Monday 15th May 2023

The provisional constitution for the 2023-24 Hellenic League Premier Division season has been published by the Football Association, with the allocations for all leagues at steps one through six of the National League System being released.

There are set to be five changes to the Hellenic League for the 2023-24 campaign, in which Bassett will be looking to match - and potentially even improve upon - the highest ever league finish they secured in 2022-23.

The competition is potentially set to get tougher though with three teams coming down from the Southern League.

Among that trio of teams are local rivals Highworth Town, who return to the Hellenic League after five seasons at step four. The Worthians were promoted in 2017-18 after finishing third in the Hellenic Premier. Allocated initially to the Southern League Division South, Highworth achieved a highest finish of tenth in 2021-22.

Last summer though the Worthians were on the receiving end of an unfortunate lateral transfer that saw them moved across to Division One Central. Dealt a harsh hand with the additional travel involved, Highworth battled against the drop all season. Although avoiding the automatic relegation places, their 17th place finish meant they faced a promotion-relegation playoff, which they lost 4-1 against Malvern Town.

While disappointing for Highworth, for Bassett it means the return of an important derby fixture. And Bassett will be aiming to improve upon their disappointing historical record against the Worthians. 34 Hellenic League meetings have seen Bassett win eleven times compared to Highworth's 21 wins, with just two games ending in a draw.

Also returning to the Hellenic League, albeit after longer absences, are Cinderford Town and Slimbridge.

Cinderford, reprieved ahead of last season despite losing a promotion-relegation playoff, were relegated after finishing 19th in Southern League Division One South in 2022-23.

The Forest of Dean side last played in the Hellenic League in 1994-95, enjoying 28 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 on penalties in a 2020-21 FA Cup first qualifying round tie.

Aside from that fixture, Bassett's only competitive games 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.

Slimbridge, meanwhile, finished bottom in Southern League Division One South, with their relegation bringing an end to eight years at step four in which the Swans finished no higher than 14th.

Slimbridge and Bassett last met in the Hellenic Premier in 2010-11, a year after the teams had finished first and second in Division One West when the Swans narrowly claimed the title on goal difference. Slimbridge have dominated the previous league meetings between the two teams, winning seven out of eight contests. Bassett's lone win came in 2009-10 as a fine lobbed goal from current manager Sam Collier helped earn a 2-1 victory at Rylands Way.

As well as those three relegated sides, Pershore Town and Worcester City also join, adding two new opponents and another pair of trips to Worcestershire for Bassett.

Pershore enter the Hellenic Premier after winning Hellenic League Division One in 2022-23 - a season in which they also lifted the Hellenic League Challenge Cup and finished as runners-up in the Floodlit Cup.

Meanwhile, Worcester City have received a lateral transfer from the Midland League Premier Division, where they finished 17th in 2022-23. Fallen giants, the Blues were playing at step two in the National League North as recently as 2016-17. However, financial issues led to them dropping three levels after the conclusion of that season. After a change to fan ownership, in six years in the Midland League, Worcester's best finish was fourth (2017-18 and 2021-22).

Departing the Hellenic Premier are Cribbs and Malvern Town, who are promoted to step four after finishing as champions and runners-up respectively in 2022-23.

They are joined in leaving the Hellenic Premier by Bradford Town and Chipping Sodbury Town, who are both relegated to step six, as well as Mangotsfield United, who have received a lateral transfer to the Western League Premier Division after one season in the Hellenic Premier.

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


Brimscombe and Thrupp

Cinderford Town

Corsham Town

Fairford Town
Hereford Lads Club

Hereford Pegasus
Highworth Town

Longlevens

Lydney Town
Pershore Town

Roman Glass St. George

Royal Wootton Bassett Town
Shrivenham
Slimbridge

Thornbury Town

Tuffley Rovers

Wantage Town

Westfields
Worcester City
Worcester Raiders

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

Last modified on Monday 15th May 2023 at 14:39.