IT’S as you were for the vast majority of Suffolk clubs in the National League System for the 2020-21 season.

The FA announced yesterday the leagues that Step 3 to 6 clubs have been allocated to for the forthcoming season, although these are subject to FA Council ratification on Thursday and The FA’s appeals process.

Leiston, Lowestoft Town and Needham Market will remain in the Southern League Central at Step 3 level.

Suffolk will once again have three clubs – AFC Sudbury, Bury Town and Felixstowe & Walton United – in the Isthmian League North at Step 4.

The make-up of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division remains the same and contains ten Suffolk sides – Brantham Athletic, Hadleigh United, Haverhill Rovers, Kirkley & Pakefield, Long Melford, Mildenhall Town, Stowmarket Town, Walsham-le-Willows, Whitton United and Woodbridge Town.

There will be nine Suffolk sides at Step 6 level playing in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One, namely AFC Sudbury Reserves, Cornard United, Debenham LC, Framlingham Town, Haverhill Borough, Ipswich Wanderers, Lakenheath, Leiston Reserves and Needham Market Reserves.

From the 2020-21 season, clubs formerly known as Step 7 of the National League System (NLS) are to be renamed as the NLS Feeder Leagues.

The constitution of the Macron SIL Senior Division will see two additional teams for the 2020-21 season, taking the number to 17 teams.

Ransomes Sports and Halesworth Town, who were the top two teams in Division One when the 2019-20 season was cut short by COVID-19, have been promoted.

Felixstowe & Walton United Reserves, who played in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One, have opted to join the Essex & Suffolk Border League and will play in the Premier Division this season along with Brantham Athletic Reserves and Sudbury Sports, who have been promoted from Division One.

Beccles Town and Waveney will again be playing in the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Premier Division.

For more information on the National League System click here

Bury Town (blue shirts) and Felixstowe & Walton United (red & white striped shirts) are pictured in action above. They will both be playing in Isthmian League North at Step 4 level again in the 2020-21 season.