THE Football Association is maintaining the arrangements for promotion and relegation across Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System (NLS), the levels covered by the Jewson Western League.

These regulations are designed to ensure competitive balance and facilitate the movement of clubs based on playing ability, stadium facilities, and geographical location.

The football pyramid has the Jewson Western League Premier Division at Step 5 and the First Division at Step 6. For promotion from Step 6 to Step 5, the Jewson Western League First Division Champions will gain automatic promotion, along with the winner of the play-offs.

These clubs will be joined by the champions of the South West Peninsula League East and West divisions.

If the champions are ineligible for promotion, the second-placed club, if eligible, takes their place. Both promotion and relegation are a matter for the Football Association, who place clubs in the most geographically appropriate league, meaning promoted clubs may not be placed within the Jewson Western League.

Crucially, eligibility criteria for promotion and play-offs include meeting specific Stadium Accreditation grades by March 31st: Step 5 clubs must achieve Grade 5, and Step 6 clubs must attain Grade 6. This guidance covers infrastructure such as covered seating, floodlights and turnstiles. Failure to meet these grades means a club is ineligible for promotion or the play-offs.

The playoff matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible clubs plays against the lowest placed and the other two clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the highest placed over the regular season.

Clubs in the bottom two places in the Western League Premier Division, at the end of the regular season, will be relegated and placed in the most geographical division at Step 6 for the following season.

Meanwhile, clubs in the bottom three positions of the First Division are considered “liable” to be relegated out of the NLS and into a feeder league. However, the FA retains discretion if a Step 6 division has fewer than 18 clubs, determining whether the bottom three, bottom two, or just the bottom club will be relegated.

Clubs entering the Western League First Division from the feeder leagues, must apply by December 31 and typically finish first in their League, though clubs down to fifth may be considered if the top clubs are ineligible. These feeder league clubs must also meet stadium criteria, including installing floodlights by September 30 after promotion to Step 6.