Spalding United will have an extra chance of gaining promotion next season.
As part of the Football Association’s bid to cut travelling times and costs across the Pyramid, an extra division at both Step 3 and 4 is set to come into effect from the 2018-19 season. The Southern League will run the new Step 3 division while the Isthmian League will take charge of the additional Step 4 division.
The shake-up means a re-jig of the club numbers in the National League System and the FA have confirmed it will mean the Tulips will be battling it out for two automatic promotion spots next season.
The champions, runners-up, play-off winners plus the highest-ranked third-place team across all divisions on a points per game basis will be promoted. In that division, the team finishing in seventh will compete in the play-offs.
For one season only, just one club will be relegated from the EvoStik Premier Division.
The Tulips begin their pre-season programme of friendlies on Wednesday, July 12, with a trip to Northern Counties East League Division One side Winterton Rangers (7.30ko).
This is followed 48 hours later by a visit to Grantham Town for a Lincs Senior Cup quarter-final clash (7.45ko).
Former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson will be the special guest speaker at Spalding United’s 2017 Sports Celebrity Dinner.
Robson, who also managed Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion once his illustrious playing career was over, made 90 appearances for his country.
He follows in the footsteps of Ian Wright, Stuart Pearce and Neil Ruddock in headlining the annual event.
This year, the event will take place at Springfields Events and Conference Centre on Thursday, September 21 (6.45pm start).
Bookings are now being taken for tables of ten at a cost of £595 per table, which will include a three-course dinner.
All interested parties are advised that tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
For booking information contact organiser Malcolm Gray via email at malcolm@alliumalliance.co.uk or call 07703 581672.
