SSML Projections - 2025/26

[Rhodes]

Rather premature however I gather three Club's in Division Two have applied for promotion to Step 6 level for 2025/26, New Bradwell St Peter, Codicote and Eynesbury United who will all need to finish in the top five at the end of this 2024/25 campaign. See a link, courtesy of Sports Shots, about New Bradwell St Peter's application, a list of all the promotion applicants and the FA's criteria documentation:

https://www.sportsshots.org.uk/2025/01/13/ssmfld2-new-bradwell-st-peter-apply-for-promotion-to-step-6-for-2025-6-season/

https://nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=9665

https://www.thefa.com/get-involved/player/ground-grading

Edited January 14 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Interesting to see some of the applicants from other League's for promotion to Step 6 next season (highlighted) and who could well end up in the SSML Division One, I see former SSML Club Sport London e Benfica are one of them and I have it on good authority that their Manager Jose Viana (the Special One) is still with the Club:

In total there are 107 applicant clubs from 42 County Feeder Leagues. The full list is as follows:

Club Name	Current League
Bungay Town	Anglian Combination Premier Div
Norwich United Football Club	Anglian Combination Premier Div
Wroxham Football Club (Reserve Team)	Anglian Combination Premier Div
Newmarket Town Fc (Reserves)	Cambridgeshire County Premier Div
Dinnington Town Fc	Central Midlands League Div North
Doncaster City Football Club	Central Midlands League Div North
Harworth Colliery	Central Midlands League Div North
Holbrook Saint Michaels F.C.	Central Midlands League Div South
Linby Colliery Welfare Fc	Central Midlands League Div South
South Normanton Athletic Fc	Central Midlands League Div South
Winstanley Warriors	Cheshire League Premier Div
Alphington Football Club	Devon League Premier Div East
Ottery St Mary Afc	Devon League Premier Div East
Plymouth Marjon Fc	Devon League Premier Div West
Blandford United Fc	Dorset Premier League
Dorchester Sports Fc	Dorset Premier League
Holt United Football Club	Dorset Premier League
Swanage Town & Herston	Dorset Premier League
Kings Park Rangers Football Club	Essex & Suffolk Border Premier Div
Chadwell Heath Spartans Fc	Essex Alliance League
Csm London Fc	Essex Alliance League
Lymore Gardens Fc	Essex Alliance League
Philip United Football Club	Essex Alliance League
Old Southendian Fc	Essex Olympian League Premier Div
Almondsbury Fc	Gloucestershire County Premier Div
Sharpness Afc	Gloucestershire County Premier Div
Stoke Gifford Sgs United Football Club	Gloucestershire County Premier Div
Wick Football Club (Bristol)	Gloucestershire County Premier Div
Andover Town	Hampshire Premier League Senior Div
Colden Common Football Club	Hampshire Premier League Senior Div
Liss Athletic F C	Hampshire Premier League Senior Div
Alcester Town	Herefordshire League
Bromyard Town Football Club	Herefordshire League
Kington Town Football Club	Herefordshire League
New Dales Vale	Herefordshire League
Everett Rovers Football Club	Herts Senior County League Premier Div
Leverstock Green Reserves	Herts Senior County League Premier Div
London Cheetahs Football Club	Herts Senior County League Premier Div
Cuxton 91 Fc	Kent County League Premier Div
Kent United Fc	Kent County League Premier Div
Minster Fc	Kent County League Premier Div
Ramsgate Athletic	Kent County League Premier Div
Afc North Kilworth	Leicestershire Senior League Premier Div
Anstey Town Football Club	Leicestershire Senior League Premier Div
Magna 73 Fc	Leicestershire Senior League Premier Div
Crowle Colts Fc	Lincolnshire Football League Premier Div
Immingham Town Fc	Lincolnshire Football League Premier Div
Halewood Apollo Fc (Part Of Apollo Active Cic)	Liverpool County Premier Premier Div
