Club News: New opponents for 2025/26

Written by James Smith

With the league allocations coming out on Thursday we take a look at the new teams in the league for next season (subject to any appeals).

AFC Welwyn

Promoted from SSMFL Division One last season they are a young club, only formed in 2023 but have risen up the leagues with investment and experienced players for the level.

They will be playing home games at Potters Bar Town from next season after leaving Welwyn Garden City’s facilities.

Address:

Watkins Rise, off The Walk, Potters Bar, EN6 1DP

Haringey Borough

Haringey have found recent times difficult. They were relegated from Isthmian League North Divsion at the end of last season having been relegated from the Premier Division the season before.

In 2015 they won the Essex Senior League to gain promotion to the Isthmian North. Then in 2018 they won the playoffs after beating Heybridge Swifts in the semi final then Canvey Island in the final.

Since they they have reached the first round of the FA Cup before losing to AFC Wimbledon but the back to back relegations will have been difficult..

The club play at Coles Park just down the road from Tottenham Hotspur. Their pitch is 3G.

Address:

Coles Park Stadium, White Hart Lane, London, N17 7JP

Harlow Town

Harlow have been through a turbulent time in recent years but have recovered well to gain promotion to step 5.

In December 2022, the club withdrew from the Southern League (step 4) due to problems with their artificial pitch which left them unable to fulfill their fixtures.

In May 2023, the problems were resolved and they negotiated a return to the league pyramid for 2023/24, being placed in the Eastern Counties Division One South, where they won the league last season.

They play at the Harlow Arena on a new 3G pitch.

Address:

Elizabeth Way, Harlow, CM19 5BE

Kings Langley

Kings Langley have also had a bit of a tough time of late after reaching the heights of the Southern League Premier Division in 2016, they were relegated in 2023 and took a place in Division One Central.

They finished mid-table in the 2023/24 season but after a reasonably good start to the 2024/25 season they found consistency hard to come by at the end of October.

Manager Jordan Parkes left the club with the experienced Steve Heath taking over in March.

The team found goals hard to come by but results and goalscoring picked up in April with 2-2 draws with Biggleswade FC and Berkhamsted with the latter going on to be promoted.

A massive three points away to Northwood meant that they had a chance to stay up if Leverstock Green didn’t win on the final day, Kings had already completed their season so had a tense wait to see what the outcome would be.

Unfortunately for Kings, Levy beat AFC Dunstable to survive relegation.

They will be competitive next season and will no doubt be one of the teams to watch.

They play at The Orbitial Fasteners Stadium on a grass pitch.

Address:

The Orbital Fasteners Stadium, Hempstead Rd, Kings Langley WD4 8BS

Risborough Rangers

Rangers have been through a rough time of late and narrowly avoided relegation from the Combined Counties Premier Division last season by a single goal.

This was all after the tragic passing of both vice chairman and stalwart Colyn Makepeace along with long term chairman Richard Woodward, whose leadership was instrumental in the club’s progress.

They have been moved sideways to the SSMFL for the coming season.

They made a lateral movement to the Hellenic League Division One East from the Spartan for the start of the 2019–20 season.

During that season Rangers were unbeaten and top the league by 12 points with a game in hand over 2nd place Abingdon United after playing 23 games out of the full thirty two.

The COVID pandemic put an end to any hopes of promotion to step 5 for the first time in the clubs history as the season was officially voided.

However, in 2021 the club were promoted to the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League based on their results in the abandoned 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

They play at the Kamtech Stadium on a grass pitch.

Address:

Horsenden Lane, Princes Risborough, HP27 9NF

Sawbridgeworth Town

In 2023, Sawbridgeworth transferred to the Spartan South Midland League for one season after being in the Essex Senior League since 1976.

They were then transferred back to the Essex Senior League last season where they finished 17th, just above the relegation zone.

They play at Crofters End on a grass pitch.

Address:

Crofters, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 0DE