| Pixels: | 150 |
| Country: | England |
| Other Countries: | Guernsey |
| Divisions: |
|
| Teams: | 88
|
| Promotion: | National League South |
| Relegation: | |
| Levels: | 7–8 |
| Domest Cup: | |
| Champions: | Hornchurch (Premier Division) Lowestoft Town (North Division) Chertsey Town (South Central Division) Cray Valley Paper Mills (South East Division) |
| Current: | 2024–25 Isthmian League |
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering Greater London, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs.
Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, the league now consists of 88 teams in four divisions: the Premier Division above its three feeder divisions, the North, South Central and South East divisions.
Together with the Southern League and the Northern Premier League, it forms the seventh and eighth levels of the English football league system. It has various regional feeder leagues and the league as a whole is a feeder league mainly to the National League South.
Before the Isthmian League was formed, there were no leagues in which amateur football clubs could compete, only knock-out cup competitions. Therefore, a meeting took place between representatives of Casuals, Civil Service, Clapton, Ealing Association, Ilford and London Caledonians to discuss the creation of a strong amateur league. All the clubs supported the idea and the Isthmian League was born on 7 March 1905. Membership of the league was through invitation only. The league was very strongly dedicated to the cause of amateurism in sport; consequently, the champions of the league did not even receive a trophy or medals; the league's Latin motto was honor sufficit ('honour is sufficient').
Thus, those clubs less able to compete financially gravitated to it rather than to the Southern League, which attracted clubs with ambition and money. Although the Isthmian League established itself as one of the strongest amateur leagues in the country, routinely providing the winners of the FA Amateur Cup, it was still regarded as being at a lower level than the Southern League, which had developed into the top regional semi-professional league. By 1922 the Isthmian League had fourteen clubs and over the next five decades, only a few new members were admitted, mainly to fill vacancies left by clubs leaving the league. Most new Isthmian League members joined from the Athenian League, which was similarly dedicated to amateurism.
The Isthmian League was most likely named after the ancient Isthmian Games, with the later Athenian League, Corinthian League, Delphian League, Spartan League, Parthenon League and Aetolian League all adding a Classical Greek flavour to amateur football competition. In 1962 an 'all-star' team from the Isthmian League entered the 1962 Ugandan Independence Tournament, drawing both their games versus Kenya and Ghana.
The league finally began to permit professionalism in the mid-1970s when the Football Association abolished the long-standing distinction between amateur and professional status with effect from the 1974–75 season. A second division of sixteen clubs was formed in 1973 and a third division followed in 1977. However, the league still remained officious and refused to participate in the formation of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and whilst two Isthmian clubs, Enfield and Dagenham, defected to the APL in 1981, it was not until 1985 that the Isthmian League champions were given a promotion place to the newly renamed Football Conference. The reward of promotion into the Conference means that, since 1985, no team has won the league champions title two seasons in succession (as had happened on 22 occasions previously). The Athenian League disbanded in 1984 when the Isthmian League Second Division split into North and South Divisions. These were restructured yet again to Second and Third Divisions in 1991.
In 2002, the league was restructured once more, with the First and Second Divisions merging to become Division One North and Division One South (later renamed simply the North and South divisions), and the Third Division being renamed as Division Two. In addition, the league's three feeder leagues—the Combined Counties League, Essex Senior League and Spartan South Midlands League—ran in parallel with Division Two, and were able to feed directly into the regional Division Ones.
In 2004, The Football Association pushed through a major restructuring of the entire national non-league National League System, creating new regional divisions of the Football Conference feeding into the top, national, level. As a consequence of this restructuring, the Isthmian League was reduced back down to three divisions, and its boundaries were changed to remove the overlap with the Southern League.
In 2006, further reorganisation saw a reversion to two regional Division Ones and the disbandment of Division Two. This current plan calls for clubs based on the edges of the Isthmian League's territory to transfer to and from the Southern League as necessary to maintain numerical balance between the leagues. One team, Clapton, who were ever present in the Isthmian League since its foundation, were moved to the Essex Senior League for the 2006–07 season. Dulwich Hamlet, who had joined the league in 1907, became its longest serving member until their promotion to the National League South for the 2018–19 season.
In May 2017, The Football Association chose the Isthmian League to add a third regional division at Step 4 as part of further restructuring in the National League System, reducing all divisions at Step 4 to 20 teams. The new division started play in the 2018–19 season.[1]
The league's 2024 - 25 constitution is as follows:
| Season | Division One | Division Two | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Wycombe Wanderers | Dagenham | |
| 1974–75 | Wycombe Wanderers | Staines Town | |
| 1975–76 | Enfield | Tilbury | |
| 1976–77 | Enfield | Boreham Wood |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–78 | Enfield | Dulwich Hamlet | Epsom & Ewell | |
| 1978–79 | Barking | Harrow Borough | Farnborough Town | |
| 1979–80 | Enfield | Leytonstone/Ilford | Billericay Town | |
| 1980–81 | Slough Town | Bishop's Stortford | Feltham | |
| 1981–82 | Leytonstone & Ilford | Wokingham Town | Worthing | |
| 1982–83 | Wycombe Wanderers | Worthing | Clapton | |
| 1983–84 | Harrow Borough | Windsor & Eton | Basildon United |
For the 2002–03 season, Division One was reorganised into North and South regions and Division Three was disbanded.
