The National League System club allocations for the 2026/27 season were announced this past week, and with it, somewhat of a surprise in that both Retford clubs, promoted from the United Counties League Division One, have been laterally moved, back to the Northern Counties Eastern League Premier Division (Step Five).

Both Retford sides have had two, relatively successful season in UCL Division One, the Choughs having finished as runners-up and play-off finalists in 2025, before winning the league at the second time of asking this past season; the Badgers meanwhile finished third and were beaten play-off semi-finalists in 2025, whilst finishing runners-up and winning in the play-offs to join their neighbours in promotion.

It was expected that both clubs would go into the UCL Premier North, but that’s now proved not to be the case and they’ll return to the NCEL after brief absences, next season; the Choughs had spent ‘five’ seasons and the Badgers one, in the NCEL Division One, before being moved over to the UCL Division One in 2024.

Speaking of the surprise move back, the Choughs’ title-winning boss, Chris Woodhead, said; “To be honest, we were preparing for life in the UCL next season.

“There had been rumours of being moved but this happens most seasons so you have to wait until the official announcement.

“A move over to the NCEL changes the way we prepare as we have another pool of players we can look at as travel and other commitments make it difficult for some to travel to games in the UCL (and vice versa in the NCEL) but also we have our pre-season schedule organised and teams in the NCEL Premier were going to be our opposition so some late changes to that will have to be made.”

An interesting set of opponents awaits the Retford pairing when they kick-off the 2025-26 season, joining them in the NCEL Premier Division will be Albion Sports, Boston Town, Bottesford Town, Campion, Dearne & District, Frickley Athletic, Golcar United, Handsworth, Horbury Town, Keighley Town, Knaresborough Town, Parkgate, Penistone Church, Pickering Town, Rossington Main, Tadcaster Albion, Thackley, and Worsbrough Bridge.

As for the United Counties Premier North (Step Five), just six Nottinghamshire-based sides will be resident next season as AFC Mansfield, Eastwood CFC, Hucknall Town, Kimberley Miners Welfare, Newark Town, and Sherwood Colliery, are joined by newcomers Aylestone Park, Heanor Town, Hinckley, Leicester Nirvana, and Sheffield FC.

Up the pyramid, in the National League North (Step Two), Worksop Town have a good half dozen opponents next season in the shape of Brackley Town, Harborough Town, Hebburn Town, Hednesford Town, Morecambe, and Spalding United – looks like there’s a few Town’s on supporters visits to come…

Basford United and Carlton Town will both be looking to challenge again at the top end of the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands (Step Four), and they’ll be joined next

season by Barwell, Boston Town, Bourne Town, Coventry United, Grantham Town, Nuneaton Town, and St. Ives Town.

Whilst in Step Six, the UCL Division One, there’s a dozen Notts-based clubs making up the division as Clifton All Whites, Clipstone, Dunkirk, Radford, Sandiacre Town, Shirebrook Town, Southwell City, Stapleford Town, and West Bridgford are joined by Cotgrave (Notts Senior League champions), Gedling Miners Welfare (relegated from UCL Premier North), and Selston (Central Midlands Alliance Premier South champions), as well as three other newcomers in Harrowby United, Louth Town, and Maltby Main.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Retford_FC the Retford derby will next season take place in the NCEL Premier Division.