1997–98 Spartan South Midlands Football League

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The 1997–98 Spartan South Midlands Football League season was the first in the history of Spartan South Midlands Football League. The league was formed by the merger of the Spartan League and the South Midlands League.

The league consisted of 75 clubs divided into five divisions.

For this season only both Premier Division and Division One were split geographically into two sections, as the Premier Division North was a successor of the South Midlands League Premier Division, and the Premier Division South was a successor of the Spartan League Premier Division. Senior Division was a successor of the South Midlands League Senior Division. Division One North was a successor of the South Midlands League Division One, and the Division One South was a successor of the Spartan League divisions One and Two.

At the end of the season Premier divisions were merged, while Division One North was renamed Division One as all the Division One South clubs resigned from the league and formed the London Intermediate League.

## Premier Division North

[edit]

Football league season

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Premier Division NorthSeason| 1997–98

|

Champions| Brache Sparta
Relegated| Letchworth
Biggleswade Town
Milton Keynes
Bedford United
Langford
Matches played| 210
Goals scored| 714 (3.4 per match)

← 1996–97 (South Midlands League)

1998–99 (Premier Division) →

The division featured 15 clubs, all came from the South Midlands League Premier Division.

### League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Brache Sparta | 28  | 23  | 2  | 3  | 75  | 17  | +58  | 71  |
2  | Potters Bar Town | 28  | 20  | 7  | 1  | 62  | 21  | +41  | 67
3  | London Colney | 28  | 16  | 4  | 8  | 67  | 46  | +21  | 52
4  | Royston Town | 28  | 14  | 5  | 9  | 52  | 34  | +18  | 47
5  | Hoddesdon Town | 28  | 15  | 2  | 11  | 50  | 36  | +14  | 47
6  | Welwyn Garden City | 28  | 12  | 10  | 6  | 47  | 42  | +5  | 46
7  | Arlesey Town | 28  | 13  | 5  | 10  | 51  | 41  | +10  | 44
8  | Harpenden Town | 28  | 12  | 5  | 11  | 46  | 45  | +1  | 41
9  | Toddington Rovers  | 28  | 10  | 5  | 13  | 39  | 52  | −13  | 35
10  | Buckingham Athletic | 28  | 9  | 6  | 13  | 46  | 55  | −9  | 33
11  | Letchworth | 28  | 8  | 5  | 15  | 50  | 63  | −13  | 29  | Relegated to the Senior Division
12  | Biggleswade Town | 28  | 7  | 7  | 14  | 41  | 53  | −12  | 28
13  | Milton Keynes | 28  | 8  | 5  | 15  | 40  | 52  | −12  | 28[a]
14  | Bedford United | 28  | 3  | 8  | 17  | 25  | 67  | −42  | 14[b]
15  | Langford | 28  | 1  | 2  | 25  | 23  | 90  | −67  | 5

Source: fchd
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. ^ Milton Keynes were deducted 1 point.
2. ^ Bedford United were deducted 3 points.

## Premier Division South

[edit]

Football league season

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Premier Division SouthSeason| 1997–98

|

Champions| Brook House
Relegated| Hanwell Town
Harefield United
Amersham Town
Cockfosters
Matches played| 210
Goals scored| 714 (3.4 per match)

← 1996–97 (Spartan League)

1998–99 (Premier Division) →

The division featured 15 clubs, all came from Spartan League Premier Division.

