2023–24 Spartan South Midlands Football League

The 2023–24 season was the 27th in the history of the Spartan South Midlands Football League, a football competition in England. The league operates three divisions, two of which are in covered in this article, the Premier Division, at Step 5 and Division One at Step 6 of the English football league system.

The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.^[1] Starting this season, the Step 5 Premier Division in the league promotes two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there would have been only one club relegated from the Step 5 division.^[2]

Premier Division

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Premier Division

Season	2023–24
Champions	Real Bedford
Promoted	Real Bedford Leverstock Green
Matches played	342
Goals scored	1,201 (3.51 per match)
Top goalscorer	Joseph Evans (Real Bedford) (31 goals)
Biggest home win	Milton Keynes Irish 8–0 Potton United (17 October 2023)
Biggest away win	Shefford Town & Campton 0–7 Real Bedford (27 December 2023)
Highest scoring	Baldock Town 6–3 Crawley Green (9 September 2023) Real Bedford 8–1 Colney Heath (7 October 2023) Baldock Town 7–2 Shefford Town & Campton (17 October 2023)
← 2022–23 2024–25 →

The Premier Division featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with six new clubs:

• FC Romania, relegated from the Southern League
• London Lions, transferred from the Combined Counties League
• Milton Keynes Irish, transferred from the United Counties League
• Real Bedford, promoted from Division One
• Sawbridgeworth Town, transferred from the Essex Senior League
• Stansted, transferred from the Essex Senior League

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Real Bedford	36	28	7	1	117	24	+93	91	Promoted to the Southern League
2	Milton Keynes Irish	36	26	7	3	96	25	+71	85	Qualified for the play-offs
3	Harpenden Town	36	21	5	10	74	51	+23	68
4	Leverstock Green	36	20	8	8	73	53	+20	68	Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Southern League
5	FC Romania	36	18	7	11	76	64	+12	61	Qualified for the play-offs
6	Tring Athletic	36	17	8	11	63	51	+12	59
7	Colney Heath	36	18	3	15	57	45	+12	57
8	Cockfosters	36	15	10	11	71	56	+15	55
9	Potton United	36	14	8	14	50	57	−7	50
10	London Lions	36	13	7	16	74	75	−1	46
11	Aylesbury Vale Dynamos	36	13	7	16	58	78	−20	46
12	Biggleswade United	36	12	7	17	67	80	−13	43
13	Dunstable Town	36	10	10	16	51	64	−13	40
14	Stansted	36	11	7	18	47	67	−20	40	Transferred to the Essex Senior League
15	Baldock Town	36	11	4	21	61	83	−22	34[a]
16	Arlesey Town	36	9	7	20	36	69	−33	34
17	Crawley Green	36	9	6	21	51	85	−34	33
18	Shefford Town & Campton	36	9	6	21	50	91	−41	33
19	Sawbridgeworth Town	36	2	8	26	29	83	−54	14	Transferred to the Essex Senior League
20	St Panteleimon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Folded[b]

Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results^[4]
Notes:

1. Baldock Town were deducted 3 points.
2. St Panteleimon folded on 28 March 2024 with immediate effect.^[3]

Play-offs

	Semi-finals					Final
	2	Milton Keynes Irish	0
	5	FC Romania	3
						4	Leverstock Green	3
						5	FC Romania	0
	3	Harpenden Town	1
	4	Leverstock Green	3

Semifinals

Harpenden Town v Leverstock Green

1 May	Harpenden Town	1–3	Leverstock Green	Harpenden
19:45	Locke	Report	Seale 4' Stefanoaica 38' Mooney 70'	Stadium: Rothamsted Park Referee: Nathan Currey

Milton Keynes Irish v FC Romania

1 May	Milton Keynes Irish	0–3	FC Romania	Milton Keynes
19:45		Report	Mendes 47', 90' Balogun 72'	Stadium: The Irish Centre Attendance: 405 Referee: Daniel Jones

Final

Leverstock Green v FC Romania

6 May	Leverstock Green	3–0	FC Romania	Leverstock Green
15:00	Pett 49' Neal 77' Seale 80'	Report		Stadium: Pancake Lane Attendance: 914 Referee: Chad Greatorex

Stadia and locations

Arlesey Town & Baldock Town

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos

Biggleswade United

Cockfosters

Colney Heath

Crawley Green

Dunstable Town

FC Romania

Harpenden

Leverstock Green

London Lions

Milton Keynes Irish

Potton United

Real
Bedford

Sawbridgeworth Town

Shefford Town & Campton

St Panteleimon

Stansted

Tring
Athletic

Locations of the Premier Division clubs

Arlesey Town & Baldock Town

Cockfosters

Colney Heath

Crawley Green

FC Romania

Harpenden Town

Leverstock Green

London Lions

Sawbridgeworth Town

Shefford Town & Campton

St Panteleimon

Stansted

Tring Athletic

Locations of the Premier Division clubs (Hertfordshire)

