1985–86 Southern Football League
football league season
The 1985–86 Southern Football League season was the 83rd in the history of the league, an English football competition.
Welling United won the Premier Division and earned promotion to the Football Conference, whilst RS Southampton and Oldbury United left the league at the end of the season.
Premier Division
The Premier Division consisted of 20 clubs, including 15 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
Two clubs promoted from the Midland Division:
Aylesbury United
Dudley Town
Two clubs promoted from the Southern Division:
Basingstoke Town
Gosport Borough
Plus:
Worcester City, relegated from the Alliance Premier League
The Premier Division was to be expanded in the next season so only two clubs were to be relegated this season, though after RS Southampton resigned from the league, only Gravesend & Northfleet was relegated.
League table
Midland Division
The Midland Division consisted of 21 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
Gloucester City
Leamington
Plus:
Bilston Town, promoted from the West Midlands (Regional) League
Grantham, transferred from the Northern Premier League
Mile Oak Rovers, joined from the Midland Combination
League table
Southern Division
The Southern Division expanded up to 21 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
Corinthian
Hastings Town, new club replaced the folded Hastings United
Ruislip, promoted from the Middlesex County League
Trowbridge Town, relegated from the Premier Division
Also, at the end of the previous season Hillingdon merged with London Spartan League club Burnham to form a new club Burnham & Hillingdon, who took over a place in the Southern Football League.
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