Isthmian League Premier Division
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Countries |  England |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1905 |
| Number of teams | 22 |
| Promotion to | Conference North or South |
| Relegation to | Division One North or South |
| Levels on pyramid | Level 7 |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Trophy Isthmian League Cup |
| Current champions | Chelmsford City (2007-08) |
| Website | Isthmian |
 Isthmian League 2008-09 |
|
The Premier Division is the top division of the Isthmian League. It was at the sixth tier of the English football league system from 1985 until 2004 but is now at the seventh tier. For sponsorship reasons, it is often referred to as the Ryman League Premier Division.
The division is run in parallel with the Premier Divisions of the Northern Premier League and the Southern League. The division's champions are promoted to the Conference South, while the teams finishing second to fifth enter a knock-out play-off, with the winning club also promoted. Clubs relegated from the Premier Division will drop to the Isthmian League First Division or potentially into the Southern League Division One East depending on their location.
From 1973-74, and the introduction of the Isthmian League Second Division, till 1976-77, this league was actually named the 'Isthmian League First Division'; it was rebranded the Premier Division upon the introduction of a third layer to the Isthmian League
Prior to the 2004-2005 season, the division winners were promoted to the Football Conference (along with the Northern Premier League and Southern League winners), while the lowest placed teams were in recent seasons relegated to either the Isthmian League Division One North or the Isthmian League Division One South.
Contents |
[edit] Member clubs 2008–09
| Club |
Finishing position 2007-08 |
|---|---|
| AFC Hornchurch | 4th |
| Ashford Town (Middlesex) | 6th |
| Billericay Town | 10th |
| Boreham Wood | 19th |
| Canvey Island | 5th, Isthmian League Division One North |
| Carshalton Athletic | 18th |
| Dartford | 1st, Isthmian League Division One North |
| Dover Athletic | 1st, Isthmian League Division One South (promoted) |
| Harlow Town | 15th |
| Harrow Borough | 16th |
| Hastings United | 14th |
| Hendon | 7th |
| Heybridge Swifts | 12th |
| Horsham | 11th |
| Maidstone United | 17th |
| Margate | 9th |
| Ramsgate | 5th |
| Staines Town | 2nd (promoted) |
| Sutton United | 22nd, Conference South |
| Tonbridge Angels | 8th |
| Tooting and Mitcham United | 2nd, Isthmian League Division One South |
| Wealdstone | 13th |
[edit] Champions
Here is a complete list of Isthmian League top division champions, throughout the league's history.[1]
