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 edit
The Premier Division comprised 20 clubs from the previous season, 17 of which competed in the previous season
Team changes edit
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 edit
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 29 July 2023 – |
Champions | Steyning Town |
Promoted | Steyning Town |
Relegated | AFC Uckfield Town |
Matches played | 380 |
Goals scored | 1,330 (3.5 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Oli Lesley (29 goals) |
Biggest home win | Steyning Town 10–1 AFC Uckfield Town (27 April 2024) |
Biggest away win | AFC Uckfield Town 1–8 Crawley Down Gatwick (30 December 2023) |
Highest scoring | Steyning Town 10–1 AFC Uckfield Town (27 April 2024) |
Longest winning run | 9 matches Eastbourne Town |
Longest unbeaten run | 21 matches Newhaven |
Longest losing run | 11 matches Saltdean United |
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 | 50,523 |
Average attendance | 152.2 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 27 April 2024. |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Steyning Town (C, P) | 38 | 27 | 7 | 4 | 119 | 36 | +83 | 88 | Promotion to the Isthmian League |
2 | Eastbourne Town (Q) | 38 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 71 | 31 | +40 | 82 | Qualification for the play-offs |
3 | Crowborough Athletic (Q) | 38 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 81 | 36 | +45 | 81 | |
4 | Newhaven (Q) | 38 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 99 | 55 | +44 | 79 | |
5 | Hassocks (Q) | 38 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 87 | 42 | +45 | 78 | |
6 | Haywards Heath Town | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 90 | 45 | +45 | 75 | |
7 | Eastbourne United Association | 38 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 72 | |
8 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 61 | |
9 | Crawley Down Gatwick | 38 | 19 | 3 | 16 | 86 | 63 | +23 | 60 | |
10 | Midhurst & Easebourne | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 75 | 74 | +1 | 59 | |
11 | Lingfield | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 57 | 65 | −8 | 47 | |
12 | Little Common | 38 | 14 | 4 | 20 | 63 | 82 | −19 | 46 | |
13 | Pagham | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 59 | 64 | −5 | 44 | |
14 | Horsham YMCA | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 48 | 69 | −21 | 42 | |
15 | Shoreham | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 53 | 94 | −41 | 36 | |
16 | Loxwood | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 46 | 87 | −41 | 30 | |
17 | AFC Varndeanians | 38 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 32 | 95 | −63 | 25 | |
18 | Bexhill United | 38 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 57 | 89 | −32 | 24[a] | |
19 | Saltdean United | 38 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 44 | 94 | −50 | 23 | |
20 | AFC Uckfield Town (R) | 38 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 34 | 127 | −93 | 14 | 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]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Deducted 3 points - ineligible player.
Play-offs edit
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Eastbourne Town | ||||||||
5 | Hassocks | ||||||||
3 | Crowborough Athletic | ||||||||
4 | Newhaven |
Semi-finals edit
30 April 2024 | Eastbourne Town | v | Hassocks | Eastbourne |
19:45 | Report | Stadium: The Saffrons |
30 April 2024 | Crowborough Athletic | v | Newhaven | Crowborough |
19:45 | Report | Stadium: Alderbrook |
Final edit
5 May 2024 | v |
Results table edit
Results by matchday edit
Top scorers edit
- As of 27 April 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Oli Lesley | Crawley Down Gatwick | 29 |
2 | Alfie Rogers | Newhaven | 27 |
3 | Lewis Rustell | Midhurst & Easebourne | 25 |
4 | Callum Barlow | Eastbourne United Association | 24 |
Daniel Simmonds | Pagham | ||
6 | Jack Shonk | Bexhill United | 22 |
7 | Hayden Skerry | Haywards Heath Town | 18 |
8 | Thomas Chalaye | Steyning Town | 17 |
9 | Mark Goldson | Steyning Town | 16 |
Harry Shooman | Steyning Town |
Stadia and locations edit
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 edit
Division One was increased to 18 clubs from 17, 14 of which competed from the previous season
Team changes edit
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 edit
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 5 August 2023 – |
Champions | Roffey |
Promoted | Roffey |
Matches played | 306 |
Goals scored | 1,176 (3.84 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Tyler Capon (34 goals) |
Biggest home win | Dorking Wanderers B 7–0 Forest Row (9 March 2024) |
Biggest away win | East Preston 0–7 Roffey (2 September 2023) |
Highest scoring | Montpelier Villa 7–4 Copthorne (13 January 2024) |
Longest winning run | 10 matches Roffey |
Longest unbeaten run | 13 matches Roffey Wick |
Longest losing run | 17 matches Oakwood |
Highest attendance | 327 Selsey 2–2 Roffey (28 October 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 10 Oakwood 1–2 East Preston (11 November 2023) |
Total attendance | 19,440 |
Average attendance | 75.3 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 27 April 2024. |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Roffey (C, P) | 34 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 110 | 30 | +80 | 79 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
2 | Seaford Town (Q) | 34 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 96 | 54 | +42 | 68 | Qualified for the play-offs |
3 | Dorking Wanderers B | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 82 | 41 | +41 | 65 | Ineligible for promotion[a] |
4 | Wick (Q) | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 78 | 54 | +24 | 63 | Qualified for the play-offs |
5 | Worthing United (Q) | 34 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 69 | 42 | +27 | 62 | |
6 | Selsey (Q) | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 59 | |
7 | Chessington & Hook United | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 66 | 54 | +12 | 57 | |
