Step 5 promotion race: Which leagues will benefit from two up?

Following on from Tuesday’s look at which clubs are in poll position for promotion from Step 5 at the end of the 2017/18 league season, we thought we’d have a quick look currently at which leagues would be supplying the clubs.

As you know, it’s one guaranteed promotion from each of the 14 step 5 divisions, plus the 12 best runners up on a points per game (PPG) basis. As it stands, that means the Hellenic Premier Division is nailed on to provide two clubs to step 4 at the end of the season.

Here’s the standings as per thebootifulgame.uk leaderboard:

• Eastern Counties League Premier Division 2
• Wessex League Premier Division 2
• Hellenic League Premier Division 2
• Combined Counties League Premier Division 2
• North West Counties League Premier Division 2
• Northern League Division One 2
• Western League Premier Division 2
• Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division 2
• Essex Senior League 2
• North Counties East League Premier Division 2
• United Counties League Premier Division 2
• Midland Football League Premier Division 2
• Southern Combination League Premier Division 1
• Southern Counties East League Premier Division 1

So as things stand, the Southern Combination League and Southern Counties East League will only supply one side each, the caveat being that both divisions third placed sides (Crowborough Athletic and Peacehaven & Telscombe) have a higher PPG than the current 12th best second placed side.