The allocations were Steps 1-6 were announced last week and as far as we are aware, nobody has lodged any appeals so it is looking like that the NPL Premier Division is locked in for the 2025/26 season.

We have 6 new sides in the League next Season.

Cleethorpes Town whose ground just sits inside of Grimsby, unlike Grimsby Town whose ground just sits inside Cleethorpes (you'll be hearing that a lot this season) were runaway winners of the NPL Division One East, finishing on 93 points, scoring 91 in the process, earning their spot in Step 3 for the first time.

They are joined in the NPL Premier Division from the East by Stocksbridge Park Steels. The Sheffield-based side overcoming Dunston in the play-off final. After a goalless game, won the penalty shoot-out 5-3, earning their spot back in the NPL Prem after being relegated back in 2014.

It went to the final day of the NPL Division One West before Widnes were crowned champions. A 1-0 win over Trafford kept their 3 point buffer above the Play-off places and earning themselves a spot in Step 3 for the first time in their history.

In the Play-offs, Hednesford Town ended their stay in Step 4 with a 2-0 win over Congletown Town. They will compete in the Northern Premier League for the first time since their lateral move back at the end of the 2018/19 Season.

Coming down from the National League North are Warrington Town, who were relegated after 2 seasons in the Vanarama and probably one of the more eyebrow raising allocations were Rushall Olympic who also spent 2 seasons in the National League North, were in the Southern Premier Central before promotion back in 2023. However, they were in the Northern Premier League System between 2008 and 2018. The Wallsall based side being in the geographic spot where lateral moves often happen.

How many miles will Lancaster City travel I hear you ask, the milage below is one way, with the total at the bottom being the overall round-trip total.

Ashton United - 66.1 miles
Bamber Bridge - 31.2 miles
Cleethorpes Town - 164 miles
FC United of Manchester - 58.9 miles
Gainsborough Trinity - 145 miles
Guiseley - 58.4 miles
Hebburn Town - 116 miles
Hednesford Town - 118 miles
Hyde United - 67.7 miles
Ilkeston Town - 147 miles
Lancaster City
Leek Town - 91.2 miles
Morpeth Town - 132 miles
Prescot Cables - 58 .7miles
Rushall Olympic - 125 miles
Stocksbridge Park Steels - 90.2 miles
Stockton Town - 94.2 miles
Warrington Rylands - 57.5 miles
Warrington Town - 60.1 miles
Whitby Town - 132 miles
Widnes - 66.3 miles
Workington - 85.7miles
Total - 3912.4 miles