Msb Woolton Fc	Liverpool County Premier Premier Div
Ringmer Afc	Mid Sussex Football League Premier Div
Westfield Football Club	Mid Sussex Football League Premier Div
Camden United Fc	Middlesex County League Premier Div
Eagles Land Cricklewood Fc	Middlesex County League Premier Div
Hayes & Hillingdon Fc	Middlesex County League Premier Div
Sl Benfica	Middlesex County League Premier Div
Birmingham United Fc	Midland League Div 2
Bolehall Swifts Fc	Midland League Div 2
Knowle Fc	Midland League Div 2
Northfield Town Football Club	Midland League Div 2
Woodford United	Northamptonshire Combination Premier
Afc Newbiggin	Northern Football Alliance Premier Div
Newcastle Independent Fc	Northern Football Alliance Premier Div
Borrowash Victoria Afc	Nottinghamshire Senior Senior Div
Cotgrave Fc	Nottinghamshire Senior Senior Div
Fcv Grace Dieu F.C	Nottinghamshire Senior Senior Div
Thame United Reserves	Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Div
Dawley Town Fc	Salop Leisure Football Premier Div
Haughmond Football Club	Salop Leisure Football Premier Div
Shrewsbury Up And Comers Football Club	Salop Leisure Football Premier Div
Hemsworth Mwfc	Sheffield & Hallamshire County Prem Div
Fry Club Fc	Somerset County League Premier Div
Ilminster Town Fc	Somerset County League Premier Div
Nailsea United	Somerset County League Premier Div
Hailsham Town Football Club	Southern Combination Div Two
Jarvis Brook Football Club	Southern Combination Div Two
Rustington Fc	Southern Combination Div Two
Southwater Football Club	Southern Combination Div Two
Codicote Fc	Spartan South Midlands League Div 2
Eynesbury United Fc	Spartan South Midlands League Div 2
New Bradwell St Peter	Spartan South Midlands League Div 2
St Mawgan	St Piran Football League Premier East
Falmouth Town Reserves	St Piran Football League Premier West
Hayle Afc	St Piran Football League Premier West
Helston Athletic Reserves	St Piran Football League Premier West
Mousehole Afc Reserves	St Piran Football League Premier West
Porthleven Afc	St Piran Football League Premier West
Rocester Football Club	Staffordshire County Senior Premier Div
Debenham Lc Fc	Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Div
Halesworth Town Football Club	Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Div
Afc Walcountians	Surrey Premier County Football League
Cb Hounslow & Abbots Fc	Surrey Premier County Football League
Dial Square Football Club	Surrey Premier County Football League
Maidenhead Town Football Club	Thames Valley Premier Premier Div
Durham Fc	Wearside League
Durham United Fc	Wearside League
Easington Lane Fc	Wearside League
Gateshead Leam Rangers Fc	Wearside League
Fulwood Amateur Afc	West Lancashire League Premier Div
Fc Darlaston	West Midlands (Regional) League Div 1
Pelsall Villa Colts Fc	West Midlands (Regional) League Div 1
Telford Town	West Midlands (Regional) League Div 1
Tipton Town Fc	West Midlands (Regional) League Div 1
Kintbury Rangers Football Club	Wiltshire Football League Premier Div
Letcombe F C	Wiltshire Football League Premier Div
Shrewton United Football Club	Wiltshire Football League Premier Div
Trowbridge Town Fc	Wiltshire Football League Premier Div
Horsforth St Margarets	Yorkshire Football League

[Rhodes]

  On 14/01/2025 at 10:29, Rhodes said:

Everett Rovers Football Club	Herts Senior County League Premier Div
Leverstock Green Reserves	Herts Senior County League Premier Div
London Cheetahs Football Club	Herts Senior County League Premier Div

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I have it on good authority that Everett Rovers have passed their ground grading and are approved to move to Step 6 next season along with Leverstock Green Reserves however London Cheetah's did not pass their grading.