Team	Stadium	Capacity
Arlesey Town	Hitchin Road	2,920
Baldock Town
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos	Haywood Way
Biggleswade United	Fairfield Road	2,000
Cockfosters	Chalk Lane	1,000
Colney Heath	Recreation Ground
Crawley Green	The Brache	4,000
Dunstable Town	Creasey Park	3,065
FC Romania	Theobalds Lane (groundshare with Cheshunt)	3,000
Harpenden Town	Rothamsted Park
Leverstock Green	Pancake Lane
London Lions	Rowley Lane
Milton Keynes Irish	Manor Fields	1,500
Potton United	The Hollow
Real Bedford	McMullen Park
Sawbridgeworth Town	Crofters End	2,500
Shefford Town & Campton	Shefford Sports Club	1,000
St Panteleimon	Hertingfordbury Park (groundshare with Hertford Town)
Stansted	Hargrave Park	2,000
Tring Athletic	Grass Roots Stadium

Division One

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Division One

Season	2023–24
Champions	Northampton ON Chenecks
Promoted	Northampton ON Chenecks Northampton Sileby Rangers Winslow United
Relegated	Burton Park Wanderers
Matches played	380
Goals scored	1,448 (3.81 per match)
Top goalscorer	Nathanael Ansu (Moulton) Lewis Irwin (Northampton ON Chenecks) (32 goals)
Biggest home win	Ampthill Town 8–0 Burton Park Wanderers (7 October 2023) Royston Town U23 8–0 Irchester United (5 December 2023) Long Buckby 9–1 Huntingdon Town (3 February 2024)
Biggest away win	Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0–7 Northampton ON Chenecks (21 October 2023) Irchester United 0–7 Cranfield United (16 April 2024)
Highest scoring	Burton Park Wanderers 3–8 Langford (14 October 2023)
← 2022–23 2024–25 →

Division One featured twelve clubs which competed in the division last season, along with eight new clubs:

• Cranfield United, promoted from the Bedfordshire County League
• Huntingdon Town, transferred from the Eastern Counties League
• Irchester United, promoted from the Northamptonshire Combination League
• Leighton Town development, promoted from Division Two
• Long Buckby, relegated from the United Counties League
• Rothwell Corinthians, relegated from the United Counties League
• Royston Town U23, promoted from the Hertfordshire Senior County League

Also, Buckingham Athletic merged with Division Two club Buckingham United to form the new club Buckingham.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Northampton ON Chenecks	38	29	8	1	102	23	+79	95	Promoted to the United Counties League
2	Northampton Sileby Rangers	38	24	6	8	98	46	+52	78	Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the United Counties League
3	Winslow United	38	23	7	8	85	50	+35	76	Qualified for the play-offs, then promoted to the Premier Division
4	Moulton	38	22	8	8	84	48	+36	74	Qualified for the play-offs
5	Wellingborough Whitworth	38	22	8	8	95	61	+34	74
6	Langford	38	21	5	12	91	56	+35	68
7	Ampthill Town	38	20	8	10	95	61	+34	67[a]
8	Leighton Town development	38	20	7	11	76	59	+17	67
9	Cranfield United	38	18	6	14	77	48	+29	60
10	Royston Town U23	38	18	6	14	89	64	+25	60
11	Rothwell Corinthians	38	14	12	12	86	68	+18	54
12	Long Buckby	38	13	4	21	77	85	−8	43
13	Buckingham	38	10	12	16	59	80	−21	42
14	Huntingdon Town	38	10	9	19	57	89	−32	39
15	Letchworth Garden City Eagles	38	11	6	21	55	81	−26	36[b]
16	Eaton Socon	38	9	6	23	44	85	−41	33
17	Raunds Town	38	7	9	22	46	90	−44	30
18	Rushden & Higham United	38	7	6	25	51	106	−55	27
19	Irchester United	38	5	8	25	34	121	−87	23
20	Burton Park Wanderers	38	5	3	30	47	127	−80	18	Resigned from the league

Source: The FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) number of matches won; 5) head-to-head results^[4]
Notes:

1. Ampthill Town were deducted 1 point.
2. Letchworth Garden City Eagles were deducted 3 points.

Reserve and U23 sides are ineligible for promotion to Step 5 or higher.

