Isthmian League Division One South Central
The Isthmian League Division One South Central is a football league comprising clubs from Greater London, East England, and the South East England region. Most teams in this division operate on a semi-professional basis. This league is part of the eighth tier of English football and represents Step 4 of the National League System.
The Isthmian League Division One South Central usually consists of 22 teams, similar to the other regional leagues, the North and South East Divisions.
More info on the Isthmian League Division One South Central
The Isthmian League was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in London, but the structure we know today began to develop in 2002. In 1984, the Isthmian League split into two regional leagues, creating the North and South Divisions. Seven years later, the second and third divisions were established.
In 2002, the league underwent another restructuring. The First and Second Divisions were merged into two new divisions: Division One North and Division One South, which were later simplified to North and South divisions. Furthermore, the Third Division was renamed Division Two.
After several restructurings, the current configuration of three divisions at the second tier was established in 2017, following the Football Association’s decision to introduce an additional regional league to the Isthmian League system. The third-tier division was introduced for the 2018/19 season.
In terms of promotion, the team that wins the title is awarded the only automatic promotion spot to the Isthmian Premier Division. Additionally, a second promotion spot is available to the winner of the play-offs, which include the teams that finish in second to fifth place in the league table during the regular season.
Clubs are only promoted if they fulfil the minimum requirements of the higher league, as is customary with promotions.
At the lower end of the division, the two teams that finish at the bottom of the table are relegated to various feeder leagues, such as the Combined Counties League Premier Division North or South, the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, and the Essex Senior League.
Recent Champions
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2018/19 | Hayes and Yeading United |
| 2019/20 | Ware |
| 2020/21 | Waltham Abbey |
| 2021/22 | Bracknell Town |
| 2022/23 | Basingstoke |
| 2023/24 | Chertsey Town |
| 2024/25 | Farnham Town |
Given that the division is in its early stages of existence, it is unsurprising that no team has ever topped the table on more than one occasion, meaning that seven different teams have come to the top of the pile in the division’s short history.