[Winslow Boy]

Proper reserve football back next season isn’t there? Was the stupidest move to have got rid of those divisions in the first place. 

[Rhodes]

  On 14/04/2025 at 17:10, Winslow Boy said:

Proper reserve football back next season isn’t there? Was the stupidest move to have got rid of those divisions in the first place. 

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Winslow Boy - Yes, there's a thread for the propsed SSML Reserve Division for next season, I'm assuming then that Leverstock Green Reserves will be entering that as well as Royston Town Reserves, Stotfold Reserves and Leighton Town Reserves, 'freeing up' three places in Division One for new Club's as well as promoted Eynesbury United and New Bradwell St Peter:

Edited April 15 by Rhodes

[Winslow Boy]

Possibly but they may be able to continue as they are if enough steps remain between senior and reserve side. 

[Rhodes]

Winslow Boy - Concidentally someone picked up on Leverstock Green Reserves on another Forum and you're right, they will probably end up going into the proposed Reserve Division for next season. It will be a shame to see the First Team relegated back to Step 5 as the Club did so well, and worked so hard, to get promotion last season:

Is it still a requirement that reserve sides have to be two levels lower than their first team? Leverstock Green Reserves applied for promotion to Step 6 and they are looking increasingly likely to get it but if the first team is relegated back to Step 5 do the Reserves have to stay at step 7?

[Rhodes]

There are some comments on another Forum about Premier Division relegation, Shefford Town & Campton have been reliably informed that they won't be relegated. There was also rumour that Baldock Town were planning to resign from the SSML however that has been rebuffed:

Despite finishing in the bottom 2 of the Spartan South Mids Premier, Shefford Town & Campton have said the league confirmed they'll be playing Step 5 next season.

Must be either a ground-grading failure or a team resigning from the league to create an in-division reprieve, can't see any other reasons they'd be staying up.
Either way, all the more reason FC Romania will be absolutely kicking themselves for not getting at least something out of the match I watched today, as with a draw they'd have finished second-bottom and been staying up instead.

I'm going to take a punt that the committee have altered the PPG reprieve process from equal across the board, to now placing those League's with less teams to the top. In this instance, the South Midland (Shefford) and the Midland League (Highgate) will now be in the top 2 as both League's started with 18 teams, and Shefford had the better PPG of the two, therefore Highgate would be next in line. Next would be GNG Oadby as the United Counties South started with 19, and then we get to the 20 team Divisions, finishing with the North West Counties, which had 22 teams, bottom of the pile.

Baldock are 100% staying in the SSML Prem for next season.

[Rhodes]

It's still very early days but here is the Division One projection for next season, Long Buckby and London Colney appear to be taking voluntary relegation hence Raunds Town's reprieve. Some interesting possible additions to the SSML in FC Peterborough, Whittlesey Athletic, Godmanchester Rovers and Woodford United along with New Bradwell St Peter of course however no Eynesbury United, at the moment at least, Shefford Town & Campton are likely to be reprieved:

Spartan South Midlands Football League One
				Unofficial projections by @NonLeagueMaps
1	Ampthill Town	MK45 2HX	SM1
2	Buckingham	MK18 1NY	SM1
3	Cranfield United	MK43 0AA	SM1
4	Desborough Town	NN14 2LJ	SM1
5	Eaton Socon	PE19 7AU	SM1
6	Huntingdon Town	PE28 2NR	SM1
7	Irchester United	NN29 7DR	SM1
8	Langford	SG16 6AF	SM1
9	Leighton Town Development	LU7 1RX	SM1
10	Letchworth Garden City Eagles	SG6 2EN	SM1
11	Raunds Town	NN9 6EQ	SM1
12	Rothwell Corinthians	NN14 6JQ	SM1
13	Royston Town U23	SG8 7HP	SM1
14	Rushden & Higham United	NN10 0HX	SM1
15	Stotfold Development	SG5 4HE	SM1
16	Wellingborough Whitworth	NN8 2DP	SM1
17	FC Peterborough	PE1 4PE	ECN
18	Whittlesey Athletic	PE7 1YP	ECN
19	Godmanchester Rovers	PE29 2LQ	UCS
20	Shefford Town & Campton	SG17 5JD	SMP
21	Woodford United	NN11 3QR	NCL
22	New Bradwell St Peter	MK13 7AD	SM2

