Non league clubs appeal their allocated place, others voluntary relegate themselves with reprieves also being confirmed this week.
The Football Association recently revealed the allocations of clubs to the National League System for 2023-24, subject to FA Council approval and any appeals.
One of the teams being heavily talked about, to the point they were trending on Twitter, were Bishop’s Stortford, the Isthmian Premier champions, who have been placed in National League North.
The Blues played in the South Division for two seasons between 2011 and 2013, before moving back to it in 2013 and then being relegated in 2017.
Harrow Borough have also been reprieved in Southern Premier South after Met Police took voluntary relegation to Step 4, where they’ve been placed in Isthmian Division One South Central.
And, Harlow Town return to first team football in the Eastern Counties Division One South having left their division during last season.
SEE MORE: The FA announce 2023/24 club allocations for non league
So, as mentioned, non league clubs appeal allocated place, others voluntary relegate with reprieves confirmed…
BISHOP’S STORTFORD STATEMENT:
Bishop’s Stortford Football Club can confirm that it has registered with the Football Association our intention to appeal against the decision to place the club in the National League North for the 2023/24 season.
Whilst the board fully respect the Football Association’s rules and regulations, it feels that it has a responsibility to the club’s shareholders, players, officials, volunteers and supporters to fully explore the allocation process and have sought professional advice as part of this review.
The Football Association were notified of our intention to appeal this afternoon and the Board will now prepare for our case to be heard at a yet to be determined date.
The club recognise that the allocation process is a challenging one and will respect the result of the upcoming appeal.
Should supporters with to assist the club with financial burden of managing the appeal, we ask that they visit our GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-your-local-football-club
For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Shan Toms (General Manager and Director) on 01279 306456 or via email at: generalmanager@bsfc.co.uk
We can confirm that the club has registered its intention to appeal against the decision to place us in the National League North for the 2023/24 season.
Full Official Statement Below:https://t.co/HTX03z6hig
— Bishop’s Stortford FC (@BSFCTheBlues) May 17, 2023
Met Police take voluntary relegation
The club wish to offer the following announcement regarding its current position on league allocation and management team
The past two weeks have been a difficult period for the Club. Starting with Gavin Macpherson’s resignation as manager on 3rd May, followed quickly by some less than encouraging information about our major source of income through the in-service Lottery, which has been in decline for quite a while.
It became clear that we needed to introduce some cost-cutting measures in order that the Club would sustain itself. Our situation was shared with the Southern League and the FA Leagues Manager, the consequence being that we have accepted a voluntary relegation to Step 4 – the Isthmian South Central League. That transfer was confirmed today.
In addition, it has been decided not to operate with a reserve team which will reduce expenditure further.
I regret that it has not been possible to share this information sooner, but our demotion to a Step 4 league was far from certain, with Step 5 a strong possibility.
With immediate effect, Paul Burnell will become 1st team manager, assisted by Tommy Nyama and Ian Griffith. Megan Partington will move up to 1st team physiotherapist. Paul plans to add to his management team in due course.
Dean Longman will remain as manager of the U18 team.
We look forward to a return to the Isthmian League and a number of more local games, which may help with attendance and certainly reduce the extensive travelling costs we have endured in our five seasons in the Southern League.
Pre-season friendlies with Hampton and Richmond, Wimbledon, Horsham and South Park are already pencilled in, which I hope indicates to supporters that whilst things will be different, we are ready for a buoyant future.
Des Flanders
Chairman
Club Statement – Voluntary Relegation and New Manager https://t.co/eKZ6oLUOlt pic.twitter.com/NnP2U7R9V3
— Met Police FC (@MetPoliceFC) May 15, 2023
HARROW BOROUGH STATEMENT:
Following yesterday’s announcement from The FA, Harrow Borough FC make the following statement.
We are considering our position and an appeal against The FA’s decision for us to stay in the Southern League Premier South Division (step 3) for the 2023/24 season.
Yesterday’s league allocation announcement from The FA follows Met Police FC’s decision to accept voluntary relegation from the Southern League Premier South to the Isthmian South Central League for financial reasons.
Harrow Borough:
“We are considering our position and an appeal against The FA’s decision for us to stay in the Southern League Premier South Division (step 3) for the 2023/24 season.”https://t.co/duAgo2A6ti
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) May 16, 2023
OTHERS:
Essex Senior League – LEAGUE STATEMENT – Sawbridgeworth Town have formally instigated the appeal process to @FA against the lateral movement to the @SpartanSMFL a club who have been members since 1976, we fully support their appeal
Essex Senior League – LEAGUE STATEMENT – FC Stansted have formally appealed to @FA against the decision to laterally move them to @SpartanSMFL as a founder member with a long history with the league, we fully support their appeal.