Play-offs

	Semi-finals					Final
	2	Northampton Sileby Rangers	3
	5	Moulton	1
						2	Northampton Sileby Rangers	1
						3	Winslow United	3
	3	Winslow United	5
	4	Wellingborough Whitworth	1

Semifinals

Northampton Sileby Rangers v Moulton

30 April	Northampton Sileby Rangers	3–1	Moulton	Northampton
19:45	Burrows 45', 47' Arthur 69'	Report	Brooks 88'	Stadium: Fernie Fields Attendance: 151 Referee: Andy Woolmer

Winslow United v Wellingborough Whitworth

30 April	Winslow United	5–1	Wellingborough Whitworth	Winslow
19:45	Enver-Marum Massay Rowe Scott	Report	Ansu	Stadium: Elmfields Gate Referee: Jonny Lam

Final

Northampton Sileby Rangers v Winslow United

4 May	Northampton Sileby Rangers	1–3	Winslow United	Northampton
15:00	Drain 61'	Report	Massay King	Stadium: Fernie Fields Attendance: 263 Referee: Matthew Rendell

Stadia and locations

Ampthill Town

Buckingham

Burton PW

Cranfield United

Eaton
Socon

Huntingdon Town

Irchester United

Langford

Leighton Town development

Letchworth Garden City Eagles

Long Buckby

Moulton

Northampton ONC

Northampton SR

Raunds Town

Rothwell Corinthians

Royston Town U23

R&H

WW

Winslow United

Locations of Division One clubs

Buckingham

Burton Park Wanderers

Irchester United

Long Buckby

Moulton

Northampton ON Chenecks

Northampton Sileby Rangers

Raunds Town

Rothwell Corinthians

Rushden & Higham United

Wellingborough Whitworth

Locations of Division One clubs (Northamptonshire)

Team	Stadium	Capacity
Ampthill Town	Ampthill Park	1,300
Buckingham	Stratford Fields
Burton Park Wanderers	Latimer Park (groundshare with Kettering Town)
Cranfield United	Crawley Road
Eaton Socon	River Road
Huntingdon Town	Jubilee Park
Irchester United	Alfred Street	1,800
Langford	Forde Park	2,800
Leighton Town development	Bell Close	2,800
Letchworth Garden City Eagles	Pixmore Pitches
Long Buckby	Station Road	1,000
Moulton	Brunting Road
Northampton ON Chenecks	Old Northamptonians Sports Ground
Northampton Sileby Rangers	Fernie Fields
Raunds Town	Kiln Park
Rushden & Higham United	Hayden Road	1,500
Rothwell Corinthians	Desborough Road
Royston Town U23	Garden Walk	5,000
Wellingborough Whitworth	The Victoria Mill Ground	2,140
Winslow United	Elmfields Gate	2,000

Division Two

Spartan South Midlands
Football League
Division Two

Season	2023–24
Champions	AFC Welwyn
Promoted	AFC Welwyn
Matches played	306
Goals scored	1,134 (3.71 per match)
← 2022–23 2024–25 →

Division Two featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with four new clubs:

• AFC Welwyn, new club
• Milton Keynes Irish reserves, joined from the United Counties League reserve division
• Newport Pagnell Town development, joined from the United Counties League reserve division
• Stony Stratford Town, joined from the North Bucks League

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion
1	AFC Welwyn	34	24	5	5	89	31	+58	77	Promoted to Division One
2	Bovingdon F.C.	34	21	6	7	83	46	+37	69
3	Old Bradwell United	34	19	7	8	74	38	+36	64
4	Codicote	34	19	6	9	73	43	+30	63
5	Newport Pagnell Town development	34	17	7	10	70	62	+8	58
6	Pitstone & Ivinghoe	34	18	2	14	75	55	+20	56
7	New Bradwell St Peter	34	16	6	12	79	51	+28	54
8	Aston Clinton	34	15	6	13	64	54	+10	51
9	Milton Keynes College	34	15	5	14	78	73	+5	50
10	Totternhoe	34	14	7	13	61	71	−10	49
11	Stony Stratford Town	34	14	6	14	62	69	−7	48
12	Milton Keynes Irish reserves	34	12	11	11	62	65	−3	47
13	Eynesbury United	34	10	7	17	40	55	−15	37
14	AFC Caddington	34	10	4	20	61	100	−39	34
15	Sarratt	34	8	5	21	40	84	−44	29
16	Tring Corinthians AFC	34	5	13	16	39	68	−29	28
17	Berkhamsted Raiders	34	7	5	22	52	85	−33	26	Resigned from the league
18	The 61	34	5	6	23	32	84	−52	21

Source: FA Full-Time
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.