Edited May 10 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Again, very early days but a projection of how the Premier Division might look like next season, 'welcome back' Kings Langley and Haringey Borough as well as Eynesbury Rovers and Sawbridgeworth Town:

Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier
Unofficial projections by @NonLeagueMaps
1	Arlesey Town	SG15 6RS	SMP
2	Aylesbury Vale Dynamos	HP19 9WZ	SMP
3	Baldock Town	SG15 6RS	SMP
4	Biggleswade United	SG18 0AA	SMP
5	Cockfosters	EN4 9HZ	SMP
6	Colney Heath	AL4 0NP	SMP
7	Crawley Green	LU1 3HH	SMP
8	Dunstable Town	LU6 1BB	SMP
9	Harpenden Town	AL5 2EF	SMP
10	Kempston Rovers	MK42 8SZ	SMP
11	Potton United	SG19 2LU	SMP
12	Tring Athletic	HP23 5NS	SMP
13	Winslow United	MK18 3JG	SMP
14	Wormley Rovers	EN10 7QF	SMP
15	Eynesbury Rovers	PE19 2SF	UCS
16	Sawbridgeworth Town	CM21 0DE	ESL
17	Kings Langley	WD4 8BS	SLC
18	Haringey Borough	N17 7JP	ILN
19	AFC Welwyn	AL7 1TA	SM1
20	Harlow Town	CM19 5BE	ECS

[Rhodes]

Sorry to do a Barry Davies at Maine Road in 1974, and the Francis Lee goal, but some 'interesting, very interesting' comments from members on another Forum, latest posts at the bottom:

New here so don't know if I've missed something on this topic/there's conversation on this elsewhere on the site. Wondering if there's any news on the ongoings at Long Buckby. The projections spreadsheet shows them as relegated for ground grading, but they've failed to fulfil 5 fixtures this season, including their last 3 - so I'm wondering if they've folded instead. This affects both ends of the table, just wondering if anyone knows what the situation is there.

AFC Welwyn have finally been awarded the 3 points for their unplayed fixture against struggling Long Buckby. The decision on Long Buckby’s other 2 unplayed fixtures against London Colney and Moulton has yet to be finalised. But based on the above decision, it would seem likely that eventually both will get the points awarded to them. Hope Long Buckby can survive. Don’t need another club going to the wall in Northants. 

Though already shot down on other threads, I was at the Eynesbury Utd v New Bradwell game where it was once again discussed that both Eynesbury Utd and New Bradwell would go up from Division 2. There was a prominent league committee official there who seemed to confirm this fact. New Bradwell are up and now that it seems that Eynesbury have finished second due to their opponents pulling out of their game tonight has anyone else been party to these discussions.

Another ongoing issue is who gets relegated as Long Buckby vs London Colney still has to be sorted out. If London are awarded the points then Huntingdon would drop into the bottom two and London would fer a reprieve. Either or both could stay up if Long Buckby are demoted or fold. Still no news from the league or county FAs regarding the 1 prem game and the 2 Div One games outdated. Between this and the Combined Counties Prem South Play-offs and that leagues issues it could be a short close season for some teams with little time to plan for next. I know that everything has to be investigated properly however its coming up to 2 weeks and still no news as to what exactly is going on.

