Southern Football League 1897-98

The 1897-98 Southern Football League season was the 4th in the history of the Southern League, a football competition in England. The League was comprised of future Football League sides and non-league clubs. The teams in the League were divided into First and Second Divisions.

First Division teams

* Bristol City
* Chatham Town
* Millwall Athletic
* New Brompton
* Gravesend United
* Northfleet
* Reading
* Sheppey United
* Southampton¹
* Swindon Town
* Tottenham Hotspur
* Wolverton L & NWR

^{1 From this season onwards Southampton St Mary's would be known as Southampton F.C.}

Second Division teams

* Chesham
* Dartford
* Maidenhead
* RETB Chesham
* Royal Artillery
* Old St Stephen's
* Southall
* St Albans
* Uxbridge
* Warmley
* West Herts
* Wycombe Wanderers

Division One final table

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Division Two final table

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Promotion and relegation

In the fourth season of the Southern League First Division teams were still not put forward for election to the Football League nor automatically promoted. However, this season saw Wolverton L & NWR relegated, replaced by Second Division champions Royal Artillery. In addition to this Northfleet left the League at the end of the season, to be replaced by 2nd placed Warmley. Two sides were also elected to Division One; Bedminster and Brighton United. In the Second Division three sides (Dartford, Old St Stephen's and RETB Chatham) left at the end of the season, while West Herts merged with Watford and took their name. Several teams were elected into the League; Eastleigh I, Andover, Trowbridge Town, the East Lancs Regiment, Thames Ironworks, Freemantle (returning to the League after a year's absence), Sandown Bay, Fulham, Shepherd's Bush, Brentford, Cowes and Ryde. This caused Division Two to divide into two at the end of the season, with a London section and a South-West section.

External links

* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html Southern League First Division Tables at RSSSF]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html#tab2 Southern League Second Division Tables at RSSSF]