2015–16 Isthmian League


The 2015–16 season is the 101st season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England. Also, it is the tenth season for the current incarnations of the Division One North and Division One South.
The league constitution was announced on 15 May 2015.
After the constitution was announced, Clevedon Town of Southern League Division One South & West were demoted because their floodlights were not to the required standard. As a result, Ware were transferred to Southern League Division One Central from Isthmian League Division One North, and Redbridge were reprieved from relegation.

Premier Division

The Premier Division consisted of 24 clubs: 18 clubs from the previous season, and six new clubs:
Farnborough were required by the Isthmian League to pay their creditors in full before the league's 2016 AGM. If this wasn't fulfilled, the league were to relegate the club. Therefore, if Farnborough finished top, they were not to be promoted. If they finished in a play-off place, they were not to be eligible to take part in the play-off competition. If they finished between 6th and 20th, they were to be relegated to Step 4. If they finished between 21st and 24th, they were to be relegated two steps, to Step 5.
Hampton & Richmond Borough won the division and returned to the National League South after four seasons in the Isthmian League. They were joined by play-off winners East Thurrock United, who reached National League for the first time in their history. Farnborough finally finished 18th and were relegated one step, as the result, Burgess Hill Town were reprieved. Brentwood Town relegated straight back to Division One along with Lewes and VCD Athletic.

League table

Top scorers

Play-offs

Semifinals
Final

Results

Stadia and locations

ClubStadiumCapacity
Billericay TownNew Lodge3,500
Bognor Regis TownNyewood Lane4,500
Brentwood TownThe Brentwood Centre Arena1,800
Burgess Hill TownLeylands Park2,500
Canvey IslandPark Lane4,500
Dulwich HamletChampion Hill3,000
East Thurrock UnitedRookery Hill4,000
Enfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium2,500
FarnboroughPaddy Power Park4,000
Grays AthleticThe Mill Field 1,100
Hampton & Richmond BoroughBeveree Stadium3,500
Harrow BoroughEarlsmead Stadium3,070
HendonEarlsmead Stadium 3,070
KingstonianKingsmeadow 4,850
LeatherheadFetcham Grove3,400
LeistonVictory Road2,500
LewesThe Dripping Pan3,000
Needham MarketBloomfields4,000
MersthamMoatside2,000
Metropolitan PoliceImber Court3,000
Staines TownWheatsheaf Park3,009
Tonbridge AngelsLongmead Stadium5,000
VCD AthleticOakwood1,180
Wingate & FinchleyThe Harry Abrahams Stadium1,500

Division One North

Division One North consisted of 24 clubs: 19 clubs from the previous season, and five new clubs:
AFC Sudbury won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division for the first time in their history. Harlow Town won the play-offs and returned to the Premier Division after seven seasons of absence. Barkingside and Redbridge, both reprieved in the previous season, finished bottom of the table and were relegated, while Wroxham were reprieved from relegation as the best eighth level club finished in the relegation zone due to lack of promoting ninth level clubs.

League table

Top scorers

Play-offs

Semifinals
Final

Results

Stadia and locations

ClubStadiumCapacity
AFC HornchurchHornchurch Stadium3,500
AFC SudburyKing's Marsh2,500
AveleyThe Mill Field1,100
BarkingsideCricklefield Stadium 3,500
Brightlingsea RegentNorth Road1,000
Bury TownRam Meadow3,500
CheshuntCheshunt Stadium3,000
Cray WanderersHayes Lane 6,000
Dereham TownAldiss Park3,000
Great Wakering RoversBurroughs Park2,500
Haringey BoroughColes Park1,500
Harlow TownBarrows Farm3,500
Heybridge SwiftsScraley Road3,000
Maldon & TiptreeWallace Binder Ground2,000
Phoenix SportsVictory Road2,000
RedbridgeOakside3,000
RomfordShip Lane 3,500
Soham Town RangersJulius Martin Lane2,000
Thamesmead TownBayliss Avenue6,000
ThurrockShip Lane3,500
TilburyChadfields4,000
Waltham AbbeyCapershotts3,500
Witham TownSpa Road2,500
WroxhamTrafford Park2,000

Division One South

Division One South consisted of 24 clubs: 20 clubs from the previous season, and four new clubs:
Folkestone Invicta won the division and returned to the Premier Division after four consecutive play-off defeats. Worthing won the play-offs and joined them after nine seasons in Division One South. Peacehaven & Telscombe suffered second consecutive relegation and left the league along with Whitstable Town and Walton & Hersham. Both clubs also spent nine seasons in the division.

League table

Top scorers

Play-offs

Semifinals
Final

Results

Stadia and locations

ClubStadiumCapacity
Carshalton AthleticWar Memorial Sports Ground5,000
Chatham TownThe Sports Ground5,000
ChipsteadHigh Road2,000
Corinthian-CasualsKing George's Field2,700
Dorking WanderersWesthumble Community Ground1,500
East Grinstead TownEast Court1,000
Faversham TownShepherd Neame Stadium2,000
Folkestone InvictaCheriton Road4,000
GuernseyFootes Lane5,000
Hastings UnitedThe Pilot Field4,050
Herne BayWinch's Field4,000
Hythe TownReachfields Stadium3,000
MoleseyWalton Road Stadium1,000
Peacehaven & TelscombeThe Sports Park1,500
RamsgateSouthwood Stadium2,500
SittingbourneWoodstock Park3,000
South ParkKing George's Field2,000
Three BridgesJubilee Field1,500
Tooting & Mitcham UnitedImperial Fields3,500
Walton & HershamThe Sports Ground2,000
Walton CasualsMoatside 2,000
Whitstable TownThe Belmont Ground3,000
WhyteleafeChurch Road2,000
WorthingWorthing Stadium4,000

League Cup

The 2015–16 Alan Turvey Trophy sponsored by Robert Dyas is the 42nd season of the Alan Turvey Trophy, the cup competition of the whole Isthmian League.

Calendar

The Isthmian League Cup was voluntary this season, five clubs decided not to take part in the competition:
Six clubs participated in the Premilinary round, while all other clubs received a bye to the First round.
TieHome Team ScoreAway Team
1AFC Sudbury 1–5Brightlingsea Regent 136
2Barkingside 0–9AFC Hornchurch 145
3Billericay Town 1–2Aveley 121

First round

The three clubs to have made it through the Premilinary round were entered into the draw with every other Isthmian League club, making sixty-four teams.

Second round

Third round

Quarterfinals

TieHome Team ScoreAway Team '
60Enfield Town 1–3Wingate & Finchley 155
61Faversham Town 1–0Dorking Wanderers 110

TieHome Team ScoreAway Team '
62Leiston 0–2Kingstonian 77
63Sittingbourne 2–1Corinthian-Casuals 70

Semifinals

Final