| Season | Premier Division | Division One North | Division One South | Division Two | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Aldershot Town | Northwood | Carshalton Athletic | Cheshunt | |
| 2003–04 | Canvey Island | Yeading | Lewes | Leighton Town |
| Season | Premier Division | Division One | Division Two | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Yeading | AFC Wimbledon | Ilford | |
| 2005–06 | Braintree Town | Ramsgate | Ware |
| Season | Premier Division | North Division | South Division | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Hampton & Richmond Borough | AFC Hornchurch | Maidstone United | |
| 2007–08 | Chelmsford City | Dartford | Dover Athletic | |
| 2008–09 | Dover Athletic | Aveley | Kingstonian | |
| 2009–10 | Dartford | Lowestoft Town | Croydon Athletic | |
| 2010–11 | Sutton United | East Thurrock United | Metropolitan Police | |
| 2011–12 | Billericay Town | Leiston | Whitehawk | |
| 2012–13 | Whitehawk | Grays Athletic | Dulwich Hamlet | |
| 2013–14 | Wealdstone | VCD Athletic | Peacehaven & Telscombe | |
| 2014–15 | Maidstone United | Needham Market | Burgess Hill Town | |
| 2015–16 | Hampton & Richmond Borough | AFC Sudbury | Folkestone Invicta | |
| 2016–17 | Havant & Waterlooville | Brightlingsea Regent | Tooting & Mitcham United | |
| 2017–18 | Billericay Town | AFC Hornchurch | Carshalton Athletic |
For the 2018–19 season, the South Division was reorganised into South Central and South East divisions.
| Season | Premier Division | North Division | South Central Division | South East Division | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Dorking Wanderers | Bowers & Pitsea | Hayes & Yeading United | Cray Wanderers | |
| 2019–201 | Worthing | Maldon & Tiptree | Ware | Hastings United | |
| 2020–212 | Worthing | Tilbury | Waltham Abbey | Hastings United | |
| 2021–22 | Worthing | Aveley | Bracknell Town | Hastings United | |
| 2022–23 | Bishop's Stortford | Hashtag United | Basingstoke Town | Chatham Town | |
| 2023–24 | Hornchurch | Lowestoft Town | Chertsey Town | Cray Valley Paper Mills |
Since the league's formation in 1905, the following clubs have won promotion to higher levels of the English football league system -
| Seasons | Promoted to | |
|---|---|---|
| 1979–1986 | Alliance Premier League | |
| 1986–2003 | Football Conference | |
| 2003–2005 | Football Conference National | |
| 2004–2015 | Football Conference North | |
| 2004–2015 | Football Conference South | |
| 2015–present | National League North | |
| 2015–present | National League South |
| Season | Club | Position | Promoted to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–81 | Enfield Dagenham | 2nd 8th | Alliance Premier League Alliance Premier League | |
| 1984–85 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3rd | Alliance Premier League | |
| 1985–86 | Sutton United | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1986–87 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1987–88 | Yeovil Town | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1988–89 | Farnborough Town | 2nd | Football Conference | |
| 1989–90 | Slough Town | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1990–91 | Redbridge Forest | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1991–92 | Woking | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1993–94 | Stevenage Borough | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1994–95 | Slough Town | 2nd | Football Conference | |
| 1995–96 | Hayes | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1996–97 | Yeovil Town | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1997–98 | Kingstonian | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1998–99 | Sutton United | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 1999–2000 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 2000–01 | Farnborough Town | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 2001–02 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 1st | Football Conference | |
| 2002–03 | Aldershot Town | 1st | Football Conference National | |
| 2003–04 | Canvey Island Kettering Town Sutton United Thurrock Hornchurch Grays Athletic Carshalton Athletic Hayes Bognor Regis Town Bishop's Stortford Maidenhead United Ford United Basingstoke Town St Albans City Lewes (IL DOS) | 1st 9th 2nd 3rd 5th 6th 7th 8th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th* 19th* 1st* | Football Conference National Football Conference North Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2004–05 | Yeading Eastleigh | 1st 3rd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2005–06 | Braintree Town Fisher Athletic | 1st 3rd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2006–07 | Hampton & Richmond B Bromley | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2007–08 | Chelmsford City AFC Wimbledon | 1st 3rd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2008–09 | Dover Athletic Staines Town | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2009–10 | Dartford Boreham Wood | 1st 4th* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2010–11 | Sutton United Tonbridge Angels | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2011–12 | Billericay Town AFC Hornchurch | 1st 2nd* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2012–13 | Whitehawk Concord Rangers | 1st 4th* | Football Conference South Football Conference South | |
