The release of the National League System (NLS) allocations for 2025/26 has provoked a lot of response and comment – as it always does.
One big talking point for Football in Berkshire has been the size of the Combined Counties League Division One, which is by far the largest Step 6 division in terms of number of teams.
None of the three teams that finished in the relegation zone at the end of 2024/25 were relegated because it was not deemed their to be enough suitable qualifying applicants from Step 7.
The Football Association (FA) has responded to two questions about the decision making process.
We understood it was the FAs intention to at least relegate the bottom side in every division. This hasn’t happened in the Combined Counties League Division One – is there a reason for this given Maidenhead Town had applied for promotion:
An FA spokesperson told us: At Steps 1 to 5, the bottom Club cannot be reprieved but at Step 6 reprieves can happen for any of the clubs that are liable for relegation (i.e. the bottom three per division). The number of relegated Clubs at Step 6 is calculated once vacancies have been filled and promotion applications have been considered. The Clubs in bottom position are ranked on PPG and then the required amount relegated. In the case of the Combined Counties League there was no relegation.
What is the desired number of teams at step 6? The same CCL division is at 24 when conceivably three teams could reasonably have expected to be relegated:
FA: The Committee would ideally like divisions at Step 6 to operate with 18-22 Clubs but the Committee has to be pragmatic with regards to travel at this level and so, having explored a large number of options, decided that this division would have to run with 24 teams. The League were engaged in this process and agreed that it was the most sensible solution.
Read next: What the Combined Counties League Division One will look like in 25/26
