2023–24 Combined Counties Football League

The 2023–24 Combined Counties Football League season (known as the 2023–24 Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 46th in the history of the Combined Counties Football League, a football competition in England. The league consists of four divisions for the first time, with a new Division Two being added to the Premier North, the Premier South and Division One. Division Two (details beyond the scope of this article) is intended largely for reserve and U23 sides, although it is also open to first teams.[1]

Combined Counties Football League
Season2023–24

The constitution was announced on 15 May 2023.[2] Starting this season, the two step 5 divisions in the league each promote two clubs; one as champions and one via a four-team play-off. This replaced the previous inter-step play-off system. For this season only, there was only one club relegated from each of the two step 5 divisions.[3]

Premier Division North

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Premier Division North remained at 20 clubs, after Ascot United were promoted to the Isthmian League South Central Division; Spelthorne Sports were transferred to Premier Division South, and Windsor and Oxhey Jets were relegated to Division One. After the constitution was announced, London Lions transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League in a swap with Ardley United.

Five new clubs joined the division:

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Flackwell Heath (C, P) 38 30 5 3 99 27 +72 95 Promoted to the Southern League
2 Rayners Lane (O, P) 38 30 4 4 112 36 +76 90[a] Promoted to the Isthmian League
3 Bedfont Sports 38 22 9 7 97 34 +63 75 Qualification for the play-offs
4 Reading City 38 18 9 11 79 60 +19 63
5 Holyport 38 19 4 15 61 61 0 61
6 Burnham 38 17 7 14 92 68 +24 58
7 Virginia Water 38 16 9 13 55 55 0 54[b]
8 North Greenford United 38 15 8 15 64 64 0 53
9 Broadfields United 38 15 7 16 72 82 −10 52
10 Risborough Rangers 38 15 6 17 70 64 +6 51
11 Ardley United 38 13 11 14 60 66 −6 50
12 Milton United 38 14 7 17 57 73 −16 49
13 Harefield United 38 14 4 20 52 63 −11 46
14 Egham Town 38 10 13 15 54 66 −12 43
15 Wokingham & Emmbrook 38 11 8 19 50 78 −28 41
16 Wembley 38 10 9 19 43 89 −46 39
17 Hilltop 38 10 6 22 57 87 −30 36
18 Wallingford & Crowmarsh 38 9 9 20 47 86 −39 36
19 Edgware & Kingsbury 38 8 10 20 48 76 −28 34
20 Chalfont St Peter (R) 38 8 7 23 46 80 −34 31 Relegated to Division One
Source: CCL Prem Div North Table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Rayners Lane had four points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.[4]
  2. ^ Virginia Water had three points deducted.

Promotion playoffs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 Rayners Lane 4
5 Holyport 0
2 Rayners Lane 1 (3)
3 Bedfont Sports 1 (0)
3 Bedfont Sports 5
4 Reading City 2

Semifinals

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4 May Rayners Lane 4–0HolyportRayners Lane
15:00 Jalloh   35',   79',
Bubb   50' (p), Connell   67'
Stadium: The Tithe Farm Social Club
4 May Bedfont Sports 5–2Reading CityBedfont
15:00 Scott   1',  35',  63',
Myers   37',  62'
Warre   12', Robinson   56' Stadium: Bedfont Recreation Ground
Attendance: 263

Final

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7 May Rayners Lane 1–1
(3–0 p)
Bedfont SportsRayners Lane
19:45 Perez-Duah   67' Greaver   90' Stadium: The Tithe Farm Social Club

Premier Division South

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Premier Division South remained at 20 clubs after Raynes Park Vale and Badshot Lea were promoted to the Isthmian League South Central Division; Frimley Green were relegated to Wessex League Division One, and Banstead Athletic were relegated to Southern Combination League Division One.

Four new clubs joined the division:

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Farnham Town (C, P) 38 35 3 0 130 19 +111 108 Promoted to the Isthmian League
2 Jersey Bulls 38 23 10 5 77 27 +50 79 Qualification for the play-offs
3 Knaphill 38 23 9 6 87 44 +43 78
4 Tadley Calleva 38 22 5 11 72 57 +15 71
5 AFC Croydon Athletic (O, P) 38 22 4 12 93 55 +38 70
6 Redhill 38 20 6 12 78 50 +28 66
7 Alton 38 19 8 11 76 54 +22 65
8 Abbey Rangers 38 19 3 16 59 58 +1 60
9 Balham 38 18 5 15 47 56 −9 59
10 Sandhurst Town 38 16 5 17 73 78 −5 53
11 Fleet Town 38 15 4 19 70 84 −14 49
12 Cobham 38 12 10 16 62 64 −2 46
13 Tooting & Mitcham United 38 14 3 21 59 81 −22 45
14 Horley Town 38 11 7 20 67 82 −15 40
15 Camberley Town 38 9 10 19 48 70 −22 37
16 Epsom & Ewell 38 9 4 25 59 95 −36 31
17 Spelthorne Sports 38 10 8 20 40 72 −32 30[a]
18 Guildford City 38 8 5 25 46 99 −53 29
19 Sheerwater 38 8 5 25 54 109 −55 29
20 Colliers Wood United (R) 38 6 8 24 38 81 −43 26 Relegated to Division One
Source: CCL Prem Div South Table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Spelthorne Sports had eight points deducted.

