Despite running one extra last season, the First Division South will now be the perfect number according to the Football Association, with 20 teams allocated to the league.

Alsager Town and Rocester have both kept their places at Step 6 after being repreived from relegation due to their Points Per Game last season. There was no repreive though for St Martins, who leave the North West Counties League after four seasons in the league, the middle two of which were curtailed by Covid. The first season saw them finish a respectible 11th, but last season was a shocking one that saw them fail to win, pick up just two points and conceded 244 goals. Credit has to be given to the players for their commitment to the cause, for keeping going to the end, which cannot have been easy for such a young squad. We wish them the very best of luck in their rebuilding in the County Feeder Leagues.

Despite rumours to the contrary of potential lateral movements to the Midland League, Rocester, Brocton, Stafford Town remain with us for a second season. They will be joined by three new teams from the County Feeder Leagues, one of which is near to them from Stoke-on-Trent.

Foley Meir join after finishing in fourth place in the Staffordshire County Senior League. They finished 14 points behind champions AFC Alsager, and from 34 games this season, they picked up 20 wins and five draws, with 84 goals scored. Foley is situated to the south east of Stoke-on-Trent and is just off the A50.

Ashville join as runners-up in the West Cheshire League. They were four points behind champions Mersey Royal, and had a great season, losing just one league game. Of the 28 league games played, they won 21 and drew 6, also recording the tightest defence in the league with just 25 goals conceded. Ashville play in Wallasey on the Wirral, and are eight miles north of Cammell Laird 1907.

Stockport Georgians are the final team to join us and they come from the Manchester League Premier Division where they finished third. They were six points behind champions Hindsford, and had a record of 19 wins and three draws from 28 games. They also had the best goal difference in the division, scoring 80 and conceding 41. Georgians play in the Woodsmoor area of Stockport, out towards Stepping Hill Hospital.

So as we head towards our 40th Anniversary Season, we have a good mix of established clubs with six new clubs joining us from up and down the pyramid. We say goodbye to a few clubs and wish them well, but as always we will give all member clubs a strong platform to build, compete and to play football in the right spirit. Roll on the end of July!

DIVISON ONE SOUTH

Abbey Hey, Abbey Hulton United, Alsager Town, Ashville, Barnton, Brocton, Cammell Laird 1907, Cheadle Heath Nomads, Cheadle Town, Eccleshall, Ellesmere Rangers, Foley Meir, Maine Road, New Mills, Rocester, Sandbach United, Stafford Town, Stockport Georgians, Stockport Town, Wythenshawe Amateurs.