2023–24 Spartan South Midlands Football League
The 2023–24 season was the 27th in the history of the Spartan South Midlands Football League, a football competition in England. The league operates three divisions, two of which are in covered in this article, the Premier Division, at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6 of the English football league system.
The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the Step 5 Premier Division in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there would have been only one club relegated from the Step 5 division.[2]
Premier Division
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Real Bedford |
| Promoted | Real Bedford Leverstock Green |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The Premier Division featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with six new clubs:
- FC Romania, relegated from the Southern League
- London Lions, transferred from the Combined Counties League
- Milton Keynes Irish, transferred from the United Counties League
- Real Bedford, promoted from Division One
- Sawbridgeworth Town, transferred from the Essex Senior League
- Stansted, transferred from the Essex Senior League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Bedford (C, P) | 36 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 117 | 24 | +93 | 91 | Promotion to the Southern League |
| 2 | Milton Keynes Irish | 36 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 96 | 25 | +71 | 85 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Harpenden Town | 36 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 74 | 51 | +23 | 68 | |
| 4 | Leverstock Green (O, P) | 36 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 73 | 53 | +20 | 68 | |
| 5 | FC Romania | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 61 | |
| 6 | Tring Athletic | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 63 | 51 | +12 | 59 | |
| 7 | Colney Heath | 36 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 57 | |
| 8 | Cockfosters | 36 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 71 | 56 | +15 | 55 | |
| 9 | Potton United | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 50 | |
| 10 | London Lions | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 74 | 75 | −1 | 46 | |
| 11 | Aylesbury Vale Dynamos | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 58 | 78 | −20 | 46 | |
| 12 | Biggleswade United | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 67 | 80 | −13 | 43 | |
| 13 | Dunstable Town | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 51 | 64 | −13 | 40 | |
| 14 | Stansted | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 47 | 67 | −20 | 40 | Transfer to the Essex Senior League |
| 15 | Baldock Town | 36 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 61 | 83 | −22 | 34[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 16 | Arlesey Town | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 36 | 69 | −33 | 34 | |
| 17 | Crawley Green | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 51 | 85 | −34 | 33 | |
| 18 | Shefford Town & Campton | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 50 | 91 | −41 | 33 | |
| 19 | Sawbridgeworth Town | 36 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 29 | 83 | −54 | 14 | Transfer to the Essex Senior League |
| 20 | St Panteleimon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Folded[lower-alpha 2] |
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- Baldock Town were deducted 3 points.
- St Panteleimon folded on 28 March 2024 with immediate effect.[3]
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Milton Keynes Irish | 0 | |||||||
| 5 | FC Romania | 3 | |||||||
| 4 | Leverstock Green | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | FC Romania | 0 | |||||||
| 3 | Harpenden Town | 1 | |||||||
| 4 | Leverstock Green | 3 | |||||||
Semifinals
| 1 May | Harpenden Town | 1–3 | Leverstock Green | Harpenden |
| 19:45 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Rothamsted Park Referee: Nathan Currey |
| 1 May | Milton Keynes Irish | 0–3 | FC Romania | Milton Keynes |
| 19:45 | Report |
|
Stadium: The Irish Centre Attendance: 405 Referee: Daniel Jones |
Final
| 6 May | Leverstock Green | 3–0 | FC Romania | Leverstock Green |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Pancake Lane Attendance: 914 Referee: Chad Greatorex |
Stadia and locations
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Arlesey Town | Hitchin Road | 2,920 |
| Baldock Town | ||
| Aylesbury Vale Dynamos | Haywood Way | |
| Biggleswade United | Fairfield Road | 2,000 |
| Cockfosters | Chalk Lane | 1,000 |
| Colney Heath | Recreation Ground | |
| Crawley Green | The Brache | 4,000 |
| Dunstable Town | Creasey Park | 3,065 |
| FC Romania | Theobalds Lane (groundshare with Cheshunt) | 3,000 |
| Harpenden Town | Rothamsted Park | |
| Leverstock Green | Pancake Lane | |
| London Lions | Rowley Lane | |
| Milton Keynes Irish | Manor Fields | 1,500 |
| Potton United | The Hollow | |
| Real Bedford | McMullen Park | |
| Sawbridgeworth Town | Crofters End | 2,500 |
| Shefford Town & Campton | Shefford Sports Club | 1,000 |
| St Panteleimon | Hertingfordbury Park (groundshare with Hertford Town) | |
| Stansted | Hargrave Park | 2,000 |
| Tring Athletic | Grass Roots Stadium |
Division One
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Northampton ON Chenecks |
| Promoted | Northampton ON Chenecks Northampton Sileby Rangers Winslow United |
