Changing face of leagues in annual reshuffle

10:35am Thursday 15th May 2008

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RYMAN Division One North clubs Aveley, East Thurrock United and Tilbury will be making some unfamiliar journeys next season after the latest shake-up in non-league football was announced.

Chatham Town, Cheshunt, Hillingdon Borough and Thamesmead Town are newcomers to the division as part of a geographical switch.

Dropping into the league longside East Thurrock from the Ryman Premier are Leyton, while Essex Senior league winners, Canvey Island-based Concord Rangers will provide a closer port of call for the borough sides.

Because of the demise of Edgware Town, Ilford have been reprieved from a drop to the Essex Senior League. Wivenhoe, who finished bottom of the Ryman One North, have been demoted to the Eastern Counties league.

The Ryman One North will feature:
Aveley
Brentwood Town
Chatham Town
Cheshunt
Concord Rangers
East Thurrock United
Ilford
Enfield Town
Great Wakering Rovers
Hillingdon Borough
Leyton
Maldon Town
Northwood
Potters Bar Town
Redbridge
Thamesmead Town
Tilbury
Waltham Abbey
Waltham Forest
Ware
Wingate & Finchley
Witham Town

IN the Blue Square Conference, the demise of Halifax Town has meant that for the third season running Altrincham have avoided relegation, being reprieved by other clubs folding or being demoted for financial regularities.

Grays will now face one of the longest trips in football following the success of Barrow in the Blue Square North play-offs, though the other new non-league sides to the division, Kettering, Lewes and Eastbourne are nearer to hand.

Stepping down from the Football League Division Two are Mansfield and Wrexham.

Going up alongside Blue Square champions Aldershot will be either Cambridge United or Exeter who metin in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday.

Altrincham
Barrow
Burton Albion
Crawley Town
Eastbourne Borough
Ebbsfleet United
Exeter City/Cambridge U
Forest Green Rovers
Grays Athletic
Histon
Kettering Town
Kidderminster Harriers
Lewes
Mansfield Town
Northwich Victoria
Oxford United
Rushden & Diamonds
Salisbury City
Stevenage Borough
Torquay United
Weymouth
Woking
Wrexham
York City
IN the Blue Square South two teams have ben switiched from North division, with Thurrock having to meet Worcester City and Redditch United.

Two other newcomers to the division, Chelmsford City and AFC Wimbledon are among the best supported of non-League sides and will bring welcome revenue into the coffers at Ship Lane when they visit.

The arrival of team Bath from the Southern League means another long trip to the West country for Fleet fans.

AFC Wimbledon
Basingstoke Town
Bath City
Bishop's Stortford
Bognor Regis Town
Braintree Town
Bromley
Cambridge City
Chelmsford City
Eastleigh
Fisher Athletic
Hampton & Richmond
Havant & Waterlooville
Hayes & Yeading United
Maidenhead United
Newport County
Redditch United
St Albans City
Team Bath
Thurrock
Welling United
Worcester City