The 1986–87 season was the 72nd season of the Isthmian League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from London, East and South East England. League consisted of three divisions. The Second Division was divided into two sections.
Wycombe Wanderers won the league and returned to the Conference at the first attempt.
Premier Division
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 19 clubs from the previous season and three new clubs:
- Bromley, promoted as runners-up in Division One
- St Albans City, promoted as champions of Division One
- Wycombe Wanderers, relegated from Alliance Premier League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 42 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 103 | 32 | +71 | 101 | Promoted to the Football Conference |
| 2 | Yeovil Town | 42 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 71 | 27 | +44 | 92 | |
| 3 | Slough Town | 42 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 70 | 44 | +26 | 77 | |
| 4 | Hendon | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 67 | 53 | +14 | 73 | |
| 5 | Bognor Regis Town | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 85 | 61 | +24 | 70 | |
| 6 | Harrow Borough | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 44 | +24 | 70 | |
| 7 | Croydon | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 51 | 48 | +3 | 64 | |
| 8 | Barking | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 76 | 56 | +20 | 62 | |
| 9 | Farnborough Town | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 66 | 72 | −6 | 62 | |
| 10 | Bishop's Stortford | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 60 | |
| 11 | Bromley | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 63 | 72 | −9 | 59 | |
| 12 | Kingstonian | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 57 | |
| 13 | Windsor & Eton | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 47 | 52 | −5 | 54 | |
| 14 | St Albans City | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 61 | 70 | −9 | 51 | |
| 15 | Carshalton Athletic | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 55 | 68 | −13 | 48 | |
| 16 | Hayes | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 45 | 68 | −23 | 48 | |
| 17 | Wokingham Town | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 47 | 61 | −14 | 48 | |
| 18 | Dulwich Hamlet | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 62 | 71 | −9 | 46 | |
| 19 | Tooting & Mitcham United | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 41 | 53 | −12 | 45 | |
| 20 | Hitchin Town | 42 | 13 | 5 | 24 | 56 | 69 | −13 | 44 | |
| 21 | Worthing | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 58 | 107 | −49 | 33 | Relegated to Division One |
| 22 | Walthamstow Avenue | 42 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 36 | 113 | −77 | 18 |
Stadia and locations
Barking
Bromley
Dulwich Hamlet
Hayes
Carshalton Athletic
Croydon
Harrow Borough
Hendon
Kingstonian
Tooting & Mitcham United
Walthamstow Avenue
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Barking | Mayesbrook Park |
| Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park |
| Bognor Regis Town | Nyewood Lane |
| Bromley | Hayes Lane |
| Carshalton Athletic | War Memorial Sports Ground |
| Croydon | Croydon Sports Arena |
| Dulwich Hamlet | Champion Hill |
| Farnborough Town | Cherrywood Road |
| Hayes | Church Road |
| Harrow Borough | Earlsmead Stadium |
| Hendon | Claremont Road |
| Hitchin Town | Top Field |
| Kingstonian | Kingsmeadow |
| Slough Town | Wexham Park |
| St Albans City | Clarence Park |
| Tooting & Mitcham United | Imperial Fields |
| Walthamstow Avenue | Green Pond Road |
| Windsor & Eton | Stag Meadow |
| Wokingham Town | Cantley Park |
| Worthing | Woodside Road |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Adams Park |
| Yeovil Town | Huish Park |
Division One
Division One consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs:
Two clubs relegated from the Premier Division:
Two clubs promoted from Division Two North:
Two clubs promoted from Division Two South:
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leytonstone/Ilford | 42 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 78 | 29 | +49 | 95 | Promoted to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Leyton-Wingate | 42 | 23 | 13 | 6 | 68 | 31 | +37 | 82 | |
| 3 | Bracknell Town | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 92 | 48 | +44 | 81 | |
| 4 | Southwick | 42 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 80 | 66 | +14 | 76 | |
| 5 | Wembley | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 61 | 47 | +14 | 72 | |
