Shorter distances, fewer games: FA makes proposals for Step 6 restructure

Football clubs at Step 6 of the English Football Pyramid could be in line for fewer games and shorter travel distances if FA proposals published by the Non-League Paper get the go-ahead.

According to the publication: “A review by the FA, with the objective of reducing the geographical footprint of existing divisions at Step 6, has been ongoing for a while.”

The proposals include increasing the number of divisions at Step 6 – which includes the Combined Counties League Division One and Hellenic League Division One – from 17 to 24, with a reduction in teams competing in each division to 18 clubs.

This season, the Combined Counties League Division One has 23 teams, meaning a long and gruelling 46 games season before you take into account the weather and Cup matches. It is the largest division at the level.

The Football Association, the NLP says, hopes to have plans finalised by the end of the current season so the stage can be set with promotions and relegations for an implementation at the start of the 2027/28 season.

James Earl, head of National League System at the FA said to the Non-League Paper: ““There are some that are really struggling with the travel distances, and we try to balance that with fluctuating division sizes, but I just don’t think that’s a palatable long-term solution.

“However, you can’t make quick decisions to alter the pyramid because you must ensure you’ve gone through the unintended consequences, worked out what the best solution is, and how you put that into practice.”

FA proposals analysis

Football in Berkshire writer Steve Gabb says: “Going from Step 7 where you have 26 league games to Step 6 where you have 40+ always felt like too much of a jump.

“Admin of these leagues will be interesting. Which ones will get two to look after? Footprints of leagues will be all over the place.”

The major issue will be finding the teams to fill the gaps says FiB Editor Tom Canning: “One way or another the FA is going to have to find teams to fill these new divisions. Whether that’s through scrapping relegation for a season or hoovering up Step 7 sides.

“According to the Non-League Paper, it is unlikely that stadium accreditation criteria will be relaxed for club’s hoping to take their place at Step 6 which, in my opinion will only exacerbate the issue with fixture backlogs.

“We already have club’s uprooting themselves from their communities and income sources to satisfy ground grading criteria that are far too strict, disassociating themselves with their wider club in order to ground share.

“I’ve argued for a long time that smaller divisions at Step 6 make the physical step up from Step 7 more palatable both physically for players and mentally for those volunteers around the club.

“But we shouldn’t be forcing clubs to spend money on renting another club’s ground, or upgrading facilities at grounds that are of limited use to anyone visiting at best, money that should be spent on pitches, training and youth football projects these clubs all do so well at.”

Original reporting by the Non-League Paper. The publication online is behind a paywall. Please support it if you can.

What do you think of the proposals? Are they the best solution for Step 6? Let us know in the comments below.