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
Club Stadium Aylesbury United Buckingham Road Banbury United Spencer Stadium Bath City Twerton Park Bedford Town The Eyrie Chesham United The Meadow Chippenham Town Hardenhuish Park Cirencester Town Corinium Stadium Dunstable Town Creasey Park Gloucester City Meadow Park, Gloucester Grantham Town South Kesteven Sports Stadium Halesowen Town The Grove Hednesford Town Keys Park Hemel Hempstead Town Vauxhall Road Histon Bridge Road Hitchin Town Top Field King's Lynn The Walks Merthyr Tydfil Penydarren Park Rugby Town Butlin Road Solihull Borough Damson Park Stamford Hanson's Field Team Bath Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City) Tiverton Town Ladysmead
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 transferred 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
Club Stadium Arlesey Town Hitchin Road Aveley The Mill Field Barking & East Ham United Mayesbrook Park Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe Road Beaconsfield SYCOB Holloways Park Berkhamsted Broadwater Boreham Wood Meadow Park Chatham Town The Sports Ground Dartford Stonebridge Road (groundshare with Gravesend & Northfleet) East Thurrock United Rookery Hill Erith & Belvedere Park View Road (groundshare with Welling United) Fisher Athletic Champion Hill (groundshare with Dulwich Hamlet) Great Wakering Rovers Burroughs Park Harlow Town Barrows Farm Leighton Town Bell Close Maldon Town Wallace Binder Ground Sittingbourne Bourne Park Tilbury Chadfields Uxbridge Honeycroft Waltham Forest Wadham Lodge Wingate & Finchley The Harry Abrahams Stadium Wivenhoe Town Broad Lane
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
Club Stadium Ashford Town (Middlesex) The Robert Parker Stadium Bedworth United The Oval Brackley Town St. James Park Bracknell Town Larges Lane Bromsgrove Rovers Victoria Ground Burnham The Gore Cinderford Town Causeway Ground Clevedon Town Hand Stadium Corby Town Steel Park Egham Town The Runnymede Stadium Evesham United Common Road Mangotsfield United Cossham Street Marlow Alfred Davis Memorial Ground Oxford City Court Place Farm Paulton Rovers Athletic Field Rothwell Town Cecil Street Stourport Swifts Walshes Meadow Sutton Coldfield Town The Central Ground Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Ground Taunton Town Wordsworth Drive Thame United Windmill Road Yate Town Lodge Road
See also Southern Football League 2004–05 Isthmian League 2004–05 Northern Premier League
External links Football Club History Database