The 2023–24 Southern Combination Football League season is the 99th in the history of the competition, which lies at levels 9, 10 and 11 (steps 5 and 6, and county feeder) of the English football league system.[1]
The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[2] Starting this season, the Premier Division (Step 5) in the league will promote two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaces the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there will be only one club relegated from the division.[3]
Premier Division
The Premier Division comprised 20 clubs from the previous season, 17 of which competed in the previous season
Team changes
Promoted from Division One Transferred from Wessex Football League Premier Division Relegated from the Isthmian League South East Division |
Promoted to the Isthmian League South East Division Relegated to Division One
|
League table
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 29 July 2023 – |
Matches played | 212 |
Goals scored | 762 (3.59 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Alfie Rogers (20 goals) |
Biggest home win | Haywards Heath Town 8–0 Midhurst & Easebourne (15 August 2023) |
Biggest away win | AFC Uckfield Town 1–8 Crawley Down Gatwick (30 December 2023) |
Highest scoring | AFC Uckfield Town 1–8 Crawley Down Gatwick (30 December 2023) |
Highest attendance | 884 Peacehaven & Telscombe 1–3 Newhaven (26 December 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 38 Lingfield 1–2 Eastbourne United Association (28 November 2023) |
Total attendance | 32,665 |
Average attendance | 154.1 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 2 January 2024. |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Newhaven | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 64 | 28 | +36 | 50 | Promotion to the Isthmian League |
2 | Crowborough Athletic | 20 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 19 | +31 | 50 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Hassocks | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 49 | 25 | +24 | 44 | |
4 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 40 | 20 | +20 | 43 | |
5 | Steyning Town | 21 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 57 | 28 | +29 | 41 | |
6 | Eastbourne Town | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 28 | 21 | +7 | 39 | |
7 | Haywards Heath Town | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 57 | 31 | +26 | 38 | |
8 | Midhurst & Easebourne | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 38 | |
9 | Eastbourne United Association | 21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 35 | 26 | +9 | 36 | |
10 | Lingfield | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 29 | |
11 | Pagham | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 37 | 36 | +1 | 26 | |
12 | Crawley Down Gatwick | 19 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 25 | |
13 | Little Common | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 25 | |
14 | Horsham YMCA | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 38 | −14 | 24 | |
15 | Loxwood | 21 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 31 | 51 | −20 | 19 | |
16 | AFC Varndeanians | 22 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 22 | 56 | −34 | 17 | |
17 | Bexhill United | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 54 | −15 | 14[lower-alpha 1] | |
18 | Shoreham | 21 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 24 | 59 | −35 | 13 | |
19 | AFC Uckfield Town | 22 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 22 | 64 | −42 | 10 | |
20 | Saltdean United | 21 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 22 | 46 | −24 | 9 | Relegation to Division One |
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:
- ↑ Deducted 3 points - ineligible player.
Results table
Top scorers
- As of 1 January 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alfie Rogers | Newhaven | 20 |
2 | Daniel Simmonds | Pagham | 19 |
3 | Lewis Rustell | Midhurst & Easebourne | 16 |
Jack Shonk | Bexhill United | ||
5 | Callum Barlow | Eastbourne United Association | 14 |
6 | Liam Benson | Haywards Heath Town (previously Hassocks) | 13 |
Oli Lesley | Crawley Down Gatwick | ||
