2023–24 Spartan South Midlands Football League
Football league season
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The 2023–24 season was the 27th in the history of the Spartan South Midlands Football League, a football competition in England. The league operates three divisions, two of which are in covered in this article, the Premier Division, at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6 of the English football league system.
The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[1] Starting this season, the Step 5 Premier Division in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there would have been only one club relegated from the Step 5 division.[2]
Premier Division
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Real Bedford |
| Promoted | Real Bedford Leverstock Green |
| Matches | 342 |
| Goals | 1,201 (3.51 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Joseph Evans (Real Bedford) (31 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Milton Keynes Irish 8–0 Potton United (17 October 2023) |
| Biggest away win | Shefford Town & Campton 0–7 Real Bedford (27 December 2023) |
| Highest scoring | Baldock Town 6–3 Crawley Green (9 September 2023) Real Bedford 8–1 Colney Heath (7 October 2023) Baldock Town 7–2 Shefford Town & Campton (17 October 2023) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
The Premier Division featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with six new clubs:
- FC Romania, relegated from the Southern League
- London Lions, transferred from the Combined Counties League
- Milton Keynes Irish, transferred from the United Counties League
- Real Bedford, promoted from Division One
- Sawbridgeworth Town, transferred from the Essex Senior League
- Stansted, transferred from the Essex Senior League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Bedford | 36 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 117 | 24 | +93 | 91 | Promoted to the Southern League |
| 2 | Milton Keynes Irish | 36 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 96 | 25 | +71 | 85 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 3 | Harpenden Town | 36 | 21 | 5 | 10 | 74 | 51 | +23 | 68 | |
| 4 | Leverstock Green | 36 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 73 | 53 | +20 | 68 | Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Southern League |
| 5 | FC Romania | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 61 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 6 | Tring Athletic | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 63 | 51 | +12 | 59 | |
| 7 | Colney Heath | 36 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 57 | 45 | +12 | 57 | |
| 8 | Cockfosters | 36 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 71 | 56 | +15 | 55 | |
| 9 | Potton United | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 50 | |
| 10 | London Lions | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 74 | 75 | −1 | 46 | |
| 11 | Aylesbury Vale Dynamos | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 58 | 78 | −20 | 46 | |
| 12 | Biggleswade United | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 67 | 80 | −13 | 43 | |
| 13 | Dunstable Town | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 51 | 64 | −13 | 40 | |
| 14 | Stansted | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 47 | 67 | −20 | 40 | Transferred to the Essex Senior League |
| 15 | Baldock Town | 36 | 11 | 4 | 21 | 61 | 83 | −22 | 34[a] | |
| 16 | Arlesey Town | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 36 | 69 | −33 | 34 | |
| 17 | Crawley Green | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 51 | 85 | −34 | 33 | |
| 18 | Shefford Town & Campton | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 50 | 91 | −41 | 33 | |
| 19 | Sawbridgeworth Town | 36 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 29 | 83 | −54 | 14 | Transferred to the Essex Senior League |
| 20 | St Panteleimon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Folded[b] |
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
Notes:
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Milton Keynes Irish | 0 | |||||||
| 5 | FC Romania | 3 | |||||||
| 4 | Leverstock Green | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | FC Romania | 0 | |||||||
| 3 | Harpenden Town | 1 | |||||||
| 4 | Leverstock Green | 3 | |||||||
Semifinals
| 1 May 2024 | Harpenden Town | 1–3 | Leverstock Green | Harpenden |
| 19:45 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Rothamsted Park Attendance: 917 Referee: Nathan Currey |
| 1 May 2024 | Milton Keynes Irish | 0–3 | FC Romania | Milton Keynes |
| 19:45 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: The Irish Centre Attendance: 405 Referee: Daniel Jones |
Final
| 6 May 2024 | Leverstock Green | 3–0 | FC Romania | Leverstock Green |
| 15:00 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: Pancake Lane Attendance: 914 Referee: Chad Greatorex |
Stadia and locations
Locations of the Premier Division clubs
