2020/21 Season

[Chris Clapham]

Step 5 & 6 Non League Projections 2020/21

 

Timescale for allocations.

As anticipated, owing to the fact that Step 5 is gaining two divisions, the projected Club allocations for Step 5 are extremely close to those predicted at the outset 2

At Step 6 the landscape is more challenging in so much that we do not know at this stage which Clubs will be promoted from Step 7.

1 The FA’s Leagues Committee agree to draft Step 5/6 Club allocations 12 May 2020

2 Clubs proposed for lateral movement are informed and any Club wishing to lodge its views as to the proposed lateral movement has 7 days in which to do so Clubs informed on 12 May 2020, have until 5pm on 19 May 2020 to lodge views

3 Views are considered as and when they arrive, with final views being considered on evening of 19 May deadline 12 to 19 May 2020

4 Step 5/6 Club allocations released 21 May 2020

 

Step 4 and 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:

 

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 League Champion Club, 2nd and 3rd placed Clubs

Southern Counties East League Champion Club

Spartan South Midlands League 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.

 

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 nonrefundable.

No more than 40 Clubs will be promoted from Step 7.

If more than 40 Clubs are eligible for promotion they will be chosen based on a points per match basis. Where the eligible Clubs count does not reach 40 in number, reprieves of Step 6 Clubs shall come into effect on a points per match basis.

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Photo images of the proposed Combined Counties area. Taken from the F A document.

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All proposed areas available in the document.