| Relegated | Burton Park Wanderers |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One featured twelve clubs which competed in the division last season, along with eight new clubs:
- Cranfield United, promoted from the Bedfordshire County League
- Huntingdon Town, transferred from the Eastern Counties League
- Irchester United, promoted from the Northamptonshire Combination League
- Leighton Town development, promoted from Division Two
- Long Buckby, relegated from the United Counties League
- Rothwell Corinthians, relegated from the United Counties League
- Royston Town U23, promoted from the Hertfordshire Senior County League
Also, Buckingham Athletic merged with Division Two club Buckingham United to form the new club Buckingham.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northampton ON Chenecks (C, P) | 38 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 102 | 23 | +79 | 95 | Promotion to the United Counties League |
| 2 | Northampton Sileby Rangers (P) | 38 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 98 | 46 | +52 | 78 | Qualification for the play-offs, then promotion to the United Counties League |
| 3 | Winslow United (O, P) | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 85 | 50 | +35 | 76 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Moulton | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 84 | 48 | +36 | 74 | |
| 5 | Wellingborough Whitworth | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 95 | 61 | +34 | 74 | |
| 6 | Langford | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 91 | 56 | +35 | 68 | |
| 7 | Ampthill Town | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 95 | 61 | +34 | 67[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 8 | Leighton Town development | 38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 76 | 59 | +17 | 67 | |
| 9 | Cranfield United | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 77 | 48 | +29 | 60 | |
| 10 | Royston Town U23 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 89 | 64 | +25 | 60 | |
| 11 | Rothwell Corinthians | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 86 | 68 | +18 | 54 | |
| 12 | Long Buckby | 38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 77 | 85 | −8 | 43 | |
| 13 | Buckingham | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 59 | 80 | −21 | 42 | |
| 14 | Huntingdon Town | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 57 | 89 | −32 | 39 | |
| 15 | Letchworth Garden City Eagles | 38 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 55 | 81 | −26 | 36[lower-alpha 2] | |
| 16 | Eaton Socon | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 44 | 85 | −41 | 33 | |
| 17 | Raunds Town | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 46 | 90 | −44 | 30 | |
| 18 | Rushden & Higham United | 38 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 51 | 106 | −55 | 27 | |
| 19 | Irchester United | 38 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 34 | 121 | −87 | 23 | |
| 20 | Burton Park Wanderers (R) | 38 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 47 | 127 | −80 | 18 | Relegation to a feeder league |
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Ampthill Town were deducted 1 point.
- Letchworth Garden City Eagles were deducted 3 points.
Reserve and U23 sides are ineligible for promotion to Step 5 or higher.
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | Moulton | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Winslow United | 3 | |||||||
| 3 | Winslow United | 5 | |||||||
| 4 | Wellingborough Whitworth | 1 | |||||||
Semifinals
| 30 April | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 3–1 | Moulton | Northampton |
| 19:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Fernie Fields Attendance: 151 Referee: Andy Woolmer |
| 30 April | Winslow United | 5–1 | Wellingborough Whitworth | Winslow |
| 19:45 |
|
Report | Stadium: Elmfields Gate |
Final
| 4 May | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 1–3 | Winslow United | Northampton |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Fernie Fields Attendance: 263 Referee: Matthew Rendell |
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Ampthill Town | Ampthill Park | 1,300 |
| Buckingham | Stratford Fields | |
| Burton Park Wanderers | Latimer Park (groundshare with Kettering Town) | |
| Cranfield United | Crawley Road | |
| Eaton Socon | River Road | |
| Huntingdon Town | Jubilee Park | |
| Irchester United | Alfred Street | 1,800 |
| Langford | Forde Park | 2,800 |
| Leighton Town development | Bell Close | 2,800 |
| Letchworth Garden City Eagles | Pixmore Pitches | |
| Long Buckby | Station Road | 1,000 |
| Moulton | Brunting Road | |
| Northampton ON Chenecks | Old Northamptonians Sports Ground | |
| Northampton Sileby Rangers | Fernie Fields | |
| Raunds Town | Kiln Park | |
| Rushden & Higham United | Hayden Road | 1,500 |
| Rothwell Corinthians | Desborough Road | |
| Royston Town U23 | Garden Walk | 5,000 |
| Wellingborough Whitworth | The Victoria Mill Ground | 2,140 |
| Winslow United | Elmfields Gate | 2,000 |
References
- "REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA". The Non-League Football Paper. 15 May 2023.
- "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- "Sawbridgeworth Town set to escape relegation from Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division following St Panteleimon withdrawal". Bishop's Stortford Independent. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
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