Wouldn't Woodford United from the Northants Combination be promoted along with New Bradwell from Spartan 2? AFC Welwyn and Moulton promoted upwards. Godmanchester coming down from the UCL Div 1 South, not sure about anyone coming down from Spartan 1 because Shefford Town & Campton confidently tweeted they had been told by a league official at their game that they were not going to be relegated. The Long Buckby / relegation situation is a mess, so I wouldn't even want to try to figure that one out!

I'm confident that Huntingdon & London Colney will stay up regardless. Bottom teams are likely to be relegated and only the worst 2nd bottom teams. So even if Huntingdon & London Colney are classed as 2nd bottom they'll stay up. I think that Long Buckby will be demoted, Raunds Town could even stay up if they're classed as 2nd bottom.

Additional Step 6 promotions rather than Step 5 reprieves have happened at times but no RFL has promoted a second team since the restructure. I don't know why the Spartan 2 would be given a second promotion spot when there are other Step 6 leagues that have more need to be filled (SWP & Eastern Counties North) and other RFLs with more applicants (such as Central Midlands) where it is more difficult to be promoted.

I get all the doubt - But weirdly Eynesbury United have been told that they may now have to play their game against Aston Clinton - who failed to turn up last week. Apparently United expected to get the points due to the opposition pulling out on the morning of the game. The league have told Aston Clinton that they have to play the game versus United as the game has some importance in relation to United finishing second. The game versus United would replace their game against New Bradwell on Thursday night - the league are happy that the Aston Clinton and New Bradwell game is not played as there is nothing on it. Read into that what you wish.

Genuinely, what could be taking them so long? I get LB's future is up in the air but surely you don't leave the other clubs in the lurch and just sort the fixtures out in the same way you have previously.

Scrap that - Eynesbury Utd will be given the three points ensuring second place.

Between this apparent suggestion that two will go up from SSMFL Division Two and Shefford having their non-relegation from the Premier 'confirmed' at their last game, SSMFL officials seem to be developing a habit of 'confirming' decisions that, as many of us know, ultimately won't be made until after the season ends. And they'll be made by the FA Leagues Committee, with little to no input from the SSMFL.

The SSML do appear to be acting like they have even the slightest modicum of control over who is going to be in what division next season. Which they don’t, at least not in their top two divisions!

Edited May 11 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The Step 6 allocations for the 2025/26 campaign have now been formally released subject to appeals, what do we think. It looks like Shefford Town & Campton have been relegated afterall and Long Buckby and London Colney remain in Division One, I assume there is no longer going to be a SSML Reserve Division if Stotfold, Royston Town and Leighton Town Reserves are included:

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NLS-5.6-Club-Allocations-2025-26-FIRST-RELEASE-150525.pdf

Edited May 20 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The Step 5 allocations for the 2025/26 campaign have been formally released subject to appeals, what do we think. Some changes from the unofficial projections posted earlier, no Eynesbury Rovers however, interestingly, Risborough Rangers are back in the SSML fold, surprisingly Harlow Town and Sawbridgeworth Town remain but may well appeal as may Haringey Borough who would arguably prefer the Essex Senior League for an 'easier route' straight back to Step 4 as was the case when the Club comfortably won the Essex Senior League in 2014/15 by eleven points:

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NLS-5.6-Club-Allocations-2025-26-FIRST-RELEASE-150525.pdf

https://fanbanter.co.uk/the-fa-announce-2025-26-provisional-club-allocations-for-non-league/

https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/sport/football/aylesbury-clubs-discover-next-seasons-opponents-as-league-constitution-is-confirmed-5131386

The full line-up in the SSML Premier is: AFC Welwyn, Arlesey Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Baldock Town, Biggleswade United, Cockfosters, Colney Heath, Crawley Green, Dunstable Town, Haringey Borough, Harlow Town, Harpenden Town, Kempston Rovers, Kings Langley, Potton United, Risborough Rangers, Sawbridgeworth Town, Tring Athletic, Winslow United and Wormley Rovers. All allocations are pending any appeals and final ratification in the coming weeks.

