The 2015–16 season is the 101st season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England. Also, it is the tenth season for the current incarnations of the Division One North and Division One South.
The league constitution was announced on 15 May 2015.[1]
After the constitution was announced, Clevedon Town of Southern League Division One South & West were demoted because their floodlights were not to the required standard.[2] As a result, Ware were transferred to Southern League Division One Central from Isthmian League Division One North, and Redbridge were reprieved from relegation.
| Competition: | Isthmian League Premier Division |
| Season: | 2015–16 |
| Winners: | Hampton & Richmond |
| Promoted: | East Thurrock United Hampton & Richmond |
| Relegated: | Brentwood Town Farnborough Lewes VCD Athletic |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1694 |
| League Topscorer: | 38 goals - Sam Higgins (East Thurrock United) |
| Highest Attendance: | 2,467 - Dulwich Hamlet 2 - 1 Lewes, (16 April) |
| Attendance: | 173,234 |
| Average Attendance: | 314 (-19.5% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2014–15 |
| Nextseason: | 2016–17 |
The Premier Division consisted of 24 clubs: 18 clubs from the previous season, and six new clubs:
Farnborough were required by the Isthmian League to pay their creditors in full before the league's 2016 AGM. If this wasn't fulfilled, the league were to relegate the club. Therefore, if Farnborough finished top, they were not to be promoted. If they finished in a play-off place, they were not to be eligible to take part in the play-off competition. If they finished between 6th and 20th, they were to be relegated to Step 4. If they finished between 21st and 24th, they were to be relegated two steps, to Step 5.[3]
Hampton & Richmond Borough won the division and returned to the National League South after four seasons in the Isthmian League. They were joined by play-off winners East Thurrock United, who reached National League for the first time in their history. Farnborough finally finished 18th and were relegated one step, as the result, Burgess Hill Town were reprieved. Brentwood Town relegated straight back to Division One along with Lewes and VCD Athletic.
| Player | Club | Goals[4] |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Higgins | East Thurrock United | 38 |
| Jason Prior | Bognor Regis Town | 36 |
| Martin Tuohy | Canvey Island | 24 |
| Nathan Elder | Tonbridge Angels | |
| Thomas Wraight | East Thurrock United | 21 |
| Corey Whitely | Enfield Town | |
| Luke Blewden | Tonbridge Angels | 20 |
| Billy Healey | Wingate & Finchley | |
| Charlie Penny | Merstham |
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Lodge | 3,500 | ||
| Nyewood Lane | 4,500 | ||
| The Brentwood Centre Arena | align=center | 1,800 | |
| Leylands Park | 2,500 | ||
| Park Lane | 4,500 | ||
| 3,000 | |||
| Rookery Hill | 4,000 | ||
| Queen Elizabeth II Stadium | 2,500 | ||
| 4,000 | |||
| The Mill Field (groundshare with Aveley) | 1,100 | ||
| Beveree Stadium | 3,500 | ||
| 3,070 | |||
| Earlsmead Stadium (groundshare with Harrow Borough) | 3,070 | ||
| Kingsmeadow (groundshare with AFC Wimbledon) | 4,850 | ||
| Fetcham Grove | 3,400 | ||
| Victory Road | 2,500 | ||
| 3,000 | |||
| Bloomfields | align=center | 4,000 | |
| Moatside | 2,000 | ||
| Imber Court | 3,000 | ||
| Wheatsheaf Park | 3,009 | ||
| 5,000 | |||
| Oakwood | 1,180 | ||
| The Harry Abrahams Stadium | 1,500 |
| Competition: | Isthmian League Division One North |
| Season: | 2015–16 |
| Winners: | AFC Sudbury |
| Promoted: | AFC Sudbury Harlow Town |
| Relegated: | Barkingside Redbridge |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1751 |
| League Topscorer: | 39 goals - Jason Hallett (Cheshunt) |
| Highest Attendance: | 769 - AFC Sudbury 2 - 0 Bury Town, (2 January) |
| Attendance: | 72,944 |
| Average Attendance: | 132 (+6.5% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2014–15 |
| Nextseason: | 2016–17 |
Division One North consisted of 24 clubs: 19 clubs from the previous season, and five new clubs:
AFC Sudbury won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division for the first time in their history. Harlow Town won the play-offs and returned to the Premier Division after seven seasons of absence. Barkingside and Redbridge, both reprieved in the previous season, finished bottom of the table and were relegated, while Wroxham were reprieved from relegation as the best eighth level club finished in the relegation zone due to lack of promoting ninth level clubs.
