The FA Leagues Committee have released the club allocations for Steps 1 to 4 for the new season today.

As expected, we will be taking our place at Step 3 in the top division of the Ryman League for the 51st consecutive season.

Coming down from Step 2 from Conference South are Billericay Town and AFC Hornchurch, who both make an immediate return after just one season at the higher level.

Promoted from Step 4 are Thamesmead Town and Grays Athletic from Division One North, and Maidstone United and Dulwich Hamlet from Division One South. This means that the only side we play next season that we've never faced in the league before are Thamesmead.

This means, with 6 clubs coming in, and just Whitehawk, Concord Rangers (both promoted), and Carshalton Athletic and Hastings United (both relegated) leaving the division, the league will be formed of 24 clubs next season, meaning 46 league games. The season starts on Saturday 10th August, and the regular season will end on Saturday 26th April, with play-offs taking place during the following week.

In terms of promotion and relegation at the end of the season, the champion club will be promoted, along with the winners of the play-offs (involving the clubs finishing 2nd to 5th), and four clubs will be relegated.

The full list for next season is AFC Hornchurch, Billericay Town, Bognor Regis Town, Bury Town, Canvey Island, Cray Wanderers, Dulwich Hamlet, East Thurrock United, Enfield Town, Grays Athletic, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Harrow Borough, Kingstonian, Leiston, Lewes, Lowestoft Town, Maidstone United, Margate, Metropolitan Police, Thamesmead Town, Thurrock, Wealdstone, Wingate & Finchley.

As in previous years, there are a number of issues that may yet impact on these allocations, and therefore they remain subject to change until the dates of the AGMs of the respective competitions. The Ryman League AGM takes place on Sunday 16th June.