8th tier club request voluntary relegation after 28 years in the Southern League

8th tier club Cirencester Town sadly confirm that they request a voluntary relegation after 28 years in the Southern League.

John Brough’s Cirencester finished the 2023/24 season sitting 6th with 57 points after 36 games played in the Southern League – Central Division, one place and two points outside the playoff places.

The club from Gloucestershire have been in the Southern League since 1996/97, with nine seasons spent in the third tier of non league over three spells The last two season they finished 6th.

CLUB STATEMENT (https://t.co/qljWJPop0d)

— Cirencester Town FC (@CirenTownFC) May 17, 2024

𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞

The Centurions request voluntary relegation after 28 years in the Southern League.

👇https://t.co/xnhLsh6Psc

— The Non-League Paper (@NonLeaguePaper) May 17, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

As many of you will be aware, there has been a lot of talk in the last few days regarding the status of Cirencester Town Football Club and what league we will be competing in next season.

Sadly, we have requested a voluntary relegation for the 2024-2025 season due to various reasons and we will be resigning from the Southern Football League with immediate effect.

We felt it was only right to make our supporters and members aware of this change before the league allocations are announced by the FA.

A meeting date will be announced in the next 14 days so our members and supporters can convene to hear more detail and information regarding this decision.

CIRENCESTER LEAGUE HISTORY (per FCHD):

1968-69 – Founder members of Gloucestershire County League
1969-70 – Joined Hellenic League Premier Division
1972 – Relegated to Division One
1973-74 – Hellenic League Division One Champions (Promoted to Premier Division)
1978 – Relegated to Division One
1978-79 – One game, against Ruislip Town, not played
1990-91 – Hellenic League Division One runner-up (Promoted to Premier Division)
1991-92 – Hellenic League runner-up
1995-96 – Hellenic League Champions
1996-97 – Joined Southern League Southern Division
1999-00 – Switched to Western Division
2003-04 – Promoted to Premier Division
2008 – Relegated to Division One South & West
2009-10 – Promoted to Premier Division after play-offs
2012 – Relegated to Division One South & West
2012-13 – One point deducted
2013-14 – Southern League Division One South & West Champions (Promoted to Premier Division)
2017 – Relegated to Division One West
2018-19 – Placed in Division One South on league re-organisation (Southern League Division One South runner-up on goal difference)
2019 – Not promoted after play-offs
2021-22 – Not promoted after play-offs (SF Cirencester Town 1 Winchester City
4)
2022-23 – Switched to Division One Central

SEASON    LEAGUE     P    W    D    L    F    A    P      POS

1968-69   GLOS      30   15    4   11   70   52   34      5/16
1969-70   HELL-P    34   18    6   10   57   42   42      4/18
1970-71   HELL-P    34   12    5   17   54   57   29     12/18
1971-72   HELL-P    32    9    4   19   50   82   22     16/17
1972-73   HELL-1    30   13    4   13   50   64   30      9/16
1973-74   HELL-1    40   29    5    6  134   43   63      1/21
1974-75   HELL-P    32   11    5   16   49   64   38     13/17
1975-76   HELL-P    30    9    6   15   41   59   33     12/16
1976-77   HELL-P    30   10    6   14   37   62   36      9/16
1977-78   HELL-P    30    3    4   23   28   83   13     16/16
1978-79   HELL-1    33   13    5   15   45   66   31     11/18
1979-80   HELL-1    30   14    5   11   57   49   33      6/16
1980-81   HELL-1    30   16   11    3   73   34   43      3/16
1981-82   HELL-1    30   12   10    8   54   37   34      7/16
1982-83   HELL-1    30   17    3   10   68   36   37      4/16
1983-84   HELL-1    34   11    8   15   42   50   41     12/18
1984-85   HELL-1    32   14    7   11   53   49   49      6/17
1985-86   HELL-1    30    8    8   14   52   54   32     12/16
1986-87   HELL-1    34   12    7   15   38   50   43     11/18
1987-88   HELL-1    30   11    7   12   43   51   40      9/16
1988-89   HELL-1    28    3    5   20   28   59   14     15/15
1989-90   HELL-1    30    8   10   12   38   53   34     11/16
1990-91   HELL-1    30   22    5    3   66   21   71      2/16
1991-92   HELL-P    34   23    9    2   73   23   78      2/18
1992-93   HELL-P    34   20    8    6   54   28   68      4/18
1993-94   HELL-P    34   12    4   18   53   62   40     13/18
1994-95   HELL-P    30   15    5   10   56   43   50      6/16
1995-96   HELL-P    34   24    8    2   69   24   80      1/18
1996-97   SOUTH-S   42   12   12   18   50   68   48     16/22
1997-98   SOUTH-S   42   12    7   23   63   88   43     18/22
1998-99   SOUTH-S   42   16    8   18   61   66   56     12/22
1999-00   SOUTH-W   42   20    8   14   72   64   68      7/22
2000-01   SOUTH-W   42   14   15   13   65   74   57     11/22
2001-02   SOUTH-W   40   17    3   20   64   69   54     13/21
2002-03   SOUTH-W   42   15    7   20   62   82   52     14/22
2003-04   SOUTH-W   40   24    4   12   73   40   76      3/21
2004-05   SOUTH-P   42   19   11   12   63   52   68      7/22
2005-06   SOUTH-P   42   14    4   24   49   68   46     18/22
2006-07   SOUTH-P   42    9   12   21   46   76   39     21/22
2007-08   SOUTH-P   42    8    8   26   44   80   32     21/22
2008-09   SOUTH-1SW 42   14   10   18   78   79   52     14/22
2009-10   SOUTH-1SW 42   23    9   10   91   46   78      5/22
2010-11   SOUTH-P   40   13    8   19   59   67   47     13/21
2011-12   SOUTH-P   42    7    9   26   40   78   30     22/22
2012-13   SOUTH-1SW 42   15   13   14   54   57   57 *   11/22
2013-14   SOUTH-1SW 42   29    5    8   95   45   92      1/22
2014-15   SOUTH-P   44   20   12   12   77   54   72      8/23
2015-16   SOUTH-P   46   18    6   22   67   76   60     15/24
2016-17   SOUTH-P   46   11    9   26   54   92   42     22/24
2017-18   SOUTH-1W  42   22    7   13   93   74   73      7/22
2018-19   SOUTH-1S  38   23    6    9  110   52   75      2/20
2019-20   SOUTH-1S  27   14    3   10   58   38   45     ABAND
2020-21   SOUTH-1S   9    8    0    1   26    4   24     ABAND
2021-22   SOUTH-1S  36   23    8    5   75   29   77      3/19
2022-23   SOUTH-1C  36   17    7   12   67   39   58      6/19
2023-24   SOUTH-1C  36   16    9   11   66   44   57      6/19

