34 non league teams fold, resigned or withdrew from divisions within last few months

34 non league teams have ended up having to fold, or even resigned or withdrew from their divisions within the last few months, it’s found.

The country sees an easing of lockdown rules following the coronavirus pandemic, but due to a large long period of it, no football has been able to play out.

It has had quite a devastating impact and as we approach the 2021/22 season, while some clubs can be relieved they’ve got through the other end, there are many that have unfortunately struggled and ended up going out of existence or just simply chose not to compete until it’s viable again.

It isn’t just that which has seen clubs fold, we have also seen the likes not have enough players, departures on managers, costs, and many more.

In this article we take a look at those who have stepped away or simply vanish within just the last few months.

Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division outfit Crane Sports, who are the reigning champions, and have won both the Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division four times and the Suffolk Senior Cup four times, have released a statement saying they will be folding.

Step 9 club Langney Wanderers said that they would go out of existence. The SCFL Premier Division outfit, who ground-share with Eastbourne Borough, say they are withdrawing from the league ‘with great regret’. Wanderers finished the 2020/21 campaign sitting 18th when football was halted before Christmas, and they had recently decided not to enter the SCFL’s end-of-season cup competition.

Just hours after Whyteleafe announced that they regrettably leave the Isthmian South Central League, Abingdon Town of the Hellenic League said the same (just a few years after plotting a plan to reach the National League).

Abingdon Town say that they’ve been unable to negotiate a new lease with Singapore based developers Irama, who also own Brighouse Town’s ground.

Laindon Orient of the Essex Olympian also released a statement saying that they would no longer continue functioning.

A statement read: “Chairman and first team manager Neil Blackburn had this to say…  over the past couple of months and following several discussions inhouse within the clubs committee members, we have decided to bring Laindon Orient Football Club to a natural end following our final club games on June 13th 2021.

“12 years ago when we started this project from just an idea we had to provide football to the local community, we never knew where it would take us, or how successful we would be….

“Fast forward 12 years and with more than 20 trophies in the cabinet, 8 promotions, and many great experiences along the way, I’ve learnt so much from running this great football club and managing the hundreds of players along the way.

“So for the final time on our social media platform I thank all our fellow clubs and everyone who has supported us as a club over this time and I bid you farewell’ Neil Blackburn Laindon Orient FC Chairman.”

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THE OTHERS

– Mursley United have resigned from Spartan South Midlands League

– Newport side Malpas AFC fold after a tough year and haven’t got the men to fill a 5 a side team let alone 11

– Taw Park of the North Devon League have folded

– Bridgerule have also folded in the North Devon League

– Upton AA from West Cheshire League Division 1 have folded

– Braybrooke FC tweeted that their match against Harchester Hawks in June would be their last before they fold

– Brentwood United of the Mid Essex Premier League have announced the first team has folded

– Quarrydale United no longer appear in NSL constitutions and don’t seem to have appeared elsewhere

– Barrowby no longer appear in NSL constitutions and don’t seem to have appeared elsewhere

– Rainworth Seniors have folded

– Brinsley have folded

– Bridgford United (League awaiting confirmation that they have also folded)

– FC GNG have resigned from the Leicestershire Senior League and are potentially folded

– Lutterworth Town Reserves have resigned from the Leicestershire Senior League

– Acton FC withdrawn from the North East Wales League

– Deeside FC withdrawn from the North East Wales League

– Sileby Athletic have folded their Saturday team and will reform as a Sunday League side

– Zeals have folded following the retirement of their manager

– Guildford and Woking Alliance Premier North side AFC Westend have folded with the reserve team to continue

– MK Gallacticos have informed the SSML they will not be competing this season

– South Kilburn – unknown but not listed in leagues

– Wembley City – unknown but not listed in leagues

– Lakeside United have pulled out of the Essex Olympian League and folded

– Great Bentley (following a club committee meeting we have decided to remove their First Team from the Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier league.

– Shankhouse FC have left the Northern Alliance Premier Division – Prudhoe YCFC have been promoted to Premier Division

– Spittal Rovers have left the 2nd Division so Newcastle Chemfica and Cullercoats Reserves have been promoted to the 2nd Division leaving 14 teams in the 3rd Division

– Liskeard Athletic Reserves have resigned prior to the start of the St Piran East season

– Magdala Amateurs have resigned from the NSL

– Veryan have gone from East Cornwall Premier league due to lack of players