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If Ilkeston were to get promoted to Step 3 they will go into either the NPL Premier Division or the Southern League Premier Central, depending on who else gets promoted and which teams get relegated.
As Ilkeston is situated on the North / South border they could be placed in either League.
The administrators of the Step 3 Leagues decide on allocations with decisions based on minimising travel.
These are the teams currently in the NPL Premier League :
Ashton United
Atherton Collieries
Bamber Bridge
Basford United
Buxton
FC United of Manchester
Gainsborough Trinity
Grantham Town
Hyde United
Lancaster City
Matlock Town
Mickleover
Morpeth Town
Nantwich Town
Radcliffe
Scarborough Athletic
South Shields
Stafford Rangers
Stalybridge Celtic
Warrington Town
Whitby Town
Witton Albion
These are the teams currently in the Southern League Premier Central :
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Alvechurch
Banbury United
Barwell
Biggleswade Town
Bromsgrove Sporting
Coalville Town
Hednesford Town
Hitchin Town
Leiston
Lowestoft Town
Needham Market
Nuneaton Borough
Peterborough Sports
Redditch United
Royston Town
Rushall Olympic
St Ives Town
Stourbridge
Stratford Town
Tamworth
Last edited by Matchman (11/12/2021 6:48 AM)
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I’m convinced that if Ilkeston are promoted they will go into the Southern League Premier Central and I believe that it’s always been the plan that teams promoted from the NPL Midlands Division will go into that league. Here’s why:
This was The FA's plan for promotion & relegation at Steps 1-6 next season published on 9th June 2021
So 4 teams will be relegated from each of the four Step 3 leagues ie, Northern Premier League Premier Division, Southern League Premier Central, Southern League Premier South and Isthmian League Premier
The 16 teams to replace them will be two from each of the 8 Step 4 leagues.
There are 3 Step 4 divisions in the Northern Premier League (ie East Division, West Division and Midlands Division) meaning 6 teams will be promoted but there are only 4 places in the NPL Premier Division so two of these six promoted sides will have to go into the Southern League Premier Central.
As Ilkeston are likely to be the most Southerly of the six NPL Step 4 teams promoted, we are therefore likely to be placed in the Southern League Premier Central.
The current leading teams in the NPL East Division are Marske and Liversedge. They are geographically more Northerly than Ilkeston so more likely to be allocated places in the NPL Premier Division
The leading teams in the NPL West Division are Marine and Workington. They are also geographically more Northerly than Ilkeston so are more likely to be allocated places in the NPL Premier Division.
The leading teams in the NPL Midlands Division whoever they are will be more Southerly than the teams in the NPL East and NPL West so in my opinion will be allocated places in the Southern League Premier Central.
Last edited by Matchman (11/12/2021 6:45 AM)
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If we get promoted and go into the Southern League Premier Central these are the average attendances of the teams in that league .
Stourbridge 744
Bromsgrove Sporting 624
Tamworth 602
Banbury United 545
Hednesford 490
Nuneaton Borough 443
Hitchin Town 436
Coalville Town 382
Stratford Town 382
Rushall Olympic 370
Rushden &Diamonds 360
Redditch United 349
Lowestoft Town 340
Royston Town 306
Barwell 261
Lieston 243
Needham Market 243
Alvechurch 242
Peterborough Sports 235
St Ives Town 213
Biggleswade Town 184
Ilkeston would be one of the best supported teams because only four teams have average attendance of over 500.
The Northern Premier League Premier Division average attendances of the three top teams are :
South Shields 1964
FC United 1673
Scarborough 939