The1988–89 season was the 74th season of theIsthmian League, which is an Englishfootball competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London,East andSouth East England.
The league consisted of three divisions. Division Two was divided into two sections.
Leytonstone/Ilford were 1989 champions, winning their first Isthmian League title after renaming in 1983. In the summer of 1988, Oxford City had left the league after losing its ground. Also in the summer of 1988, Walthamstow Avenue merged into Leytonstone/Ilford: the new club regained Leytonstone/Ilford's name and place in the Premier Division.
| Season | 1988–89 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Leytonstone/Ilford |
| Promoted | Farnborough Town |
| Relegated | Croydon Tooting & Mitcham United |
| Matches | 462 |
| Goals | 1,236 (2.68 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 1,763 –Slough Town –Farnborough Town,(27 December) |
| Total attendance | 141,270 |
| Average attendance | 306 |
1989–90 → | |
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 19 clubs from theprevious season and three new clubs:
At the end of the previous season First Division clubWalthamstow Avenue merged into Leytonstone/Ilford. The new club started next season in the Premier Division under the name of the Premier Division club.
At the end of the season Leytonstone/Ilford were refused in promotion due to ground problems. The club changed its name into Redbridge Forest before the next season started.
Farnborough Town finished second and were promoted back to the Conference after four years in the Isthmian League.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leytonstone/Ilford | 42 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 76 | 36 | +40 | 89 | |
| 2 | Farnborough Town | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 85 | 61 | +24 | 81 | Promoted to theFootball Conference |
| 3 | Slough Town | 42 | 24 | 6 | 12 | 72 | 42 | +30 | 78 | |
| 4 | Carshalton Athletic | 42 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 59 | 36 | +23 | 72 | |
| 5 | Grays Athletic | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 62 | 47 | +15 | 70 | |
| 6 | Kingstonian | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 54 | 37 | +17 | 68 | |
| 7 | Bishop's Stortford | 42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 70 | 56 | +14 | 66 | |
| 8 | Hayes | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 66 | |
| 9 | Bognor Regis Town | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 38 | 49 | −11 | 62 | |
| 10 | Barking | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 61 | |
| 11 | Wokingham Town | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 56 | |
| 12 | Hendon | 42 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 56 | |
| 13 | Windsor & Eton | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 55 | |
| 14 | Bromley | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 54 | |
| 15 | Leyton-Wingate | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 54 | |
| 16 | Dulwich Hamlet | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 58 | 57 | +1 | 48 | |
| 17 | St Albans City | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 45 | |
| 18 | Dagenham | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 53 | 68 | −15 | 45 | |
| 19 | Harrow Borough | 42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 53 | 75 | −22 | 40 | |
| 20 | Marlow | 42 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 48 | 83 | −35 | 38 | |
| 21 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 42 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 41 | 81 | −40 | 36 | Relegated toDivision One |
| 22 | Croydon | 42 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 27 | 81 | −54 | 21 |
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Barking | Mayesbrook Park |
| Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park |
| Bognor Regis Town | Nyewood Lane |
| Bromley | Hayes Lane |
| Carshalton Athletic | War Memorial Sports Ground |
| Croydon | Croydon Sports Arena |
| Dagenham | Victoria Road |
| Dulwich Hamlet | Champion Hill |
| Farnborough Town | Cherrywood Road |
| Grays Athletic | New Recreation Ground |
| Hayes | Church Road |
| Harrow Borough | Earlsmead Stadium |
| Hendon | Claremont Road |
| Kingstonian | Kingsmeadow |
| Leytonstone/Ilford | Victoria Road |
| Leyton-Wingate | Wadham Lodge |
| Marlow | Alfred Davis Memorial Ground |
| Slough Town | Wexham Park |
| St Albans City | Clarence Park |
| Tooting & Mitcham United | Imperial Fields |
| Windsor & Eton | Stag Meadow |
| Wokingham Town | Cantley Park |
| Season | 1988–89 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Staines Town |
| Promoted | Basingstoke Town Staines Town |
| Relegated | Basildon United Bracknell Town Collier Row |
| Matches | 420 |
| Goals | 1,170 (2.79 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 1,432 –Woking –Lewes,(6 May) |
| Total attendance | 85,740 |