Edited May 15 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

It's a fond farewell to Moulton FC, after three seasons in the SSML, following their promotion to Step 5 through the play-off's and the Brunting Road Club have been placed in the United Counties League Premier Division South for next season, good luck to them:

[Rhodes]

Sorry to do a Julie Andrews and the Sound of Music folks but 'so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye, I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye, goodbye'. Farewell to both Milton Keynes Irish and London Lions, following their promotion to Step 4 level, who join a high number of former SSML Club's in the Southern League Division One Central next season:

[Rhodes]

  On 15/05/2025 at 17:36, Rhodes said:

The full line-up in the SSML Premier is: AFC Welwyn, Arlesey Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Baldock Town, Biggleswade United, Cockfosters, Colney Heath, Crawley Green, Dunstable Town, Haringey Borough, Harlow Town, Harpenden Town, Kempston Rovers, Kings Langley, Potton United, Risborough Rangers, Sawbridgeworth Town, Tring Athletic, Winslow United and Wormley Rovers. All allocations are pending any appeals and final ratification in the coming weeks.

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A nice graphic produced by Harpenden Town:

Edited Tuesday at 12:13 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Another nice graphic, this time produced by Premier Division 'newbies' AFC Welwyn:

Edited Tuesday at 12:16 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

  On 15/05/2025 at 17:36, Rhodes said:

The full line-up in the SSML Premier is: AFC Welwyn, Arlesey Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Baldock Town, Biggleswade United, Cockfosters, Colney Heath, Crawley Green, Dunstable Town, Haringey Borough, Harlow Town, Harpenden Town, Kempston Rovers, Kings Langley, Potton United, Risborough Rangers, Sawbridgeworth Town, Tring Athletic, Winslow United and Wormley Rovers. All allocations are pending any appeals and final ratification in the coming weeks.

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Sawbridgeworth Town have understandably appealed against their placing in the SSML:

Off the top of my head without checking but, would this be the 4th consecutive year they've changed leagues? (Essex, SSML, Essex, SSML).

I think you're right, Sawbridgeworth were always part of the Essex Senior League since the 70's but got swopped in 2023 to SSML, back to Essex in 2024, and now SSML again in 2025. I feel very sorry for them. Although always considered to be part of Essex football, the town itself is geographically in Hertfordshire, so anyone shuffling names around at the FA is going to send them in that direction. I'd like to see them 'win' their appeal but I won't be holding my breath.

[Rhodes]

  On 20/05/2025 at 09:46, Rhodes said:

Sorry to do a Julie Andrews and the Sound of Music folks but 'so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye, I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye, goodbye'. Farewell to both Milton Keynes Irish and London Lions, following their promotion to Step 4 level, who join a high number of former SSML Club's in the Southern League Division One Central next season:

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Good luck to Milton Keynes Irish and London Lions next season in the Southern League Division One Central next term:

[Rhodes]

  On 20/05/2025 at 09:32, Rhodes said:

It's a fond farewell to Moulton FC, after three seasons in the SSML, following their promotion to Step 5 through the play-off's and the Brunting Road Club have been placed in the United Counties League Premier Division South for next season, good luck to them:

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Good luck to Moulton FC next season in the United Counties League Premier Division South, an impressive promotion considering the Club were only promoted to the SSML Division One from the Step Seven Northampton Combination League Premier Division at the end of the 2021/22 season:

 

Conformation of where we will be next season. The Football Association have today released the Divisional allocations for Step 5 and as hoped for we have been placed in The United Counties League Premier South, this brings back games against local rivals ON Chenecks and Sileby Rangers as well as Daventry and Bugbrooke. The Division also sees 2 big non league Club's from the past in Nuneaton Town and Rugby Town so all in all an exciting times ahead. The Club will shortly be releasing season ticket prices which is the best and cheapest way of supporting the Magpies in 25-26.

Edited Wednesday at 10:20 by Rhodes