2023–24 Isthmian League
The 2023–24 season is 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 is 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
Promoted from the North Division Promoted from the South East Division Relegated from the National League South |
Promoted 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
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hornchurch | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 13 | +23 | 32 | Promotion to the National League South |
| 2 | Chatham Town | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 24 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Billericay Town | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 20 | |
| 4 | Whitehawk | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 20 | |
| 5 | Carshalton Athletic | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 15 | +7 | 19 | |
| 6 | Horsham | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 19 | |
| 7 | Wingate & Finchley | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 19 | |
| 8 | Lewes | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 18 | |
| 9 | Enfield Town | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 18 | |
| 10 | Canvey Island | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 18 | |
| 11 | Hastings United | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 17 | |
| 12 | Hashtag United | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 16 | |
| 13 | Folkestone Invicta | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 15 | |
| 14 | Bognor Regis Town | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 21 | −1 | 14 | |
| 15 | Dulwich Hamlet | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 14 | |
| 16 | Margate | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 13 | |
| 17 | Cheshunt | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 11 | |
| 18 | Potters Bar Town | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 22 | −9 | 11 | |
| 19 | Kingstonian | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 19 | 22 | −3 | 10 | Relegated to step 4 |
| 20 | Cray Wanderers | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 10 | |
| 21 | Concord Rangers | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 28 | −21 | 6 | |
| 22 | Haringey Borough | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 19 | −10 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
Stadiums and locations
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
Promoted from the Eastern Counties League Promoted from the Essex Senior League Relegated from the Premier Division Transferred from Southern League Division One Central |
Promoted to the Southern League Premier Division Central Promoted to the Premier Division Relegated to the Essex Senior League
|
North Division table
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lowestoft Town | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 19 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Felixstowe & Walton United | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 12 | +12 | 18 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Heybridge Swifts | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 18 | |
| 4 | Bowers & Pitsea | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 10 | +6 | 16 | |
| 5 | Basildon United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 16 | |
| 6 | Brightlingsea Regent | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 16 | |
| 7 | Walthamstow | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 15 | |
| 8 | Redbridge | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 13 | |
| 9 | Brentwood Town | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 12 | |
| 10 | Maldon & Tiptree | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 11 | |
| 11 | Enfield | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 10 | |
| 12 | Wroxham | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 9 | |
| 13 | Bury Town | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 9 | |
| 14 | Gorleston | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 8 | |
| 15 | Witham Town | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 12 | −6 | 8 | |
| 16 | Ipswich Wanderers | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 14 | −7 | 7 | |
| 17 | New Salamis | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 17 | −4 | 6 | |
| 18 | East Thurrock United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 4 | |
| 19 | Grays Athletic | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 4 | Relegation to step 5 |
| 20 | Stowmarket Town | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 26 | −16 | 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
Stadiums and locations
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basildon United | Basildon | Gardiners Close | 2,000 |
| Bowers & Pitsea | Pitsea | Len Salmon Stadium | 3,500 |
| Brentwood Town | Brentwood | The Brentwood Centre Arena | 1,800 |
| Brightlingsea Regent | Brightlingsea | North Road | 2,000 |
| Bury Town | Bury St Edmunds | Ram Meadow | 3,500 |
| East Thurrock United | Corringham | Rookery Hill | 3,500 |
| Enfield | Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park (groundshare with Bishop's Stortford) | 4,525 (525 seated) |
| Felixstowe & Walton United | Felixstowe | Dellwood Avenue | 2,000 |
| Gorleston | Gorleston-on-Sea | Wellesley Recreation Ground (groundshare with Great Yarmouth Town) | 3,600 (500 seated) |
| Grays Athletic | Grays | Parkside (groundshare with Aveley) | 3,500 |
| Heybridge Swifts | Heybridge | Scraley Road | 3,000 |
| Ipswich Wanderers | Rushmere | Humber Doucy Lane | 550 |
| Lowestoft Town | Lowestoft | Crown Meadow | 3,000 |
| Maldon & Tiptree | Maldon | Wallace Binder Ground | 2,000 |
| New Salamis | Bowes Park | Coles Park (groundshare with Haringey Borough) | 3,000 |
| Redbridge | Barkingside | Oakside Stadium | 3,000 (316 seated) |