Promotion playoffs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 Jersey Bulls 1
5 AFC Croydon Athletic 2
3 Knaphill 1
5 AFC Croydon Athletic 2
3 Knaphill 2
4 Tadley Calleva 0

Semifinals

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4 May Jersey Bulls1–2 AFC Croydon Athletic Saint Helier
15:00
  • Campbell   45+5'
Report Phillips   24', Pingling   69' Stadium: Springfield Stadium
Attendance: 1,025
4 May Knaphill 2–0Tadley CallevaKnaphill
15:00 Karczewski   72', Hawker   75' Report Stadium: Redding Way
Attendance: 507

Final

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7 May Knaphill1–2 AFC Croydon Athletic Knaphill
19:45 Karczewski   83' (p) Report Pierrick   44', Theophanous   47' Stadium: Redding Way
Attendance: 872

Division One

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Division One was increased from 21 to 22 clubs after Rayners Lane were promoted to Premier Division North; Sandhurst Town were promoted to Premier Division South; A.F.C. Aldermaston and Cove were transferred to Wessex League Division One, and CB Hounslow United were relegated.

Six new clubs joined the division:

  • Berks County were promoted on a PPG (points per game) basis despite losing the play-off final.[5]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Amersham Town (C, P) 42 36 3 3 155 48 +107 111 Promoted to the Premier Division North
2 British Airways (O, P) 42 30 4 8 112 66 +46 94 Qualified for the play-offs,
then promoted to the Premier Division North
3 Berks County (P) 42 26 7 9 111 63 +48 85
4 Eversley & California 42 25 7 10 91 53 +38 82 Qualification for the play-offs
5 Rising Ballers Kensington 42 23 8 11 90 50 +40 77
6 Molesey 42 24 5 13 91 68 +23 77
7 Yateley United 42 21 8 13 85 65 +20 71
8 Langley 42 20 8 14 94 80 +14 68
9 Penn & Tylers Green 42 17 8 17 79 71 +8 59
10 Oxhey Jets 42 16 9 17 83 77 +6 57
11 FC Deportivo Galicia 42 15 12 15 88 95 −7 57
12 Bedfont 42 16 7 19 86 89 −3 55
13 London Samurai Rovers 42 15 7 20 87 91 −4 52
14 Westside 42 14 10 18 71 79 −8 52
15 Spartans Youth 42 14 10 18 60 76 −16 52[a]
16 Woodley United 42 13 10 19 62 68 −6 49[b]
17 Brook House 42 13 7 22 75 104 −29 46
18 Windsor 42 13 3 26 70 111 −41 42
19 Hillingdon Borough 42 12 6 24 69 112 −43 42
20 Holmer Green 42 9 4 29 46 126 −80 31 Reprieved from relegation
21 London Colney 42 7 9 26 52 85 −33 30[c] Reprieved and transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League
22 Bagshot (R) 42 5 4 33 41 121 −80 19 Relegated to a feeder league
Source: CCL Div One Table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ The match between Spartans Youth and Woodley united was awarded to Spartans Youth as a home walkover.
  2. ^ The match between Woodley United and Oxhey Jets remained unplayed and was decided as a 0–0 draw.
  3. ^ The match between London Colney and Bagshot was awarded to London Colney as a home walkover.

Promotion playoffs

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Semi-finals Final
      
2 British Airways 2
5 Rising Ballers Kensington 0
2 British Airways 0 (7)
3 Berks County 0 (6)
3 Berks County 2
4 Eversley & California 1

Semifinals

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4 May British Airways 2–0Rising Ballers KensingtonBedfont
15:00 Barnett  , John   Stadium: The Orchard
Attendance: 189
4 May Berks County 2–1Eversley & CaliforniaBinfield
15:00 Samuel-Harman   Stadium: Hill Farm Lane
Attendance: 270

Final

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7 May British Airways 0–0
(7–6 p)
Berks CountyBedfont
19:45 Stadium: The Orchard
Attendance: 457

References

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  1. ^ "Many Changes". Combined Counties Football League. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. ^ "REVEALED: Club allocations 2023-24 announced by The FA". The Non-League Football Paper. 15 May 2023.
  3. ^ "STEP 5 TO 4 PROMOTION/RELEGATION UPDATE". The FA. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Flackwell Heath handed huge boost as title rivals Rayners Lane are docked points". Slough & South Bucks Express. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ^ "THE FA RELEASES NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM CLUB ALLOCATIONS FOR STEPS 1-6 IN 2024-25 TERM". The FA. 17 May 2024.
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  NODES
Note 4