorlands Newport County Newport Stadium Nuneaton Borough Liberty Way Stafford RangersMarston Road Tiverton Town Ladysmead Welling United Park View Road Weston-super-Mare Woodspring Park Weymouth Bob Lucas Stadium Worcester City St Georges Lane Eastern Division The Eastern Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and four new clubs: Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division: Hastings United Folkestone Invicta Plus: Burgess Hill Town, promoted from the Sussex County League Eastleigh, promoted from the Wessex League League table Southern Football LeagueEastern Division 2003–04 King's Lynn 462 1359 2002–03 2004–05 main WDL PR Eastern Division KLY King's Lynn HIS Histon TON Tonbridge Angels EAS Eastleigh FOL Folkestone Invicta SAL Salisbury City STA Stamford BAN Banbury United BHT Burgess Hill Town SIT Sittingbourne BAS Bashley ASH Ashford Town (Kent) CHA Chatham Town FIS Fisher Athletic COR Corby Town DAR Dartford BRN Burnham HAS Hastings United NPI Newport (Isle of Wight) ROT Rothwell Town E&B Erith & Belvedere FLE Fleet Town 28 7 7 90 35 26 10 6 96 41 27 7 8 82 46 27 4 11 88 40 -3 20 15 7 91 45 21 11 10 73 45 20 11 11 63 45 19 10 13 65 57 19 7 16 67 54 18 8 16 61 55 18 7 17 66 58 15 9 18 51 53 13 10 19 49 67 13 10 19 61 81 12 9 21 44 75 13 6 23 48 81 12 11 19 52 76 -3 12 7 23 60 91 11 7 24 42 69 9 11 22 30 47 7 10 25 45 84 5 7 30 35 114 Eastleigh were deducted three points Burnham were deducted three points #F5FFD7 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division PL #D0F0C0 Promoted to the Premier Division PPD PPD PPD #D0F0C0 Promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division PILPD PILPD PILPD PILPD #CCCCFF Transferred to the Isthmian League Division One TIL1 TIL1 TIL1 TIL1 TIL1 TIL1 #CCCCFF Transferred to the Western Division TWD TWD TWD complete fchd.com rsssf.com 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Stadia and locations UK England Southeast right 400 Locations of the Eastern Division clubs UK England Southeast 51.1050 0.8560 Blue 000080 pog.svg Ashford Town 85 top UK England Southeast 52.0568 -1.3258 Blue 000080 pog.svg Banbury United 85 top UK England Southeast 50.7730 -1.6569 Blue 000080 pog.svg Bashley 85 right UK England Southeast 50.9672 -0.1241 Blue 000080 pog.svg Burgess Hill Town 85 right UK England Southeast 51.5379 -0.6668 Blue 000080 pog.svg Burnham 85 right UK England Southeast 51.3688 0.5214 Blue 000080 pog.svg Chatham Town 85 left UK England Southeast 52.5066 -0.7185 Blue 000080 pog.svg CorbyTown 85 right UK England Southeast 51.4495 0.3223 Blue 000080 pog.svg Dartford 85 right UK England Southeast 50.9523 -1.3720 Blue 000080 pog.svg Eastleigh 85 right UK England Southeast 51.4603 0.1165 Blue 000080 pog.svg Erith & Belvedere 85 top UK England Southeast 51.4612 -0.0841 Blue 000080 pog.svg Fisher Athletic 85 bottom UK England Southeast 51.2763 -0.8500 Blue 000080 pog.svg Fleet Town 85 left UK England Southeast 51.0866 1.1595 Blue 000080 pog.svg Folkestone Invicta 85 bottom UK England Southeast 50.8745 0.5871 Blue 000080 pog.svg Hastings United 85 bottom UK England Southeast 52.2420 0.1142 Blue 000080 pog.svg Histon 85 top UK England Southeast 52.7501 0.4074 Blue 000080 pog.svg King's Lynn 85 right UK England Southeast 50.6942 -1.2864 Blue 000080 pog.svg Newport (IOW) 85 right UK England Southeast 52.4258 -0.8013 Blue 000080 pog.svg Rothwell Town 85 left UK England Southeast 51.1043 -1.7858 Blue 000080 pog.svg Salisbury City 85 top UK England Southeast 52.6472 -0.4794 Blue 000080 pog.svg Stamford 85 top UK England Southeast 51.3490 0.7621 Blue 000080 pog.svg Sittingbourne 85 right UK England Southeast 51.2115 0.2691 Blue 000080 pog.svg Tonbridge Angels 85 bottom Club Stadium Ashford Town (Kent) The Homelands Banbury United Spencer Stadium Bashley Bashley Road Burgess Hill Town Leylands Park Burnham The Gore Chatham Town The Sports Ground Corby Town Steel Park Dartford Stonebridge Road (groundshare with Gravesend & Northfleet) Eastleigh Ten Acres Erith & Belvedere Park View Road (groundshare with Welling United) Fleet Town Calthorpe Park Folkestone Invicta Cheriton Road Fisher Athletic Champion Hill (groundshare with Dulwich Hamlet) Hastings United The Pilot Field Histon Bridge Road King's Lynn The Walks