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
Season 1926-27
Champions Brighton & Hove Albion II (2nd title)
Promoted none
Relegated Portsmouth II (resigned)
Reading II (resigned)
Luton Town II (resigned)
Leicester City II (resigned)
Watford II (resigned)
Matches played 272
Goals scored 1195 (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:

PosClubPWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Notes
1Brighton & Hove Albion II32216586471.8248
2Peterborough & Fletton United32189580392.0545
3Portsmouth II32196795651.4644Left league at end of season
4Kettering Town321510766411.6040
5Millwall321651167561.1937
6Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic II321461269641.0734
7Norwich City II321451379741.0633
8Dartford321371260710.8433
9Reading II321281275790.9432Left league at end of season
10Luton Town II3210111175701.0731Left league at end of season
11Leicester City II321251594721.3029Left league at end of season
12Watford II321081474840.8828Left league at end of season
13Southampton II321061657770.7426
14Poole32961755860.6324
15Grays Thurrock United321031949660.7423
16Guildford United326719571060.5319Changed name to Guildford City at end of season
17Folkestone32742157980.5818

1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.

2 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
Season 1926-27
Champions Torquay United
Promoted Torquay United
Relegated none
Matches played 182
Goals scored 757 (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:

PosClubPWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Notes
1Torquay United26174563302.138Elected to the 1927–28 Football League
2Bristol City II261410277372.0838
3Plymouth Argyle II26154756381.4734
4Ebbw Vale261421067451.4830
5Bristol Rovers II261241051431.1828
6Swindon Town II261151060571.0527
7Barry261141165501.326
8Exeter City II261061062491.2626
9Weymouth261221248650.7326
10Newport County II26961157531.0724
11Bath City26791044520.8423
12Yeovil & Petters United26951249660.7423
13Taunton United26441836830.4312Changed name to Taunton Town at end of season
14Mid Rhondda United26251922890.249

1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.

2 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

References