The 2005–06 season was the 103rd 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.

At the end of the season Eastern and Western divisions were restructured after a single Division One of the Isthmian League was divided into Division One North and Division One South, while large number of the clubs left to the Isthmian League. For the next season regional divisions were renamed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

Premier Division

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

Salisbury City won the division and were promoted to the Conference along with play-off winners Bedford Town, both clubs for the first time in their history. Aylesbury United, Chesham United and Evesham United were relegated to the Division One.

League table

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Southern Football League
Premier Division
Season2005–06
ChampionsSalisbury City
PromotedBedford Town
Salisbury City
RelegatedAylesbury United
Chesham United
Evesham United
Matches played462
Goals scored1,325 (2.87 per match)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Salisbury City 42 30 5 7 83 27 +56 95 Promoted to the Conference South
2 Bath City 42 25 8 9 66 33 +33 83 Qualified for the play-offs
3 King's Lynn 42 25 7 10 73 41 +32 82
4 Chippenham Town 42 22 11 9 69 45 +24 77
5 Bedford Town 42 22 10 10 69 53 +16 76 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Conference South
6 Yate Town 42 21 5 16 78 74 +4 68
7 Banbury United 42 17 11 14 66 61 +5 62
8 Halesowen Town 42 15 15 12 54 45 +9 60
9 Merthyr Tydfil 42 17 9 16 62 58 +4 60
10 Mangotsfield United 42 15 13 14 67 67 0 58
11 Grantham Town 42 15 11 16 49 49 0 56 Transferred to the Northern Premier League
12 Tiverton Town 42 14 10 18 69 65 +4 52
13 Gloucester City 42 14 10 18 57 60 −3 52
14 Hitchin Town 42 13 12 17 59 76 −17 51
15 Rugby Town 42 13 11 18 58 66 −8 50
16 Cheshunt 42 13 9 20 57 70 −13 48
17 Team Bath 42 14 6 22 55 68 −13 48
18 Cirencester Town 42 14 4 24 49 68 −19 46
19 Northwood 42 12 6 24 53 88 −35 42[a]
20 Evesham United 42 9 14 19 46 58 −12 41 Relegated to Division One Midlands
21 Aylesbury United 42 9 12 21 43 69 −26 39
22 Chesham United 42 9 9 24 43 84 −41 36 Relegated to Division One South & West
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Northwood had superior record to same placed Isthmian League team, and consequently kept place in the division.

Play-offs

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Semifinals Final
      
2 Bath City 0
5 Bedford Town 1
5 Bedford Town 3
4 Chippenham Town 2
3 King's Lynn 1
4 Chippenham Town 3

Stadia and locations

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Club Stadium
Aylesbury United Buckingham Road
Banbury United Spencer Stadium
Bath City Twerton Park
Bedford Town The Eyrie
Chesham United The Meadow
Cheshunt Cheshunt Stadium
Chippenham Town Hardenhuish Park
Cirencester Town Corinium Stadium
Evesham United Common Road
Gloucester City Meadow Park, Gloucester
Grantham Town South Kesteven Sports Stadium
Halesowen Town The Grove
Hitchin Town Top Field
King's Lynn The Walks
Mangotsfield United Cossham Street
Merthyr Tydfil Penydarren Park
Northwood Chestnut Avenue
Rugby Town Butlin Road
Salisbury City Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Team Bath Twerton Park (groundshare with Bath City)
Tiverton Town Ladysmead
Yate Town Lodge Road

Eastern Division

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The Eastern Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from last season, and seven new clubs:

Boreham Wood won the division and returned to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League after relegation in 2003. Runners-up Corby Town and play-off winners Stamford promoted to the Premier Division. At the end of the season a single Division One of the Isthmian League was divided into Division One North and Division One South. Fifteen Eastern division clubs left the Southern League and joined new divisions, while Eastern and Western divisions were renamed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

League table

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Southern Football League
Eastern Division
Season2005–06
ChampionsBoreham Wood
PromotedBoreham Wood
Corby Town
Stamford
Matches played462
Goals scored1,302 (2.82 per match)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Boreham Wood 42 24 12 6 84 41 +43 84 Promoted to IL Premier Division
2 Corby Town 42 25 9 8 63 33 +30 84 Promoted to the Premier Division
3 Enfield Town 42 24 9 9 75 43 +32 81 Qualified for the play-offs, then transferred to IL Division One North
4 Stamford 42 20 10 12 73 53 +20 70 Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
5 Barking & East Ham United 42 20 10 12 63 47 +16 70 Qualified for the play-offs, then transferred to IL Division One North
6 Wivenhoe Town 42 17 11 14 56 54 +2 62
7 Dartford 42 16 13 13 65 57 +8 61 Transferred to IL Division One South
8 Waltham Forest 42 17 8 17 64 66 −2 59 Transferred to IL Division One North
9 Harlow Town 42 14 16 12 57 56 +1 58
10 Arlesey Town 42 15 11 16 58 65 −7 56
11 Rothwell Town 42 13 14 15 48 53 −5 53 Placed in Division One Midlands
12 Wingate & Finchley 42 13 14 15 57 64 −7 53 Transferred to IL Division One North
13 Great Wakering Rovers 42 13 12 17 65 67 −2 51
14 Uxbridge 42 13 11 18 62 64 −2 50 Placed in Division One South & West
15 Potters Bar Town 42 13 11 18 60 66 −6 50 Transferred to IL Division One North
16 Enfield 42 13 11 18 52 64 −12 50
17 Chatham Town 42 13 10 19 51 57 −6 49 Transferred to IL Division One South
18 Sittingbourne 42 12 12 18 53 69 −16 48
19 Barton Rovers 42 13 8 21 59 73 −14 47 Placed in Division One Midlands
20 Aveley 42 11 13 18 51 70 −19 46 Transferred to IL Division One North
21 Ilford 42 8 17 17 35 59 −24 41
22 Berkhamsted Town 42 8 12 22 51 81 −30 36 Placed in Division One Midlands
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Play-offs

