Provisional Hellenic League Premier Division constitution announced

Thursday 12th May 2022

The provisional constitution for the 2022-23 Hellenic League Premier Division season has been published by the Football Association, with the allocations for all leagues at steps three through six of the National League System being released.

After the significant upheaval that accompanied the re-organisation of the non-league pyramid prior to last season, there are only limited changes as far as the Hellenic League is concerned ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

What was a highly competitive division in the season just finished is arguably set to become even more hotly contested as a result of the four changes to the league's make up.

Three sides are due to enter the division having been relegated from step four.

Of that trio, Bassett are most familiar with Wantage Town who are due to return to the Hellenic League after three seasons in the Southern League, the most recent of which saw them finish bottom of Division One Central. Bassett have previously spent eleven seasons alongside the Alfredians – the most recent being in 2018-19. And Bassett will be hoping to improve on a record that has seen them win just four, losing 18 of 22 previous league contests against Wantage.

Also returning to the Hellenic League, albeit after a much longer absence, are Cinderford Town. The Forest of Dean side were relegated after finishing 17th in Southern League Division One South West and losing an inter-step promotion/relegation playoff 5-1 against Skelmersdale United. Cinderford last played in the Hellenic League in 1994-95, enjoying 27 seasons in the Southern League before their relegation. Bassett do have recent experience of playing the Foresters, with Sam Collier's side dramatically coming from 2-0 to draw 2-2 before winning an FA Cup first qualifying round tie on penalties in 2020-21. Aside from that fixture, Bassett's only experience playing against Cinderford came when the teams were together in Hellenic League Division One in the 1990-91 season, with both games resulting in 3-0 wins for the Foresters.

The third team due to be relegated to the Hellenic Premier are Mangotsfield United. They join Cinderford in being relegated after an 18th place finish brought an end to 22 uninterrupted seasons in the Southern League. The Bristol-based Mangos represent new opposition for Bassett with the only ever previous meeting between the clubs' teams being an FA Youth Cup tie in 2004-05.

The final change sees Hereford Pegasus promoted from Hellenic League Division One. They finished fourth and sealed promotion after impressive playoff wins away against Clanfield and Worcester Raiders. Pegasus will become the third Hereford-based side in the division, But, unlike Hereford Lads Club and Westfields, they are opponents who Bassett have extensive experience playing against. Bassett and Pegasus have been league rivals in eleven previous seasons – the most recent being the 2010-11 campaign. 22 league contests have resulted in seven wins for Bassett, ten for Pegasus and five draws. And previous meetings have largely been very competitive affairs – indeed, in those near two-dozen matches the margin of victory for either team has been greater than two goals on just one occasion.

Those four sides replace Calne Town and Hallen – who have been relegated to Hellenic League Division One and Western League Division One – and Bishops Cleeve and Westbury United – both of whom are due to be promoted to Southern League Division One South West.

The full provisional constitution for the 2022-23 Hellenic League Premier Division, featuring 20 sides, is as follows:

Bradford Town
Brimscombe and Thrupp
Chipping Sodbury Town
Cinderford Town
Corsham Town
Cribbs
Fairford Town
Hereford Lads Club
Hereford Pegasus
Longlevens
Lydney Town
Malvern Town
Mangostfield United
Roman Glass St. George
Royal Wootton Bassett Town
Shrivenham
Thornbury Town
Tuffley Rovers
Wantage Town
Westfields

The constitution is, at present, provisional and subject to change.

Last modified on Thursday 12th May 2022 at 22:02.