| Stowmarket Town | Stowmarket | Greens Meadow | 1,000 |
| Walthamstow | London (Walthamstow) | Wadham Lodge | 3,500 |
| Witham Town | Witham | Spa Road | 2,500 |
| Wroxham | Wroxham | 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.[2]
Team changes
Promoted 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 |
Promoted 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
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raynes Park Vale | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 24 | Promotion to step 3 |
| 2 | Southall | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 23 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Chertsey Town | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 23 | |
| 4 | Marlow | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 21 | |
| 5 | Leatherhead | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 20 | |
| 6 | South Park | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 18 | |
| 7 | Chipstead | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 17 | |
| 8 | Uxbridge | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 16 | |
| 9 | Badshot Lea | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 15 | |
| 10 | Hartley Wintney | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 15 | |
| 11 | Westfield | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 14 | |
| 12 | Ashford Town | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 14 | |
| 13 | Hanworth Villa | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 12 | |
| 14 | Ascot United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 10 | |
| 15 | Sutton Common Rovers | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 10 | |
| 16 | Thatcham Town | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 9 | |
| 17 | Northwood | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 7 | |
| 18 | Corinthian-Casuals | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 26 | −19 | 7 | |
| 19 | Metropolitan Police | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 19 | −9 | 6 | |
| 20 | Guernsey | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 25 | −14 | 4 | Relegation to step 5 |
| 21 | Binfield | 11 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 40 | −32 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
Stadiums and locations
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.[2]
Team changes
Promoted 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 |
Promoted to the Premier Division Relegated to the Southern Combination League Relegated to the Southern Counties East League
|
South East Division table
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Three Bridges | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 14 | +13 | 23 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Sittingbourne | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 15 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | Ramsgate | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 15 | |
| 4 | Herne Bay | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 15 | |
| 5 | Chichester City | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 2 | +12 | 14 | |
| 6 | Sevenoaks Town | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 13 | |
| 7 | Ashford United | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 13 | |
| 8 | Burgess Hill Town | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 12 | |
| 9 | Cray Valley Paper Mills | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 8 | +10 | 11 | |
| 10 | Hythe Town | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 11 | |
| 11 | East Grinstead Town | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 18 | −4 | 10 | |
| 12 | Broadbridge Heath | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 9 | |
| 13 | Lancing | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 15 | −7 | 9 | |
| 14 | Littlehampton Town | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 8 | |
| 15 | Horndean | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 20 | −8 | 8 | |
| 16 | Erith & Belvedere | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 15 | −10 | 7 | |
| 17 | Sheppey United | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 8 | |
| 18 | Phoenix Sports | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 30 | −17 | 5 | |
| 19 | Beckenham Town | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 4 | Relegation to step 5 |
| 20 | Merstham | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results
Results table
Stadiums and locations
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford United | Ashford, Kent | The Homelands | 3,200 |
| Beckenham Town | Beckenham | Eden Park Avenue | 4,000 |
| Broadbridge Heath | Broadbridge Heath | High Wood Hill Sports Ground | |
| Burgess Hill Town | Burgess Hill | Leylands Park | 2,500 |
| Chichester City | Chichester | Oaklands Park | 2,000 |
| Cray Valley Paper Mills | Eltham | Badgers Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| East Grinstead Town | East Grinstead | East Court | 1,500 |
| Erith & Belvedere | Welling | Park View Road (groundshare with Welling United) | 4,000 |
| Herne Bay | Herne Bay | Winch's Field | 4,000 |
| Horndean | Horndean | Five Heads Park | 2,000 |
| Hythe Town | Hythe | Reachfields Stadium | 3,000 |
| Lancing | Lancing | Culver Road | 1,500 |
| Littlehampton Town | Littlehampton | The Sportsfield | 4,000 |
| Merstham | Merstham | Moatside | 2,500 |
| Phoenix Sports | Barnehurst | The Mayplace Ground | 2,000 |
| Ramsgate | Ramsgate | Southwood Stadium | 2,500 |
| Sevenoaks Town | Sevenoaks | Greatness Park | 1,000 |
| Sheppey United | Isle of Sheppey | Holm Park | 1,900 |
| Sittingbourne | Sittingbourne | Woodstock Park | 3,000 |
| Three Bridges | Crawley (Three Bridges) | Jubilee Field | 1,500 |
References
- "THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2023-24 TERM". The Football Association. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.