By Garry Clarke
WARRINGTON Rylands 1906 may be playing their football in the Northern Premier League next season following the announcement that the Football Association’s Leagues committee has recommended that the long-awaited restructure of the non-league system takes place this summer.
Under the proposals, which before they are implemented require full FA Council approval, 110 clubs nationwide at steps 5-7 will be upwardly moved, with results from the aborted 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons being used on a appoints per games basis being used to determine which clubs will be promoted.
The re-structure involves the creation of a new step 4 league which will be administered by the Northern Premier League. To fill the new league, the North West Counties League will be asked to promote three teams.
The top three teams in the NWCL Premier Division over the past two seasons on a points per games basis which meet the grading criteria are 1874 Northwich, Bootle and Warrington Rylands 1906.
The Blues claimed 76 points from 35 games played over the two part seasons for a points per game average of 2.1714, the third best in the NWCL Premier behind 1874 (2.3529) and Bootle (2.2667).
Once full FA Council approval has been given the three sides along with the top three clubs in the Northern League and Northern Counties East League, along with the top placed clubs in the eleven remaining step 5 leagues will be invited to apply for upward movement.
Rylands have also learned who have could play in the 5th round of the FA Vase if they are successful in Saturday’s 4th round tie at Shildon.
Monday’s draw handed the winners of the game in Shildon a home tie on Saturday 24th April against either North Ferriby or West Auckland Town.