### League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Brook House | 28  | 18  | 6  | 4  | 66  | 27  | +39  | 60  |
2  | Beaconsfield SYCOB | 28  | 16  | 8  | 4  | 59  | 27  | +32  | 56
3  | Ruislip Manor | 28  | 17  | 4  | 7  | 61  | 29  | +32  | 55
4  | Hillingdon Borough | 28  | 15  | 7  | 6  | 73  | 35  | +38  | 52
5  | Barkingside | 28  | 12  | 7  | 9  | 44  | 34  | +10  | 43
6  | Waltham Abbey | 28  | 12  | 6  | 10  | 54  | 42  | +12  | 42
7  | Haringey Borough | 28  | 12  | 4  | 12  | 42  | 44  | −2  | 40
8  | Brimsdown Rovers | 28  | 11  | 4  | 13  | 46  | 58  | −12  | 37
9  | St Margaretsbury | 28  | 11  | 4  | 13  | 46  | 58  | −12  | 36[a]
10  | Islington St Mary's | 28  | 10  | 4  | 14  | 42  | 52  | −10  | 33[b]
11  | Woodford Town | 28  | 7  | 9  | 12  | 48  | 59  | −11  | 30  | Resigned from the league
12  | Hanwell Town | 28  | 8  | 4  | 16  | 45  | 76  | −31  | 28  | Relegated to the Senior Division
13  | Harefield United | 28  | 7  | 6  | 15  | 27  | 67  | −40  | 27
14  | Amersham Town | 28  | 8  | 2  | 18  | 26  | 45  | −19  | 26
15  | Cockfosters | 28  | 5  | 7  | 16  | 35  | 61  | −26  | 22

Source: fchd
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. ^ St Margaretsbury were deducted 1 point.
2. ^ Islington St Mary's were deducted 1 point.

## Senior Division

[edit]

Football league season

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Senior DivisionSeason| 1997–98

|

Champions| New Bradwell St Peter
Promoted| New Bradwell St Peter
Mercedes Benz
Relegated| The 61 FC Luton
Kent Athletic
Ampthill Town
Matches played| 240
Goals scored| 986 (4.11 per match)

← 1996–97 (South Midlands League)

1998–99 →

The division featured 13 clubs which competed in the previous season South Midlands League Senior Division, along with three new clubs.

* Two clubs, promoted from South Midlands League Division One:
* Biggleswade United
* Caddington
* One club joined the Division:
* Shillington, who last competed in the 1995–96 season in the South Midlands League

### League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | New Bradwell St Peter | 30  | 21  | 5  | 4  | 86  | 30  | +56  | 68  | Promoted to the Premier Division
2  | Tring Athletic | 30  | 21  | 5  | 4  | 84  | 30  | +54  | 68  |
3  | Mercedes Benz | 30  | 21  | 2  | 7  | 84  | 51  | +33  | 65  | Promoted to the Premier Division
4  | Holmer Green | 30  | 20  | 3  | 7  | 94  | 41  | +53  | 63  |
5  | Biggleswade United | 30  | 16  | 8  | 6  | 74  | 40  | +34  | 56
6  | Houghton Town  | 30  | 16  | 6  | 8  | 69  | 51  | +18  | 54
7  | Leverstock Green | 30  | 15  | 7  | 8  | 66  | 43  | +23  | 52
8  | Caddington | 30  | 15  | 4  | 11  | 57  | 61  | −4  | 49
9  | Shillington  | 30  | 12  | 5  | 13  | 56  | 61  | −5  | 41
10  | Risborough Rangers | 30  | 8  | 9  | 13  | 50  | 65  | −15  | 33
11  | Winslow United | 30  | 10  | 2  | 18  | 55  | 78  | −23  | 32
12  | Totternhoe | 30  | 8  | 3  | 19  | 53  | 78  | −25  | 27
13  | Stony Stratford Town | 30  | 7  | 2  | 21  | 46  | 78  | −32  | 23
14  | The 61 FC Luton | 30  | 5  | 3  | 22  | 35  | 99  | −64  | 18  | Relegated to Division One
15  | Kent Athletic | 30  | 5  | 4  | 21  | 44  | 88  | −44  | 16[a]
16  | Ampthill Town | 30  | 4  | 4  | 22  | 33  | 92  | −59  | 16

Source: fchd
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. ^ Kent Athletic were deducted three points.

