The FA League Committee’s restructuring of the Non-League pyramid makes describing the changes to the division much more challenging than in the last few years. The aim of the exercise is to avoid dramatic increases in travelling distances for promoted clubs, and to help alleviate fixture congestion by reducing the number of clubs in step 4 divisions to 20. Two new divisions have been added by the creation of the Southern League Central at step 3, and by splitting the Isthmian League South at step 4 into South East and South-Central divisions. Into the new Southern League Central have been placed a number of West Midlands-based clubs previously members of the NPL Premier Division.

Around the same time, a vote was also passed by NPL North and South Division clubs (step 4) to change the two divisions to East and West. Seasoned Garforth supporters will remember only too well the travails of the M62 on midweek away games and the new divisions in theory will cluster teams around the A1 and M6. A diagram of the revised pyramid can be found here.

So how does this affect the NCEL Premier Division? The line-up was finally confirmed by the FA on Friday. Eagled-eyed supporters will have noticed there being no requirement to apply for promotion in 2017-18, meaning the champions and, subject to having one of the highest points-per-game ratios across equivalent leagues, the runner-up, will both be promoted automatically. The FA have also given themselves the option of inviting a third-place team to make the step up, using the same criteria as for the runners-up, to make the numbers add up. Off the field, all three clubs will need to ensure their grounds meet Grade D criteria to remain in the higher division beyond the first season.

Hopefully all that makes sense! So now we have that bit out of the way, champions Pontefract Collieries and Pickering Town have both been promoted to the brand new NPL East Division, joining previously promoted clubs Cleethorpes and Tadcaster. Further developments followed when Andover Town resigned from the Southern League, resulting in a bit of a re-shuffle of teams. It meant good news for AFC Mansfield who, as the third-place team were invited to compete in the NPL East Division to join the Colls and Pikes.

In the other direction comes NPL North Division basement side Goole AFC, who were reprieved from relegation back in 2017, ending a 13 year stay in the NPL. The Vikings will at least hope to stabilize in their new home which has proved in recent years to be an unforgiving arena for former NPL clubs as our neighbours Harrogate Railway and, even more starkly, Brigg Town and Retford United, can attest.

Down at the bottom, Parkgate and Clipstone have been relegated, Parkgate to the NCEL Division 1 and Clipstone to the East Midlands Counties League (an equivalent step). The shock resignation of Rainworth from the league on 25th April has handed a reprieve to third-from bottom Railway, who’ll play Premier Division football for another season. For the record Rainworth will join local rivals Clipstone in the East Midlands Counties League, reducing our three visits to Mansfield per season to none. With the promotion of Pickering also, our average mileage has come down to 43.2 miles (some stats on the subject can be found here).

It’s been a good year for Yorkshire clubs in Division 1 with champions Knaresborough Town, runners-up Yorkshire Amateur and play-off final winners Eccleshill United promoted to the Premier Division. For Knaresborough and Ammers the promotion sees them up to the highest place in the pyramid in the clubs’ histories, whilst for Eccleshill it’s a return after a nine-year exodus. Games against the first two clubs offer a chance for The Miners to avenge FA Vase and league cup defeats suffered last season.

So in summary, it’s six clubs out, four in, reducing the number of games played to 40 next season. Hopefully that should reduce the chances of bad weather culminating in the nightmare finish to 2017-18. Despite this, the start date continues its relentless march forward – to 4th August (a day earlier than last season), although at least this time our first fixture will be in the league and not the FA Cup as has been the case in the last two campaigns.

Where the NCEL is concerned, the line-up is subject to ratification at the league's AGM in Harrogate on Saturday 16th June, where next season’s League Cup draw will be made. The draws for the FA Cup, Vase and Youth Cups are usually made in early July.

The club is currently working on pre-season friendlies and we hope to confirm them shortly.