Locations of the Premier Division clubs (Hertfordshire)
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Arlesey Town | Hitchin Road | 2,920 |
| Baldock Town | ||
| Aylesbury Vale Dynamos | Haywood Way | |
| Biggleswade United | Fairfield Road | 2,000 |
| Cockfosters | Chalk Lane | 1,000 |
| Colney Heath | Recreation Ground | |
| Crawley Green | The Brache | 4,000 |
| Dunstable Town | Creasey Park | 3,065 |
| FC Romania | Theobalds Lane (groundshare with Cheshunt) | 3,000 |
| Harpenden Town | Rothamsted Park | |
| Leverstock Green | Pancake Lane | |
| London Lions | Rowley Lane | |
| Milton Keynes Irish | Manor Fields | 1,500 |
| Potton United | The Hollow | |
| Real Bedford | McMullen Park | |
| Sawbridgeworth Town | Crofters End | 2,500 |
| Shefford Town & Campton | Shefford Sports Club | 1,000 |
| St Panteleimon | Hertingfordbury Park (groundshare with Hertford Town) | |
| Stansted | Hargrave Park | 2,000 |
| Tring Athletic | Grass Roots Stadium |
Division One
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Northampton ON Chenecks |
| Promoted | Northampton ON Chenecks Northampton Sileby Rangers Winslow United |
| Relegated | Burton Park Wanderers |
| Matches | 380 |
| Goals | 1,448 (3.81 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Nathanael Ansu (Moulton) Lewis Irwin (Northampton ON Chenecks) (32 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Ampthill Town 8–0 Burton Park Wanderers (7 October 2023) Royston Town U23 8–0 Irchester United (5 December 2023) Long Buckby 9–1 Huntingdon Town (3 February 2024) |
| Biggest away win | Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0–7 Northampton ON Chenecks (21 October 2023) Irchester United 0–7 Cranfield United (16 April 2024) |
| Highest scoring | Burton Park Wanderers 3–8 Langford (14 October 2023) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division One featured twelve clubs which competed in the division last season, along with eight new clubs:
- Cranfield United, promoted from the Bedfordshire County League
- Huntingdon Town, transferred from the Eastern Counties League
- Irchester United, promoted from the Northamptonshire Combination League
- Leighton Town development, promoted from Division Two
- Long Buckby, relegated from the United Counties League
- Rothwell Corinthians, relegated from the United Counties League
- Royston Town U23, promoted from the Hertfordshire Senior County League
Also, Buckingham Athletic merged with Division Two club Buckingham United to form the new club Buckingham.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northampton ON Chenecks | 38 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 102 | 23 | +79 | 95 | Promoted to the United Counties League |
| 2 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 38 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 98 | 46 | +52 | 78 | Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the United Counties League |
| 3 | Winslow United | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 85 | 50 | +35 | 76 | Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division |
| 4 | Moulton | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 84 | 48 | +36 | 74 | Qualified for the play-offs |
| 5 | Wellingborough Whitworth | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 95 | 61 | +34 | 74 | |
| 6 | Langford | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 91 | 56 | +35 | 68 | |
| 7 | Ampthill Town | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 95 | 61 | +34 | 67[a] | |
| 8 | Leighton Town development | 38 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 76 | 59 | +17 | 67 | |
| 9 | Cranfield United | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 77 | 48 | +29 | 60 | |
| 10 | Royston Town U23 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 89 | 64 | +25 | 60 | |
| 11 | Rothwell Corinthians | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 86 | 68 | +18 | 54 | |
| 12 | Long Buckby | 38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 77 | 85 | −8 | 43 | |
| 13 | Buckingham | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 59 | 80 | −21 | 42 | |
| 14 | Huntingdon Town | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 57 | 89 | −32 | 39 | |
| 15 | Letchworth Garden City Eagles | 38 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 55 | 81 | −26 | 36[b] | |
| 16 | Eaton Socon | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 44 | 85 | −41 | 33 | |
| 17 | Raunds Town | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 46 | 90 | −44 | 30 | |
| 18 | Rushden & Higham United | 38 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 51 | 106 | −55 | 27 | |
| 19 | Irchester United | 38 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 34 | 121 | −87 | 23 | |
| 20 | Burton Park Wanderers | 38 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 47 | 127 | −80 | 18 | Resigned from the league |
Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
Notes:
Reserve and U23 sides are ineligible for promotion to Step 5 or higher.
