WHO’S NEW?
Meet the teams who Royston Town FC will be playing next season.
With Needham Market, Leamington, Berkhamstead, Long Eaton United, Coalville and Nuneaton Borough leaving the league at the end of last season and Mickleover FC being transferred to the Northern Premier League, the league needed seven new teams.
We wish all the new clubs good luck for the upcoming season.
The new clubs are:
Banbury United
Nickname – The Puritans
Year Founded – 1931
Ground – Spencer Stadium
Address – The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5AB
Head to Head Record –
Played 9 – Won 3 / Drawn 2 / Lost 4
After a two year absence from Step 3 football, Banbury United are back in the Southern League Premier Central after being relegated from the National League North after finishing 22nd in the league and obtaining 38 points from 46 games, which is 16 points less than they got in their debut season at Step 2 which is the highest level they have ever played at.
Like any club relegated they will look to bounce straight back up, however, there is no easy game as some clubs have found out. Banbury United have also appointed a new manager in charge for the upcoming campaign in Simon Hollyhead who has been assistant manager at Swedish side Malmö while they have been in the Champions League.
Bedford Town FC
Nickname – The Eagles
Year Founded – 1908 / 1989 refounded
Ground – The New Eyrie
Address – Meadow Lane, Cardington, Bedfordshire, MK44 3LW
Head to Head Record: Played 9 – Won 7 / Drawn 1 / Lost 1
After coming straight back up through the playoffs after seeing off Ware and Waltham Abbey FC, Bedford Town have returned to the Southern Premier Central and are hoping to stay another season or even aim for Step 2 football.
Bedford Town have a few former Royston Town players in their play off winning squad with Carl Mensah scoring their winner against Waltham Abbey to send the Eagles straight back into Step 3 and one of the many ‘local’ sides Royston will play this season.
Biggleswade Town
Nickname – The Waders
Year Founded – 1874
Ground – Langford Road Stadium
Address – Langford Road, Langford, Biggleswade, SG18 9JT
Head to Head Record: Played 14 – Won 8 / Drawn 4 / Losy
Biggleswade Town Wins 4
While Bedford Town had to come up through the play offs, another club from Bedfordshire came up automatically – Biggleswade Town were crowned champions of the Southern League Division One Central. The Waders have also had a two year absence from the Southern League Premier Central.
Bishop’s Stortford FC
Nickname – The Blues
Year Founded – 1874
Ground – Woodside Park
Address – Dunmow Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 5RG
Head to Head Record: Played 6 Won 2 / Drawn 0 / Lost 4
After initially losing two Hertfordshire sides in Hitchin Town and Berkhamstead this season, there were questions if we would be the only team from Hertfordshire competing in the upcoming Southern League Premier Central however Hitchin Town were reprieved.
Bishop’s Stortford were relegated from the National League North, yes you read that right the North’ and are now playing in their 3rd new division in consecutive seasons. Bishop’s Stortford new manager is previous Crows boss Steve Castle f alongside previous Royston Town Reserves manager Dan Evans. They have also signed a few former Royston Town players as well.
Harborough Town
Nickname – The Bees
Year Founded – 1975
Ground – Bowden Park
Address – Harborough Town Community Football Ground, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, LE16 9HF
Head to Head Record – Never played each other before!
Harborough Town will be competing at Step 3 for the first time in their history. This came from winning the Northern Premier League Midland League Play offs after defeating Hinckley LRFC at home in the semi final and beating Anstey Nomads away in the play off final.
Harborough have enjoyed success in recent seasons after coming up from Step 5 just 2 years ago and didn’t spend long in the Northern Premier League Midlands. They were challenging both Spalding United and Anstey Nomads for the title, but a six point deduction threw them out of the title race although that didn’t hinder their spirits. We look forward to playing Harborough Town for the first time.
Lowestoft Town FC
Nickname – The Trawler Boys
Year Founded – 1887 (Merger)
Ground – Crown Meadow
Address – Love Road, Lowestoft, NR32 2PA
Head to Head Record: Played 8 – Won 4 / Drawn 2 / Lost 2
Like Banbury and Biggleswade, Lowestoft Town also had a two year absence from Step 3 football, Lowestoft Town were crowned champions although it wasn’t at their ground Crown Meadow. They did it after a win away at New Salamis and Bowers & Pitsea failing to beat Walthamstow. Lowestoft Town are now the most eastern team in our league!
Spalding United
Nickname – The Tulips
Year Founded – 1905
Ground – Sir Halley Stewart Field
Address – Sir Halley Stewart Field, Winfrey Avenue, Spalding, PE11 1DA
Head to Head Record – Never played each other before!
Likewise with Harborough Town, Royston Town will play a new face when they meet Spalding United. We look forward to playing them for the first time.
However unlike Harborough Town the club has played at Step 3 before, back in the late 80’s and early 90’s in the Southern League Midland Division. Although they haven’t played in the Premier Division, back then the National League North & South didn’t come into fruition until 2004.
