FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION RELEASE STEP'S ONE TO FOUR LEAGUE ALLOCATIONS FOR 2016/17

The Football Association has today released the allocations for the Step's one to four leagues. The local Ryman League for 2016/17 will have the following look - 

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION
1) AFC SUDBURY - promoted from D1N  
2) BILLERICAY TOWN 
3) BOGNOR REGIS TOWN 
4) BURGESS HILL TOWN - reprieved from relegation due to Farnborough's demotion 
5) CANVEY ISLAND
6) DULWICH HAMLET 
7) ENFIELD TOWN   
8) FOLKESTONE INVICTA  - promoted from D1S 
9) GRAYS ATHLETIC  
10) HARLOW TOWN  - promoted from D1N
11) HARROW BOROUGH  
12) HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE - demoted from Vanarama South 
13) HENDON
14) KINGSTONIAN   
15) LEATHERHEAD 
16) LEISTON    
17) LOWESTOFT TOWN - demoted from Vanarama North  
18) MERTSHAM  
19) METROPOLITAN POLICE
20) NEEDHAM MARKET 
21) STAINES TOWN
22)TONBRIDGE ANGELS
23) WINGATE AND FINCHLEY 
24) WORTHING - promoted from D1S

The surprise is Havant and Waterlooville joining who were expected by many to go to the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division with Hayes and Yeading being placed in that division. Havant have been members of the Conference South since it was formed in 2004. Their highest placed finish came in 2006/07 when they qualified for the play-offs in fourth position - they lost to Braintree Town in the semi-finals. They finished fifth in 2014/15 where they lost at the play-off semi-final stage to Boreham Wood. Former football league player Lee Bradbury has been manager since 2012 - He is best known for his time playing with Portsmouth and AFC Bournemouth where he was also manager between January 2011 to March 2012 when Eddie Howe left to manage Burnley. The Hawks, as they are known play at West Leigh Park which is in Havant - it's the former home of Havant Town FC who merged with Waterlooville in 1998 to form the new club - Waterlooville's Jubilee Park was sold for development.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) 
1) AFC HORNCHURCH 
2) AVELEY 
3) BOWERS AND PITSEA - promoted from the Essex Senior League 
4) BRENTWOOD TOWN - relegated from Premier Division
5) BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT 
6) BURY TOWN 
7) CHESHUNT 
8) DEREHAM TOWN 
9) GREAT WAKERING ROVERS
10) HARINGEY BOROUGH
11) HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 
12) MALDON AND TIPTREE 
13) NORWICH UNITED - promoted from the Thurlow Nunn Premier 
14) PHOENIX SPORTS 
15) ROMFORD 
16) SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 
17) THAMESMEAD TOWN 
18) THURROCK 
19) TILBURY 
20) VCD ATHLETIC - relegated from the Premier Division 
21) WALTHAM ABBEY 
22) WARE - transfered from SLD1 (C) 
23) WITHAM TOWN 
24) WROXHAM - reprieved from relegation 

Joining D1N are Bowers and Pitsea, Norwich United, VCD Athletic and Ware. Redbridge and Barkingside who finished in the bottom two of the division are not listed so they will be playing Essex Senior League football for the 2016/17 season.

DIVISION ONE (SOUTH)
1) CARSHALTON ATLHETIC 
2) CHATHAM TOWN 
3) CHIPSTEAD 
4) CORINTHIAN CASUALS 
5) CRAY WANDERERS - transfered from D1N 
6) DORKING WANDERERS 
7) EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN 
8) FAVERSHAM TOWN 
9) GODALMING TOWN - transfered from SLD1C
10) GREENWICH BOROUGH - promoted from Southern Counties East League 
11) GUERNSEY 
12) HASTINGS UNITED 
13) HERNE BAY 
14) HORSHAM - promoted from Southern Combination Premier Division 
15) HYTHE TOWN 
16) LEWES - relegated from Premier Division 
17) MOLESEY 
18) RAMSGATE 
19) SITTINGBOURNE 
20) SOUTH PARK 
21) THREE BRIDGES 
22) TOOTING AND MITCHAM UNITED 
23) WALTON CASUALS 
24) WHYTELEAFE 

Joining Division One (South) are Cray Wanderers, Godalming Town, Greenwich Borough, Horsham and Lewes. The bottom three teams for 2015/16 being Walton and Hersham, Whitstable Town and Peacehaven and Telscombe are not listed to will be playing Step Five football for 2016/17. 

For The Swans of Walton & Hersham it ends a 30+ year association with the Isthmian League - they joined in 1971.