The Football Association have revealed the provisional club allocations for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
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, who have been shifted to Isthmian Premier.
Five clubs have been reprieved at Step 4 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Beckenham Town, Brighouse Town, Hednesford Town and Thame United.
Allocations are subject to appeal and full AGM ratification.
Step 1 –
The National League will welcome Sutton United and Forest Green Rovers back, after their seven and three year spells in the EFL came to an end.
Yeovil Town made an immediate return to Step 1 having won National League South, with Braintree Town joining them after a five-year absence. Tamworth clinched a second successive title in National League North to reclaim a National League spot after 10 years away. Boston United overcame Brackley Town in the National League North Promotion Final. They’ll be in Step 1 for the first time since 2002 after their 2008 relegation from the EFL saw them demoted to National League North.
Step 2 –
Oxford City will be playing in a third different division in three seasons. The Hoops were relegated from their first season in the National League and have been placed in National League North, where they previously played for three seasons between 2012-2015. Kidderminster Harriers also return to NLN after one season in Step 1.
Leamington won instant promotion back to Step 2 via the Southern Premier Central play-offs. Marine, Needham Market and Radcliffe will all be featuring in National League North for the first time.
Boreham Wood and Dorking Wanderers will compete in National League South next season after their relegations. Chesham United and Enfield Town won promotion from Step 3 to partake in the division for the first time – Hornchurch return following an 11-year absence and play-off winners Salisbury are in Step 2 for the first time since reforming in 2015.
Step 3 –
Like Oxford City, Bishop’s Stortford are ticking 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. Banbury United have also joined them at that level with five teams gaining promotion – Bedford Town, Biggleswade Town, Harborough Town, Lowestoft Town and Spalding United.
Blyth Spartans were the only Step 2 club to be relegated into the NPL Premier. Mickleover, who reached the play-offs in Southern Premier Central, have transferred to the Northern division. Others joining are Hebburn Town, Leek Town, Prescot Cables and Stockton Town from Step 4.
Hendon will be delighted to return to the Isthmian Premier after being transferred out in 2018. They’d spent the previous 55 years in the Isthmian before a switch to Southern Premier South. Bowers & Pitsea won immediate promotion back to Step 3, cup giantkillers Cray Valley PM also collected a league title and Chichester City join them after an impressive play-off final win over Three Bridges.
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. Their 16-year spell in Step 2 ended in April. Havant & Waterlooville and Taunton Town will also join the division, both under new managers. Chertsey Town, Frome Town, Marlow and Wimborne Town are the promoted quartet. Chertsey will be playing at their highest level since the year 2000, Marlow will be a Step 3 club for the first time since the league’s reorganisation 20 years ago.
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.
Coming the other way are Farnham Town, who stormed to Combined Counties glory in a record-breaking unbeaten season where they scored 130 goals and only dropped six points throughout. Horndean have switched from Isthmian South East with Moneyfields and Rayners Lane the other new clubs to the division following promotions.
Beckenham Town received a reprieve in Isthmian South East. Margate were relegated from Isthmian Premier while AFC Croydon, Deal Town, Eastbourne Town, Erith Town and Steyning Town Community won promotion from their feeder leagues.
Concord Rangers suffered a second successive relegation and will play in Step 4 for the first time since 2010. Haringey Borough have joined them from Isthmian Premier with Cambridge City and Waltham Abbey moving laterally to Isthmian North. Mildenhall Town, Sporting Bengal United and Tilbury gained promotion, the final spot is between Newmarket Town and Mulbarton Wanderers, who meet in their play-off final tomorrow.
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. Bishop Auckland, Emley, Garforth Town, Heaton Stannington and Sherwood Colliery were elevated to this level.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds will remain in NPL Midlands. Grantham Town have swapped from NPL East, their new opponents include relegated Long Eaton United and promoted quintet Darlastan Town, Loughborough Students, Racing Club Warwick, Wellingborough Town and Worcester City.
NPL West welcomes Congleton Town and rivals Wythenshawe and Wythenshawe Town. Hednesford Town received a reprieve, they’ll have a local derby with Stafford Rangers next season with Atherton Collieries the others relegated from Step 3.
Cirencester Town have taken voluntary relegation from Southern League Division One Central, which saved Thame United. It’s a much-changed division with Beaconsfield Town, Berkhamstrad and Hitchin Town suffering relegation into it, while Flackwell Heath, Leverstock Green and Real Bedford moving up. Enfield and Northwood have also transferred from the Isthmian League.
Thatcham Town have been moved from the Isthmian League to Southern Division One South. They face two long trips to Cornwall next season with Falmouth Town and Helston Athletic earning promotion from the Western League. Cinderford Town also regained promotion to Step 4 at the first time of asking with Shaftesbury also on the up, playing at the highest level in their history.
Didcot Town were the only side relegated from Step 3 after one season back in the Southern Premier South.
All eight divisions will contain 22 clubs, an increase from the originally planned 20 last season.
Step 5 –
Cirencester Town will be in the Hellenic Premier Division after 28 years in the Southern League. Their new opponents include Hartpury University and Malmesbury Victoria, promoted from Step 6.
Marske United folded halfway through last season in Step 3. They’ll restart two divisions lower in the Northern Football League.
Six clubs received unexpected promotions to Step 5, despite losing play-off finals. Berks County, Stockport Town, Newcastle Blue Star, Northampton Sileby Rangers, Downton and Wincanton Town received the good news. Clubs finishing bottom at Step 5 could not be reprieved.
Those relegated from Step 4 to 5 include Paulton Rovers, back in the Western League after 20 years in the Southern League, and Stowmarket Town, who failed to win a game last season in Isthmian North.
Step 6 –
Nuneaton Town, formed after Nuneaton Borough went out of business last season, will enter the Midland Football League next term, three divisions lower than the previous incarnation.
Hamworthy United will also restart at Step 6. The Dorset side went out of business early last season and will start again in Wessex Division One.
Six clubs earned a reprieve in Step 6 plus all sides finishing third and second bottom.