| Average attendance | 204 |
1989–90 → | |
Division One consisted of 21 clubs, including 15 clubs from theprevious season and six new clubs:
Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
Two clubs promoted from Division Two North:
Two clubs promoted from Division Two South:
Division One started the season one club short afterOxford City left the league after losing its ground, and Walthamstow Avenue merged into Leytonstone/Ilford at the end of the previous season.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Staines Town | 40 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 79 | 29 | +50 | 87 | Promoted to thePremier Division |
| 2 | Basingstoke Town | 40 | 25 | 8 | 7 | 85 | 36 | +49 | 83 | |
| 3 | Woking | 40 | 24 | 10 | 6 | 72 | 30 | +42 | 82 | |
| 4 | Hitchin Town | 40 | 21 | 11 | 8 | 60 | 32 | +28 | 74 | |
| 5 | Wivenhoe Town | 40 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 72 | |
| 6 | Lewes | 40 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 71 | |
| 7 | Walton & Hersham | 40 | 21 | 7 | 12 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 70 | |
| 8 | Kingsbury Town | 40 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 67 | |
| 9 | Uxbridge | 40 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 64 | |
| 10 | Wembley | 40 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 45 | 58 | −13 | 60 | |
| 11 | Boreham Wood | 40 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 57 | |
| 12 | Leatherhead | 40 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 50 | |
| 13 | Metropolitan Police | 40 | 13 | 9 | 18 | 52 | 68 | −16 | 48 | |
| 14 | Chesham United | 40 | 12 | 9 | 19 | 54 | 67 | −13 | 45 | |
| 15 | Southwick | 40 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 44 | 58 | −14 | 42 | |
| 16 | Chalfont St Peter | 40 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 56 | 82 | −26 | 42 | |
| 17 | Hampton | 40 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 37 | 62 | −25 | 35 | |
| 18 | Worthing | 40 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 49 | 80 | −31 | 32[a] | |
| 19 | Collier Row | 40 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 37 | 82 | −45 | 31 | Relegated toDivision Two North |
| 20 | Bracknell Town | 40 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 38 | 70 | −32 | 30 | Relegated toDivision Two South |
| 21 | Basildon United | 40 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 34 | 77 | −43 | 25 | Relegated toDivision Two North |
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Basildon United | Gardiners Close |
| Basingstoke Town | The Camrose |
| Boreham Wood | Meadow Park |
| Bracknell Town | Larges Lane |
| Chalfont St Peter | Mill Meadow |
| Chesham United | The Meadow |
| Collier Row | Sungate |
| Hampton | Beveree Stadium |
| Hitchin Town | Top Field |
| Kingsbury Town | Avenue Park |
| Leatherhead | Fetcham Grove |
| Lewes | The Dripping Pan |
| Metropolitan Police | Imber Court |
| Southwick | Old Barn Way |
| Staines Town | Wheatsheaf Park |
| Uxbridge | Honeycroft |
| Walton & Hersham | The Sports Ground |
| Wembley | Vale Farm |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad Lane |
| Woking | The Laithwaite Community Stadium |
| Worthing | Woodside Road |
| Season | 1988–89 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Harlow Town |
| Promoted | Harlow Town Purfleet |
| Relegated | Wolverton Town |
| Matches | 462 |
| Goals | 1,291 (2.79 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 512 –Stevenage Borough –Harlow Town,(14 January) |
| Total attendance | 57,239 |
| Average attendance | 124 |
1989–90 → | |
Division Two North consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from theprevious season and four new clubs:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlow Town | 42 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 83 | 38 | +45 | 90 | Promoted toDivision One |
| 2 | Purfleet | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 78 | |
| 3 | Tring Town | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 76 | |
| 4 | Stevenage Borough | 42 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 84 | 55 | +29 | 73 | |
| 5 | Heybridge Swifts | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 64 | 43 | +21 | 72 | |
| 6 | Billericay Town | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 65 | 52 | +13 | 68 | |
| 7 | Clapton | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 56 | +9 | 65 | |
| 8 | Barton Rovers | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 65 | |
| 9 | Aveley | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 54 | 52 | +2 | 64 | |
| 10 | Hertford Town | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 59[a] | |
| 11 | Ware | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 60 | 65 | −5 | 59 | |
| 12 | Hemel Hempstead | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 55 | 58 | −3 | 58 | |
| 13 | Witham Town | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 69 | 67 | +2 | 55 | |
