2025/26 Step 2 constitution

[Nathan]

Now that we're mathematically safe, it seems like a good time to think about who we'll be playing next season and who (if anyone) from NLS will be moved up north.

Going down from NLP look likely to be:
Ebbsfleet United (confirmed)
AFC Fylde (almost certainly)
Maidenhead United
Dagenham & Redbridge

It's still possible for Wealdstone or Boston United to go down if they're caught by Maidenhead or Dagenham, although at the moment this looks unlikely.

Going down from NLS:
Aveley
Weymouth
Welling United (almost certainly)
1 from St Albans, Salisbury or Enfield Town (unlikely)

Coming up from step 3:
From Isthmian: Dartford, Billericay Town or Horsham (as Champions), see also Dover Athletic or Cray Valley Paper Mills via play-offs. All should go into the South.
From Southern Premier South: Merthyr Town or AFC Totton (as Champions), see also Walton & Hersham, Gloucester City, Dorchester Town or Havant & Waterlooville via play-offs. Most should go into the South, though Gloucester have been in the North in the past.
From Southern Premier Central: Bedford Town, Kettering Town, AFC Telford or Halesowen (as Champions), see also Stamford, Stratford Town, Harborough Town or Spalding United via play-offs. All should go into the North.

I'd say it's looking likely that we'll be reunited with our old 60's rivals Maidenhead and also with Dagenham & Redbridge. There are several southern based sides destined for Step 2, so with St Albans now looking more likely than not to go down and with only 1 northern side going down from NLP (2 should Boston United go down) could we potentially see Hemel Hempstead or Chesham being moved north?

[Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB)]

Squeaky Bum time down here in North Sussex. Us and Walton and Hersham? Maidenhead and Dagenham (I know they're not the real Dagenham but nevertheless)? This league gets more like a version of "All Our Yesterdays" by the minute. 

[Curtis]

17 hours ago, Nathan said:

could we potentially see Hemel Hempstead or Chesham being moved north?

Is there a possibility that Merthyr will go into NLN?

It would probably make their local derby match Hereford.

Edited April 13 by Curtis

[Reading Rebel]

31 minutes ago, Curtis said:

Is there a possibility that Merthyr will go into NLN?

It would probably make their local derby match Hereford.

Hemel is furthest north followed by Chesham then Merthyr. 

There's always the possibility but I think they also take into account road links which would probably make Hemel the favourite to go into the NLN.

[Nathan]

2 hours ago, Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB) said:

Squeaky Bum time down here in North Sussex. Us and Walton and Hersham? Maidenhead and Dagenham (I know they're not the real Dagenham but nevertheless)? This league gets more like a version of "All Our Yesterdays" by the minute. 

It really would be a remarkable recovery for Walton & Hersham should they go up; as recently as 2021 they were in the Combined Counties Division One!

I'm not sure what you mean by "not the real Dagenham"?

2 hours ago, Curtis said:

Is there a possibility that Merthyr will go into NLN?

It would probably make their local derby match Hereford.

Merthyr and Hereford are around 40 miles apar, so if Merthyr want proper local derbies they should be in the Welsh league! I hadn't considered that Hereford were in the North, but this doesn't necessarily mean Merthyr will go north as well; look at St Albans and Bishops Stortford last season.

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

Hemel is furthest north followed by Chesham then Merthyr. 

There's always the possibility but I think they also take into account road links which would probably make Hemel the favourite to go into the NLN.

The obvious team to go north I'd say is St Albans as it's right in between the M1 and A1(M). But as it's possible they're going down, I'd say that the obvious ones would be Hemel and then Chesham. They must take the roads network into consideration, which is why I can't see Chelmsford going north.

To be honest it's ridiculous that we're talking about these teams going north. I've looked at the map; if Aylesbury United ever get back into their own ground and go up to step 2 they might have been in the north this season as they're further north than Oxford!

[Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB)]

As regards "the real Dagenham", I understood that, although Redbridge Forest were the principal partners in the merger with Dagenham FC in 1992, the local council, which owned Victoria Road, had a long-standing requirement that the name of the most senior team playing there had to begin with "Dagenham". Few happy memories of the place except that Athenian League Cup win in 1972.  

[rebelbrewer]

I find the work here really interesting with maps as well. They see Merthyr going north although afaic it could easily be Hemel or Chelmsford.

[Nathan]

On 15/04/2025 at 20:08, rebelbrewer said:

They see Merthyr going north

Merthyr Town are now confirmed as champions.

It's bizarre that we're talking about a side from the Southern Premier South going into the National League North!

[REBEL MATTERS]

Is it possible that (lets say) Ebbsfleet, Maidenhead and Dagenham are relegated, they all come into NLS or is it a max of 2?

IMO, the NLN is a much hard league than our NLS.

 

[Reading Rebel]

9 minutes ago, REBEL MATTERS said:

Is it possible that (lets say) Ebbsfleet, Maidenhead and Dagenham are relegated, they all come into NLS or is it a max of 2?

IMO, the NLN is a much hard league than our NLS.

 

RM, on what basis do you think the NLN is much harder than the NLS?

I would think you'd have to have played in it or watched a lot of both divisions to have an informed opinion.

Edited April 24 by Reading Rebel

[grandad]

53 minutes ago, REBEL MATTERS said:

Is it possible that (lets say) Ebbsfleet, Maidenhead and Dagenham are relegated, they all come into NLS or is it a max of 2?

IMO, the NLN is a much hard league than our NLS.

 

All three would be in the South. The 24 most northern go in the North. Which is why Hereford now and Gloucester before were there. Won't be confirmed until all promotion play offs complete. 

[Reading Rebel]

On 22/04/2025 at 20:52, Nathan said:

Merthyr Town are now confirmed as champions.

It's bizarre that we're talking about a side from the Southern Premier South going into the National League North!

Hemel is the furthest north out of Chelmsford or Merthyr.

Also with the road links north surely out of those clubs Hemel would go into the NLN?

[Sir Rebel1965]

15 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Hemel is the furthest north out of Chelmsford or Merthyr.

Also with the road links north surely out of those clubs Hemel would go into the NLN?

It all depends on what mates you have on the NL board and if you are prepared to dish out the brown envelopes! Allegedly (to keep curtis happy) as there is never any corruption in football 115.

Edited Friday at 11:15 by Sir Rebel1965

[Curtis]

Are there any moderators on this forum?

Because I would have thought the above post could be considered libellous.

[Sir Rebel1965]

1 hour ago, Curtis said:

Are there any moderators on this forum?

Because I would have thought the above post could be considered libellous.

The brown envelopes are only for birthday cards!

[Sir Rebel1965]

3 hours ago, Curtis said:

Are there any moderators on this forum?

Because I would have thought the above post could be considered libellous.

Not sure why you are defending those at the NL after the way the club was dealt with for the COVID era fines, some very strange decisions and inconsistencies.

[Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB)]

Even squeekier bums down here in West Sussex at half time. But hats off to Truro City. If you need to win, going 3-0 up in the first 10 minutes is a good way to start.  

[Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB)]

And now Maidenhead are winning away.

[Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB)]

Horsham appear to have won the Isthmian League title on goal difference despite missing two penalties. (We were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.)

[rebelbrewer]

So coming up will be Horsham and maybe Merthyr.

Who do we want from the play offs?

Isthmian; 1 from Billericay, Cray Valley, Dartford, Dover
Southern; 1 from AFC Totton, Walton & Hersham, Gloucester City, Dorchester

For me anyone but Dover. Obviously we have history with Walton and Hersham.