1926–27 Southern Football League

The 1926–27 season was the 29th in the history of the Southern League. The league consisted of Eastern and Western Divisions.[1] Brighton & Hove Albion II won the Eastern Division and Torquay United won the Western Division. Brighton reserves were declared Southern League champions after defeating Torquay 4–0 in a championship play-off.[2]

Four clubs from the Southern League applied to join the Football League, with Torquay being successful in a second round of voting. Five clubs (all reserve teams) left the league at the end of the season.

Eastern Division
Southern Football League Eastern Division
Season1926–27
ChampionsBrighton & Hove Albion II (2nd title)
Promotednone
RelegatedPortsmouth II (resigned)
Reading II (resigned)
Luton Town II (resigned)
Leicester City II (resigned)
Watford II (resigned)
Matches played272
Goals scored1,195 (4.39 per match)

A total of 17 teams contest the division, including 15 sides from previous season and two new teams.

Newly elected teams:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Result
1 Brighton & Hove Albion II 32 21 6 5 86 47 1.830 48
2 Peterborough & Fletton United 32 18 9 5 80 39 2.051 45
3 Portsmouth II 32 19 6 7 95 65 1.462 44 Left league at end of season
4 Kettering Town 32 15 10 7 66 41 1.610 40
5 Millwall II 32 16 5 11 67 56 1.196 37
6 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic II 32 14 6 12 69 64 1.078 34
7 Norwich City II 32 14 5 13 79 74 1.068 33
8 Dartford 32 13 7 12 60 71 0.845 33
9 Reading II 32 12 8 12 75 79 0.949 32 Left league at end of season
10 Luton Town II 32 10 11 11 75 70 1.071 31
11 Leicester City II 32 12 5 15 94 72 1.306 29
12 Watford II 32 10 8 14 74 84 0.881 28
13 Southampton II 32 10 6 16 57 77 0.740 26
14 Poole 32 9 6 17 55 86 0.640 24
15 Grays Thurrock United 32 10 3 19 49 66 0.742 23
16 Guildford United 32 6 7 19 57 106 0.538 19 Changed name to Guildford City at end of season
17 Folkestone 32 7 4 21 57 98 0.582 18
Source:
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
Southern Football League Western Division
Season1926–27
ChampionsTorquay United
PromotedTorquay United
Relegatednone
Matches played182
Goals scored757 (4.16 per match)

A total of 14 teams contest the division, including 13 sides from previous season and one new team.

Newly elected teams:

  • Newport County II
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification
1 Torquay United 26 17 4 5 63 30 2.100 38 Elected to the 1927–28 Football League
2 Bristol City II 26 14 10 2 77 37 2.081 38
3 Plymouth Argyle II 26 15 4 7 56 38 1.474 34
4 Ebbw Vale 26 14 2 10 67 45 1.489 30
5 Bristol Rovers II 26 12 4 10 51 43 1.186 28
6 Swindon Town II 26 11 5 10 60 57 1.053 27
7 Barry 26 11 4 11 65 50 1.300 26
8 Exeter City II 26 10 6 10 62 49 1.265 26
9 Weymouth 26 12 2 12 48 65 0.738 26
10 Newport County II 26 9 6 11 57 53 1.075 24
11 Bath City 26 7 9 10 44 52 0.846 23
12 Yeovil & Petters United 26 9 5 12 49 66 0.742 23
13 Taunton United 26 4 4 18 36 83 0.434 12 Changed name to Taunton Town at end of season
14 Mid Rhondda United 26 2 5 19 22 89 0.247 9
Source:
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

Four Southern League clubs applied to join the Football League this season, entering the ballot alongside the bottom two from the Third Division South. Although Watford were re-elected, Aberdare Athletic received the same number of votes as Southern League Torquay United, leading to a second round, in which Torquay won more votes. Aberdare took Torquay's place in the Southern League the following season.

Aberdare's loss was controversial, as one ballot paper in the first round had been spoilt and Aberdare's secretary claimed that one of the scrutineers was 'an interested party'.[3]

Club League First round votes Second round votes
WatfordFootball League Third Division South44
Torquay UnitedSouthern League2126
Aberdare AthleticFootball League Third Division South2119
Kettering TownSouthern League1
Yeovil & Petters UnitedSouthern League1
Ebbw ValeSouthern League0
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References
  1. England – Southern League Final Tables RSSSF
  2. Torquay United at the Football Club History Database
  3. A history of admission to the Football League
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