| 14 | Vauxhall Motors | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 54 | |
| 15 | Berkhamsted Town | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 57 | 70 | −13 | 52 | |
| 16 | Hornchurch | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 59 | 61 | −2 | 49 | |
| 17 | Tilbury | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 53 | 60 | −7 | 49 | |
| 18 | Royston Town | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 46 | 72 | −26 | 43 | |
| 19 | Rainham Town | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 49 | 62 | −13 | 42 | |
| 20 | Saffron Walden Town | 42 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 54 | 72 | −18 | 40 | |
| 21 | Letchworth Garden City | 42 | 4 | 18 | 20 | 34 | 71 | −37 | 30 | |
| 22 | Wolverton Town | 42 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 42 | 95 | −53 | 13[b] | Relegated to theSouth Midlands League |
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Aveley | The Mill Field |
| Barton Rovers | Sharpenhoe Road |
| Berkhamsted Town | Broadwater |
| Billericay Town | New Lodge |
| Clapton | The Old Spotted Dog Ground |
| Harlow Town | Harlow Sportcentre |
| Hemel Hempstead | Vauxhall Road |
| Hertford Town | Hertingfordbury Park |
| Heybridge Swifts | Scraley Road |
| Hornchurch | Hornchurch Stadium |
| Letchworth Garden City | Baldock Road |
| Purfleet | Ship Lane |
| Rainham Town | Deri Park |
| Royston Town | Garden Walk |
| Saffron Walden Town | Catons Lane |
| Stevenage Borough | The Lamex Stadium |
| Tilbury | Chadfields |
| Tring Town | Pendley Ground |
| Vauxhall Motors | Brache Estate |
| Ware | Wodson Park |
| Witham Town | Spa Road |
| Wolverton Town | Wolverton Park |
| Season | 1988–89 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Dorking |
| Promoted | Dorking Whyteleafe |
| Matches | 420 |
| Goals | 1,183 (2.82 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 365 –Whyteleafe –Dorking,(8 April) |
| Total attendance | 39,367 |
| Average attendance | 94 |
1989–90 → | |
Division Two South consisted of 21 clubs, including 20 clubs from theprevious season and one new club:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dorking | 40 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 109 | 35 | +74 | 100 | Promoted toDivision One |
| 2 | Whyteleafe | 40 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 86 | 41 | +45 | 84 | |
| 3 | Finchley | 40 | 21 | 9 | 10 | 70 | 45 | +25 | 72 | Transferred toDivision Two North |
| 4 | Molesey | 40 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 58 | 42 | +16 | 70 | |
| 5 | Harefield United | 40 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 64 | |
| 6 | Hungerford Town | 40 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 55 | 45 | +10 | 64 | |
| 7 | Ruislip Manor | 40 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 57 | |
| 8 | Feltham | 40 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 58 | 53 | +5 | 57 | |
| 9 | Epsom & Ewell | 40 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 55 | 55 | 0 | 56 | |
| 10 | Egham Town | 40 | 16 | 7 | 17 | 54 | 58 | −4 | 55 | |
| 11 | Eastbourne United | 40 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 68 | 61 | +7 | 54 | |
| 12 | Chertsey Town | 40 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 55 | 58 | −3 | 53 | |
| 13 | Flackwell Heath | 40 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 50 | |
| 14 | Camberley Town | 40 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 51 | 71 | −20 | 50 | |
| 15 | Yeading | 40 | 13 | 9 | 18 | 47 | 63 | −16 | 46[a] | |
| 16 | Banstead Athletic | 40 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 50 | 65 | −15 | 44 | |
| 17 | Maidenhead United | 40 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 44 | 61 | −17 | 43 | |
| 18 | Southall | 40 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 41 | 73 | −32 | 43 | |
| 19 | Newbury Town | 40 | 11 | 8 | 21 | 47 | 65 | −18 | 41 | |
| 20 | Horsham | 40 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 68 | −32 | 35 | |
| 21 | Petersfield United | 40 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 36 | 87 | −51 | 22 |
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Banstead Athletic | Merland Rise |
| Camberley Town | Kroomer Park |
| Chertsey Town | Alwyns Lane |
| Dorking | Meadowbank Stadium |
| Eastbourne United | The Oval |
| Egham Town | The Runnymede Stadium |
| Epsom & Ewell | Merland Rise (groundshare with Banstead Athletic) |
| Feltham | The Orchard |
| Finchley | Summers Lane |
| Flackwell Heath | Wilks Park |
| Harefield United | Preston Park |
| Horsham | Queen Street |
| Hungerford Town | Bulpit Lane |
| Maidenhead United | York Road |
| Molesey | Walton Road Stadium |
| Newbury Town | Town Ground |
| Petersfield United | The Southdowns Builders Stadium |
| Ruislip Manor | Grosvenor Vale |
| Southall | Robert Parker Stadium |
| Whyteleafe | Church Road |
| Yeading | The Warren |
