Southern Football League 1896-97

The 1896-97 Southern Football League season was the 3rd 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

* Chatham Town
* Millwall Athletic
* New Brompton
* Gravesend United
* Northfleet
* Reading
* Royal Ordnance
* Sheppey United
* Southampton St Mary's
* Swindon Town
* Tottenham Hotspur
* Wolverton L & NWR

Second Division teams

* 1st Coldstream Guards
* 1st Scots Guards
* Chesham
* Dartford
* Freemantle
* Maidenhead
* RETB Chesham
* Old St Stephen's
* Southall
* 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.}

^{3 Royal Ordnance resigned from the League after 7 matches.}

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 third season of the Southern League First Division teams were still not put forward for election to the Football League nor automatically promoted. Conversely, none of the sides were relegated. No Second Division sides were promoted this season, but three teams (Freemantle, the 1st Scots Guards and the 1st Coldstream Guards) left at the end of the season; they were replaced by newly-elected teams Royal Artillery and St Albans.

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]