Aside from the promotion of Biggleswade Town and Bedford plus the relegation of Kempston Rovers the division has also lost Cirencester Town and Waltham Abbey. Cirencester have resigned from the league and will play at a lower level next season whilst Abbey have been allocated to the Isthmian North division to replace Enfield (see below).
With all divisions at Step 4 being increased in size for the coming season we will face 42 league games next season compared to the 36 in the last campaign. That gives room for several newcomers plus a reprieve for "relegated" Thame United.
Of the new clubs Beaconsfield Town, Berkhamsted and Hitchin Town have been relegated from Step 3. Berkhamsted are no strangers to us having been promoted only last season whilst we met Beaconsfield in 2015/6, our first ever Southern League season. Hitchin have provided opposition on a regular basis over the years but their relegation will bring about the first league meeting between us since 1928/9.
Of the promoted clubs we have met Flackwell Heath several times under the Isthmian banner, whilst Leverstock Green have been opponents a couple of times in cup games resulting in one home win apiece. Real Bedford, promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League are the only side new to us amongst all these changes. For them and Leverstock, this will be their first time at Step 4.
Two clubs have been moved sideways with Northwood joining us from the Isthmian South Central Division and Enfield (because they are now to groundshare at Hertford) coming over from the Isthmian North.
The full divisional constitution is shown in the picture accompanying this article whilst ground directions and the map of the our opponents will both be updated on the website in due course.