1922–23 Southern Football League

The 1922–23 season was the 25th in the history of the Southern League. The league was split into two sections for a third season in a row, one for English clubs and one for Welsh clubs.[1] Bristol City reserves won the English section, whilst Ebbw Vale won the Welsh section. Ebbw Vale were declared Southern League champions after beating Bristol City reserves 2–1 in a championship play-off.[2] Boscombe, Pontypridd and Torquay United were the only Southern League clubs to apply for election to the Football League, with Boscombe being successful.[3] The club was renamed Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic the following year.

Following to the mid-season resignation of four clubs in the Welsh section due to financial problems and Porth Athletic leaving the league at the end of the season, the following season saw the English section renamed the Eastern Division and the Welsh section renamed the Western Division, with eight clubs transferring from the English section to the Western section.

English section

Southern Football League English Section
Season 1922-23
Champions Bristol City II
Promoted Boscombe
Relegated Southend United II (resigned)
Matches played 380
Goals scored 1228 (3.23 per match)

A total of 20 teams contest the division, including 17 sides from previous season and three new teams.

Newly elected teams:

PosClubPWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Notes
1Bristol City II38245984392.1553Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
2Boscombe38227967341.9751Elected to the 1923-24 Football League
3Portsmouth II382331293511.8249
4Bristol Rovers II382081059411.4348Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
5Plymouth Argyle II382071174411.8047Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
6Torquay United381881263381.6544Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
7Brighton & Hove Albion II382031595601.5843
8Luton Town II3816111167561.1943
9Southend United II381861469681.0142Left league at end of season
10Southampton II381851565541.2041
11Millwall II3815101361551.1040
12Coventry City II381581556610.9138
13Guildford United381571665591.1037
14Swindon Town II381361954730.7332Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
15Bath City381082044710.6128Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
16Watford II381162134790.4328
17Yeovil & Petters3810622561040.5326Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
18Norwich City II38972242680.6125
19Exeter City II381052343810.5325Transferred to 1923-24 Western Division at end of season
20Reading II38762537950.3920

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.

Welsh section

Southern Football League Welsh Section
Season 1922-23
Champions Ebbw Vale (1st title)
Promoted none
Relegated Porth Athletic (resigned)
Ton Pentre (resigned)
Mardy (resigned)
Caerphilly (resigned)
Abertillery (resigned)
Matches played 42
Goals scored 133 (3.17 per match)

A total of 11 teams contest the division, including 10 sides from previous season and one new team.

Newly elected team:

PosClubPWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Notes
1Ebbw Vale1265122151.4617
2Aberaman Athletic1272330191.5716
3Swansea Town II1262425141.7814
4Pontypridd1262418181.0014
5Barry1243515111.3611
6Bridgend Town1242615210.7110
7Porth Athletic1202108350.222Left league at end of season
8Abertillery00000000Resigned from league in January, records expunged
9Caerphilly00000000
10Mardy00000000
11Ton Pentre00000000

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.

Football League election

In addition to the two clubs finishing bottom of Football League Third Division South, four non-League clubs joined the election process, of which three were from the Southern League. Boscombe from the English section were successful and joined the League the following season.

ClubLeagueVotes
Aberdare AthleticFootball League Third Division South45
Newport CountyFootball League Third Division South45
BoscombeSouthern League28
LlanellyWelsh National League (South)9
PontypriddSouthern League8
Torquay UnitedSouthern League0

References

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