1931–32 Southern Football League
The 1931–32 season was the 34th in the history of the Southern League. The league consisted of Eastern and Western Divisions.[1] Dartford won the Eastern Division for the second successive season, whilst newly elected Yeovil & Petters United won the Western Division. Dartford were declared Southern League champions after winning a championship play-off 2–1.[2]
Five clubs from the Southern League applied to join the Football League, with Aldershot Town and Newport County being successful.
Eastern Division
| Season | 1931–32 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Dartford (2nd title) |
| Promoted | Aldershot Town |
| Relegated | Peterborough & Fletton United (resigned) Sheppey United (resigned) |
| Matches played | 90 |
| Goals scored | 358 (3.98 per match) |
← 1930–31 1932–33 → | |
A total of 10 teams contest the division, including 8 sides from previous season and two new teams.
Newly elected teams:
- Tunbridge Wells Rangers
- Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic reserves
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartford | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 53 | 18 | 2.944 | 27 | |
| 2 | Folkestone | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 58 | 27 | 2.148 | 26 | |
| 3 | Guildford City | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 33 | 24 | 1.375 | 23 | |
| 4 | Norwich City reserves | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 46 | 33 | 1.394 | 20 | |
| 5 | Millwall reserves | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 41 | 39 | 1.051 | 20 | |
| 6 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 0.920 | 19 | |
| 7 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic reserves | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 43 | 61 | 0.705 | 16 | |
| 8 | Peterborough & Fletton United | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 29 | 0.966 | 13 | Left league at end of season |
| 9 | Aldershot Town | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 0.567 | 11 | Elected to the 1932–33 Football League |
| 10 | Sheppey United | 18 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 72 | 0.222 | 5 | Left league at end of season |
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
| Season | 1931–32 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Yeovil & Petters United |
| Promoted | Newport County |
| Relegated | Swindon Town II (resigned) Ebbw Vale (resigned) |
| Matches played | 156 |
| Goals scored | 752 (4.82 per match) |
← 1930–31 1932–33 → | |
A total of 13 teams contest the division, including 11 sides from previous season and two new teams.
Team relegated from 1930–31 Football League:
Newly elected team:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yeovil & Petters United | 24 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 65 | 31 | 2.097 | 36 | |
| 2 | Plymouth Argyle II | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 81 | 31 | 2.613 | 35 | |
| 3 | Bath City | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 50 | 33 | 1.515 | 31 | |
| 4 | Llanelly | 24 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 65 | 46 | 1.413 | 28 | |
| 5 | Taunton Town | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 53 | 58 | 0.914 | 28 | |
| 6 | Newport County | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 70 | 51 | 1.373 | 26 | Elected to the 1932–33 Football League |
| 7 | Exeter City II | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 59 | 43 | 1.372 | 25 | |
| 8 | Merthyr Town | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 66 | 73 | 0.904 | 22 | |
| 9 | Bristol Rovers II | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 54 | 47 | 1.149 | 20 | |
| 10 | Swindon Town II | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 54 | 95 | 0.568 | 20 | Left league at end of season |
| 11 | Barry | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 58 | 76 | 0.763 | 17 | |
| 12 | Torquay United II | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 43 | 66 | 0.652 | 16 | |
| 13 | Ebbw Vale | 24 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 34 | 102 | 0.333 | 8 | Left league at end of season |
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
As Wigan Borough (resigned) and Thames (disbanded) had left the Football League, there were two places available, one in the Third Division North and one in the Third Division South. However, Mansfield Town were transferred from the South to the North division, meaning both vacant positions were in the South division. Five Southern League clubs applied, with Aldershot Town and Newport County (a year after being voted out) being successful in the vote.[3]
| Club | League | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Gillingham | Football League | 41 |
| Newport County | Southern League | 36 |
| Aldershot Town | Southern League | 35 |
| Llanelly | Southern League | 25 |
| Guildford City | Southern League | 8 |
| Merthyr Town | Southern League | 2 |
References
- ^ England – Southern League Final Tables RSSSF
- ^ Dartford at the Football Club History Database
- ^ A history of admission to the Football League