The 2008–09 season was the 94th season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England.
Premier Division
Football league season
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
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: [1][2] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Notes:
^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).
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: [1] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Notes:
^Maldon Town were deducted three points for fielding a player without international clearance against Chatham Town on 27 September 2008 (2–0).
^Potters Bar Town were deducted one point for fielding an unregistered player against Maldon Town on 23 September 2008 (0–0).
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: [1] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. Notes:
^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).
^Dulwich Hamlet were deducted three points for fielding an unregistered player against Eastbourne Town on 16 August (2–1).
^Crowborough Athletic were deducted three points for fielding a player without international clearance in thirty league matches.
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.[4]
Calendar
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