1972–73 Southern Football League

The 1972–73 Southern Football League season was the 70th in the history of the league, an English football competition.

Kettering Town won the championship, winning their third Southern League title, whilst Atherstone Town, Grantham, Maidstone United and Tonbridge were all promoted to the Premier Division. Eight Southern League clubs applied to join the Football League at the end of the season, but none were successful.

Premier Division
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and four new clubs:
 * Two clubs promoted from Division One North:
 * Burton Albion
 * Kettering Town


 * Two clubs promoted from Division One South:
 * Ramsgate Athletic, who were renamed Ramsgate at the end of the previous season
 * Waterlooville

Division One North
Division One North consisted of 22 clubs, including 13 clubs from the previous season and nine new clubs:
 * Six clubs joined from the West Midlands (Regional) League:
 * Atherstone Town
 * Bedworth United
 * Bromsgrove Rovers
 * Kidderminster Harriers
 * Redditch United
 * Tamworth


 * Plus:
 * Enderby Town, joined from the Leicestershire Senior League
 * Grantham, joined from the Midland League
 * Merthyr Tydfil, relegated from the Premier Division

At the end of the season Lockheed Leamington was renamed AP Leamington.

Division One South
Division One South consisted of 22 clubs, including 13 clubs from the previous season and nine new clubs:
 * Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
 * Bath City
 * Gravesend & Northfleet


 * Three clubs transferred from Division One North:
 * Bletchley Town
 * Dunstable Town
 * Wealdstone


 * Three clubs joined from the Western League
 * Bideford
 * Dorchester Town
 * Minehead


 * Plus:
 * Bognor Regis Town, joined from the Sussex County League

Football League elections
Alongside the four League clubs facing re-election, a total of 10 non-League clubs applied for election, eight of which were Southern League clubs. All the League clubs were re-elected.