Clubs appeal to FA to be moved from league
THREE clubs are set to appeal the FA’S decision to place them in the Hellenic League next season.
Ardley United and Easington Sports, both in the Premier Division, and Wallingford Town of Division One want to be moved to more geographically suitable leagues.
Ardley and Easington are now the two clubs situated furthest east in the new Hellenic League set-up, which has seen a number of changes, with clubs from the Berkshire area being replaced by sides from the Bristol and Wiltshire areas.
In the Premier Division, Binfield have been promoted to the Isthmian League, while Burnham, Reading City, Virginia Water and Windsor join the Combined Counties League Premier Division North while Flackwell Heath and Holmer Green have moved to the South Midlands League Premier Division.
Bradford Town, Chipping Sodbury, Cribbs, Hallen, Roman Glass St George and Westbury United have all been transferred across into the new 22-team Division One.
Hereford Lads Club, Thornbury Town and Malvern Town have been promoted from Hellenic Division One West, while Calne Town and Corsham Town have been moved up from the Western League Division One.
Oxfordshire pair Easington and Ardley would rather play in the United Counties League Premier South, which takes in clubs from Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire.
Wallingford, meanwhile, would rather play in Combined Counties League Division One, where some former Hellenic League Division One East sides have been placed, with others going to the South Midlands League’s Division One.
Former One East sides Abingdon Town, Abingdon United, Milton United and Wallingford were placed in a 20-team division, with four sides moved across into the Hellenic League.
Three of them, Littleton, Pershore Town and Worcester Raiders, have joined from the West Midlands League and Studley arrive from the Midland League.
FC Stratford are promoted from Midland League Division Two, while Tytherington Rocks have joined the Western League Division One. Hellenic League Premier Division (22 sides): Ardley United (subject to appeal), Bishop’s Cleeve, Bradford Town, Brimscombe & Thrupp, Calne Town, Chipping Sodbury Town, Corsham Town, Cribbs, Easington Sports (subject to appeal), Fairford Town, Hallen, Hereford Lads Club, Longlevens, Lydney Town, Malvern Town, Roman Glass St George, Royal Wootton Bassett, Shrivenham, Thornbury Town, Tuffley Rovers, Westbury United, Westfields
Hellenic League Division One (20 sides): Abingdon Town, Abingdon United, Bourton Rovers, Cheltenham Saracens, Cirencester Town Development, Clanfield 85, FC Stratford, Littleton, Malmesbury Victoria, Milton United, Moreton Rangers, Newent Town, Pegasus, Pershore Town, Shortwood United, Stonehouse Town. Studley, Wallingford Town (subject to appeal), Wellington, Worcester Raiders