Get the low down on the sides AFC Totton will face in the Vanarama National League South after their historic promotion from the Southern League Premier South

james.henley@advertiserandtimes.co.uk

Published: 16:44, 19 May 2025

Now that the dust has settled on AFC Totton’s historic promotion to Step 2 of the English non-league football pyramid for the first time in their 139-year history, eyes are turning to the season ahead.

After the Stags defeated Gloucester City in the Southern League Premier South promotion play-off final, it is time to contemplate the array of opponents they will face in the Vanarama National League South.

The aftermath of Ethan Taylor's winning goal for AFC Totton against Gloucester City (File picture: Harvey Gerring)

The division will consist of 24 teams, and the league’s configuration is now settled after Sunday’s National League South Play-Off final. Boreham Wood defeated Maidstone United 1-0, dooming the side that finished seventh last season to at least one more National League South season.

Among the cohort of future AFC Totton opponents are the 2024-2025 season’s beaten play-off contestants. Torquay United missed out on top spot by virtue of scoring just two fewer goals than champions Truro City.

To add insult to injury, the Gulls lost at home to Boreham Wood in their play-off semi-final.

AFC Totton celebrating their promotion to National League South after winning the play-off final (File picture: Harvey Gerring)

Also falling at the play-off hurdle were Eastbourne Borough, Worthing and Dorking Wanderers, after the 46-game regular season left Dorking in sixth place, just three points behind the title-winning Truro.

Of the four teams dropping from the National League, Dagenham & Redbridge, Maidenhead United and the Kent-based Ebbsfleet United will all come into the National League South – the other relegated side being the Blackpool side Fylde AFC.

Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin holds the Southern League Premier Division play-off final trophy (File picture: Harvey Gerring)

Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins’ former loan club Weston-super-Mare ended their regular season campaign just one place and four points away from qualifying for the play-offs, and the Seagulls will be among the favourites to challenge at the top of the division again.

The season ahead will bring a renewal of hostilities with local rivals Salisbury. The Whites, conquerors of the Stags in last season’s play-off final, saved their Step 2 status with a 1-1 draw at Welling United on the final day of the season.

North Hampshire side Farnborough ended the season in 10th place, winning 18 and losing 19 of their 46 games to end up with a goal difference of plus one.

AFC Totton manager Jimmy Ball (left) with Southampton FC legend and AFC Totton director of football James Beattie (File picture: Sayers Sports Photography)

Last season’s Southern League Premier Division South champions Chesham United held their own to achieve a respectable 13th-place finish.

Isthmian League Premier Division champions Horsham, who ended AFC Totton’s participation in the Isuzu FA Trophy at the third round stage in 2023/24, and play-off winners Dover Athletic, join the National League South.

The Whites claimed the last play-off spot, finishing 11 points behind runners-up Billericay Town. But a 2-1 win in Essex set up a trip to Kent to face Dartford, where a 2-0 away win was enough to send the division’s most south-easterly side up to Step 2.

Bath City, Chelmsford City, Chippenham Town, Ebbsfleet United, Enfield Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hemel Hempstead Town, Hornchurch, Slough Town, and Tonbridge Angels will complete the National League South line-up for the 2025/26 season.

Football James Henley