WARRINGTON Rylands have had their promotion to the eighth tier of English football rubber-stamped by the FA.
Following a league re-structure at that level of the game, Rylands, who are set to play in the FA Vase final this Saturday, will move up to the Northern Premier League West Division (step 4) – which puts them just a division below the town’s premier club, Warrington Town.
Commenting on the news Ryland’s Managing Director Paul Stretford said: “We are naturally delighted to have been accepted into the NPL West as part of the NLS restructure.
“I am particularly happy for the people who have made this possible, including the players, management, staff, fans and our executive committee.
“I don’t like picking out people for special mention, but I must note the contributions of both Chairman, Mark Pye and Club Secretary, Tony Bennett – who have shared the belief in helping make the dream a reality”.
The Yellows remain in the Northern Premier League Premier Division (step 3) for the sixth successive season, with the same other 21 teams for the third straight campaign owing to the frustration of two COVID-curtailed seasons.
They are still the reigning play-off champions, from when they beat South Shields back in 2019 at the end of the last fully completed season.
Rylands are joined in NPL West by 1874 Northwich and Bootle, who also jump up from North West Counties, and a further 17 existing NPL clubs.
That includes Crosby-based Marine, who made the headlines by reaching the third round of the FA Cup where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this year, and likely title-favourites Workington.
The league stretches from Workington and Kendal Town in the north, down to Market Drayton Town and Newcastle Town in the south, going as far east as Glossop North End.
A number of Liverpool and Manchester region clubs are in too – including Runcorn Linnets, Widnes, Mossley and Trafford.
The FA has now implemented a so-called ‘perfect pyramid’ in non-league.
That means that across step 4, there are eight divisions including NPL West, all with two promotion spots up for grabs – one for the champions and one for the play-off winners, with the top five qualifying for the play-offs.
The same promotion criteria applies at the top of step 3, while four teams will be relegated from the Premier Division.
NPL Premier Division – Ashton United, Atherton Collieries, Bamber Bridge, Basford United, Buxton, FC United, Gainsborough Trinity, Grantham Town, Hyde United, Lancaster City, Matlock Town, Mickleover Sports, Morpeth Town, Nantwich Town, Radcliffe, Scarborough Athletic, South Shields, Stafford Rangers, Stalybridge Celtic, WARRINGTON TOWN, Whitby Town, Witton Albion.
NPL West – 1874 Northwich, Bootle, City of Liverpool, Clitheroe, Colne, Glossop North End, Kendal Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Leek Town, Marine, Market Drayton Town, Mossley, Newcastle Town, Prescot Cables, Ramsbottom United, Runcorn Linnets, Trafford, WARRINGTON RYLANDS, Widnes, Workington.
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🏆 FA Vase Finalhttps://t.co/hMZ0Mqtyl8— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) May 18, 2021