| Player | Club | Goals[5] |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Hallett | Cheshunt | 39 |
| George Purcell | AFC Hornchurch | 33 |
| Alexander Read | Harlow Town | 31 |
| Christian Assombalonga | Waltham Abbey | 26 |
| Luke Tuttle | Dereham Town |
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 | ||||
| King's Marsh | 2,500 | |||
| The Mill Field | 1,100 | |||
| Cricklefield Stadium (groundshare with Ilford) | align=center | 3,500 | ||
| North Road | align=center | 1,000 | ||
| Ram Meadow | 3,500 | |||
| Cheshunt Stadium | align=center | 3,000 | ||
| Hayes Lane (groundshare with Bromley) | align=center | 6,000 | ||
| Aldiss Park | align=center | 3,000 | ||
| Burroughs Park | align=center | 2,500 | ||
| Coles Park | 1,500 | |||
| Barrows Farm | align=center | 3,500 | ||
| Scraley Road | align=center | 3,000 | ||
| Wallace Binder Ground | align=center | 2,000 | ||
| Victory Road | 2,000 | |||
| Oakside | align=center | 3,000 | ||
| Ship Lane (groundshare with Thurrock) | align=center | 3,500 | ||
| Julius Martin Lane | align=center | 2,000 | ||
| Bayliss Avenue | 6,000 | |||
| Ship Lane | 3,500 | |||
| Chadfields | align=center | 4,000 | ||
| Capershotts | align=center | 3,500 | ||
| Spa Road | 2,500 | |||
| Trafford Park | align=center | 2,000 |
| Competition: | Isthmian League Division One South |
| Season: | 2015–16 |
| Winners: | Folkestone Invicta |
| Promoted: | Folkestone Invicta Worthing |
| Relegated: | Peacehaven & Telscombe Walton & Hersham Whitstable Town |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1785 |
| League Topscorer: | 37 goals - Ian Draycott (Folkestone Invicta) |
| Highest Attendance: | 1,545 - Folkestone Invicta 6 - 0 Walton & Hersham, (25 March) |
| Attendance: | 112,992 |
| Average Attendance: | 205 (-3.8% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2014–15 |
| Nextseason: | 2016–17 |
Division One South consisted of 24 clubs: 20 clubs from the previous season, and four new clubs:
Folkestone Invicta won the division and returned to the Premier Division after four consecutive play-off defeats. Worthing won the play-offs and joined them after nine seasons in Division One South. Peacehaven & Telscombe suffered second consecutive relegation and left the league along with Whitstable Town and Walton & Hersham. Both clubs also spent nine seasons in the division.
| Player | Club | Goals[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Draycott | Folkestone Invicta | 37 | |
| Tom Tolfrey | Dorking Wanderers | 36 | |
| Joe Taylor | Ramsgate | 33 | |
| Ross Allen | Guernsey | 32 | |
| Billy Medlock | Hastings United | 25 |
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| War Memorial Sports Ground | 5,000 | ||
| The Sports Ground | 5,000 | ||
| High Road | 2,000 | ||
| King George's Field | 2,700 | ||
| Westhumble Community Ground | 1,500 | ||
| East Court | 1,000 | ||
| Shepherd Neame Stadium | 2,000 | ||
| 4,000 | |||
| align=center | 5,000 | ||
| The Pilot Field | align=center | 4,050 | |
| Winch's Field | 4,000 | ||
| Reachfields Stadium | 3,000 | ||
| Walton Road Stadium | 1,000 | ||
| The Sports Park | 1,500 | ||
| Southwood Stadium | 2,500 | ||
| Woodstock Park | 3,000 | ||
| King George's Field | 2,000 | ||
| Jubilee Field | 1,500 | ||
| 3,500 | |||
| 2,000 | |||
| Moatside (groundshare with Merstham) | 2,000 | ||
| The Belmont Ground | 3,000 | ||
| Church Road | 2,000 | ||
| Worthing Stadium | 4,000 |
| Alan Turvey Trophy | |
| Year: | 2015–16 |
| Country: | England |
| Num Teams: | 67 |
| Champions: | Kingstonian |
| Runner-Up: | Faversham Town |
| Matches: | 66 |
| Goals: | 254 |
| Prevseason: | 2014–15 |
| Nextseason: | 2016–17 |
The 2015–16 Alan Turvey Trophy sponsored by Robert Dyas (formerly the Isthmian League Cup) is the 42nd season of the Alan Turvey Trophy, the cup competition of the whole Isthmian League.[7] [8]
| Round | Dates | Matches | width=100 | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premilinary round | 17 August to 18 August | 3 | 67 → 64 | |
| First round | 18 August to 5 October | 32 | 64 → 32 | |
| Second round | 6 October to 19 October | 16 | 32 → 16 | |
| Third round | 9 November to 8 December | 8 | 16 → 8 | |
| Quarterfinals | 12 January to 16 February | 4 | 8 → 4 | |
| Semifinals | 29 February to 1 March | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 6 April | 1 | 2 → 1 |
The Isthmian League Cup was voluntary this season, five clubs decided not to take part in the competition:
Six clubs participated in the Premilinary round, while all other clubs received a bye to the first round.