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Semifinals Final
      
2 Enfield Town 1
5 Wivenhoe Town 3*
5 Wivenhoe Town 1
3 Stamford 2
3 Stamford 3
4 Barking & East Ham United 2

* after extra time

Stadia and locations

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Aveley
 
Barking & East Ham United
 
Boreham Wood
 
Dartford
 
Enfield Town
 
Ilford
 
Potters Bar Town
 
Uxbridge
 
Waltham Forest
 
Wingate & Finchley
Locations of the Eastern Division clubs
Club Stadium
Arlesey Town Hitchin Road
Aveley The Mill Field
Barking & East Ham United Mayesbrook Park
Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe Road
Berkhamsted Broadwater
Boreham Wood Meadow Park
Chatham Town The Sports Ground
Dartford Stonebridge Road (groundshare with Gravesend & Northfleet)
Corby Town Steel Park
Enfield Wodson Park (groundshare with Ware)
Enfield Town Goldsdown Road (groundshare with Brimsdown Rovers)
Great Wakering Rovers Burroughs Park
Harlow Town Barrows Farm
Ilford Cricklefield Stadium
Potters Bar Town Parkfield
Rothwell Town Cecil Street
Sittingbourne Bourne Park
Stamford Hanson's Field
Uxbridge Honeycroft
Waltham Forest Wadham Lodge
Wingate & Finchley The Harry Abrahams Stadium
Wivenhoe Town Broad Lane

Western Division

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Southern Football League
Western Division
Season2005–06
ChampionsClevedon Town
PromotedAshford Town (Middlesex)
Clevedon Town
Hemel Hempstead Town
RelegatedThame United
Matches played462
Goals scored1,411 (3.05 per match)

The Western Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from last season, and seven new clubs:

Clevedon Town won the title and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Hemel Hempstead Town, returning after relegation in 2004. Runners-up Ashford Town were promoted and transferred to the Isthmian League Premier Division. Thame United finished bottom and were the only Southern League club relegated from the league. Remaining clubs were divided between the newly formed Division One Midlands and Division One South & West.

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Clevedon Town 42 28 6 8 86 45 +41 90 Promoted to the Premier Division
2 Ashford Town (Middlesex) 42 24 8 10 84 50 +34 80 Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division
3 Brackley Town 42 23 9 10 71 34 +37 78 Qualified for play-offs, then placed in Division One Midlands
4 Hemel Hempstead Town 42 22 9 11 86 47 +39 75 Qualified for play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
5 Swindon Supermarine 42 22 9 11 70 47 +23 75 Qualified for play-offs, then placed in Division One South & West
6 Marlow 42 22 6 14 62 59 +3 72
7 Sutton Coldfield Town 42 21 6 15 91 62 +29 69 Placed in Division One Midlands
8 Leighton Town 42 19 8 15 55 48 +7 65
9 Willenhall Town 42 17 12 13 78 61 +17 63
10 Rushall Olympic 42 17 11 14 73 57 +16 62
11 Bromsgrove Rovers 42 17 11 14 65 50 +15 62
12 Solihull Borough 42 15 13 14 50 51 −1 58
13 Beaconsfield SYCOB 42 14 13 15 60 66 −6 55 Placed in Division One South & West
14 Burnham 42 16 5 21 58 71 −13 53
15 Cinderford Town 42 14 9 19 71 79 −8 51 Placed in Division One Midlands
16 Bedworth United 42 14 9 19 46 57 −11 51
17 Paulton Rovers 42 12 10 20 55 76 −21 46 Placed in Division One South & West
18 Taunton Town 42 12 9 21 67 81 −14 45
19 Bracknell Town 42 12 6 24 53 77 −24 42
20 Stourport Swifts 42 9 14 19 55 80 −25 41 Placed in Division One Midlands
21 Dunstable Town 42 8 12 22 45 91 −46 36
22 Thame United 42 4 5 33 30 122 −92 17 Relegated to the Hellenic Football League
Source: fchd.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Play-offs

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Semifinals Final
      
2 Brackley Town 2
5 Marlow 1
2 Brackley Town 2
3 Hemel Hempstead Town 3
3 Hemel Hempstead Town 3
4 Swindon Supermarine 0

Stadia and locations

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Club Stadium
Ashford Town (Middlesex) The Robert Parker Stadium
Beaconsfield SYCOB Holloways Park
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
Dunstable Town Creasey Park
Hemel Hempstead Town Vauxhall Road
Leighton Town Bell Close
Marlow Alfred Davis Memorial Ground
Paulton Rovers Athletic Field
Rushall Olympic Dales Lane
Solihull Borough Damson Park
Stourport Swifts Walshes Meadow
Sutton Coldfield Town The Central Ground
Swindon Supermarine Hunts Copse Ground
Taunton Town Wordsworth Drive
Thame United Buckingham Road (groundshare with Aylesbury United)
Willenhall Town Noose Lane

See also

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References

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