## Division One North

[edit]

Football league season

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Division One NorthSeason| 1997–98

|

Champions| Luton Old Boys
Promoted| Luton Old Boys
Greenacres
Matches played| 240
Goals scored| 912 (3.8 per match)

← 1996–97 (South Midlands League)

1998–99 (Division One) →

The division featured 16 clubs which competed in the previous season South Midlands League Division One, along with one new club:

* Greenacres

### League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Luton Old Boys | 30  | 21  | 3  | 6  | 72  | 30  | +42  | 66  | Promoted to the Senior Division
2  | Greenacres  | 30  | 19  | 8  | 3  | 71  | 27  | +44  | 65
3  | Pitstone & Ivinghoe | 30  | 17  | 3  | 10  | 66  | 55  | +11  | 54  |
4  | Crawley Green Sports | 30  | 14  | 8  | 8  | 76  | 41  | +35  | 50  | Resigned from the league
5  | De Havilland  | 30  | 14  | 8  | 8  | 60  | 51  | +9  | 50  |
6  | Bridger Packaging  | 30  | 14  | 6  | 10  | 64  | 49  | +15  | 48
7  | Bedford Eagles  | 30  | 15  | 5  | 10  | 60  | 42  | +18  | 49[a] | Resigned from the league
8  | Leighton Athletic  | 30  | 13  | 3  | 14  | 69  | 66  | +3  | 42  |
9  | Walden Rangers  | 30  | 12  | 6  | 12  | 60  | 61  | −1  | 42
10  | Abbey National  | 30  | 10  | 8  | 12  | 44  | 57  | −13  | 38
11  | Mursley United  | 30  | 10  | 7  | 13  | 48  | 63  | −15  | 37
12  | Old Dunstablians | 30  | 9  | 8  | 13  | 41  | 68  | −27  | 35
13  | Scot  | 30  | 9  | 6  | 15  | 76  | 75  | +1  | 33
14  | Old Bradwell United  | 30  | 7  | 4  | 19  | 44  | 82  | −38  | 25
15  | Flamstead | 30  | 5  | 9  | 16  | 32  | 60  | −28  | 24
16  | Emberton  | 30  | 3  | 4  | 23  | 29  | 85  | −56  | 12[b] | Resigned from the league
17  | Buckingham United  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Club folded, record expunged

Source: fchd
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. ^ Bedford Eagles deducted one point.
2. ^ Emberton deducted one point.

## Division One South

[edit]

Football league season

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Division One SouthSeason| 1997–98

|

Champions| Old Roan
Matches played| 155
Goals scored| 778 (5.02 per match)

← 1996–97 (Spartan League)

The division featured ten clubs which competed in the previous season Spartan League divisions One and Two, along with five clubs:

* Crown & Manor
* Chestnut Trojans
* Leyton
* Leyton Youth
* Tottenham Omada

### League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Old Roan  | 24  | 18  | 2  | 4  | 111  | 29  | +82  | 56  | All clubs left the league
2  | Cray Valley P M | 24  | 16  | 4  | 4  | 74  | 22  | +52  | 52
3  | Crown & Manor | 24  | 16  | 3  | 5  | 74  | 22  | +52  | 51
4  | Leyton County  | 24  | 15  | 5  | 4  | 72  | 24  | +48  | 47[a]
5  | Bridon Ropes | 24  | 13  | 4  | 7  | 72  | 39  | +33  | 43
6  | Chestnut Trojans  | 23  | 11  | 6  | 6  | 66  | 42  | +24  | 39[b]
7  | Odua United  | 24  | 11  | 4  | 9  | 62  | 41  | +21  | 37
8  | Holland Park  | 24  | 9  | 5  | 10  | 57  | 61  | −4  | 32
9  | Long Lane  | 24  | 9  | 1  | 14  | 51  | 42  | +9  | 28
10  | Leyton | 23  | 7  | 7  | 9  | 54  | 49  | +5  | 28[b]
11  | Doddinghurst  | 24  | 4  | 2  | 18  | 34  | 97  | −63  | 14
12  | Leyton Youth  | 24  | 2  | 1  | 21  | 32  | 136  | −104  | 7
13  | Chingford Town  | 24  | 2  | 0  | 22  | 19  | 174  | −155  | 6
14  | Classic Inter  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Clubs folded, records expunged
15  | Tottenham Omada  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0

Source: fchd
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

1. ^ Leyton County were deducted three points.
2. ^ a b Remaining match was not played.

