1899–1900 Southern Football League

The 1899–1900 season was the sixth in the history of the Southern League. This season saw the expansion of Division One up to 17 teams, though two of them resigned from league before the end of the season. Tottenham Hotspur were Division One champions for the first time, but no Southern League clubs applied for election to the Football League.

Division One

Southern Football League Division One

Season	1899–1900
Champions	Tottenham Hotspur (1st title)
Promoted	none
Relegated	Bedminster (merged) Sheppey United Brighton United (resigned) Cowes (resigned)
Matches played	210
Goals scored	676 (3.22 per match)
← 1898–99 1900–01 →

A total of 17 teams contest the division, including 13 sides from previous season and four new teams.

Teams promoted from Division Two:

• Cowes
• Thames Ironworks

Newly elected teams:

• Queens Park Rangers
• Bristol Rovers

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv1	Pts2	Notes
1	Tottenham Hotspur	28	20	4	4	67	26	2.58	44
2	Portsmouth	28	20	1	7	59	29	2.03	41
3	Southampton	28	17	1	10	70	33	2.12	35
4	Reading	28	15	2	11	41	28	1.46	32
5	Swindon Town	28	15	2	11	50	42	1.19	32
6	Bedminster	28	13	2	13	44	45	0.98	28	Left at end of season
7	Millwall Athletic	28	12	3	13	36	37	0.97	27
8	Queens Park Rangers	28	12	2	14	50	58	0.86	26
9	Bristol City	28	9	7	12	44	47	0.94	25
10	Bristol Rovers	28	11	3	14	46	55	0.84	25
11	New Brompton	28	9	6	13	39	49	0.8	24
12	Gravesend United	28	10	4	14	38	58	0.66	24
13	Chatham Town	28	10	3	15	38	58	0.66	23
14	Thames Ironworks	28	8	5	15	30	45	0.67	21	Relegation test matches, changed name to West Ham United at end of season
15	Sheppey United	28	3	7	18	24	66	0.36	13	Relegation test matches
16	Brighton United	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Resigned from league after 22 matches record expunged
17	Cowes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Resigned from league after 13 matches, record expunged

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Source for league table: (note: source does not refer to goal average)

Division Two

Southern Football League Division Two

Season	1899–1900
Champions	Watford
Promoted	Watford
Relegated	Wolverton L&NWR (resigned) Dartford (resigned)
Matches played	110
Goals scored	437 (3.97 per match)
← 1898–99 1900–01 →

A total of 11 teams contest the division, including nine sides from previous season and two new teams.

Newly elected teams:

• Dartford - members of Kent League
• Grays United

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv1	Pts2	Notes
1	Watford	20	14	2	4	57	25	2.28	30	Promotion test matches
2	Fulham	20	10	4	6	44	23	1.91	24
3	Chesham Town	20	11	2	7	43	37	1.16	24
4	Wolverton L&NWR	20	9	6	5	46	36	1.28	24	Left league at end of season
5	Grays United	20	8	6	6	63	29	2.17	22
6	Shepherds Bush	20	9	4	7	45	37	1.22	22
7	Dartford	20	8	3	9	36	44	0.82	19	Left league at end of season
8	Wycombe Wanderers	20	8	3	9	35	50	0.7	19
9	Brentford	20	5	7	8	31	48	0.65	17
10	Southall	20	6	3	11	21	44	0.48	15
11	Maidenhead	20	1	2	17	16	64	0.25	4

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Promotion-relegation test matches

At the end of the season, test matches were held between the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top two clubs in Division Two. Thames Ironworks retained their place in Division One after beating Fulham 5–1, whilst Watford were promoted after beating Sheppey United 2–1, a result which saw the latter relegated.

Division One clubs	v	Division Two clubs

30 April 1900

Thames Ironworks	5–1	Fulham

White Hart Lane

Sheppey United	1–2	Watford

External links

• Southern League Second Division Tables at RSSSF