Changes to the structure of the SAL divisions and five new clubs accepted
Five new clubs represents the biggest intake since 1928
At their AGM in June 2017, the SAL agreed to reorganize some of the divisions within the league, and also welcomed five new clubs into the competition.
An extract from their announcement follows:
"Moving on to the constitution and there will still be a three-division, 1st-team-only Senior Section, but this will be followed by an Intermediate Section which will be opened to teams below the 2nd XI for the first time. The Junior and Minor Sections will be merged to form an enlarged, regionalised Junior Section.
Finally, FIVE new clubs - the biggest intake since 1928 - join the SAL for 2017/18, taking the total figure to a record high of 38. Tooting & Mitcham Wanderers join from the Middlesex County League and will slot straight into Senior Division 1. This almost unprecedented move reflects the club's playing strength, coming from a 'pyramid' league.
Joining from the West End London AFA (whence NUFC Oilers joined) are Cambridge Heath who will join Senior Division 3, while Tansley - a club with a long AFA tradition but without having fielded open-aged sides in recent years - will also join. Their 1st XI will be placed into the Junior Section (North). Finally, two clubs have moved across from the Amateur Football Combination: Hampstead Heathens (who, despite the name, play in Catford) join Intermediate Division 3 while City of London - whose ground is a stone's throw from Heathens' - will begin in the southern divisions of the Junior Section."
In addition to the above the SAL have announced that, in order to achieve a spread of 11 teams in each of the Senior divisions, for 2017-18 promotion and relegation will be altered as follows:
Senior Section promotion/relegation 2017-18
Senior Division 1: 3 down
Senior Division 2: 2 up, 3 down
Senior Division 3: 2 up