| 6 | Grays Athletic | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 67 | |
| 7 | Kingsbury Town | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 69 | 67 | +2 | 67 | |
| 8 | Boreham Wood | 42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 59 | 52 | +7 | 66 | |
| 9 | Uxbridge | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 60 | 59 | +1 | 63 | |
| 10 | Leatherhead | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 45 | 48 | −3 | 62 | |
| 11 | Hampton | 42 | 18 | 5 | 19 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 59 | |
| 12 | Basildon United | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 58 | 60 | −2 | 58 | |
| 13 | Billericay Town | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 54 | |
| 14 | Staines Town | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 40 | 51 | −11 | 52 | |
| 15 | Lewes | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 55 | 65 | −10 | 51 | |
| 16 | Stevenage Borough | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 61 | 67 | −6 | 47 | |
| 17 | Oxford City | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 64 | 72 | −8 | 43 | |
| 18 | Walton & Hersham | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 53 | 74 | −21 | 43 | |
| 19 | Tilbury | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 46 | 70 | −24 | 43 | Relegated to Division Two North |
| 20 | Epsom & Ewell | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 44 | 68 | −24 | 43 | Relegated to Division Two South |
| 21 | Maidenhead United | 42 | 11 | 4 | 27 | 44 | 76 | −32 | 37 | |
| 22 | Finchley | 42 | 6 | 11 | 25 | 44 | 90 | −46 | 29 | Relegated to Division Two North |
Stadia and locations
Boreham Wood
Epsom & Ewell
Finchley
Grays Athletic
Hampton
Kingsbury Town
Leytonstone/Ilford
Leyton-Wingate
Staines Town
Uxbridge
Wembley
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Basildon United | Gardiners Close |
| Billericay Town | New Lodge |
| Boreham Wood | Meadow Park |
| Bracknell Town | Larges Lane |
| Epsom & Ewell | Merland Rise |
| Finchley | Summers Lane |
| Grays Athletic | New Recreation Ground |
| Hampton | Beveree Stadium |
| Kingsbury Town | Avenue Park |
| Leatherhead | Fetcham Grove |
| Lewes | The Dripping Pan |
| Leytonstone/Ilford | Victoria Road |
| Leyton-Wingate | Wadham Lodge |
| Maidenhead United | York Road |
| Oxford City | Marsh Lane |
| Southwick | Old Barn Way |
| Staines Town | Wheatsheaf Park |
| Stevenage Borough | The Lamex Stadium |
| Tilbury | Chadfields |
| Uxbridge | Honeycroft |
| Walton & Hersham | The Sports Ground |
| Wembley | Vale Farm |
Division Two North
Division Two North consisted of 22 clubs, including 16 clubs from the previous season and six new clubs:
- Aveley, relegated from Division One
- Chesham United, relegated from Division One
- Collier Row, joined from the London Spartan League
- Harlow Town, relegated from Division One
- Hornchurch, relegated from Division One
- Wivenhoe Town, joined from the Essex Senior League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesham United | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 81 | 48 | +33 | 90 | Promoted to Division One |
| 2 | Wolverton Town | 42 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 74 | 32 | +42 | 83 | |
| 3 | Haringey Borough | 42 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 86 | 40 | +46 | 79 | |
| 4 | Heybridge Swifts | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 81 | 54 | +27 | 74 | |
| 5 | Aveley | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 70 | |
| 6 | Letchworth Garden City | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 62 | +15 | 68 | |
| 7 | Barton Rovers | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 49 | 39 | +10 | 65 | |
| 8 | Tring Town | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 69 | 49 | +20 | 64 | |
| 9 | Collier Row | 42 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 67 | 65 | +2 | 62 | |
| 10 | Ware | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 59 | |
| 11 | Saffron Walden Town | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 56 | 54 | +2 | 56 | |
| 12 | Wivenhoe Town | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 56 | |
| 13 | Vauxhall Motors | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 61 | 57 | +4 | 55 | |
| 14 | Hornchurch | 42 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 55 | |
| 15 | Hertford Town | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 52 | 53 | −1 | 55 | |
| 16 | Berkhamsted Town | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 52 | |
| 17 | Harlow Town | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 45 | 55 | −10 | 50 | |
