Countries | ![]() ![]() |
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Founded | 2004 |
Number of teams | 22 |
Promotion to | Conference National |
Relegation to | Isthmian League Premier Division Southern League Premier Division |
Levels on pyramid | Level 6 |
Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Trophy Conference League Cup |
Current champions | Lewes (2007–08) |
Website | Conference |
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Conference South (currently billed as Blue Square South for sponsorship reasons) is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference North it is at the second level of the National League System, and at the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.
The Conference South was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football. The champions are automatically promoted to Conference National. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to fifth place. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues.
In an agreement with Setanta Sports, some Conference South matches are to be broadcast live on the Setanta Sports channels. Setanta have also re-instated the Conference League Cup, under the name of the Setanta Shield.
Current Conference South team Havant and Waterlooville, appeared in the FA Cup fourth round with an away tie against Liverpool.
From the 2007-08 season it has been known as Blue Square South.
Conference South clubs, 2008-09
Club |
Finishing position 2007-08 |
---|---|
AFC Wimbledon | 3rd in Isthmian League Premier Division |
Basingstoke Town | 15th |
Bath City | 8th |
Bishop's Stortford | 10th |
Bognor Regis Town | 18th |
Braintree Town | 5th |
Bromley | 11th |
Chelmsford City | 1st in Isthmian League Premier Division |
Dorchester Town | 21st |
Eastleigh | 15th |
Fisher Athletic | 4th |
Hampton & Richmond Borough | 3rd |
Havant & Waterlooville | 7th |
Hayes & Yeading United | 13th |
Maidenhead United | 17th |
Newport County | 9th |
St Albans City | 19th |
Team Bath | 2nd in Southern League Premier Division |
Thurrock | 12th |
Welling United | 16th |
Weston-super-Mare | 20th |
Worcester City | 12th in Conference North |
Past Conference South winners
Season | Winner | Playoff Winner |
---|---|---|
2004-05 | Grays Athletic | Eastbourne Borough |
2005-06 | Weymouth | St Albans City |
2006-07 | Histon | Salisbury City |
2007-08 | Lewes | Eastbourne Borough |