The 1996–97 National Division 4 South was the tenth full season of rugby union within the fourth tier of the English league system, currently known as National League 2 South, and the last using the name National Division 4 South. Changes to the league structure by the RFU at the start of the season saw National Division 4 revert to two regional divisions (National Division 4 North and National Division 4 South), while (National Division 5) was split back into regional leagues - North 1, Midlands 1, London 1 and South West 1. This meant that National Division 4 South increased from 10 to 14 teams (28 overall) with multiple teams coming up from the discontinued Division 5.
At the end of the season, Newbury were deserving champions, winning 25 league games that they played (one match was cancelled) and claiming the only promotion spot to the 1997–98 National Division 1 (formerly National Division 3), 10 points clear of their nearest challengers, Henley. At the other end of the table, four teams were relegated. Askeans and Charlton Park were comfortably the worst teams in the division and were the first two sides to go down, followed by High Wycombe and then Berry Hill, with Berry Hill putting up the most fight and finishing just one point from safety. Askeans and Charlton Park would drop to London Division 1 while High Wycombe and Berry Hill would fall to South West 1. The reason Division 4 South had so many relegation places compared to Division 4 North (4 to 2) was that 3 out of 4 of the teams relegated from the division above were based in the south of the country, requiring more places to accommodate for their arrival the following season.
Structure
Each team played home and away matches against each of the other teams, playing a total of twenty-six matches each. The league champions were promoted to the new-look National League 1 while the bottom four sides dropped to either London 1 or South West 1 depending on locality.
Participating teams and locations
TeamGroundCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonAskeans Broad Walk 1,500 (300 seats) Kidbrooke, London Promoted from Division 5 South (8th)BarkingGoresbrook 1,000 Becontree, Dagenham, London Promoted from Division 5 South (4th)Berry Hill Lakers Road Coleford, Gloucestershire Promoted from Division 5 South (5th)Camberley Watchetts Camberley, Surrey Promoted from Division 5 South (7th)Charlton Park Broad Walk 1,500 (300 seats) Kidbrooke, Greenwich, London Promoted from London 1 (champions) Cheltenham Newlands Park Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Promoted from Division 5 South (6th) Henley Dry Leas 4,000 Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Promoted from Division 5 South (3rd) High Wycombe Kingsmead Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Promoted from Division 5 South (10th) Metropolitan Police Imber Court 3,500 (500 seats) East Molesey, Surrey Promoted from Division 5 South (12th) Newbury Monk's Lane 8,000 Newbury, Berkshire Promoted from South West 1 (champions) North Walsham Norwich Road 1,200 Scottow, Norfolk Promoted from Division 5 South (11th) Plymouth Albion Beacon Park1,950 (450 seats) Plymouth, Devon 10th Tabard Cobden Hill Radlett, Hertfordshire Promoted from Division 5 South (9th) Weston-super-Mare Recreation Ground 3,000 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Promoted from Division 5 South (runners up)
League table
Sponsorship National Division 4 South is part of the Courage Clubs Championship and is sponsored by Courage Brewery. This was their tenth and final season of sponsorship.
See also 1996–97 National Division 1 1996–97 National Division 2 1996–97 National Division 3 1996–97 National Division 4 North
Notes
References