FA confirm promotion hopefuls

14 Dec 2015 By David Watters

Bishop Auckland are the only Northern League club in the running to step up to the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League next season.

The Two Blues are the sole representatives despite sitting in the bottom half of the Northern League's Division One table.

The County Durham club, who spent nearly a decade in the EVO-STIK NPL from 1997 to 2006, beat the November 30 deadline set by the Football Association for Step 5 clubs around the country to apply for promotion.

Next season could see the return of some familiar names to the EVO-STIK NPL's First Division North and South divisions as well as new ones with some interesting connections coming up from the three other feeder - the North West Counties Football League, Northern Counties East Football League and the Midland Football League.

Five NWCFL clubs have confirmed their applications - 1874 Northwich, Atherton Collieries, Colne, Runcorn Linnets and Runcorn Town. In the NCE, Cleethorpes Town, Handsworth Parramore, Tadcaster Albion, and Worksop Town have applied while Alverchurch, Heanor Town, Sporting Khalsa and Hereford FC have confirmed their promotion hopes from the MFL.

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Where next?

Chairman plans New Year exit Spalding United are looking for a new chairman to lead them into the second half of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League season after Andrew Gay announced that work commitments would force him to step down in the New Year.

Trophy hunters eye next opponents! The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's six remaining trophy hunters now know who they could be facing in the New Year following the draw for the second round proper of the FA Trophy at Wembley on Monday.