1900–01 Southern Football League

The 1900–01 season was the seventh in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the fourth time in five seasons, whilst Bristol City were the only Southern League team applied for election. Finally they were elected to the Football League.

Division One

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Southern Football League Division One
Season1900–01
ChampionsSouthampton (4th title)
PromotedBristol City
RelegatedGravesend United (resigned)
Chatham Town (resigned)
Matches played210
Goals scored616 (2.93 per match)

A total of 16 teams contest the division, including 13 sides from previous season and three new teams.

Team promoted from Division Two:

  • Watford

Newly elected teams:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Southampton 28 18 5 5 58 26 2.231 41
2 Bristol City 28 17 5 6 54 27 2.000 39 Elected to the Football League Second Division
3 Portsmouth 28 17 4 7 56 32 1.750 38
4 Millwall Athletic 28 17 2 9 55 32 1.719 36
5 Tottenham Hotspur 28 16 4 8 55 33 1.667 36
6 West Ham United 28 14 5 9 40 28 1.429 33
7 Bristol Rovers 28 14 4 10 46 35 1.314 32
8 Queens Park Rangers 28 11 4 13 43 48 0.896 26
9 Reading 28 8 8 12 24 25 0.960 24
10 Luton Town 28 11 2 15 43 49 0.878 24
11 Kettering 28 7 9 12 33 46 0.717 23
12 New Brompton 28 7 5 16 34 51 0.667 19
13 Gravesend United 28 6 7 15 32 85 0.376 19 Dropped into Kent League at end of season
14 Watford 28 6 4 18 24 52 0.462 16 Relegation test matches
15 Swindon Town 28 3 8 17 19 47 0.404 14
16 Chatham Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Resigned from league after 10 matches, record expunged
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Division Two

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Southern Football League Division Two
Season1900–01
ChampionsBrentford
PromotedBrentford
RelegatedSheppey United (resigned)
Matches played72
Goals scored329 (4.57 per match)

A total of nine teams contest the division, including 8 sides from previous season and one new team.

Team relegated from Division One:

  • Sheppey United

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Brentford 16 14 2 0 63 11 5.727 30 Promotion test matches
2 Grays United 16 12 2 2 62 12 5.167 26
3 Sheppey United 16 8 1 7 44 26 1.692 17 Dropped into Kent League at end of season
4 Shepherds Bush 16 8 1 7 30 30 1.000 17
5 Fulham London 16 8 0 8 38 26 1.462 16
6 Chesham Town 16 5 1 10 26 39 0.667 11
7 Maidenhead 16 4 1 11 21 49 0.429 9
8 Wycombe Wanderers 16 4 1 11 23 68 0.338 9
9 Southall 16 4 1 11 22 68 0.324 9
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Promotion-relegation test matches

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At the end of the season, test matches were held between the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top two clubs in Division Two. Both matches resulted in 0-0 draws, and both Division One teams retained their places in the top division. However, although Brentford were promoted, Grays United were not after refusing to play extra-time in their match against Watford.[1]

Division One clubsvDivision Two clubs

Football League elections

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Only one Southern League club, Bristol City, applied for election to Division Two of the Football League. They were successful after finishing in second place in the ballot.[2]

Club League First round votes Second round votes
Burton Swifts Football League 23
Bristol City Southern League 23
Stockport County Football League 16 21
Doncaster Rovers Midland League 16 13
Walsall Town Swifts Football League 7
Crewe Alexandra Lancashire League
Darwen Lancashire League
Stalybridge Rovers Lancashire League
Southport Central Lancashire League

References

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  1. ^ Grays United at the Football Club History Database
  2. ^ A history of admission to the Football League
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