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 1 | AFC Sudbury (N) | 1–5 | Brightlingsea Regent (N) | 136 | |
| 2 | Barkingside (N) | 0–9 | AFC Hornchurch (N) | 145 | |
| 3 | Billericay Town (P) | 1–2 | Aveley (N) | 121 |
The three clubs to have made it through the Premilinary round were entered into the draw with every other Isthmian League club, making sixty-four teams.
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 4 | Brentwood Town (P) | 1–2 | Enfield Town (P) | 85 | |
| 5 | Bury Town (N) | 0–3 | Leiston (P) | 161 | |
| 6 | Canvey Island (P) | 2–2 | Grays Athletic (P) | 153 | |
| Grays Athletic advance 3–1 on penalties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Chipstead (S) | 1–2 | Walton & Hersham (S) | 41 | |
| 8 | Corinthian-Casuals (S) | 4–0 | South Park (S) | 67 | |
| 9 | Dorking Wanderers (S) | 2–1 | Peacehaven & Telscombe (S) | 33 | |
| 10 | Dulwich Hamlet (P) | 2–0 | Thamesmead Town (N) | 245 | |
| 11 | Farnborough (P) | 3–2 | Lewes (P) | 91 | |
| 12 | Folkestone Invicta (S) | 2–0 | Ramsgate (S) | 187 | |
| 13 | Haringey Borough (N) | 2–2 | Metropolitan Police (P) | 42 | |
| Metropolitan Police advance 4–3 on penalties | |||||
| 14 | Harrow Borough (P) | 2–3 | Kingstonian (P) | 55 | |
| 15 | Hastings United (S) | 3–2 | Hythe Town (S) | 221 | |
| 16 | Merstham (P) | 1–2 | Sittingbourne (S) | 84 | |
| 17 | Molesey (S) | 0–2 | Hendon (P) | 35 | |
| 18 | Needham Market (P) | 5–0 | Heybridge Swifts (N) | 130 | |
| 19 | Redbridge (N) | 0–3 | Cheshunt (N) | 45 | |
| 20 | Romford (N) | 0–3 | East Thurrock United (P) | 96 | |
| 21 | Soham Town Rangers (N) | 0–3 | Brightlingsea Regent (N) | 63 | |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 22 | Staines Town (P) | 2–0 | Hampton & Richmond Borough (P) | 209 | |
| 23 | Three Bridges (S) | 1–1 | Leatherhead (P) | 81 | |
| Three Bridges advance 11–10 on penalties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Thurrock (N) | 2–1 | Aveley (N) | 61 | |
| 25 | Tilbury (N) | 1–3 | Great Wakering Rovers (N) | 59 | |
| 26 | Tonbridge Angels (P) | 2–0 | Herne Bay (S) | 228 | |
| 27 | Tooting & Mitcham United (S) | 5–1 | Phoenix Sports (N) | 98 | |
| 28 | VCD Athletic (P) | 1–2 | Chatham Town (S) | 61 | |
| 29 | Waltham Abbey (N) | 1–1 | AFC Hornchurch (N) | 84 | |
| Waltham Abbey advance 4–3 on penalties | |||||
| 30 | Walton Casuals (S) | 4–0 | East Grinstead Town (S) | 73 | |
| 31 | Whitstable Town (S) | 1–1 | Faversham Town (S) | 157 | |
| Faversham Town advance 5–4 on penalties | |||||
| 32 | Whyteleafe (S) | 1–1 | Carshalton Athletic (S) | 76 | |
| Carshalton Athletic advance 5–4 on penalties | |||||
| 33 | Wingate & Finchley (P) | 1–0 | Harlow Town (N) | 81 | |
| 34 | Witham Town (N) | 2–3 | Maldon & Tiptree (N) | 67 | |
| 35 | Worthing (S) | 2–2 | Burgess Hill Town (P) | 211 | |
