Division 1 featured now increased to seventeen teams with Hove White Rovers being promoted from Division 2 and Southwick re-joining. Division 2 featured eleven teams from which the winners would be promoted into Division 1.
Division One
The division featured 17 clubs, 15 which competed in the last season, along with two new clubs:
Hove White Rovers, promoted from last season's Division Two
Source: Non-League Matters Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. The points system until the 1982–83 season: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Division Two
The division featured 11 clubs, 9 which competed in the last season, along with two new clubs:
Source: Non-League Matters Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. The points system until the 1982–83 season: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.