| 2013–14 | Wealdstone Lowestoft Town | 1st 4th* | Football Conference South Football Conference North | |
| 2014–15 | Maidstone United Margate | 1st 3rd* | National League South National League South | |
| 2015–16 | Hampton & Richmond B East Thurrock United | 1st 3rd* | National League South National League South | |
| 2016–17 | Havant & Waterlooville Bognor Regis Town | 1st 2nd* | National League South National League South | |
| 2017–18 | Billericay Town Dulwich Hamlet | 1st 2nd* | National League South National League South | |
| 2018–19 | Dorking Wanderers Tonbridge Angels | 1st 4th* | National League South National League South | |
| 2019–20 | No promotion to National League North or South | |||
| 2020–21 | Step 3 promotion cancelled | |||
| 2021–22 | Worthing Cheshunt | 1st 5th* | National League South National League South | |
| 2022–23 | Bishop's Stortford Aveley | 1st 4th* | National League North National League South | |
| 2023–24 | Hornchurch Enfield Town | 1st 3rd | National League South National League South | |
The Isthmian League was the first league to have sponsorship, having been selected by Rothmans, who sponsored the league from 1973 to 1977. The company offered prize money for position in the league but money was deducted for bookings. Thus the money encouraged both more goals and fair play. The sponsors after Rothmans to the present day have been: Michael Lawrie (1977–78), Berger (1978–82), Servowarm (1982–85), Vauxhall-Opel (1985–90), Vauxhall (1990–91), Diadora (1991–95), ICIS (1995–97), Ryman (1997–2017),[2] Bostik (2017–19)[3] and BetVictor (2019–20). Entain's Pitching In was announced as the next sponsor for 2020–21. At the time of announcement, Entain went by its former name GVC Holdings. Under this partnership, Isthmian is marketed as one of the three Trident Leagues, alongside the Northern Premier and Southern leagues.[4]
Ryman also sponsored the Isthmian Youth League and Isthmian Development League upon their creations in 2007 and 2013 respectively.[5] Ryman chairman Theo Paphitis added to his league sponsorship through his flagship companies. Robert Dyas became sponsors of the Isthmian League Cup, Isthmian Veterans Cup, Isthmian Disability Cup and Isthmian Youth Play-off Cup in 2014, and Boux Avenue sponsored the Isthmian Women's Cup from 2014 to 2017.
Becoming the longest running sports sponsorship in UK football, Ryman stepped down as sponsors at the end of the 2016–17 season after 20 years.[6]
The Alan Turvey Trophy, formerly the Isthmian League Cup, has run since 1975 and involves all Isthmian League teams.
Several previous members of the Isthmian League have reached the English Football League. In its earlier years, the Football League didn't directly promote teams from the Non-League system on merit; instead, holding regular elections, for which any Non-League side could apply to enter. In practice, only the most ambitious non-League sides put themselves forward for election,[7] and success was uncommon (outside of divisional expansions, from 1945 to its abolition in 1987, only seven clubs were successful in vying for admission to the League). No Isthmian League member ever put themselves forward for election to the Football League, but Wimbledon were elected as a Southern League member, having left the Isthmian League in 1964.[7]
The first ex-Isthmian League team to reach the Football League was Wimbledon in 1977, followed subsequently by Maidstone United (1989), Wycombe Wanderers (1993), Yeovil Town (2003), Dagenham & Redbridge (2007), Aldershot Town (2008), Stevenage (2010), and AFC Wimbledon (2011). Sutton United, who had been in the Isthmian League as recently as 2011, became the most recent former member to be promoted to the Football League, winning promotion in 2021.
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 1907–92; 1996–2000
| 19
| EFL League One | 2007-08 | none | none | ||
| Wimbledon | 1921–64 | 8 (1930–31, 1931–32, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64) | Premier League | 1977–78 | Division 2
| FA Cup | defunct | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 1921–85; 1986–87 | 8 (1955–56, 1956–57, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1982–83, 1986–87) | EFL Championship | 1993–94 | none | none | EFL League One | |
| Maidstone United | 1959–71 | 0 | Fourth Division | none | none | defunctSuccessor club Maidstone United currently play in the National League South | ||
| Sutton United | 1963–86; 1991–99; 2001–04; 2008–11 | 5 (1966–67, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1998–99, 2010–11) | 2021–22 | none | none | |||
| Stevenage | 1984–1994 as Stevenage Borough | 1 (1993–94) | EFL League One | none | none | |||
| Yeovil Town | 1985–88; 1995–97 | 2 (1987–88, 1996–97) | EFL Championship | 2003-04 | League Two | none | ||
| Aldershot Town | 1992–2003 | 1 (2002–03) | 2008–09 | none | none | |||
| AFC Wimbledon | 2004–08 | 0 | EFL League One | 2011–12 | none | none | EFL League Two |