## References

[edit]

## External links

[edit]

* FCHD Spartan South Midlands Football League page

* v
* t
* e

Spartan South Midlands League

2024–25
clubs|

| Premier Division|

* Arlesey Town
* Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
* Baldock Town
* Biggleswade United
* Cockfosters
* Colney Heath
* Crawley Green
* Dunstable Town
* FC Romania
* Harpenden Town
* Kempston Rovers
* London Lions
* Milton Keynes Irish
* Potton United
* Shefford Town & Campton
* Tring Athletic
* Winslow United
* Wormley Rovers

|

Division One|

* AFC Welwyn
* Ampthill Town
* Buckingham
* Cranfield United
* Desborough Town
* Eaton Socon
* Huntingdon Town
* Irchester United
* Langford
* Leighton Town Development
* Letchworth Garden City Eagles
* London Colney
* Long Buckby
* Moulton
* Raunds Town
* Rothwell Corinthians
* Royston Town Under-23
* Rushden & Higham United
* Stotfold Reserves
* Wellingborough Whitworth

Division Two|

* Aston Clinton
* Bovingdon
* Caddington
* Codicote
* Eynesbury United
* Huntingdon Town U23
* Milton Keynes College
* Milton Keynes Irish reserves
* New Bradwell St Peter
* Newport Pagnell Town reserves
* Old Bradwell United
* Padbury Village
* Pitstone & Ivinghoe
* Sarratt
* Stony Stratford Town
* The 61
* Totternhoe
* Tring Corinthians

Seasons|

* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

Predecessor leagues
Aetolian League
Greater London League
London League
Metropolitan League
Metropolitan–London League
South Midlands League
Spartan League

* v
* t
* e

1997–98 in English football

« 1996–97

1998–99 »

National teams|

* 1998 FIFA World Cup (UEFA Qualification Group 2
* Group G
* Knockout stage
* Squad)
* Glenn Hoddle

League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, play-offs)

Level 5|

* Football Conference

Levels 6–7|

* Isthmian League (Premier, One)
* Northern Premier League (Premier, One)
* Southern League (Premier, Midland, Southern)

Levels 8–9|

* Isthmian League (Two, Three)
* Combined Counties League (level 8 only)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One)
* Essex Senior League (level 8 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One)
* Kent League (level 8 only)
* Midland Alliance (level 8 only)
* Midland Football Combination (level 9 only)
* North West Counties League (One, Two)
* Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* Northern League (One, Two)
* Spartan South Midlands League (Premier North, Premier South, Senior)
* Sussex County League (One, Two)
* United Counties League (Premier, One)
* Wessex League (level 8 only)
* West Midlands (Regional) League (level 9 only)
* Western League (Premier, One)

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* Charity Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)

|

Football League cups|

* League Cup (Final)
* Football League Trophy (Final)

European competitions|

* Champions League
* UEFA Cup
* Cup Winners' Cup
* Intertoto Cup

Club seasons

Premier League|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Barnsley
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bolton Wanderers
* Chelsea
* Coventry City
* Crystal Palace
* Derby County
* Everton
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wimbledon

First Division|

* Birmingham City
* Bradford City
* Bury
* Charlton Athletic
* Crewe Alexandra
* Huddersfield Town
* Ipswich Town
* Manchester City
* Middlesbrough
* Norwich City
* Nottingham Forest
* Oxford United
* Portsmouth
* Port Vale
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Sheffield United
* Stockport County
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Blackpool
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Bristol City
* Bristol Rovers
* Burnley
* Carlisle United
* Chesterfield
* Fulham
* Gillingham
* Grimsby Town
* Luton Town
* Millwall
* Northampton Town
* Oldham Athletic
* Plymouth Argyle
* Preston North End
* Southend United
* Walsall
* Watford
* Wigan Athletic
* Wrexham
* Wycombe Wanderers
* York City

Third Division|

* Barnet
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Cambridge United
* Cardiff City
* Chester City
* Colchester United
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Exeter City
* Hartlepool United
* Hull City
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Macclesfield Town
* Mansfield Town
* Notts County
* Peterborough United
* Rochdale
* Rotherham United
* Scarborough
* Scunthorpe United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Swansea City
* Torquay United

* Summer 1997 transfers
* Winter 1997–98 transfers

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template