2008–09 Isthmian League

Premier Division

The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 17 clubs from the previous season, and five new clubs:

Canvey Island, promoted as play-off winners in Division One North

Dartford, promoted as champions of Division One North

Dover Athletic, promoted as champions of Division One South

Sutton United, relegated from the Conference South

Tooting & Mitcham United, promoted as play-off winners in Division One South

Dover Athletic became champions five games before the end of the season and were promoted to the Conference South along with play-off winners Staines Town. Harlow Town, Heybridge Swifts and Ramsgate were relegated to the Division One sections, while Margate, who also finished in the relegation zone, were reprieved due to the demotion of clubs higher up the pyramid.

League table

Source:
^‡ Harlow Town were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player against Wealdstone on 14 February 2009 (2–1).
^† Ramsgate were deducted four points for playing more than permitted number of short term loan players in three matches, including Margate on 27 December 2008 (2–0) and Tonbridge Angels on 3 January 2009 (2–2).
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Stadia and locations

1.^ Hendon left Claremont Road at September and spent the rest of campaign groundsharing with Northwood and Staines Town.

Division One North

Division One North consisted of 22 clubs, including 15 clubs from the previous season, and seven new clubs:

Chatham Town, transferred from Division One South

Cheshunt, relegated from the Southern Football League Premier Division

Concord Rangers, promoted as champions of the Essex Senior League

East Thurrock United, relegated from the Premier Division

Hillingdon Borough, transferred from Southern Football League Division One South & West

Leyton, relegated from the Premier Division

Thamesmead Town, promoted as champions of the Kent League

Aveley won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Waltham Abbey. Witham Town and Hillingdon Borough finished in the bottom two places and left the league.

League table

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
^† Potters Bar Town were deducted one point for fielding an unregistered player against Maldon Town on 23 September 2008 (0–0).
^‡ Maldon Town were deducted three points for fielding a player without international clearance against Chatham Town on 27 September 2008 (2–0).
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Division One South

Division One South consisted of 22 clubs, including 17 clubs from the previous season, and five new clubs:

Crowborough Athletic, promoted as champions of the Sussex County League

Fleet Town, transferred from Southern Football League Division One South & West

Folkestone Invicta, relegated from the Premier Division

Godalming Town, transferred from Southern Football League Division One South & West

Merstham, promoted as champions of the Combined Counties League

Kingstonian won the division and were promoted to the Premier Division along with play-off winners Cray Wanderers. Crowborough Athletic finished bottom of the table and returned to the Sussex County League after only one season in the Isthmian League. Chipstead were reprieved from relegation due to the demotion of clubs higher up the pyramid.

League table

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
^‡ Dulwich Hamlet were deducted three points for fielding an unregistered player against Eastbourne Town on 16 August (2–1).
^† Merstham were deducted one point for fielding a suspended player against Worthing on 11 April (2–4) and against Chipstead on 13 April (0–0).
^# Crowborough Athletic were deducted three points for fielding a player without international clearance in thirty league matches.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

League Cup

The Isthmian League Cup 2008–09 was the 35th season of the Isthmian League Cup, the league cup competition of the Isthmian League. Sixty-six clubs took part. The competition commenced on 18 November 2008 and finished on 8 April 2009.

Fixtures and results

Fixtures are listed in alphabetical order, not that which they were drawn in.

First round

Four clubs from division Ones participated in the First Round, while all other clubs received a bye to the Second Round.

Second round

The two clubs to have made it through the First Round were entered into the draw with every other Isthmian League club, making sixty-four teams.

‡ - Waltham Forest removed from competition, Witham Town reinstalled