| 18 | Rainham Town | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 53 | 70 | −17 | 47 | |
| 19 | Clapton | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 45 | 63 | −18 | 41 | |
| 20 | Hemel Hempstead | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 48 | 77 | −29 | 39 | |
| 21 | Royston Town | 42 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 37 | 109 | −72 | 24 | |
| 22 | Cheshunt | 42 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 43 | 114 | −71 | 21 | Resigned and joined the Spartan League |
Stadia and locations
Aveley
Cheshunt
Clapton
Collier Row
Haringey Borough
Hornchurch
Rainham Town
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Aveley | The Mill Field |
| Barton Rovers | Sharpenhoe Road |
| Berkhamsted Town | Broadwater |
| Chesham United | The Meadow |
| Cheshunt | Cheshunt Stadium |
| Clapton | The Old Spotted Dog Ground |
| Collier Row | Sungate |
| Harlow Town | Harlow Sportcentre |
| Haringey Borough | Coles Park |
| Hemel Hempstead | Vauxhall Road |
| Hertford Town | Hertingfordbury Park |
| Heybridge Swifts | Scraley Road |
| Hornchurch | Hornchurch Stadium |
| Letchworth Garden City | Baldock Road |
| Rainham Town | Deri Park |
| Royston Town | Garden Walk |
| Saffron Walden Town | Catons Lane |
| Tring Town | Pendley Ground |
| Vauxhall Motors | Brache Estate |
| Ware | Wodson Park |
| Wivenhoe Town | Broad Lane |
| Wolverton Town | Wolverton Park |
Division Two South
Division Two South consisted of 21 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and three new clubs:
- Chalfont St Peter, transferred from Division Two North
- Chertsey Town, joined from the Combined Counties League
- Harefield United, transferred from Division Two North
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woking | 40 | 27 | 7 | 6 | 110 | 32 | +78 | 88 | Promoted to Division One |
| 2 | Marlow | 40 | 28 | 4 | 8 | 78 | 36 | +42 | 88 | |
| 3 | Dorking | 40 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 78 | 30 | +48 | 84 | |
| 4 | Feltham | 40 | 25 | 3 | 12 | 79 | 34 | +45 | 78 | |
| 5 | Ruislip Manor | 40 | 22 | 10 | 8 | 85 | 47 | +38 | 76 | |
| 6 | Chertsey Town | 40 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 65 | |
| 7 | Metropolitan Police | 40 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 70 | 61 | +9 | 61 | |
| 8 | Chalfont St Peter | 40 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 60 | 55 | +5 | 61 | |
| 9 | Hungerford Town | 40 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 55 | 48 | +7 | 56 | |
| 10 | Harefield United | 40 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 56 | |
| 11 | Eastbourne United | 40 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 72 | 59 | +13 | 55 | |
| 12 | Whyteleafe | 40 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 52 | 63 | −11 | 51 | |
| 13 | Horsham | 40 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 54 | 61 | −7 | 50 | |
| 14 | Egham Town | 40 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 45 | 77 | −32 | 48 | |
| 15 | Camberley Town | 40 | 13 | 3 | 24 | 62 | 89 | −27 | 42 | |
| 16 | Flackwell Heath | 40 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 34 | 63 | −29 | 38 | |
| 17 | Banstead Athletic | 40 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 44 | 61 | −17 | 36 | |
| 18 | Petersfield United | 40 | 9 | 8 | 23 | 45 | 84 | −39 | 35 | |
| 19 | Molesey | 40 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 37 | 89 | −52 | 33 | |
| 20 | Newbury Town | 40 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 51 | 83 | −32 | 32 | |
| 21 | Southall | 40 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 28 | 85 | −57 | 24 |
Stadia and locations
Banstead Athletic
Chalfont St Peter
Egham Town
Feltham
Harefield United
Metropolitan Police
Molesey
Ruislip Manor
Southall
Whyteleafe
| Club | Stadium |
|---|---|
| Banstead Athletic | Merland Rise |
| Camberley Town | Kroomer Park |
| Chalfont St Peter | Mill Meadow |
| Chertsey Town | Alwyns Lane |
| Dorking | Meadowbank Stadium |
| Eastbourne United | The Oval |
| Egham Town | The Runnymede Stadium |
| Feltham | The Orchard |
| Flackwell Heath | Wilks Park |
| Harefield United | Preston Park |
| Horsham | Queen Street |
| Hungerford Town | Bulpit Lane |
| Marlow | Alfred Davis Memorial Ground |
| Metropolitan Police | Imber Court |
| Molesey | Walton Road Stadium |
| Newbury Town | Town Ground |
| Petersfield United | The Southdowns Builders Stadium |
| Ruislip Manor | Grosvenor Vale |
| Southall | Robert Parker Stadium |
| Whyteleafe | Church Road |
| Woking | The Laithwaite Community Stadium |