STEP 2 TO 4 LEAGUE ALLOCATIONS ANNOUNCED

[Dave Deacon]

Histon have been placed in the Blue Square Bet North following relegation from the Premier at the end of the season.

The FA`s National League Systems Committee met at Wembley today and allocated places for Step 2 – 4 for 2011/12.

Histon join promoted FC Halifax Town and Colwyn Bay, while relegated Altrincham and Southport are also in the north.

Eastbourne Borough are relegated to Blue Square Bet South, joining promoted Salisbury City, Sutton United, Tonbridge Angels and Truro City.

Burscough have been reprieved relegation from the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, while Hednesford Town find themselves switched back from the Zamaretto League Premier Division.

Relegated Stafford Rangers join promoted Chester FC, Chorley and Rushall Olympic in the Evo-Stik Premier.

The Zamaretto Premier sees Redditch United, relegated from Blue Square Bet North and St Albans City, relegated from Blue Square Bet South, joining promoted AFCTotton, Arlesey Town, Hitchin Town and Frome Town, while Barwell, winners of the Evo-Stik League First Division South, have also been placed in the Zamaretto Premier.

The Ryman League Premier Division takes Thurrock and Lewes, both relegated from the Blue Square Bet South, as well as promoted East Thurrock United, Leatherhead, Metropolitan Police and Wingate & Finchley.

The Evo-Stik First Division North welcomes New Mills from the Vodkat North West Counties League and Farsley AFC from the KoolSport Northern Counties East League as well as Ossett Town, relegated from the Premier Division.

The Evo-Stik League First Division South sees Hucknall Town come down from the Premier Division and FA Vase finalists Coalville Town come in as champions of the BakerJoiner Midland Alliance.

Both Bedworth United and Rugby Town have been switched across from the Zamaretto League Division One Central but perhaps most controversially, the new Ilkeston FC club have been placed straight into a Step 4 league.

The Zamaretto League Division One Central welcomes ambitious Hereward Teamwear United Counties League champions St Neots Town, Molten Spartan South Midlands winners Chalfont St Peter and also Combined Counties League winners ChertseyTown, who should have gone into the Ryman League ordinarily.

Beaconsfield SYCOB have been reprieved from the drop, while both Ware and Fleet Town have been switched from the Ryman League Division One North and South respectively.

Division One South & West sees relegated sides Didcot Town, rather strangely Halesowen Town and Tiverton Town in its ranks, along with Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) champions Poole Town.

The Ryman League Division One North welcomes Enfield 1893, promoted from the Essex Senior League, and Leiston from the Ridgeons League as well as relegated Aveley.

They also have Waltham Forest reprieved from the drop along with Chatham Town, who have been switched from Division One South.

Division One South has three relegated clubs, Maidstone United, Folkestone Invicta and Croydon Athletic, as well as promoted Sussex County League champions Crawley Down and Kent League winners Hythe Town.

Going out of Step 4 are Ossett Albion, Leigh Genesis and Almondsbury Town, who failed their ground grading, Shepshed Dynamo, Spalding United, Horsham YMCA and AtherstoneTown, who resigned.

There are still a number of unresolved issues and the agreed allocations may be subject to further change.