The divide between a more prosperous north and a less prosperous south may have had a long-term impact on football, although one has to remember that in the early days of the game there was a preponderance of teams in the north.
The divide between a more prosperous north and a less prosperous south may have had a long-term impact on football, although one has to remember that in the early days of the game there was a preponderance of teams in the north.
1957-8 was the last season in which the Football League had regionalised third divisions. Of the 24 clubs in the former Third Division South, just one, Welsh team Newport County, will be non-league next season. Yet 12 of the 24 teams in the old Third Division north will begin next season either in the Blue Square or Evo-Stik leagues, and that’s not counting Grimsby Town and Lincoln City who were playing in the old second division in 1957-8.
The replacements have not been like for like. While losing 14 clubs from the Football League the north has gained just four, while the south has lost two clubs but gained 12. Since the end of regionalisation, the Football League has ten more clubs from the south and ten fewer from the north.