SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS #02 HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF YOUR NEWSLETTER If you have anything to contribute, please do get in touch by email- [email protected] You can keep up to date with all the news from around the League by following us on Twitter at - @Sydwessex You are more than welcome to use any material (excluding attributed photographs) but it would be appreciated if any material used is acknowledged. It is hoped you enjoy reading this each week. With readership quite widespread, not only within our own competition, but across the three counties and beyond- if ANY club has anything they’d like to have published in here, whether that be a request for helpers, promotion of forthcoming events, items required or available for sale please contact the Newsletter Editor. As a general reminder- Match Reports, player news and photos are always welcome- it is your Newsletter! LEAGUE CONSTITUTION – 2019/20 SEASON Premier Division Division One AFC PORTCHESTER ALTON AFC STONEHAM ANDOVER NEW STREET ALRESFORD TOWN ANDOVER TOWN AMESBURY TOWN BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS DOWNTON BASHLEY EAST COWES VICTORIA BOURNEMOUTH FAWLEY AFC BROCKENHURST FOLLAND SPORTS CHRISTCHURCH HYTHE & DIBDEN COWES SPORTS LAVERSTOCK & FORD FAREHAM TOWN NEW MILTON TOWN FLEET TOWN NEWPORT (IOW) HAMBLE CLUB PEWSEY VALE HAMWORTHY UNITED PETERSFIELD TOWN HORNDEAN RINGWOOD TOWN LYMINGTON TOWN ROMSEY TOWN PORTLAND UNITED TOTTON & ELING SHAFTESBURY UNITED SERVICES PORTSMOUTH SOLENT UNIVERSITY FC (formerly Team Solent) VERWOOD TOWN TADLEY CALLEVA WHITCHURCH UNITED Saturday, 13 July 2019 19/20 Edition #02 Page 1 of 33 SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS SYDENHAMS BUMPER BLUE BOOK Visit www.sydenhams.co.uk for all the details Saturday, 13 July 2019 19/20 Edition #02 Page 2 of 33 SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS SOUND AND VISION Saturday, 13 July 2019 19/20 Edition #02 Page 3 of 33 SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS PROMOTION AND RELEGATION Changes to note that will apply at the end of the coming season. Step 4 and Step 5 (our Premier Division sits at Step 5) The Clubs finishing in last place in each of the seven divisions at Step 4 at the end of the Regular Season will take part in Step 4/5 Play Off matches against a Step 5 Club. A total of 24 Clubs will be automatically promoted to Step 4. These Clubs will be: League Position Combined Counties League Champion Club Eastern Counties League Champion Club Essex Senior League Champion Club Hellenic League Champion Club Midland League Champion Club North West Counties League Champion Club, 2nd and 3rd placed Clubs Northern League Champion Club, 2nd and 3rd placed Clubs Northern Counties East Champion Club, 2nd and 3rd placed Clubs Southern Counties East Champion Club Spartan South Midlands Champion Club Southern Combination Champion Club United Counties League Champion Club Wessex League Champion Club Western League Champion Club In addition to the above, the remaining second placed Clubs will be ranked on points per game (then goal difference, then goals scored if required) with the four highest placed Clubs also receiving automatic promotion. The remaining seven second placed Clubs will take part in the Step 4/5 Play Off matches on a single match basis at the ground of the Step 4 Club they are drawn against. Where possible, the draw for the Play Off matches will be regionalised. The winners of these Step 4/5 Play Off matches will be allocated to Step 4. The Clubs to be promoted from Step 5 will be allocated to the most geographically appropriate division at Step 4. A Club promoted to Step 4 shall comply with the Licencing System provision as set out in Appendix 1 to the Standardised Rules. Step 5 and Step 6 The Clubs in the bottom place in each of the fourteen divisions at Step 5 at the end of the Regular Season will be ranked on a points per match basis (then goal difference, then goals scored if required) - the twelve lowest will be relegated and placed in the most geographically appropriate division of Step 6. These Clubs will be replaced by the Clubs in first and second position of the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League and the Clubs placed in first, second, third and fourth positions in the remaining eighteen Leagues at Step 6 at the end of the Regular Season. Step 6 and 7 At the end of the Regular Playing Season the Clubs in the bottom two positions of each of the twenty Step 6 divisions will be liable to relegation. All Step 7 Clubs seeking promotion to Step 6 must make application using the prescribed form direct to The Association, copied to their existing League, by 31st December in the relevant year. In order to be considered for promotion Clubs must finish in 1st position in their Step 7 league. If the Club finishing in 1st position does not wish to be