2016–17 Southern Football League
The 2016–17 season was the 114th in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales. From the 2014–15 season onwards, the Southern League is known as Evo-Stik League Southern, following a sponsorship deal with Evo-Stik.
The league constitution was announced on 12 May 2016.
Premier Division
On 12 May 2016 the league constitution was announced. Later, Cinderford Town, who were originally promoted to the Southern Football League Premier Division as champions of Division One South & West, initially declined promotion due to financial concerns. On 27 May it was confirmed that Cinderford Town would remain in Division One South & West. As a consequence, the team with the best record among those relegated at level 7 - Stamford - were reprieved from relegation. Corby Town, who were originally placed in the Premier Division, were transferred to the Southern Football League to take the vacated place.On 14 June 2016, Evesham United, who had been transferred from the Southern League Division One South & West to the Northern Premier League First Division South due to Cinderford's refusal to accept promotion, had an appeal against the decision to transfer them leagues heard by the Football Association. On 15 June 2016, they were informed they were successful in their appeal, meaning they would stay in their original league. The knock on effect of this was Cinderford Town were forced to take promotion to the Southern Football League Premier Division. This meant that Corby Town were placed back in the Northern Premier League Premier Division for the 2016-17 season.
The Premier Division consisted of 24 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs:
- Two clubs promoted from Division One Central:
- *Kings Langley
- *St Ives Town
- Two clubs promoted from Division One South & West:
- *Banbury United
- *Cinderford Town
- Two clubs relegated from the National League South:
- *Basingstoke Town
- *Hayes & Yeading United
League table
Play-offs
Semi-finalsFinal
Results
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Banbury United | Spencer Stadium | 2,000 |
| Basingstoke Town | The Camrose | 6,000 |
| Biggleswade Town | The Carlsberg Stadium | 3,000 |
| Chesham United | The Meadow | 5,000 |
| Chippenham Town | Hardenhuish Park | 2,815 |
| Cinderford Town | Causeway Ground | 3,500 |
| Cirencester Town | Corinium Stadium | 4,500 |
| Dorchester Town | The Avenue Stadium | 5,009 |
| Dunstable Town | Creasey Park | 3,200 |
| Frome Town | Badgers Hill | 2,000 |
| Hayes & Yeading United | Beaconsfield Road | |
| Hitchin Town | Top Field | 4,000 |
| Kettering Town | Latimer Park | 2,400 |
| King's Lynn Town | The Walks | 5,733 |
| Kings Langley | CRY Community Stadium | 1,963 |
| Leamington | New Windmill Ground | 3,000 |
| Merthyr Town | Penydarren Park | 10,000 |
| Redditch United | The Valley | 5,000 |
| Slough Town | Arbour Park | 1,950 |
| St Ives Town | Westwood Road | 2,000 |
| St Neots Town | New Rowley Park | 3,500 |
| Stratford Town | DCS Stadium | 1,400 |
| Weymouth | Bob Lucas Stadium | 6,600 |
Division One Central
On 12 May 2016 the league constitution was announced. Three Division One Central clubs were moved to the parallel divisions: AFC Rushden & Diamonds were transferred to Northern Premier League Division One South, Godalming Town to Isthmian League Division One South and Ware to Isthmian League Division One North.Division One Central consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from previous season and seven new clubs:
- AFC Dunstable, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League
- AFC Kempston Rovers, promoted from the United Counties League
- Ashford Town, promoted from the Combined Counties League
- Farnborough, demoted from the Isthmian League Premier Division
- Histon, relegated from the Premier Division
- Kidlington, promoted from the Hellenic League
- Marlow, transferred from Division One South & West
League table
Play-offs
Semi-finalsFinal
Results
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| AFC Dunstable | Creasey Park | 3,500 |
| Arlesey Town | Hitchin Road | 2,920 |
| Ashford Town | Robert Parker Stadium | 2,550 |
| Aylesbury | Haywood Way | 1,300 |
| Aylesbury United | The ASM Stadium | 2,000 |
| Barton Rovers | Sharpenhoe Road | 4,000 |
| Beaconsfield SYCOB | Holloways Park | 3,500 |
| Bedford Town | The Eyrie | 3,000 |
| Chalfont St Peter | Mill Meadow | 1,500 |
| Egham Town | The Runnymede Stadium | 5,565 |
| Farnborough | Cherrywood Road | 7,000 |
| Fleet Town | Calthorpe Park | 2,000 |
| Hanwell Town | Reynolds Field | 3,000 |
| Histon | Bridge Road | 4,300 |
| Kempston Rovers | Hillgrounds Leisure | 2,000 |
| Kidlington | Yarnton Road | 1,500 |
| Marlow | Alfred Davis Memorial Ground | 3,000 |
| Northwood | Northwood Park | 3,075 |
| Petersfield Town | The Love Lane Stadium | 3,000 |
| Potters Bar Town | Parkfield | 2,000 |
| Royston Town | Garden Walk | 5,000 |
| Uxbridge | Honeycroft | 3,770 |
Division One South & West
On 12 May 2016 the league constitution was announced. One Division One South & West club were moved to the parallel division: Marlow were transferred to Division One Central. Later, Cinderford Town, who were originally promoted to the Premier Division as champions of Division One South & West, declined promotion due to financial concerns. On 27 May it was confirmed that Cinderford Town would remain in Division One South & West. As a consequence, Evesham United were transferred to the Northern Premier League Division One South to create a place for Cinderford Town.On 14 June 2016, Evesham United, who had been transferred from the Southern League Division One South & West to the Northern Premier League First Division South due to Cinderford's refusal to accept promotion, had an appeal against the decision to transfer them leagues heard by the Football Association. On 15 June 2016, they were informed they were successful in their appeal, meaning they would stay in their original league. The knock on effect of this was Cinderford Town were forced to take promotion to the Southern Football League Premier Division.
Thus, Division One South & West featured five new clubs:
- Barnstaple Town, promoted from the Western League
- Bideford, relegated from the Premier Division
- Hereford, promoted from the Midland League
- Paulton Rovers, relegated from the Premier Division
- Salisbury, promoted from the Wessex League
League table
Play-offs
Semi-finalsFinal
Results
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| AFC Totton | Testwood Stadium | 3,000 |
| Barnstaple Town | Mill Road | 5,000 |
| Bideford | The Sports Ground | 2,000 |
| Bishops Cleeve | Kayte Lane | 1,500 |
| Bridgwater Town | Fairfax Park | 2,500 |
| Didcot Town | Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium | 3,000 |
| Evesham United | Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium | 3,000 |
| Hereford | Edgar Street | 4,913 |
| Larkhall Athletic | The Plain Ham Ground | 1,000 |
| Mangotsfield United | Cossham Street | 2,500 |
| North Leigh | Eynsham Hall Park Sports Ground | 2,000 |
| Paulton Rovers | Athletic Field | 2,500 |
| Salisbury | Raymond McEnhill Stadium | 5,000 |
| Shortwood United | Meadowbank Ground | 2,000 |
| Slimbridge | Thornhill Park | 1,500 |
| Swindon Supermarine | Hunts Copse Ground | 3,000 |
| Taunton Town | The Viridor Stadium | 2,500 |
| Tiverton Town | Ladysmead | 3,500 |
| Wantage Town | Alfredian Park | 1,500 |
| Wimborne Town | The Cuthbury | 3,250 |
| Winchester City | The City Ground | 4,500 |
| Yate Town | Lodge Road | 2,000 |