Message from the Chairman of the Hallmark Security League
Fri 25th May 2018 | Announcements | By Paul Lawler
Earlier today, The FA confirmed allocations for Step 5 and 6 League’s throughout the Country for 2018/19 and we received the fantastic news that we would be operating with a maximum of 60 clubs across our three divisions for next season.
We are looking forward to welcoming no fewer than 17 new clubs to our competition – although there are one or two familiar faces within that number who have previously been members of the League.
We have known for some time that we would be operating the new Step 6 Division in the North West, but the structure and membership of the new division has only become clear over the past few weeks as the current season came to a close and various promotion and relegation issues were settled.
Planning for the new Step 6 division actually began in 2016/17 when we first came up with the proposals to create a new division in the North West and pitched the idea to the FA.
Our proposal was based on the fact that the travelling distance for our clubs at Step 6 was far greater than at Step 5, which we believed was unfair and was a key blocker in encouraging Step 7 clubs to move up to our level.
We were overwhelmed by the interest shown by clubs once news of the new League became public, and we could have welcomed far more than have been successful. Unfortunately not all of the clubs who applied made the requirements in terms of ground grading, or they finished in relegation positions within their current division.
After discussions with the FA, it was recommended that it would not be appropriate given the work done on and off the pitch by other applicants. We hope the work these clubs have undertaken will not be wasted and they will try again next season.
A significant amount of work has been undertaken by myself, my fellow members of the League Management Committee, particularly the Vice-Chairman and League Secretary, and of course the applicant clubs in order to successfully complete this restructure.
Our initial plan was to start with a minimum of 16 clubs across our two Step 6 Divisions, with a three-year plan to get back up to 20 clubs in each division.
To achieve our target from the beginning is a fantastic achievement and is reward for all of the ambition and hard work on and off the pitch of the clubs concerned, and I hope is recognition of the League’s ongoing strategy of helping clubs progress through the National League System.
We look forward to welcoming all of our new clubs and kicking off the new campaign on 4th August, for what will be an exciting new era for our League.
Yours in Sport
Paul Lawler
Chairman, The Hallmark Security Football League
Message from the Chairman of the Hallmark Security League
Fri 25th May 2018 | Announcements
By Paul Lawler
Earlier today, The FA confirmed allocations for Step 5 and 6 League’s throughout the Country for 2018/19 and we received the fantastic news that we would be operating with a maximum of 60 clubs across our three divisions for next season.
We are looking forward to welcoming no fewer than 17 new clubs to our competition – although there are one or two familiar faces within that number who have previously been members of the League.
We have known for some time that we would be operating the new Step 6 Division in the North West, but the structure and membership of the new division has only become clear over the past few weeks as the current season came to a close and various promotion and relegation issues were settled.
Planning for the new Step 6 division actually began in 2016/17 when we first came up with the proposals to create a new division in the North West and pitched the idea to the FA.
Our proposal was based on the fact that the travelling distance for our clubs at Step 6 was far greater than at Step 5, which we believed was unfair and was a key blocker in encouraging Step 7 clubs to move up to our level.
We were overwhelmed by the interest shown by clubs once news of the new League became public, and we could have welcomed far more than have been successful. Unfortunately not all of the clubs who applied made the requirements in terms of ground grading, or they finished in relegation positions within their current division.
After discussions with the FA, it was recommended that it would not be appropriate given the work done on and off the pitch by other applicants. We hope the work these clubs have undertaken will not be wasted and they will try again next season.
A significant amount of work has been undertaken by myself, my fellow members of the League Management Committee, particularly the Vice-Chairman and League Secretary, and of course the applicant clubs in order to successfully complete this restructure.
Our initial plan was to start with a minimum of 16 clubs across our two Step 6 Divisions, with a three-year plan to get back up to 20 clubs in each division.
To achieve our target from the beginning is a fantastic achievement and is reward for all of the ambition and hard work on and off the pitch of the clubs concerned, and I hope is recognition of the League’s ongoing strategy of helping clubs progress through the National League System.
We look forward to welcoming all of our new clubs and kicking off the new campaign on 4th August, for what will be an exciting new era for our League.
Yours in Sport
Paul Lawler
Chairman, The Hallmark Security Football League
