NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM STEP 5/6 REVIEW

The Football Association has updated the current position regarding the re-structuring of Steps 5/6 of the National League System. The new structure which is hoped to be in place for the start of the 2013/2014 season intends to align the number of promotion places to step 4 with the number of relegation places available. With step 4 now established with 6 Divisions and 12 possible relegation places the FA committee has been exploring the possibility of reducing the current 14 Step 5 divisions down to 12. It is planned that each of the new 12 step 5 Divisions will contain 22 clubs; however in an attempt to avoid disadvantaging clubs its initially planned to include in the first season all Step 5 clubs who meet the required F Ground Grading. This may result in some divisions initially containing between 22 and 25 clubs with the numbers being adjusted over one or two seasons. The Football Association has given an example of how the new structure may look (see below). For Becks, they find themselves in the London SE Group which mainly consists of the current Kent Hurlimann League Premier Division clubs. Also be taken into account is the normal club movements by way of promotion and relegation.

LONDON SE GROUP