This is how Twitter users reacted after hearing that the 8th tier club request a voluntary relegation after 28 years in the Southern League…

@HertfordTownFC: Sad to see this. Wish you well going forwards

@MerthyrTownFC: Very sad to hear, sending our best wishes from all at @MerthyrTownFC !

@BedfordTown: Very sorry to read this. Wishing the club, it’s great supporters and staff all the very best for the future 💙

@Btfcthemeadow: So sad to hear this news and must have been a very difficult and heart breaking decision.

@BaptistPilgrim: Really sorry to hear it. All the best for the future. #CleeveUltras

@bartonroversfc: Wow, big news, keep on fighting our western friends

@BFC_Supporters: Sorry to hear this, enjoyed our visits here, great people and hospitality

@mr_bikesalot: Yes, sad that we will now campaign at a lower level but maybe it’s got a positive spin on it. Our Chairman and committee are no mugs. Supporters are supporters won lose or draw.

@BubbleNeal: Sad news

@Smudge7121: Sad news

@ShaunTa14828715: Something is badly wrong in non league football if a team that finishes one place outside the playoffs then takes voluntary relegation. Feel really sorry for all those connected with Cirencester.

@adsterb: Is this because they were going to be placed in southern league div on south?

@BubbleNeal: Having 8 divisions at step 4 hasn’t worked

@Dafydd_Nich: Sad news from Cirencester taking a voluntary relegation, Watched Glyn Garner have a stormer against us plenty of times for them. Top club

@SteveHaleGK: Sad news that 😔 really enjoyed getting promoted at Bridgwater with Eggy scoring a cracker in the play offs, great celebrations that day

@SamLloy56393175: Gutted 👀 we been fighting with one hand behind our back for 2 season real shame 😞

@MalmsVicsMedia: Sorry to read this! Great club.

@ouldridge: Sad news. Great club, superb fans.

@MattHarrison681: Absolutely gutted for the club and all the lads, Let’s get to together and get this club back to where it belongs!! 🔴⚫️

@mrjacktanner: Great shame, nothing is ever certain but you feel they would have got promoted if not for covid and then also division reallocation.

@Rob_WCFC: This is a shame. Had 2 of my all-time greatest football memories at their ground. Very friendly club, and once I left my flag behind in their clubhouse and they posted it back to me for free. Hope to see you back again one day.

@tigermarkie: Does that mean a reprieve for Beaconsfield or Hitchin?

@BennyG10001: Do we know the reasons behind this? Financial? 🤷‍♂️

@FMDoop: ☹️ This isn’t good! Such sad news for @CirenTownFC

@leemorse1979: Gutted. Onwards we go…. 💪🔴⚫️⚽️

@Bax19518Charlie: Will Paulton get reprieve or Thame? Or promote an extra place from step 5?

@LivoAaron: Assume Thame will stay up then

@DaveStacey47344: They were already, God knows who’ll get a reprieve now

@LivoAaron: Kempston 👀👀👀

Kempston finished bottom so won’t be reprieved. https://t.co/mti8k2eDJC

— Cameron Lee (@C4mer0nLee) May 17, 2024