| Burgess Hill Town advance 4–3 on penalties | |||||
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 36 | Chatham Town (S) | 0–1 | Sittingbourne (S) | 127 | |
| 37 | Corinthian-Casuals (S) | 3–1 | Carshalton Athletic (S) | 75 | |
| 38 | Dorking Wanderers (S) | 3–1 | Burgess Hill Town (P) | 67 | |
| 39 | Dulwich Hamlet (P) | 2–1 | Staines Town (P) | 224 | |
| 40 | Enfield Town (P) | 1–0 | Cheshunt (N) | 170 | |
| 41 | Farnborough (P) | 4–0 | Three Bridges (S) | 102 | |
| 42 | Faversham Town (S) | 2–1 | Folkestone Invicta (S) | 178 | |
| 43 | Grays Athletic (P) | 2–2 | East Thurrock United (P) | 159 | |
| Grays Athletic advance 3–2 on penalties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Great Wakering Rovers (N) | 5–1 | Thurrock (N) | 68 | |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 45 | Hendon (P) | 2–2 | Kingstonian (P) | 83 | |
| Kingstonian advance 3–1 on penalties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Maldon & Tiptree (N) | 0–3 | Leiston (P) | 43 | |
| 47 | Needham Market (P) | 1–3 | Brightlingsea Regent (N) | 126 | |
| 48 | Tonbridge Angels (P) | 2–2 | Hastings United (S) | 294 | |
| Hastings United advance 3–0 on penalties | |||||
| 49 | Tooting & Mitcham United (S) | 4–1 | Metropolitan Police (P) | 92 | |
| 50 | Waltham Abbey (N) | 3–4 | Wingate & Finchley (P) | 65 | |
| 51 | Walton Casuals (S) | 2–5 | Walton & Hersham (S) | 49 | |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 52 | Brightlingsea Regent (N) | 1–2 | Enfield Town (P) | 94 | |
| 53 | Dulwich Hamlet (P) | 1–2 | Faversham Town (S) | 372 | |
| 54 | Hastings United (S) | 1–1 | Sittingbourne (S) | 132 | |
| Sittingbourne advance 4–3 on penalties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | Kingstonian (P) | 2–1 | Farnborough (P) | 149 | |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 56 | Leiston (P) | 2–1 | Great Wakering Rovers (N) | 84 | |
| 57 | Tooting & Mitcham United (S) | 2–1 | Corinthian-Casuals (S) | 88 | |
| Tooting & Mitcham played an ineligible player, Corinthian-Casuals advance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | Walton & Hersham (S) | 0–2 | Dorking Wanderers (S) | 50 | |
| 59 | Wingate & Finchley (P) | 5–4 | Grays Athletic (P) | 75 | |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 60 | Enfield Town (P) | 1–3 | Wingate & Finchley (P) | 155 | |
| 61 | Faversham Town (S) | 1–0 | Dorking Wanderers (S) | 110 |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 62 | Leiston (P) | 0–2 | Kingstonian (P) | 77 | |
| 63 | Sittingbourne (S) | 2–1 | Corinthian-Casuals (S) | 70 |
| Tie | Home team (tier) | Score | Away team (tier) | ||
| 64 | Faversham Town (S) | 3–0 | Sittingbourne (S) | 337 | |
| 65 | Kingstonian (P) | 2–2 | Wingate & Finchley (P) | 178 | |
| Kingstonian advance 4–2 on penalties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|