While we eagerly await the release of the United Counties League fixtures for the forthcoming season, news has surfaced that Cogenhoe United have withdrawn from the UCL Premier Division South, leaving just 19 teams to contest our division for 2024/25. The reasons behind the Cooks’ withdrawal are shrouded in mystery at present but all will no doubt become clear by the time the league season kicks off on the weekend of 3rd August.
The full UCL Statement on the issue reads as follows;
Statement from The United Counties League
The United Counties Football League have been informed today (28 June 2024) by Cogenhoe United that they are withdrawing their Teams from UCL Premier Division South and the Reserve Division with immediate effect.
After consulting with the Football Association regarding our two Step 5 divisions, it was confirmed that as our AGM has already been held, the only option available to the League to replace Cogenhoe United at step 5 is to offer promotion to the team that lost the Division One play-off final, namely Newark Town.
Newark Town have been offered a place at step 5 which they have accepted, and they will be placed in Premier Division North as the most geographically suitable Division.
The Premier Division North will now run with 20 teams in season 2024/25. There is no impact on promotion or relegation at the end of the season, ie the top team will be promoted to step 4, places 2nd to 5th will qualify for the play-offs to determine a second promotion to step 4, and the bottom two teams are subject to relegation.
The Premier Division South will now run with 19 teams in season 2024/25. As Cogenhoe United were accepted in to membership of the Division at the AGM before their withdrawal, they will be deemed the bottom club at the end of the season, so only one further team (i.e. the team that finishes 19th out of 19) will be in a relegation position at the end of the season. There is no impact on promotion at the end of the season, i.e. the top team will be promoted to step 4, whilst places 2nd to 5th will qualify for the play-offs to determine a second promotion to step 4.
Division One will now run with 19 teams as a result of Newark Town’s promotion. There is no impact on promotion or relegation at the end of the season, i.e. the top team will be promoted to step 5, places 2nd to 5th will qualify for the play-offs to determine a second promotion to step 5, and the bottom three teams are still subject to relegation.
The Reserve Division will now run with 16 teams. Please note that as per normal, the Clubs that finish in positions 1 to 5 of their Division must meet the other eligibility criteria to be promoted and/or compete in the play offs, including ground criteria, solvency, security of tenure, etc.
The identity of our opponents in the 1st Round of the UCL League Cup is expected shortly, so do keep an eye on Histon FC social media as the build-up to the new season gathers pace.
