SOUTHERN LEAGUE PRESENTATION LUNCH

The sun was shining for a positive event to celebrate the 2023/24 season

The sun was shining as The Southern Football League Presentation Lunch took place at the Voco Hotel, Reading FC on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the 2023/24 season.

It was great to see so many representatives from our member clubs, sponsors and partners gathered together for what was an extremely positive event.

As well as crowning our four divisional winners: Chesham United (Premier South and Premier Division Champion of Champions, awarded on points per game with a total of 2.143), Needham Market (Premier Central), Wimborne Town (Division One South and Division One Champion of Champions, awarded on points per game with a total of 2.194) and Biggleswade Town (Division One Central), there were also a number of other awards handed out.

The Fair Play Award for the fewest disciplinary points, sponsored by Frank Whittle Partnership, saw Hadley FC claim the overall prize for 170 points, 4.72 points per game. The Premier South winners were Salisbury (336 points, 8.0 points per game), in the Premier Central it was Needham Market who prospered (240 points, 6.0 points per game) and Bemerton Heath Harlequins took the Division One South honour (262 points, 7.278 points). The aforementioned Hadley were Division One Central winners.

The Respect Award for the most points gained for home matches saw Mickleover the overall winners for 914 points, 22.85 points per game. Poole Town took the Premier South accolade (924 points, 22 points per game), Mickleover were top in the Premier Central, Evesham United claimed the Division One South honours (769.5 points, 21.375 points per game) and Biggleswade FC prospered in Division One Central (754.5 points, 20.96 points per game). The trophies for this award were provided by Hereward Sports & Leisure.

Onto the Merit Cup for the most League goals scored, sponsored by Frank Whittle Partnership, and the winners were Mousehole AFC for 82 League goals, 2.278 per game.

That leads us nicely onto the Leading Goalscorers in each division. In the Premier South, Merthyr Town’s Ricardo Rees was the winner with 36 goals, over in the Premier Central, Jonathan Edwards hit 30 goals, whilst Hayden Turner bagged the same amount for Mousehole AFC and Liam Dulson of Bedford Town ended the campaign with 26 goals to his name.

The play-off winners were also recognised as Salisbury won in the Premier South, Leamington in the Premier Central, Frome Town in Division One South and Bedford Town in Division One Central.

We thank everyone who was in attendance for helping to make it such an enjoyable afternoon. We would also like to wish those clubs who are leaving us all of the very best in their future endeavours and welcome those new Member Clubs into the fold.

In terms of website content, starting this week we will be running features on our new clubs so that we can get to know them and the personalities involved.

Thank you one and all for making 2023/24 a season to remember… 2024/25 starts here!