1936–37 Southern Football League
The 1936–37 season was the 39th in the history of the Southern League. The league reverted to a single division after four of the league's nineteen clubs left at the end of the previous season.[1] Newly elected Ipswich Town won the title at the first attempt, whilst Margate left the league at the end of the season. Ipswich applied for election to the Football League, but were unsuccessful.
Final table
| Season | 1936-37 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Ipswich Town (1st title) |
| Promoted | none |
| Relegated | Margate (resigned) |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Goals scored | 974 (4.06 per match) |
|
← 1935–36
1937–38 →
|
|
The league comprised the seven remaining clubs from the Eastern Division, the eight clubs remaining in the Western Division and one new club.
Newly elected team:
- Ipswich Town - elected from the Eastern Counties League.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv1 | Pts2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ipswich Town | 30 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 68 | 35 | 1.94 | 46 | |
| 2 | Norwich City II | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 70 | 35 | 2 | 41 | |
| 3 | Folkestone | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 71 | 61 | 1.16 | 38 | |
| 4 | Bath City | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 66 | 52 | 1.27 | 35 | |
| 5 | Margate | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 61 | 49 | 1.24 | 34 | Left league at end of season |
| 6 | Guildford City | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 54 | 60 | 0.9 | 34 | |
| 7 | Yeovil & Petters United | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 77 | 69 | 1.12 | 33 | |
| 8 | Newport County II | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 72 | 68 | 1.06 | 30 | |
| 9 | Plymouth Argyle II | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 64 | 58 | 1.1 | 30 | |
| 10 | Barry | 30 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 58 | 72 | 0.81 | 28 | |
| 11 | Cheltenham Town | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 61 | 70 | 0.87 | 24 | |
| 12 | Exeter City II | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 57 | 78 | 0.73 | 23 | |
| 13 | Dartford | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 41 | 55 | 0.75 | 23 | |
| 14 | Torquay United II | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 45 | 76 | 0.59 | 21 | |
| 15 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 62 | 64 | 0.97 | 20 | |
| 16 | Aldershot II | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 72 | 0.65 | 20 |
1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Football League election
Ipswich Town were the only non-League club to apply for election to the Football League Third Division South, but won fewer votes than League clubs Exeter City and Aldershot.[2]
| Club | League | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Exeter City | Football League Third Division South | 40 |
| Aldershot | Football League Third Division South | 34 |
| Ipswich Town | Southern League | 24 |
