2023–24 Isthmian League Explained

The 2023–24 season was the 109th season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England. The league operates four divisions, the Premier Division at Step 3 and three divisions, North, South Central and South East at Step 4 of the National League System. This was the sixth season since the former South Division was subdivided into the South Central and South East divisions. The league is also known as the Pitching In League under a sponsorship deal with Entain, formerly GVC Holdings.

The allocations for Step 4 this season were announced by The Football Association (FA) on 15 May 2023.[1]

Premier Division

The Premier Division comprised sixteen teams from the previous season, as well as six clubs who newly joined the division.

Team changes

To the Premier DivisionPromoted from the North Division

Promoted from the South East Division

Relegated from the National League South

From the Premier DivisionPromoted to the National League North

Promoted to the National League South

Relegated to the North Division

Relegated to the South Central Division

Relegated to the South East Division

Premier Division table

Competition:Isthmian League
Premier Division
Season:2023–24
Winners:Hornchurch
Promoted:Hornchurch
Enfield Town
Relegated:Margate
Haringey Borough
Kingstonian
Concord Rangers
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

Play-offs

Final

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
New Lodge 3,500
Nyewood Lane 4,500
Park Lane 4,500
War Memorial Sports Ground 5,000
The Bauvil Stadium 5,000
CheshuntTheobalds Lane 3,000
Canvey IslandThames Road 3,300
Hayes Lane (groundshare with Bromley) 6,000
Champion Hill3,334
2,500
4,000
Coles Park 2,500
Len Salmon Stadium 2,661
The Pilot Field 4,050
HornchurchHornchurch Stadium3,500
HorshamThe Camping World Community Stadium 3,000
Imperial Fields (groundshare with Tooting & Mitcham United) 2,700
3,000
3,000
Parkfield 2,000
The Enclosed Ground 3,126
The Maurice Rebak Stadium 1,500

North Division

The North Division comprises 20 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season. This was the first season with play-offs at step five, meaning that just two teams would be relegated from the division.[2]

Team changes

To the North DivisionPromoted from the Eastern Counties League

Promoted from the Essex Senior League

Relegated from the Premier Division

Transferred from Southern League Division One Central

From the North DivisionPromoted to the Southern League Premier Division Central

Promoted to the Premier Division

Relegated to the Essex Senior League

North Division table

Competition:Isthmian League
North Division
Season:2023–24
Winners:Lowestoft Town
Promoted:Lowestoft Town
Bowers & Pitsea
Relegated:East Thurrock United (resigned)
New Salamis (folded)
Stowmarket Town
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

Play-offs

Final

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
Gardiners Close 2,000
Len Salmon Stadium 3,500
The Brentwood Centre Arena 1,800
North Road 2,000
Ram Meadow 3,500
Rookery Hill 3,500
Woodside Park (groundshare with Bishop's Stortford) 4,525 (525 seated)
Dellwood Avenue 2,000
Wellesley Recreation Ground (groundshare with Great Yarmouth Town) 3,600 (500 seated)
Parkside (groundshare with Aveley) 3,500
Scraley Road 3,000
Humber Doucy Lane 550
Crown Meadow 3,000
Wallace Binder Ground 2,000
Coles Park (groundshare with Haringey Borough) 3,000
Oakside Stadium 3,000 (316 seated)
Greens Meadow 1,000
Wadham Lodge 3,500
Spa Road 2,500
Trafford Park 2,500

South Central Division

The South Central Division consists of 21 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous campaign. Only two teams would be relegated following the restructuring of the step 4/5 promotion.

Team changes

To the South Central DivisionPromoted from the Combined Counties League Premier Division North

Promoted from the Combined Counties League Premier Division South

Relegated from the Premier Division

Relegated from the Southern League Premier Division South

From the South Central DivisionPromoted to the Southern League Premier Division South

Relegated to the Combined Counties Premier Division North

Relegated to the Combined Counties Premier Division South

Transferred to South East Division

South Central Division table

Competition:Isthmian League
South Central Division
Season:2023–24
Winners:Chertsey Town
Promoted:Chertsey Town
Marlow
Relegated:Chipstead
Corinthian-Casuals
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

Play-offs

Final

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
1,150
Robert Parker Stadium 2,550
Westfield Lane 1,200
Hill Farm Lane 1,000
Alwyns Lane 2,500
High Road 2,000
King George's Field 2,700
5,000
Rectory Meadow 1,000
The Memorial Playing Fields 2,000
Fetcham Grove 3,400
Alfred Davis Memorial Ground 3,000
Imber Court 3,000
Northwood Park 3,075
Grand Drive 1,500
King George's Field 2,000
Robert Parker Stadium (groundshare with Ashford Town) 2,550
Church Road (groundshare with AFC Whyteleafe) 2,000
Waterside Park 1,500
Honeycroft 3,770
Woking Park 1,000

South East Division

The South East Division consists of 20 teams, 14 of which competed in the previous season. Only two teams would be relegated following the restructuring of the step 4/5 promotion.

Team changes

To the South East DivisionPromoted from the Southern Combination League

Promoted from the Southern Counties East League

Promoted from the Wessex League

Relegated from the Premier Division

Transferred from South Central Division

From the South East DivisionPromoted to the Premier Division

Relegated to the Southern Combination League

Relegated to the Southern Counties East League

South East Division table

Competition:Isthmian League
South East Division
Season:2023–24
Winners:Cray Valley Paper Mills
Promoted:Cray Valley Paper Mills
Chichester City
Relegated:Erith & Belvedere
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

Play-offs

Final

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
The Homelands 3,200
Eden Park Avenue 4,000
High Wood Hill Sports Ground
Leylands Park 2,500
Oaklands Park 2,000
Badgers Sports Ground 1,000
East Court 1,500
Park View Road (groundshare with Welling United) 4,000
Winch's Field 4,000
Five Heads Park 2,000
Reachfields Stadium 3,000
Culver Road 1,500
The Sportsfield 4,000
Moatside 2,500
The Mayplace Ground 2,000
Southwood Stadium 2,500
Greatness Park 1,000
Holm Park 1,900
Woodstock Park 3,000
Jubilee Field 1,500

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2023–24 TERM. The Football Association. 15 May 2023. 16 May 2023.
  2. Web site: STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE. The FA. 17 March 2023. 16 May 2023.