Hayden Skerry | Haywards Heath Town | ||
9 | Cameron James Dobell | Haywards Heath Town | 9 |
Harvey Killick | Crowborough Athletic | ||
Stadia and locations
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
AFC Varndeanians | Brighton (Withdean) | Withdean Stadium (groundshare with Brighton Electricity) | 8,850 |
AFC Uckfield Town | Framfield | The Oaks | 600 |
Bexhill United | Bexhill-on-Sea | The Polegrove | 1,000 |
Crawley Down Gatwick | Crawley Down | The Haven Centre | 1,000 |
Crowborough Athletic | Crowborough | Crowborough Community Stadium | 2,000 |
Eastbourne Town | Eastbourne | The Saffrons | 4,500 |
Eastbourne United Association | Eastbourne | The Oval | 1,200 |
Hassocks | Hassocks | The Beacon | 1,000 |
Haywards Heath Town | Haywards Heath | Hanbury Park | 2,000 |
Horsham YMCA | Horsham | Gorings Mead | 1,500 |
Lingfield | Horley | The New Defence (groundshare with Horley Town) | 1,800 |
Little Common | Bexhill-on-Sea (Little Common) | Little Common Recreation Ground | 1,200 |
Loxwood | Loxwood | Plaistow Road | 1,000 |
Midhurst & Easebourne | Easebourne | Rotherfield | 1,000 |
Newhaven | Newhaven | The Trafalgar Ground | 3,000 |
Pagham | Pagham | Nyetimber Lane | 1,500 |
Peacehaven & Telscombe | Peacehaven | The Sports Park | 3,000 |
Saltdean United | Brighton (Saltdean) | Hill Park | 1,000 |
Shoreham | Shoreham-by-Sea | Middle Road | 2,000 |
Steyning Town | Steyning | The Shooting Field | 2,000 |
Division One
Division One was increased to 18 clubs from 17, 14 of which competed from the previous season
Team changes
Promoted from Division Two Relegated from the Premier Division Relegated from the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South |
Promoted to the Premier Division Promoted to the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South Relegated to Division Two
|
League table
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 5 August 2023 – |
Matches played | 169 |
Goals scored | 672 (3.98 per match) |
Highest attendance | 327 Selsey 2–2 Roffey (28 October 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 10 Oakwood 1–2 East Preston (11 November 2023) |
Total attendance | 12,951 |
Average attendance | 76.6 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 2 January 2024. |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Roffey | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 65 | 19 | +46 | 44 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
2 | Dorking Wanderers B | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 55 | 23 | +32 | 43 | Ineligible for promotion[lower-alpha 1] |
3 | Godalming Town | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 24 | +13 | 38 | Qualified for the play-offs |
4 | Worthing United | 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 19 | +21 | 37 | |
5 | Selsey | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 33 | |
6 | Seaford Town | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 31 | |
7 | Arundel | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 40 | 28 | +12 | 29 | |
8 | Chessington & Hook United | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 28 | |
9 | Wick | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 27 | |
10 | Montpelier Villa | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 37 | 43 | −6 | 27 | |
11 | Forest Row | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 31 | 29 | +2 | 23 | |
12 | Alfold | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 31 | 41 | −10 | 23 | |
13 | Banstead Athletic | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 31 | 38 | −7 | 21 | |
14 | Mile Oak | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 49 | −21 | 21 | |
15 | Copthorne | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 48 | 78 | −30 | 21 | |
16 | Billingshurst | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 34 | 47 | −13 | 12 | Relegated to county feeder leagues |
17 | East Preston | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 55 | −34 | 12 | |
18 | Oakwood | 19 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 15 | 49 | −34 | 6 |
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:
- ↑ Dorking Wanderers B are not permitted to take part in the play-offs as reserve sides cannot compete above Step 6.
