1988–89 Southern Football League

The 1988–89 Southern Football League season was the 86th in the history of the league, an English football competition.

Merthyr Tydfil won the Premier Division and earned promotion to the Football Conference, whilst Coventry Sporting, Wellingborough Town, Mile Oak Rovers, Tonbridge and Ruislip left the league at the end of the season.

Premier Division
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs:
 * Two clubs promoted from the Midland Division:
 * Merthyr Tydfil
 * Moor Green


 * Two clubs promoted from the Southern Division:
 * Dover Athletic
 * Waterlooville


 * Two clubs relegated from the Football Conference:
 * Bath City
 * Wealdstone

Midland Division
The Midland Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 17 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
 * Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
 * Nuneaton Borough
 * Willenhall Town


 * Plus:
 * Ashtree Highfield, promoted from the Midland Combination
 * Spalding United, promoted from the United Counties League
 * Tamworth, promoted from the West Midlands League

Also, at the end of the season Forest Green Rovers was renamed Stroud and Ashfield Hightree was renamed Sandwell Borough.

Southern Division
The Southern Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and four new clubs:
 * Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
 * Chelmsford City
 * Witney Town


 * Two clubs transferred from the Midland Division:
 * Buckingham Town
 * Trowbridge Town

At the end of the season Thanet United reverted name to Margate.