Tooting Bec FC – Every season it’s the same, allocations come out and clubs like us complain, appeal and feel the financial impact of the @fa ‘perfect pyramid’. It’s time leagues and local FAs stand together. Clubs on our own have no voice and are ignored by those in their ivory towers. The @surreyfa @LondonFA and @ComCoFL stood by as the heart was ripped out of South London and Surrey football at step 5/6 will thw @EssexCountyFA @EssexSenior stand by as @FCStansted are tossed aside. It’s happening all over the country at step 5/6. The ‘perfect pryamid’ is a unicorn but local sustainable Step 5/6 football was/is a reality until the @fa ripped it up & the local FA’s & leagues stood by and did nothing. Next season there will be another Tooting Bec or another @StansfeldFC & one by one they will kill Step 5/6!
Here’s the letter we sent 2 years ago, nothing will change till the leagues and local FAs help their clubs and put a stop to this madness! https://t.co/v1NpXcDmyv pic.twitter.com/rriqUe7XvU
— Tooting Bec FC (@TootingBecFC) May 15, 2023
Ardley United (requested a lateral transfer to the CCL North, London Lions have told the FA that they’d be willing to switch leagues with Ardley United)
FC Peterborough (wanted to be placed in SSML D1 rather than ECL D1 North)
Northwich Victoria (wanted to stay in NWCL Prem)
Ollerton Town (requested a lateral transfer to UCL D1)
Stansted (wanted to stay in Essex Senior League)
Winsford United (wanted to stay in NWCL Prem)
Halls Athletic (rumoured to be appealing against their non-promotion)
Harrow Borough (considering appealing against being kept in Southern League Premier South)
Shelley (rumoured to be appealing against their non-promotion)
The Combined Counties League have tweeted that “AFC Aldermaston have appealed against their transfer to the Wessex League. Cove were intending to do the same.”
Dawley Town – will not be promoted to the Midland League as their ground does not meet the league’s regulations
Sawbridgeworth Town – have appealed against their placement in the Spartan South Midlands Premier League (step 5). The club wish to be placed in the Essex Senior League, who is supporting their appeal.
Northwich Victoria – Club statement regarding the @FootballAssoc decision to move Northwich Victoria into the midlands league
Club statement regarding the @FootballAssoc decision to move Northwich Victoria into the Midlands League@lilysavage12345 @Ianegerton1974 @silk1069 @Cheshire_FA @nwcfl #footballassociation #appeal #grassroots #nonleaguefootball pic.twitter.com/dq4b6aExms
— Northwich Victoria F.C (@NorthwichVicsFC) May 15, 2023
Twitter users had their say as non league clubs appeal their allocated 23/24 place, others voluntary relegate with reprieves confirmed…
ON BISHOP’S STORTFORD:
@JonTolleyTweets: are you appealing against geography?
@tomd0312: Won’t change anything
@taklndt_: Back to the Isthmian you go then lads 👍🏻
@JCh4rts: Who do you think should be put in the north instead of you. I agree you have some serious travelling to do but that’s the way it goes. If you get promoted again you have to go wherever
@LynnoJay: You boys don’t half cry on, just forfeit the league lads
@StuartLTPC: Why are you complaining. Blyth Spartans will have to travel to you as well. You don’t hear us complaining
@NJdelerium: This is becoming genuinely quite worrying, because appeals are going in on the basis that an allocation could put a club out of business if it can’t afford the travel expenses. No idea if it’s the case with BSFC, but the reason for many appeals is becoming more and more ominous
@cockneyhatter: You’ll be relegated this season anyway, just enjoy the ride lads 👍🏻
@DulwichCookie: Good luck Bishops hope you win!
@jhowes17: You fail to mention who you think is more northern than you…
@TangerineRob: Those pesky maps and making us one of the most 24 northernly teams.
@rokerite97: So it’s not fair on you, but fine on Hereford, Blyth, Spennymoor, South Shields, Banbury and Darlington, plus a few others, to do all thag travelling. You’re doing barely much more than any of those sides. Suck it up if you one day want to be in a full national league.
@AndrewBluck1: You aren’t even the furthest south Gloucester City are crying before the season starts but you are selling season tickets for the league you are apoealing against not a great start to your season boys is it telling the other clubs you dont want to play with us lol
@richardpotty: Unfortunately the only other option would have been Oxford but they have gone up. Banbury, Peterborough Sports, Brackley, Kings Lynn, Kettering n Boston there are still some plenty of manageable journeys there. Grow a set n get on with it. It is what it is
@JakobHeron1: fucking hell cry some more lads
@BrentwoodSunLge: Perhaps a play-off against #Braintree to decide? To be played at #BlythSpartans so the losers get to feel the lie of the land…
@R99C_: Pointless when you’d be the most northerly club in the South and you’re well connected to the North via the A14/A1
@savemesomesalad: The right and proper approach. The club deserves a chance to put it’s case and have a fair hearing. #allezlesbleus
@Dave07618187: Rather than appeal against being allocated to the NLN I would suggest the club seek additional funding from the FA/NL This could be based on the difference of the cost of travel had they been placed in the NLS.

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