promoted or fails to meet the entry criteria then the club finishing in 2nd position will be eligible for promotion. If the club in 2nd position does not seek promotion or fails to meet the entry criteria then clubs down to 5th position may be considered for promotion provided that they meet the appropriate entry criteria. Clubs finishing below 5th position may not be considered for promotion and, for this season only, more than one club may be considered from each League. Each application must be accompanied by the agreed application fee, as determined by the Committee, which is non-refundable. Saturday, 13 July 2019 19/20 Edition #02 Page 4 of 33 SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS Saturday, 13 July 2019 19/20 Edition #02 Page 5 of 33 SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS Saturday, 13 July 2019 19/20 Edition #02 Page 6 of 33 SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH We looked last week at the changes to neighbouring Leagues next season at Steps Five and Six so we will finish the review with Steps Three and Four and specifically the Southern League – or the Evostik League South, to give it it’s correct title. The Southern League Division One South, formerly known as the South and West Division – the Southern League have a passion for name changes – is the next step up from the Sydenhams League and is where Sholing will operate next season along with a number of former Sydenhams Clubs. The Division boasts twenty Clubs and have lost four and gained four over the close season. Going out are Blackfield & Langley, who finished seven points clear in their inaugural season and will be promoted along with Yate Town who came out on top in the play-offs. Fleet Town, who finished seven points adrift at the bottom have as we know, been relegated, but Barnstaple, who finished in the other relegation spot have been reprieved following Street’s withdrawal. The Somerset Club finished in a respectable mid table spot in their first season but the resignation of their main Officers led the Club to decide it could not continue at that level, hence the resignation - following which the Officers seemingly returned! Coming in along with Sholing are Willand Rovers, who were Champions of the Western League, together with Basingstoke Town and Frome Town, both relegated from the Premier Division. Going into the last Saturday of the season there were a number of Clubs in danger of relegation with some looking in a worse plight than Basingstoke. However, results on that last Saturday saw Basingstoke not only go down but left facing a slightly uncertain future. They were scheduled to leave the Camrose Ground at the end of the season and finally formulated plans to play at the HFA pitch at Winklebury, which needs a lot doing to be acceptable to Step Four football and in the interim they are going to groundshare with Winchester City, all of which suggests a lot of expense and reduced income. It will though add to Sholing’s local derbies with fixtures against Moneyfields, Winchester, AFC Totton, Thatcham Town and Basingstoke on the calendar though against that are trips to such as Barnstaple, Bideford, Cinderford and Evesham. The Southern League Premier Division South will have twenty-two sides again this coming season with five in and five out compared with the season just finished. In come, as previously mentioned, Blackfield & Langley and Yate Town, together with Hayes & Yeading, Truro City and Weston Super Mare. The former has switched from the Isthmian League whilst the other two were relegated from the National League South. Despite the trip to Truro, Blackfield’s canny Secretary reckons that their travel overall will be reduced next season. Moving out to make way for these five are Weymouth, promoted to the National League South, Kings Langley, transferred to the Central Division and the three relegated Clubs, Basingstoke, Frome and Staines Town. The first two are already mentioned and Staines, who finished bottom by a country mile, are joining the Isthmian League. All of which perhaps helps to prove that the Pyramid System works – though it is seemingly more successful in the higher reaches of the System. So the structure looks like this- PREMIER- Beaconsfield Town, Blackfield & Langley, Chesham United, Dorchester Town, Farnborough, Gosport Borough, Harrow Borough, Hartley Wintney, Hayes & Yeading United, Hendon, Merthyr Town, Metropolitan Police, Poole Town, Salisbury, Swindon Supermarine, Taunton Town, Tiverton Town, Truro City, Walton Casuals, Weston-super-Mare, Wimborne Town and Yate Town. DIVISION ONE SOUTH- AFC Totton, Barnstaple Town, Basingstoke Town, Bideford, Bristol Manor Farm, Cinderford Town, Cirencester Town, Evesham United, Frome Town, Highworth Town, Larkhall Athletic, Mangotsfield United, Melksham Town, Moneyfields, Paulton Rovers, Sholing, Slimbridge, Thatcham Town, Willand Rovers and Winchester City.