1930–31 Southern Football League
The 1930–31 season was the 33rd in the history of the Southern League. The league consisted of Eastern and Western Divisions.[1] Dartford won the Eastern Division on goal average (had goal difference been used, Aldershot Town would have been champions) and Exeter City reserves won the Western Division. Dartford were declared Southern League champions after winning a championship play-off 7–2.[2]
Two clubs from the Southern League applied to join the Football League, although neither were successful.
Eastern Division[edit]
| Season | 1930–31 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Dartford (1st title) |
| Promoted | none |
| Relegated | Thames II (resigned) |
| Matches played | 72 |
| Goals scored | 346 (4.81 per match) |
← 1929–30 1931–32 → | |
A total of 9 teams contest the division, including 8 sides from previous season and one new team.
Newly elected team:
- Thames II - replaced its first team (which was elected to the Football League the previous year).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartford | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 18 | 2.167 | 23 | |
| 2 | Aldershot Town | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 28 | 1.786 | 23 | |
| 3 | Norwich City II | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 47 | 38 | 1.237 | 19 | |
| 4 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 29 | 1.207 | 17 | |
| 5 | Thames II | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 38 | 31 | 1.226 | 16 | Left league at end of season |
| 6 | Millwall II | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 47 | 40 | 1.175 | 14 | |
| 7 | Folkestone | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 31 | 46 | 0.674 | 11 | |
| 8 | Guildford City | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 53 | 0.528 | 11 | |
| 9 | Sheppey United | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 31 | 63 | 0.492 | 10 |
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.
Western Division[edit]
| Season | 1930–31 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Exeter City II |
| Promoted | none |
| Relegated | Newport County II (resigned) |
| Matches played | 132 |
| Goals scored | 600 (4.55 per match) |
← 1929–30 1931–32 → | |
A total of 12 teams contest the division, including 11 sides from previous season and one new team.
Team relegated from 1929–30 Football League:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exeter City II | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 59 | 28 | 2.107 | 32 | |
| 2 | Llanelly | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 72 | 39 | 1.846 | 28 | |
| 3 | Merthyr Town | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 62 | 49 | 1.265 | 27 | |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle II | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 55 | 34 | 1.618 | 26 | |
| 5 | Bath City | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 47 | 39 | 1.205 | 26 | |
| 6 | Torquay United II | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 66 | 49 | 1.347 | 23 | |
| 7 | Swindon Town II | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 48 | 52 | 0.923 | 21 | |
| 8 | Bristol Rovers II | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 58 | 64 | 0.906 | 20 | |
| 9 | Barry | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 0.744 | 19 | |
| 10 | Taunton Town | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 36 | 62 | 0.581 | 17 | |
| 11 | Newport County II | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 36 | 66 | 0.545 | 14 | Replaced by first team at end of season |
| 12 | Ebbw Vale | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 32 | 79 | 0.405 | 11 |
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.
Football League election[edit]
Two Southern League clubs, Aldershot and Merthyr Town, applied to join the Football League, with Merthyr applying to join both Division Three North and Division Three South.[3]
Third Division North[edit]
| Club | League | First round votes | Second round votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochdale | Football League | 40 | |
| Chester | Cheshire League | 27 | 28 |
| Nelson | Football League | 27 | 20 |
| Manchester Central | Lancashire Combination | 4 | |
| Merthyr Town | Southern League | 0 |
Third Division South[edit]
| Club | League | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Norwich City | Football League | 38 |
| Mansfield Town | Midland League | 25 |
| Newport County | Football League | 19 |
| Aldershot Town | Southern League | 14 |
| Merthyr Town | Southern League | 2 |
References[edit]
- ^ England – Southern League Final Tables RSSSF
- ^ Dartford at the Football Club History Database
- ^ A history of admission to the Football League