The 2003–04 season was the 89th season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England.
It was the last season for the Isthmian League as a feeder for the Conference Premier. At the end of the season, the Premier Division was replaced as a level 6 league (along with the Northern Premier League Premier Division and Southern Football League Premier Division) by the newly formed Conference North and Conference South. The Premier Division lost more than half its clubs to newly formed divisions, and the two regional divisions had a number of their clubs promoted to the Premier Division to replace them. Thus, the Isthmian League divisions downgraded to 7-9 levels.
| Competition: | Isthmian League Premier Division |
| Season: | 2003–04 |
| Winners: | Canvey Island |
| Promoted: | Canvey Island |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1533 |
| League Topscorer: | 42 goals – Lee Boylan (Canvey Island) |
| Highest Attendance: | 1,260 – Kettering Town – Bedford Town, (12 April) |
| Attendance: | 203,453 |
| Average Attendance: | 369 (-14.6% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2002–03 |
| Nextseason: | 2004–05 |
The Premier Division consisted of 24 clubs, including 19 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:
Canvey Island won the division and were promoted to the Conference National. Clubs finished higher than 14th position were to transfer to the newly created Conference North and South divisions and clubs finished higher than 21st position plus winners of Division One were to participate in the play-offs for a two final spots in Conference North/South. After play-offs was held Hendon decided not to take up their option to join the Conference, their place was taken by Basingstoke Town. At the end of the season Ford United were renamed Redbridge.
There were no relegation from the Premier Division this season, though, due to league reform, clubs remained in the division downgraded from sixth tier to seventh.
| Club | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| Buckingham Road | ||
| The Camrose | ||
| The Eyrie | ||
| New Lodge | ||
| Woodside Park | ||
| Nyewood Lane | ||
| Cressing Road | ||
| Brockwell Stadium | ||
| War Memorial Sports Ground | ||
| Oakside | ||
| New Recreation Ground | ||
| Earlsmead Stadium | ||
| Church Road | ||
| Claremont Road | ||
| Scraley Road | ||
| Top Field | ||
| Hornchurch Stadium | ||
| Rockingham Road | ||
| Kingsmeadow (groundshare with AFC Wimbledon) | ||
| York Road | ||
| Chestnut Avenue | ||
| Clarence Park | ||
| Gander Green Lane | ||
| Ship Lane |
| Competition: | Isthmian League Division One North |
| Season: | 2003–04 |
| Winners: | Yeading |
| Relegated: | Enfield |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1745 |
| League Topscorer: | 33 goals – DJ Campbell (Yeading) |
| Highest Attendance: | 408 – Wealdstone – Hemel Hempstead Town, (24 April) |
| Attendance: | 69,362 |
| Average Attendance: | 126 (-11.9% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2002–03 |
| Nextseason: | 2004–05 |
Division One North consisted of 24 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season, and six new clubs:
Before the start of the season Leyton Pennant was renamed Waltham Forest.
Yeading won the division, but lost in the play-offs for a place in the newly created Conference North and South and were placed in the Premier Division along with Leyton and Cheshunt. Chesham United, Dunstable Town and Hemel Hempstead Town were transferred to the Southern Football League Premier Division. They were followed by Wealdstone, who defeated Dulwich Hamlet from Division One South. Enfield finished bottom of the table and relegated to Division Two, going down from sixth to ninth tier in two years due to league system reform.
At the end of the season divisions One were merged, all the remaining Division One North clubs were transferred to the Southern Football League Division Ones.
| Club | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| Hitchin Road | ||
| The Mill Field | ||
| Mayesbrook Park | ||
| Sharpenhoe Road | ||
| Broadwater | ||
| Meadow Park | ||
| The Meadow | ||
| Cheshunt Stadium | ||
| Creasey Park | ||
| Rookery Hill | ||
| Meadow Park (groundshare with Boreham Wood) | ||
| Burroughs Park | ||
| Harlow Sportcentre | ||
| Vauxhall Road | ||
| Leyton Stadium | ||
| Marsh Lane | ||
| Windmill Road | ||
| Chadfields | ||
| Honeycroft | ||
| Wadham Lodge | ||
| White Lion (groundshare with Edgware Town) | ||
| The Harry Abrahams Stadium | ||
| Broad Lane | ||
| The Warren |
| Competition: | Isthmian League Division One South |
| Season: | 2003–04 |
| Winners: | Lewes |
| Promoted: | Lewes |
| Relegated: | Epsom & Ewell |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1709 |
| League Topscorer: | 34 goals – Ian Hodges (Slough Town) |
| Highest Attendance: | 932 – Lewes – Worthing, (12 April) |
| Attendance: | 102,861 |
| Average Attendance: | 186 (+0.0% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2002–03 |
| Nextseason: | 2004–05 |
Division One South consisted of 24 clubs, including 21 clubs from the previous season, and three new clubs:
Lewes won the division and subsequent play-offs and were promoted to the Conference South. Clubs finished second to sixth were transferred to the Premier Division. Epsom & Ewell finished bottom of the table and were relegated, remaining clubs were to start next season in the merged Isthmian League Division One, going down with it from seventh to ninth level due to creation of Conference North/South.
| Club | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| Short Lane | ||
| Merland Rise | ||
| Larges Lane | ||
| Hayes Lane | ||
| King George's Field | ||
| Croydon Sports Arena | ||
| Keith Tuckey Stadium | ||
| Champion Hill | ||
| The Runnymede Stadium | ||
| Merland Rise (groundshare with Banstead Athletic) | ||
| Beveree Stadium | ||
| Queen Street | ||
| Fetcham Grove | ||
| The Dripping Pan | ||
| Alfred Davis Memorial Ground | ||
| Imber Court | ||
| Walton Road Stadium | ||
| Stag Meadow (groundshare with Windsor & Eton) | ||
| Wheatsheaf Park | ||
| Imperial Fields | ||
| The Sports Ground | ||
| Church Road | ||
| Stag Meadow | ||
| Woodside Road |
| Competition: | Isthmian League Division Two |
| Season: | 2003–04 |
| Winners: | Leighton Town |
| Matches: | 315 |
| Total Goals: | 1021 |
| League Topscorer: | 29 goals – John Frendo (Ware) and Matt Rawdon (Leighton Town) |
| Highest Attendance: | 394 – Dorking – Hertford Town, (12 April) |
| Attendance: | 23,880 |
| Average Attendance: | 76 (+1.3% to previous season) |
| Prevseason: | 2002–03 |
| Nextseason: | 2004–05 |
After Hungerford Town resigned from the league, Division Two consisted of 15 clubs, including 12 clubs from the previous season, and three new clubs:
Leighton Town won the division and were transferred to Southern Football League Division One, while runners-up Dorking were transferred to the merged Isthmian League Division One. At the end of the season Wokingham Town merged into Emmbrook Sports (9° Reading League Premier Division) to create new club Wokingham & Emmbrook F.C., who joined Hellenic League Division One East.
| Club | Stadium | |
|---|---|---|
| Culham Road | ||
| Krooner Park | ||
| Mill Meadow | ||
| Alwyns Lane | ||
| The Old Spotted Dog Ground | ||
| Meadowbank Stadium | ||
| White Lion | ||
| Wilks Park | ||
| Hertingfordbury Park | ||
| Avenue Park | ||
| Bell Close | ||
| Wodson Park | ||
| Vale Farm | ||
| Spa Road | ||
| Cantley Park |