It is always this time of year that the FA announce a list of clubs who have applied to join Step 6. A list has surfaced on the nonleaguematters internet forum.
The list reveals that two Berkshire clubs are bidding for Step 6 football next season. These are Windsor & Eton of the Thames Valley Premier League and Kintbury Rangers of the Wiltshire Premier.
Windsor & Eton are the sole applicant from the Thames Valley Premier League. To be promoted they must end the season in the top five and have a ground that meets grading regulations. Stag Meadow is currently used by Virginia Water in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North so there should be few problems on that count.
It is also looking increasingly likely they’ll be one of the top five clubs in the division by the end of the season. They currently lie in second behind Westwood Wanderers. If the Royalists are promoted they’d likely be placed in Combined Counties Division One.
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The challenge for Kintbury Rangers
The job for Kintbury Rangers – lead by Danny Langford – may prove to be a little tougher. While their ground is floodlit it is likely to need some improvement to secure Step 6 football. Their job is also a little harder than Windsor & Eton’s as multiple clubs are applying for promotion from the Wiltshire Premier League.
The current leaders Amesbury Town, Larkhall Athletic Dev and Trowbridge Town have all applied. Rangers (like Windsor & Eton) are currently in second place, but the promotion spot would go to league leaders Amesbury Town. If Kintbury Rangers were promoted to Step 6 it’s not clear which division they would end up in. The Wessex League, Combined Counties or even the Hellenic League are possibilities for the West Berkshire club.
Related: Six reasons to visit Kintbury Rangers FC
Elsewhere in the local region, Spartan League Division Two clubs Codicote and New Bradwell St Peter have applied for promotion as have the Surrey County Premier clubs Staines & Lammas, CB Hounslow and Frenches Athletic.
We would obviously like to give our best wishes and good luck to both Kintbury Rangers and Windsor & Eton as they bid for promotion into the national league system.
