IT FEELS like the curtain has only just come down on the season but already the provisional line-ups for the 202425 campaign have been released.
Oxford City have been placed in the National League North following relegation from Step 1, while there are lateral movements at Step 3 for Mickleover, who move to NPL Premier, and Hendon, whose wish to be shifted back to the Isthmian Premier has been granted.
Five clubs have been reprieved at Step 4 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Beckenham Town, Brighouse Town, Hednesford Town and Thame United – while Cirencester Town have taken voluntary relegation from Southern League Division One South.
Allocations are subject to appeal and full AGM ratification.
STEP 3
Bishop’s Stortford continue to tick off the grounds. They’ll be in Southern Premier Central next year following last season’s struggle in National League North, having won the Isthmian Premier a year earlier. They are joined in that division by Banbury United.
Blyth Spartans were the only Step 2 club to be relegated into the NPL Premier after Mickleover, who reached the playoffs in Southern Premier
Central, were transferred to the Northern division.
Hendon have thanked the Southern League for their support in helping them shift to the Isthmian Premier after six years away.
The Greens had spent the previous 55 years in the Isthmian before a switch to Southern Premier South in 2018.
Dartford and Dover Athletic were relegated from National League South into Isthmian Premier after 14 and 15 years respectively away from Step 3.
Southern Premier South welcomes a National League North side in Gloucester City after their 16-year spell in Step 2 ended in April. Havant & Waterlooville and Taunton Town will also join the division, both under new managers.
STEP 4
Nineteen clubs were relegated from Step 3 to 4, with three big-hitters – Harrow Borough, Hayes & Yeading United and Kingstonian – joining Isthmian South Central.
Horndean have switched from Isthmian South East with Money-fields and Rayners Lane the other new clubs to the division following promotions.
Relegated Margate have been placed in Isthmian South East – their first season outside Steps 1-3 in 45 years – while Concord Rangers, FA Trophy runners-up just four years ago, will play in their first Step 4 campaign since 2010 from Isthmian North, joining Haringey Borough.
All three Northern divisions saw clubs gain a reprieve. In NPL East, Brighouse Town have been given a second life having appeared to be relegated on goal difference. Bradford Park Avenue weren’t so lucky from the league above, experiencing a second demotion in two seasons.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds will remain in NPL Midlands, while Grantham Town have swapped from NPL East, where their new opponents include relegated Long Eaton United.
Hednesford Town received a reprieve from NPL West and they will benefit from a local derby with Stafford Rangers next season with Atherton Collieries the others relegated from Step 3.
In the Southern League, Cirencester Town have taken voluntary relegation from Division One Central, which has saved Thame United. It’s a much-changed division with Beaconsfield Town, Berkhamsted and Hitchin Town suffering relegation into it, while Flackwell Heath, Lever-stock Green and Real Bedford move up. Enfield FC and Northwood have also transferred over from the Isthmian League. Indeed, only 14 sides from the season just gone remain.
Also moving over from the Isthmian are Thatcham Town, who have been switched from the South Central division to Southern Division One South, where they face lengthy trips to Cornwall next season with the likes of Falmouth Town and Helston Athletic earning promotion from the Western League.
Didcot Town were the only side relegated from Step 3 after one season back in the Southern Premier South.
All eight divisions at Step 4 will contain 22 clubs, an increase from the originally planned 20 last season.