Newport (Isle of Wight) St Georges Park Rothwell Town Cecil Street Salisbury City Raymond McEnhill Stadium Sittingbourne Bourne Park Stamford Hanson's Field Tonbridge Angels Longmead Stadium Western Division The Western Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and four new clubs: Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division: Halesowen Town Ilkeston Town Plus: Team Bath, promoted from the Western League Yate Town, promoted from the Hellenic League League table Southern Football LeagueWestern Division 2003–04 Redditch United 420 1166 2002–03 2004–05 main WDL PR Western Division RED Redditch United GLO Gloucester City CIR Cirencester Town HAL Halesowen Town RUG Rugby United TBA Team Bath SHB Solihull Borough SUT Sutton Coldfield Town BRO Bromsgrove Rovers ILK Ilkeston Town CLE Clevedon Town GRE Gresley Rovers MAN Mangotsfield United EVE Evesham United TAU Taunton Town YAT Yate Town SWI Swindon Supermarine SPS Stourport Swifts BWU Bedworth United CIN Cinderford Town SHE Shepshed Dynamo ATH Atherstone United 25 9 6 75 30 24 7 9 77 46 24 4 12 73 40 20 13 7 64 40 21 8 11 57 40 21 6 13 62 41 19 9 12 50 31 16 15 9 52 38 16 11 13 60 48 16 10 14 58 59 16 5 19 55 59 15 7 18 52 60 14 8 18 70 70 15 5 20 56 57 14 8 18 50 55 11 9 20 51 79 10 9 21 41 69 9 11 20 43 62 8 12 20 39 61 7 9 24 50 94 5 13 22 31 87 0 0 0 0 0 #F5FFD7 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Conference North PCN #D0F0C0 Promoted to the Premier Division PPD PPD PPD PPD PPD PPD #CCCCFF Transferred to the Northern Premier League Division One TNPL1 TNPL1 TNPL1 #CCCCCC Club folded FOLD complete fchd.com rsssf.com 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Stadia and locations England south right 800 Locations of the Western Division clubs England south 52.5845 -1.5481 Blue 000080 pog.svg Atherstone Town 85 right England south 52.4766 -1.4713 Blue 000080 pog.svg Bedworth United 85 right England south 52.3396 -2.0564 Blue 000080 pog.svg Bromsgrove 85 right England south 51.8269 -2.4933 Blue 000080 pog.svg Cinderford Town 85 left England south 51.7118 -1.9445 Blue 000080 pog.svg Cirencester Town 85 right England south 51.4233 -2.8368 Blue 000080 pog.svg Clevedon Town 85 left England south 52.0965 -1.9383 Blue 000080 pog.svg Evesham United 85 bottom England south 51.8599 -2.2629 Blue 000080 pog.svg Gloucester City 85 right England south 52.7618 -1.5639 Blue 000080 pog.svg Gresley Rovers 85 left England south 52.4538 -2.0577 Blue 000080 pog.svg Halesowen Town 85 left England south 52.9839 -1.3002 Blue 000080 pog.svg Ilkeston Town 85 bottom England south 51.4828 -2.4816 Blue 000080 pog.svg Mangotsfield United 85 left England south 52.3078 -1.9515 Blue 000080 pog.svg Redditch 85 bottom England south 52.3732 -1.2350 Blue 000080 pog.svg RugbyTown 85 right England south 52.7745 -1.2870 Blue 000080 pog.svg Shepshed Dynamo 85 right England south 52.4389 -1.7572 Blue 000080 pog.svg Solihull 85 top England south 52.3354 -2.2807 Blue 000080 pog.svg Stourport Swifts 85 left England south 52.5567 -1.8187 Blue 000080 pog.svg Sutton Coldfield Town 85 left England south 51.6051 -1.7301 Blue 000080 pog.svg Swindon Supermarine 85 bottom England south 51.0167 -3.0851 Blue 000080 pog.svg Taunton Town 85 bottom England south 51.3787 -2.3951 Blue 000080 pog.svg TeamBath 85 bottom England south 51.5493 -2.4387 Blue 000080 pog.svg YateTown 85 top Club Stadium Atherstone Town Sheepy Road Bedworth United The Oval Bromsgrove Rovers Victoria Ground Cinderford Town Causeway Ground Cirencester Town Corinium Stadium Gloucester City Meadow Park, Gloucester Clevedon Town Hand Stadium Evesham United Common Road Gresley Rovers Moat Ground Halesowen Town The Grove Ilkeston Town New Manor Ground Mangotsfield United Cossham Street Redditch United The Valley Rugby Town Butlin Road Shepshed Dynamo The Dovecote Stadium Solihull Borough Damson Park Stourport Swifts Walshes Meadow Sutton Coldfield Town The Central Ground Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Ground Taunton Town Wordsworth Drive Team Bath Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City) Yate Town Lodge Road See also Southern Football League 2003–04 Isthmian League 2003–04 Northern Premier League References Category:Southern Football League seasons 6