Lower League Promotion and Relegation

When we left the Promotion and Relegation discussion Bishop's Stortford had to transfer from the Conference North to the Conference South to even up the two leagues.

Does it get any more complicated? Read on .......

There are three feeder leagues to the Football Conference and I have done some research about how the regions have changed to try and create a national structure. The Northern Premier League has had little change but the Isthmian League has stretched north into Norfolk and the Southern league has retracted out of Norfolk. Details are online in other websites.

The leagues have changed as follows:


NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

OUT
North Ferriby United - Promoted to Conference North
Hednesford Town - Promoted to Conference North
Kendal Town - Relegated to NPL Division One North
Eastwood Town - Relegated to NPL Division One South

Simple so far.
Joining the NPL are ...

IN
Droylesden - Relegated from the Conference North
Skelmersdale United - Promoted from Division One North
Trafford - Promoted from Division One North
Kings Lynn Town - Promoted from Division One South
Stamford - Promoted from Division One South
and an adjustment
Barwell - Transferred from the Southern League Premier Division.

Note that 4 teams are leaving and 6 teams are joining. This is because there has been a decision to raise the number of teams in the league from 22 to 24.


ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

OUT
Whitehawk / Brighton City - Promoted to Conference South
Concord Rangers - Promoted to Conference South
Carshalton Athletic - Relegated to IPL Division One South
Hastings United - Relegated to IPL Division One South

Nobody went to Division One North so more adjustment will be needed lower down.

IN
AFC Hornchurch - Relegated from the Conference South
Billericay Town - Relegated from the Conference South
Grays Athletic - Promoted from IPL Division One North
Thamesmead Town - Promoted from IPL Division One North
Dulwich Hamlet - Promoted from IPL Division One South
Maidstone United - Promoted from IPL Division One South

Once again this league is increasing in size from 22 team to 24 teams.


SOUTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

Given the map of England the Northern and Isthmian leagues are clearly in the North and in the East respectively. It is the Southern League that sits in the middle and has to make most of the adjustments and compromises. That makes it, for me, the most valuable.

OUT
Leamington - Promoted to Conference North
Gosport Borough - Promoted to Conference South
Kettering Town - Relegated to SPL Division One Central
Bedworth United - Relegated to NPL Division One South (Transfer of League)
and the adjustment
Barwell - Transferred to the Northern Premier League

IN
Corby Town - Relegated from the Conference North
Hinckley United - Relegated from the Conference North
Truro City - Relegated from the Conference South
Burnham - Promoted from Division One Central
Biggleswade Town - Promoted from Division One Central
Poole Town - Promoted from Division One South & West
Hungerford Town - Promoted from Division One South & West

So, with 5 out and 7 in this league is also increasing from 22 teams to 24.


Please note that I am aware of some challenges about clubs who played ineligible players and no doubt there will be other machinations so the above information is merely what I expect to happen, and not necessarily what will happen come the start of the season.

That covers level 7.

More later.