Results table
Top scorers
- As of 2 January 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tyler Capon | Seaford Town | 19 |
Joshua Irish | Wick | ||
3 | Devon Jordan Fender | Roffey | 16 |
4 | Lui Edwards | Banstead Athletic | 14 |
5 | George Cousins | Roffey | 12 |
Oliver Rawlins | Dorking Wanderers B | ||
7 | Sam Bull | Copthorne | 11 |
David Peter Crouch | Wick | ||
David Gabor | Chessington & Hook United | ||
10 | Callum Connor | Seaford Town | 10 |
Stadia and locations
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Alfold | Alfold Crossways | Alfold Recreation Ground | 1,000 |
Arundel | Arundel | Mill Road | 2,200 |
Banstead Athletic | Tadworth | Merland Rise | 1,500 |
Billingshurst | Billingshurst | Jubilee Fields | — |
Chessington & Hook United | Chessington | Chalky Lane | 3,000 |
Copthorne | Copthorne | Camping World Community Stadium (groundshare with Horsham) | 1,300 |
Dorking Wanderers B | Dorking | Meadowbank | 3,000 |
East Preston | Littlehampton (East Preston) | The Lashmar | 1,000 |
Forest Row | Crawley (Three Bridges) | Tinsley Lane (groundshare with Oakwood) | — |
Godalming Town | Godalming | Bill Kyte Stadium | 3,000 |
Mile Oak | Brighton (Mile Oak) | Mile Oak Recreation Ground | — |
Montpelier Villa | Lancing | Culver Road (groundshare with Lancing) | 1,500 |
Oakwood | Crawley (Three Bridges) | Tinsley Lane | — |
Roffey | Horsham (Roffey) | Bartholomew Way | 1,000 |
Seaford Town | Seaford | The Crouch | — |
Selsey | Selsey | Bunn Leisure Stadium | — |
Wick | Littlehampton (Wick) | Crabtree Park | 2,000 |
Worthing United | Worthing (Broadwater) | The Robert Albon Memorial Ground | 1,504 |
Division Two
Division Two reduced by one to 13 teams.[5]
Team changes
Relegated from Division One |
Promoted to Division One
|
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 19 August 2023 - |
Matches played | 71 |
Goals scored | 310 (4.37 per match) |
Highest attendance | 232 Bosham 1–1 Jarvis Brook (28 October 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 15 St Francis Rangers 1–2 Ferring (30 September 2023) |
Total attendance | 4,484 |
Average attendance | 65.9 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 2 January 2024. |
Promotion from this division depended on ground grading as well as league position.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bosham | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 27 | +10 | 26 | Possible promotion to Division One[lower-alpha 1] |
2 | Storrington | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 13 | +22 | 25 | |
3 | Jarvis Brook | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 22 | |
4 | Southwater | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 14 | +15 | 21 | |
5 | Hailsham Town | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 19 | +11 | 17 | |
6 | Capel | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 22 | +4 | 17 | |
7 | Rustington | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 19 | +2 | 15 | |
8 | Ferring | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 12 | |
9 | St Francis Rangers | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 23 | −1 | 12 | |
10 | Upper Beeding | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 26 | −6 | 11 | |
11 | Brighton Electricity | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 55 | −47 | 5 | |
12 | Rottingdean Village | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 40 | −29 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
- ↑ Dependng on ground grading.
Results table
Top scorers
- As of 2 January 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Matthew Wilson | Storrington | 9 |
2 | Ashley Harris | Bosham | 8 |
3 | Keylan Symonds | Southwater | 7 |
4 | Alfred Barnes | St Francis Rangers | 6 |
Luke Brodie | Southwater | ||
Chris Darwin | Rustington | ||
Matthew Evans | Capel | ||
Matthew Hards | Storrington | ||
Luke Longhurst | Capel | ||
Ben Sharp | Bosham | ||
Stadia and locations
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Bosham | Bosham | Walton Lane | — |
Brighton Electricity | Brighton (Withdean) | Withdean Stadium (groundshare with AFC Varndeanians) | 8,850 |
Capel | Capel | Newdigate Road | — |
Ferring | Ferring | The Glebelands | — |
Hailsham Town | Hailsham | The Beaconsfield | 2,000 |
Jarvis Brook | Crowborough | Limekiln | — |
Rottingdean Village | Brighton (Rottingdean) | Rottingdean Sports Centre | — |
Rustington | Rustington | Rustington Recreation Ground | — |
Southwater | Southwater | Southwater Sports Club | — |
St Francis Rangers | Haywards Heath | Colwell Ground | 1000 |
Storrington | Storrington | The Recreation Ground, Storrington | — |
Upper Beeding | Upper Beeding | Memorial Playing Field | — |
References
- ↑ "Southern Combination Football League". scfl.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 May 2017.
- ↑ "REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA". The Non-League Football Paper. 15 May 2023.
- ↑ "Step 5 to 4 promotion/relegation update". The FA. 16 March 2023.
- 1 2 "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
- ↑ http://www.scfl.org.uk/tables.php?comp_id=3
- ↑ "SCFL League Bulletin 7" (PDF). SCFL. Retrieved 12 September 2023.