With the WSL playing again, the season all the way from the tip to the grassroots of the English football pyramid is fully underway once more. And we're still waiting for an explanation for the reprieve which Blackburn Rovers received, having finished bottom of the WNL Division 1 North West last season. Without the reprieve, Rovers would have been playing in the amateur WRL structure and they are the only club to receive such a reprieve this season.
Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace have taken up residence in WSL. Burnley, Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers were promoted from the semi-professional WNL to the fully pro WSL2, joined by the losers of The Playoff, Leicester City, relegated from the top division.
Boldmere St Michaels, Huddersfield Town, Norwich City and Peterborough United are all promoted to the WNL Northern Premier Division. Fulham (after back to back perfect seasons) and Swindon Town have been promoted to the Southern Premier, joined by Portsmouth, who were relegated from WSL2.
The fourth division WNL D1 North is where we find Rovers, joined by neighbors AFC Fylde, Bradford City and Thornaby - all of whom were promoted from the WRL amateur leagues. They are joined by Halifax, who were relegated from WNL Northern Premier.
Newly promoted to the WNL D1 Midlands are Chesterfield and Lye Town, joined by the bizarrely reallocated Wythenshawe - based in Manchester and yet forced to look East for their opponents, so much so that they unsuccessfully appealed their move from the D1 North. Similarly upset and litigious were the World's Oldest Club, Sheffield FC, another exile from the North. Finally, Sporting Khalsa were relegated from the WNL Northern Premier.
Up from the WRL into WNL D1 South East are Dartford, Saltdean United and Stevenage, joined by Billericay Town, relegated from the WNL Southern Premier after an extraordinarily barren season.
In the WNL D1 SW, Gwalia United join after relegation from the Southern Premier and they are joined by Torquay United and Wycombe Wanderers, who were promoted from the WRL.
The amateur leagues at the fifth and sixth division level have been unified under the Women's Regional Leagues brand, whilst maintaining their own distinctive names.
The North East Regional Football League Premier Division sees Birtley Town, i2i International Academy and Leeds Modernians promoted from NERFL D1 and Rotherham United join the division having been moved from the East Midlands RFL Premier (and undergone a radical takeover where their ownership has diverged from the men's club and kept the club alive).
NERFL D1 North sees the promoted sides Boldon Ladies, Darlington ,Gateshead Leam Rangers and North Shields Athletic joined by the reprieved Hartlepool and Sunderland West End, who were relegated from the NERFL Premier.
Over in the NERFL D1 South, Bottesford Town, Evolution (about whom not much is known), Knaresborough Town and Thackley Ladies were all promoted from the local leagues.
The North West RFL Premier sees FC St Helens, Nantwich Town and Preston North End (in many ways a phoenix club) ascend through promotion and Poulton Vics receive a reprieve.
NWRFL D1 North sees Blackburn Community Sports Club (who play in the town, unlike Rovers) and Wigan Athletic Women as promoted sides joined by Fleetwood Town Wrens, who were relegated from the NWRFL Premier.
NWRFL D1 Central sees the promotion of Bury FC Women Reserves, Mancunian Unity B and Stockport County Development and the lateral movement of Altrincham and Wythenshawe Town (previously known as Manchester Laces) .
NWRFL D1 South sees the promotion of Tranmere Rovers Development and Wirral United and the addition of Mossley Hill Athletic and MSB Woolton through lateral movement within the NWRFL D1 level.
The West Midlands RFL Premier adds Knowle and Lichfield City throughh promotion and Stourbridge from the WNL D1.
The WMRFL D1 North adds promoted sides Coton Green Saturday, Lane Head Women, Shrewsbury Up and Comers and Sutton United and Burton Albion - relegated from the Premier Division.
There is much less movement into the D1 South, with only Dudley Town and Evesham United promoted and Alvechurch relegated into the division.
Over in the East Midlands, the EMRFL Premier gains the famous Doncaster Rovers Belles and their neighbors from Lincoln Women (formerly Lincoln United) through relegation from the WNL, and Grimsby Town, Newport Pagnell and Nottingham Trent University through promotion from the local leagues.
The EMRFL D1 North has added promoted sides Hucknall Town, Stavely Miners and YP (about whom I don't know much). In the D1 Central, promoted clubs Oakham, Pride Park and Thurmaston DPC are joined by Basford United, who were laterally relocated.
In the EMRFL D1 South, two teams relegated from the Premier Division - Anstey Nomads and Wellingborough Town are joined by promoted clubs Higham Town and Spalding United.
The Eastern Region Football League Premier sees promoted sides Brentwood Town and Histon join AFC Sudbury, who were relegated from the WNL.
The ERFL D1 North has gained promoted sides Ampthill Town, Costessey Sports FC Ladies and Luton Town Development joined by the laterally relocated Needham Market.
ERFL D1 South hosts the promoted clubs AFC Sudbury Reserves, AFC Welwyn and Leyton Orient as well as relegated sides Enfield Town and Hutton.
London & South East RFL Premier sees Bromley, Eastbourne Borough and Hammersmith through promotion and relegated WNL side Worthing.
LSERFL D1 North sees Carshalton Athletic, Maidstone United and Tooting Bec join through promotion and Ebbsfleet United and Sport London e Benfica relegated from the Premier.
LSERFL D1 South sees Tonbridge Angels, Three Bridges and Dorking Wanderers U23 promoted into place and Ashford United laterally relocated into the division.
The Southern RFL Premier has promoted sides Denham United and Farnham Town joined by WNL relegated side Chesham United.
The SRFL D1 North sees the promotion of Finchampstead and Barton United and the relegation of Badshot Lea from the Premier.
Over in the D1 South, AFC Portchester Reserves and Millbrook were promoted into the division and Bognor Regis Town were laterally relocated.
Lastly, down in the South West, the SWRFL Premier hosts the promoted clubs Yeovil Town and Royal Wooton Bassett and WNL relegated side Portishead Town.
The sixth division in the South West is a mess. D1 North sees the promotion of Bishops Cleave, Bristol Brunel, FC Abbey Meads and Hartpury Women and the relegation of Frampton Rangers from the Premier. It's at this point that things get funky. Gloucester City in the North are joined by AFC Brislington, Paulton Rovers and Stockwood Wanderers in the Central in being reprieved from relegation because the sixth division leagues have a mandatory minimum number of clubs. Amazingly, more clubs are reprieved in the SWRFL D1 Central than promoted. The two clubs promoted into place are Keynsham Town A and Portishead Reserves. In contrast, 6 of the 9 clubs competing in the SWRFL D1 South this year were promoted into the division - Illminster Town, Newquay AFC, Plymouth Marjon, Ridgeway, St Agnes AFC and Sticker Women. Bishops Lydeard were relegated into the division from the Premier and Bridgwater United Reserves were subject to the magnificently vague "other movement" according to the FA.
Embrace the chaos; it's the glorious thing about an open system. At Northland Soccer Journal we will climb into the weeds with a machete and bring you what news we can find from those six divisions. Join us on the journey, every week in the English Football Roundup.
