Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional English football league usually known by the name of its official title sponsor, as the Ryman League. However, "Isthmian" remains its legal name, and if the contract with Ryman's is not renewed the general reference name will change; before Ryman, the league was called the Diadora League. The league was founded in 1905.Of the three regional leagues whose champions qualify for promotion to the Nationwide Conference, the Isthmian was once the most dedicated to amateurism—their champions did not even have a trophy, the League policy being that the honour sufficed. Teams less able to compete financially thus gravitated to it rather than the Dr Martens Southern League, while those with ambition and money would move in the opposite direction.
With the regularization of promotion to higher leagues for champions, repeat champions of this league have become a thing of the past; however, Canvey Island were runners-up in the 2000/01 (to Farnborough Town), 2001/02 (to Gravesend & Northfleet), and 2002/03 (to Aldershot Town) seasons, besides winning the FA Trophy in the first of those seasons and getting to the Third Round Proper of the FA Cup in the second, before finally securing the 2003/04 league title.
The league formerly had Premier, First, Second, and Third Divisions, but now has divisions named Premier, One (North), One (South), and Two. They extend from the second down to the fourth, no longer to the fifth, tiers of the National League System pyramid. Teams from Division Two must compete for promotion to the two Division One leagues with teams from the Combined Counties League and Essex Senior League. There is a league cup, open to teams of all divisions, sponsored by Bryco.
Premier Division teams
External link