Play-offs
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 2 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | Moulton | 1 | |||||||
| 2 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 1 | |||||||
| 3 | Winslow United | 3 | |||||||
| 3 | Winslow United | 5 | |||||||
| 4 | Wellingborough Whitworth | 1 | |||||||
Semifinals
| 30 April 2024 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 3–1 | Moulton | Northampton |
| 19:45 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Fernie Fields Attendance: 151 Referee: Andy Woolmer |
| 30 April 2024 | Winslow United | 5–1 | Wellingborough Whitworth | Winslow |
| 19:45 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Elmfields Gate Attendance: 262 Referee: Jonny Lam |
Final
| 4 May 2024 | Northampton Sileby Rangers | 1–3 | Winslow United | Northampton |
| 15:00 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Fernie Fields Attendance: 263 Referee: Matthew Rendell |
Stadia and locations
.svg)
Locations of Division One clubs (Northamptonshire)
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Ampthill Town | Ampthill Park | 1,300 |
| Buckingham | Stratford Fields | |
| Burton Park Wanderers | Latimer Park (groundshare with Kettering Town) | |
| Cranfield United | Crawley Road | |
| Eaton Socon | River Road | |
| Huntingdon Town | Jubilee Park | |
| Irchester United | Alfred Street | 1,800 |
| Langford | Forde Park | 2,800 |
| Leighton Town development | Bell Close | 2,800 |
| Letchworth Garden City Eagles | Pixmore Pitches | |
| Long Buckby | Station Road | 1,000 |
| Moulton | Brunting Road | |
| Northampton ON Chenecks | Old Northamptonians Sports Ground | |
| Northampton Sileby Rangers | Fernie Fields | |
| Raunds Town | Kiln Park | |
| Rushden & Higham United | Hayden Road | 1,500 |
| Rothwell Corinthians | Desborough Road | |
| Royston Town U23 | Garden Walk | 5,000 |
| Wellingborough Whitworth | The Victoria Mill Ground | 2,140 |
| Winslow United | Elmfields Gate | 2,000 |
Division Two
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | AFC Welwyn |
| Promoted | AFC Welwyn |
| Matches | 306 |
| Goals | 1,134 (3.71 per match) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → | |
Division Two featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs:
- AFC Welwyn, new club
- Milton Keynes Irish reserves, joined from the United Counties League reserve division
- Newport Pagnell Town development, joined from the United Counties League reserve division
- Stony Stratford Town, joined from the North Bucks League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AFC Welwyn | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 89 | 31 | +58 | 77 | Promoted to Division One |
| 2 | Bovingdon F.C. | 34 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 83 | 46 | +37 | 69 | |
| 3 | Old Bradwell United | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 74 | 38 | +36 | 64 | |
| 4 | Codicote | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 73 | 43 | +30 | 63 | |
| 5 | Newport Pagnell Town development | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 58 | |
| 6 | Pitstone & Ivinghoe | 34 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 75 | 55 | +20 | 56 | |
| 7 | New Bradwell St Peter | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 79 | 51 | +28 | 54 | |
| 8 | Aston Clinton | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 64 | 54 | +10 | 51 | |
| 9 | Milton Keynes College | 34 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 78 | 73 | +5 | 50 | |
| 10 | Totternhoe | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 61 | 71 | −10 | 49 | |
| 11 | Stony Stratford Town | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 62 | 69 | −7 | 48 | |
| 12 | Milton Keynes Irish reserves | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 47 | |
| 13 | Eynesbury United | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 40 | 55 | −15 | 37 | |
| 14 | AFC Caddington | 34 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 61 | 100 | −39 | 34 | |
| 15 | Sarratt | 34 | 8 | 5 | 21 | 40 | 84 | −44 | 29 | |
| 16 | Tring Corinthians AFC | 34 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 39 | 68 | −29 | 28 | |
| 17 | Berkhamsted Raiders | 34 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 52 | 85 | −33 | 26 | Resigned from the league |
| 18 | The 61 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 32 | 84 | −52 | 21 |
Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.