Southern League Test Matches
From 1895 to 1903 promotion and relegation between the Southern League Division 1 and Division 2 was decided by Test Matches between the bottom teams in Division 1 and the top teams in Division 2. The matches were generally played at neutral venues – for example, all three of Swindon's games were played at Elm Park, Reading. On occasions teams were elected to Division 1 despite losing Test Matches to fill vacancies caused by resignations or to expand the top division. Generally in the event of a draw after extra time both teams were elected to Division 1, but Grays United were twice denied promotion for refusing to play extra time.
| Division 1 | Division 2 | |||
| 1894-95 | Swindon TownE | 1 | New BromptonP | 5 |
| Clapton | 5 | Sheppey United | 1 | |
| Royal Ordnance F | 3 | Old St Stephen's | 1 | |
| 1895-96 | IlfordX | 0 | Wolverton LNWRP | 2 |
| Royal Ordnance FE | 2 | Sheppey UnitedP | 4 | |
| ClaptonX | 4 | 1st Scots Guards | 1 | |
| 1896-97 | Wolverton LNWR | 2 | Dartford | 0 |
| Sheppey United | 2 | RE Training Battalion | 1 | |
| NorthfleetE | 0 | FreemantleX | 3 | |
| 1897-981 | Wolverton LNWRR | − | Royal ArtilleryP | − |
| NorthfleetX | − | WarmleyP | − | |
| 1898-99 | Sheppey UnitedD | 1 | Thames IronworksD | 1 |
| Royal ArtilleryX | 1 | CowesP | 4 | |
| 1899-00 | Sheppey UnitedR | 1 | WatfordP | 2 |
| Thames Ironworks | 5 | Fulham | 1 | |
| 1900-01 | Swindon TownD | 0 | BrentfordD | 0 |
| Watford | 0 | Grays United2 | 0 | |
| 1901-02 | Swindon Town | 3 | Fulham | 1 |
| Brentford | 1 | Grays United2 | 1 | |
| 1902-03 | Brentford | 7 | FulhamE | 2 |
| WatfordR | 3 | Brighton & Hove AP | 5 | |
|
P promoted to Division 1 R relegated to Division 2 E elected to Division 1 D both teams elected following draw (after extra time) X resigned 1 Test Matches organised on group basis, 1897-98 (see below) 2 Grays twice excluded for refusing to play extra time |
||||
Test Matches 1897-98
| Northfleet | 3 | Warmley | 1 |
| Wolverton LNWR | 3 | Royal Artillery | 3 |
| Northfleet | 1 | Royal Artillery | 3 |
| Wolverton LNWR | 1 | Warmley | 1 |
| Northfleet | 0 | Royal Artillery | 1 |
| Wolverton LNWR | 1 | Warmley | 6 |
Final Table 1897-98
| PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF/A | PTS | ||
| 1 | Royal ArtilleryP | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1.750 | 5 |
| 2 | WarmleyP | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1.600 | 3 |
| 3 | NorthfleetX | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 4 | Wolverton LNWRR | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0.500 | 2 |