The Football Association have today confirmed the National League System (NLS) allocations for the 2024/25 season, subject to appeals.
It will come as little shock that Invicta will remain in the Isthmian Premier Division, avoiding a sideways move to the Southern League or Northern League.
With Hornchurch and Enfield Town having been promoted to Step 2 while Margate, Haringey Borough, Concord Rangers and Kingstonian were relegated to Step 4 six new sides will join us in the Premier Division next season but with very few new face.
Kent sides Dartford and Dover Athletic will join us to take the total number of sides from the county to six for next season, throwing up 5 Kent derbies to look forward to at the Alcaline Stadium.
Invicta haven’t played Dover in league fixtures in 20 years, with Neil Cugley’s side taking all 6 points with 1-0 wins home and away.
The final Kent side to be joining us is Cray Valley Paper Mills who have been promoted as Isthmian South East Division champions following a titanic title race its Ramsgate. The Millers are lead by Steve McKimm who lead them to an FA Cup 1st Round replay against Charlton Athletic before they went on to lift silverware last season. Invicta last met Cray Valley in a Kent Senior Cup clash in 2022 which ended in a 3-1 defeat.
Joining them from the South East Division is playoff winners Chichester City who did things the hard way, winning away at Ramsgate and Three Bridges to secure promotion. Invicta met the Sussex side twice in 2022, winning 5-2 away in a Velocity Cup tie in January before winning 3-0 in an FA Cup tie in September the following season.
Bowers & Pitsea join from the Isthmian North Division having been promoted via the playoffs just a year after their relegation from the Premier Division.
The final spot sees us welcome Hendon back to the Isthmian League, 6 years after they were moved into the Southern League. The sides had some titanic battles during the 2017/18 season with Hendon winning in the playoff semi-final before losing to Dulwich Hamlet who were promoted while The Dons were moved sideways during a restructure that saw an extra division added at Step 3. The sides have met once since with Invicta winning 2-1 in an FA Trophy tie in October 2021.
The announcement comes subject to any appeals which the FA will communicate the outcomes of in due course, but until then we welcome the 6 new clubs into our division and look forward to meeting them all once the new season is underway.
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