2004–05 Southern Football League

The 2004–05 season was the 102nd in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the East Midlands, West Midlands, East, South East and South West England.

Also, it was the first season after the creation of the Conference North and South, one step above the Southern League. Therefore, it was the inaugural season for the league at the seventh and eighth tiers in the English league system.

Premier Division
After the creation of the Conference North and South placed above the Southern League, most of the previous season clubs were transferred to the newly created divisions.

Histon won the Premier Division and get a second promotion in a row along with play-off winners Hednesford Town. Hemel Hempstead, Dunstable, Stamford and Solihull Moors were relegated and returned to Division One.

League formation
The Premier Division featured only six clubs from the previous season and 16 new clubs:


 * Six clubs remained in the league:
 * Bath City
 * Chippenham Town
 * Grantham Town
 * Hednesford Town
 * Merthyr Tydfil
 * Tiverton Town
 * Six clubs promoted from the Western Division:
 * Cirencester Town
 * Gloucester City
 * Halesowen Town
 * Rugby United
 * Solihull Borough
 * Team Bath


 * Four clubs promoted from the Eastern Division:
 * Banbury United
 * Histon
 * King's Lynn
 * Stamford
 * Three clubs transferred from Isthmian League Premier Division:
 * Aylesbury United
 * Bedford Town
 * Hitchin Town
 * Three clubs promoted from Isthmian League Division One North:
 * Chesham United
 * Dunstable Town
 * Hemel Hempstead Town

Eastern Division
After the creation of the Conference North and South one step above the Southern League, most of the Premier Division clubs were transferred to the newly created divisions. Consequently, most of the Eastern Division clubs took up the empty spots in higher divisions.

Fisher Athletic won the division and were promoted along with runners-up East Thurrock United and play-off winners Maldon Town, who get the second promotion in a row. Erith & Belvedere and Tilbury finished bottom of the league and were relegated.

League formation
In the first season as an eighth tier league, the Eastern Division featured five clubs from the previous season and 17 new clubs:


 * 14 clubs transferred from Isthmian League Division One North:
 * Arlesey Town
 * Aveley
 * Barking & East Ham United
 * Barton Rovers
 * Berkhamsted Town
 * Boreham Wood
 * East Thurrock United
 * Great Wakering Rovers
 * Harlow Town
 * Tilbury
 * Uxbridge
 * Waltham Forest
 * Wingate & Finchley
 * Wivenhoe Town


 * Five clubs remained in the league:
 * Chatham Town
 * Dartford
 * Erith & Belvedere
 * Fisher Athletic
 * Sittingbourne
 * Plus:
 * Beaconsfield SYCOB, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League
 * Leighton Town, promoted from the Isthmian League Division Two
 * Maldon Town, promoted from the Eastern Counties League

Western Division
After the creation of the Conference North and South one step above the Southern League, most of the Premier Division clubs were transferred to the newly created divisions. Consequently, most of the Western Division clubs took up the empty spots in higher divisions.

Mangotsfield United won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with runners-up Yate Town and play-off winners Evesham United. Oxford City and Egham Town finished bottom of the table and were relegated.

League formation
In the first season as an eighth tier league, the Western Division featured eleven clubs from the previous season and eleven new clubs:


 * Three clubs transferred from the Eastern Division:
 * Burnham
 * Corby Town
 * Rothwell Town
 * Two clubs transferred from Isthmian League Division One North:
 * Oxford City
 * Thame United
 * Four clubs transferred from Isthmian League Division One South:
 * Ashford Town (Middlesex)
 * Bracknell Town
 * Egham Town
 * Marlow
 * Plus:
 * Brackley Town, promoted from the Hellenic League
 * Paulton Rovers, promoted from the Western League