8 | Arundel | 34 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 62 | 47 | +15 | 52[b] | |
9 | Godalming Town | 34 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 49 | |
10 | Montpelier Villa | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 67 | 74 | −7 | 42 | |
11 | Copthorne | 34 | 11 | 4 | 19 | 70 | 109 | −39 | 37 | |
12 | Billingshurst | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 70 | 83 | −13 | 36 | |
13 | Banstead Athletic | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 51 | 69 | −18 | 35 | |
14 | Forest Row | 34 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 58 | 85 | −27 | 33 | |
15 | Alfold | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 51 | 92 | −41 | 33 | |
16 | Mile Oak (R) | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 48 | 81 | −33 | 31 | Relegation to county feeder leagues |
17 | East Preston (R) | 34 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 47 | 90 | −43 | 28 | |
18 | Oakwood (R) | 34 | 8 | 2 | 24 | 39 | 74 | −35 | 26 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results[4]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Play-offs edit
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
2 | Seaford Town | ||||||||
6 | Selsey | ||||||||
4 | Wick | ||||||||
5 | Worthing United |
Semi-finals edit
30 April 2024 | Seaford Town | v | Selsey | Seaford |
19:30 | Report | Stadium: The Crouch |
30 April 2024 | Wick | v | Worthing United | Littlehampton (Wick) |
19:30 | Report | Stadium: Crabtree Park |
Final edit
5 May 2024 | v |
Results table edit
Results by matchday edit
Top scorers edit
- As of 24 April 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tyler Capon | Seaford Town | 34 |
2 | Joshua Irish | Wick | 25 |
3 | David Peter Crouch | Wick | 24 |
Devon Jordan Fender | Roffey | ||
5 | Maurice Black | Chessington & Hook United | 21 |
6 | Oliver Rawlins | Dorking Wanderers B | 19 |
7 | George Cousins | Roffey | 17 |
Lui Edwards | Banstead Athletic | ||
9 | Callum Connor | Seaford Town | 16 |
10 | Jack Marriott | Mile Oak | 15 |
Stadia and locations edit
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 edit
Division Two reduced by one to 13 teams.
Team changes edit
Relegated from Division One |
Promoted to Division One
|
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 19 August 2023 - |
Champions | Storrington |
Matches played | 134 |
Goals scored | 540 (4.03 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Ashley Harris (20 goals) |
Biggest home win | Bosham 9–1 Brighton Electricity (13 January 2024) |
Biggest away win | Brighton Electricity 0–9 Storrington (26 August 2023) Brighton Electricity 0–9 Capel (9 September 2023) |
Highest scoring | Bosham 9–1 Brighton Electricity (13 January 2024) |
Longest winning run | 7 matches Storrington |
Longest unbeaten run | 9 matches Bosham |
Longest losing run | 7 matches Brighton Electricity Rottingdean |
Highest attendance | 232 Bosham 1–1 Jarvis Brook (28 October 2023) |
Lowest attendance | 10 Rottingdean Village 1–6 Upper Beeding (25 November 2023) |
Total attendance | 7,164 |
Average attendance | 64.0 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 27 April 2024. |
Promotion from this division depended on ground grading as well as league position.
League table edit
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Storrington (C, P) | 22 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 69 | 28 | +41 | 56 | Promoted to Division One |
2 | Bosham | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 67 | 36 | +31 | 45 | |
3 | Ferring | 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 57 | 36 | +21 | 42 | |
4 | Jarvis Brook | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 54 | 24 | +30 | 40 | |
5 | Hailsham Town | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 38 | |
6 | Rustington | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 47 | 38 | +9 | 35 | |
7 | Southwater | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 42 | 37 | +5 | 31 | |
8 | Capel | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 36 | 39 | −3 | 27 | |
9 | St Francis Rangers | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 22 | |
10 | Upper Beeding | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 34 | 48 | −14 | 17 | |
11 | Brighton Electricity | 22 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 102 | −86 | 8 | |
12 | Rottingdean Village | 22 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 66 | −46 | 6 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Results table edit
Results by matchday edit
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Top scorers edit
- As of 24 April 2024
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ashley Harris | Bosham | 20 |
2 | Chris Darwin | Rustington | 15 |
3 | Matthew Wilson | Storrington | 14 |
4 | Matthew Hards | Storrington | 12 |
5 | Alfred Barnes | St Francis Rangers | 11 |
6 | Sean Culley | Rustington | 10 |
Toby Hewett | Bosham | ||
8 | Luke Brodie | Southwater | 9 |
Harry Gardner | Ferring | ||
Keylan Symonds | Southwater |
Stadia and locations edit
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 | — |
Peter Bentley League Challenge Cup edit
The 2023–24 SCFL Peter Bentley Challenge Cup saw Newhaven enter the competition as defending champions, having defeated Crowborough Athletic in the previous season's final.
Calendar edit
Round | Dates | Matches | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|
First round | 15 August | 6 | 38 → 32 |
Second round | 19 August to 10 October | 16 | 32 → 16 |
Third round | 21 October to 6 March | 8 | 16 → 8 |
Quarter-finals | 13 February to 16 April | 4 | 8 → 4 |
Semi-finals | 24 April | 2 | 4 → 2 |
Final | TBA | 1 | 2 → 1 |
First round edit
|
Second round edit
|
Third round edit
|
Quarter-finals edit
|
Semi-finals edit
|
Final edit
TBA | Steyning Town (PD) or Haywards Heath Town (PD) | v | Crowborough Athletic (PD) | TBA |
TBA |
References edit
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "The FA Handbook 2022/2023 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2". The FA.
- ^ "SCFL League Bulletin 7" (PDF). SCFL. Retrieved 12 September 2023.