48 clubs at Step 5 and 6 invited to apply for promotion

48 non league clubs at Step 5 and 6 level have been invited by the FA to apply for promotion, it was confirmed on the 26th of April.

Teams are asked to submit details of their ground grading, security of tenure as well as their finances by Monday 3rd May.

It comes weeks after more than 100 teams across the nation will have the chance to apply, from non league step five to four, six to five or seven to six – and this is because an increased numbers in higher divisions are needed more in the north, which could really benefit some teams who missed out on going up previously seasons when they were deemed null and void.

Some chairman and managers in the non league world have warned against this shake-up going ahead now when there is no full season to well and truly judge promotion credentials – including SCFL chairman Steve Nealgrove.

Yet having already been held up by a year because of Covid, a key FA committee has decided the restructure should go ahead now. The decision will need to be ratified by the FA Council, but they are not expected to rule against it.

Here’s the list of clubs invited to apply (clubs for initial/first consideration are in bold):

Appendix A —Clubs to be invited to make an application for Step 4 Clubs in a position on sporting data for initial consideration in bold. The final standings have been calculated using an unweighted points per game formula, combining the 2019-20 and 2020-21 playing records. These have been verified by the respective Leagues.

Combined Counties League – 1. Sutton Common Rovers* 2. Ascot United 3. Spelthorne Sports

Eastern Counties League – 1. Stowmarket Town 2. Norwich United 3. Wroxham

Essex Senior League – 1. Hashtag United 2. Walthamstow 3. Hadley

Hellenic League – 1. Binfield 2. Westfields 3. Fairford Town

Midland League – 1. Sporting Khalsa 2. Coventry United 3. Romulus

North West Counties League – 1. 1874 Northwich 2. Bootle 3. Warrington Rylands 1906 4. Longridge Town 5. Charnock Richard

Northern Counties East League – 1. Liversedge 2. Yorkshire Amateurs 3. Bridlington Town 4. Staveley Miners Welfare 5. Penistone Church

Northern League – 1. Stockton Town 2. Hebburn Town 3. Shildon 4. North Shields 5. Consett

Southern Combination League – 1. Lancing 2. Newhaven 3. Horley Town

Southern Counties East League – 1. Corinthian 2. Sheppey United 3. Chatham Town

Spartan South Midlands League – 1. Colney Heath 2. Biggleswade United 3. Leighton Town

United Counties League – 1. Shepshed Dynamo 2. Quorn 3. Rugby Town

Wessex League – 1. Christchurch 2. Lymington Town 3. AFC Stoneham

Western League – 1. Plymouth Parkway 2. Tavistock 3. Exmouth Town

Appendix A — Clubs to be invited to make an application for Step 5 Clubs in a position on sporting data for initial consideration in bold. The final standings have been calculated using an unweighted points per game formula, combining the 2019-20 and 2020-21 playing records. These have been verified by the respective Leagues.

Combined Counties League – 1. Jersey Bulls 2. Farnham Town 3. Walton & Hersham 4. Tooting Bec 5. Kensington & Ealing Borough

Eastern Counties League North – 1. Mulbarton Wanderers 2. Laken heath 3. March Town United 4. Fakenham Town 5. Downham Town

Eastern Counties League South – 1. White Ensign 2. Athletic Newham 3. Little Oakley 4. May & Baker 5. Barkingside

East Midlands Counties League – 1. Sherwood Colliery 2. Heanor Town 3. Eastwood CFC 4. Dunkirk 5. Hucknall Town

Hellenic League East – 1. Risborough Rangers 2. Wokingham & Emmbrook 3. Holyport 4. Abingdon United 5. Long Crendon

Hellenic League West – 1. Malvern Town 2. Thornbury Town 3. Hereford Lads 4. Hereford Pegasus 5. Cheltenham Saracens

Midland League – 1. Leicester Road 2. Uttoxeter Town 3. Lichfield City 4. Studley 5. Atherstone Town

North West Counties North – 1. Lower Breck 2. AFC Liverpool 3. Prestwich Heys 4. Golcar United 5. Ashton Town

North West Counties South – 1. Vauxhall Motors 2. Wythenshaw Town 3. Stone Old Alleynians 4. West Didsbury & Chorlton 5. Abbey Hey

Northern Counties East League – 1. Emley AFC 2. Winterton Rangers 3. Skegness 4. Campion FC S. North Ferriby United

Northern League – 1. West Allotment Celtic 2. Crook Town 3. Redcar Athletic 4. Carlisle City 5. Billingham Synthonia

South West Peninsula East – 1. Ilfracombe Town 2. Millbrook 3. Brixham 4. Torpoint Athletic

South West Peninsula West – 1. Saltash United 2. Helston Athletic 3. Mousehole 4. AFC St Austell

Southern Combination League – 1. Littlehampton Town 2. AFC Varndeanians 3. Bexhill United 4. Mile Oak 5. Wick

Southern Counties East League – 1. Kennington 2. Holmesdale 3. Rusthall 4. Rochester United 5. Sporting Club Thamesmead

Spartan South Midlands League – 1. St. Panteleimon 2. New Salamis 3. Milton Keynes Irish 4. Stotfold 5. Winslow United

United Counties League – 1. Melton Town 2. Long Buckby 3. Bugbrooke St Michaels 4. Aylestone Park 5. Harrowby United

Wessex League – 1. United Services Portsmouth 2. Hythe & Dibden 3. Alton 4. Andover New Street 5. Bemerton Heath Harlequins

West Midland Regional League – 1. Shifnal Town 2. Bewdley Town 3. Wolverhampton Casuals 4. Dudley Town 5. OJM Black Country Rangers

Western League – 1. Caine Town 2. Ashton & Blackwell 3. Corsham Town 4. Radstock 5. Wells City

Fans reacted after seeing that 48 clubs at Step 5 and 6 have been invited to apply for promotion…

@slappy44407439: Western League Prem teams travel budget just went through the roof.

@gsrn82: Yet South Shields get fucked over for another season.

@LeeOB1983: This is pure comedy gold, shout us when Jeremy Beadle turns up 🤣

@Preecey2009: Yeah fully expect Khalsa will tick every box and will be promoted. Cov missing out. Long Eaton, Selston, Gresley, Newark and Heather will all move sideways. That to allow Shifnal, Bewdley, Wolves Cassies and others to come in

@EOzkumru_4: @NewSalamisFCUK do the ting!!!!

@ScottMHC14: This could be fascinating…. 🌟👍⚽️

@AaronWatto1: Only the English FA would offer promotion largely based on a season they “null and voided” and “expunged the results for” 😂😂🤯🤦🏽‍♂️

@JoshHarris91: It’s a shambles that some of the clubs allowed to apply for a promotion don’t even have their own grounds 🤮

@kevinwx98: Hope @HebburnTown apply early, they might be a bit busy on 3rd May….

@MichaelBarrass1: Good luck next season crook town