Thurrock FC continue to play in Blue Square South (From Thurrock Gazette)

Thurrock FC continue to play in Blue Square South

3:31pm Wednesday 3rd June 2009

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Thurrock FC’s Tommy South has expressed delight that the club will continue to play Blue Square South soccer.

It had been suggested that Fleet would, despite finishing second from bottom, be reprieved from relegation due to Team Bath withdrawing.

And now, following the Football Association’s weekend announcement of set-ups for soccer’s non-league pyramid for clubs in steps one to four, those rumours have been confirmed.

“We had heard all along that we wouldn’t be going down, but obviously it’s a relief to have it officially confirmed,” said South. We’re all delighted to again be playing at this level next term.”

However, there is no such good news for two other Essex clubs, Heybridge Swifts and Witham Town.

Swifts are relegated from the Ryman Premier while Witham Town drop out of the Isthmian set-up altogether.

The decision to relegate Witham has angered their manager Danny Greaves, son of legendary ex-England star Jimmy and himself a former Southend United player.

He is annoyed that Senior League champions Romford have been admitted to the Ryman set-up-up — they will play in Division One North — despite not having a ground of their own. They played home games at Aveley last season.

Aveley will proudly take their place in the Ryman Premier next term after winning the Division One North Championship.

They will join Waltham Abbey, Bognor Regis Town, Cray Wanderers and Kingstonian as newcomers to take on Canvey Island and Billericay Town among others.

Apart from Heybridge and Romford, newcomers to Ryman One North are Harlow, Lowestoft Town and VCD Athletic.

South-east Essex clubs facing them will be Concord Rangers, East Thurrock United, Great Wakering Rovers and Tilbury.

Grays Athletic will face six new opponents in AFC Wimbledon, Hayes and Yeading, Luton Town, Chester City, Gateshead and Tamworth.

And there are five new faces for Thurrock to take on in Blue Square South: Dover, Staines, Weymouth, Woking and Lewes.

New league set-ups for sE Essex teams Blue Square Premier: AFC Wimbledon, Altrincham, Barrow, Cambridge United, Chester City, Crawley Town, Eastbourne Borough, Ebbsfleet, Forest Green Rovers, Gateshead, Grays Athletic, Hayes and Yeading, Histon, Kettering Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Luton Town, Mansfield, Oxford United, Rushden and Diamonds, Salisbury City, Stevenage Borough, Tamworth, Wrexham, York City.

Blue Square South: Basingstoke Town, Bath City, Bishop's Stortford, Braintree Town, Bromley, Chelmsford City, Dorchester Town, Dover Athletic, Eastleigh, Hampton and Richmond Borough, Havant and Waterlooville, Lewes, Maidenhead United, Newport County, Staines Town, St Albans City, Thurrock, Welling United, Weston-super-Mare, Weymouth, Woking, Worcester City.

Ryman Premier Division: AFC Hornchurch; Ashford Town (Middx); Aveley; Billericay Town; Bognor Regis Town; Boreham Wood; Canvey Island; Carshalton Athletic; Cray Wanderers; Dartford; Harrow Borough; Hastings United; Hendon; Horsham; Kingstonian; Maidstone United; Margate; Sutton U; Tonbridge Angels; Tooting & Mitcham United; Waltham Abbey; Wealdstone.

Ryman Division One North: Brentwood Town; Cheshunt; Concord Rangers; East Thurrock United; Enfield Town; Great Wakering Rovers; Harlow Town; Heybridge Swifts; Ilford; Leyton; Lowestoft Town; Maldon Town; Northwood; Potters Bar Town; Redbridge; Romford; Thamesmead Town; Tilbury; VCD Athletic; Waltham Forest; Ware; Wingate & Finchley.

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