Provisional Hellenic League Premier Division constitution announced

The provisional constitution for the 2024-25 Hellenic League Premier Division season has been published by the Football Association, with the allocations for all leagues at steps one through six of the National League System being released. There are only set to be three changes to the Hellenic League for the 2024-25 campaign, in which Bassett will be looking to go one better after falling short in the playoff final at the end of last season. That number of changes is down on last year when five teams joined the division. The competition will again be tough with the two sides promoted from Hellenic League Division One - Hartpury University and Malmesbury Victoria - adding strength to the division, as well as long-time Southern League side Cirencester Town dropping down. Hartpury arrive after romping to the 2023-24 Division One title, which they won by nine points after losing just two games all season. They represent another new competitive opponent for Bassett with the teams having only ever met in friendly action. Joining them in earning promotion are Malmesbury, who, after finishing as Division One runners-up, triumphed in the playoffs. The Vics will be playing at step five for just the second time in their history. Their only previous campaign in the Hellenic Premier was back in 2009-10 when they were relegated after finishing 19th out of 22 sides. Malmesbury's promotion gives Bassett another pair of local derbies to look forward to with the teams set to meet at the highest level they have ever faced one another. The teams have previously met in twelve league fixtures in the Hellenic League - all in Division One West, with the most recent games coming in the 2012-13 season. In those contests, Bassett have recorded four wins, with Malmesbury triumphing on three occasions and five games ending in a draw. Bassett and Malmesbury did meet competitively in the group stages of the Hellenic League Challenge Cup during the Covid-affected 2020-21 season too. Bassett recorded a 5-1 win at the Flying Monk Ground before the Vics won 3-1 in the return fixture at the Sustain Stadium. As well as those two promoted sides, Cirencester Town rejoin the Hellenic League after taking voluntary relegation from the Southern League Division One Central, where they finished sixth - just one place outside the playoffs - last season. Offering yet another local derby, their relegation also means that Bassett will be returning to the Corinium Stadium - the ground they shared with Cirencester for in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons prior to moving into the new Gerard Buxton Sports Ground. The Centurions last featured in the Hellenic League in 1995-96 and since then have spent 27 consecutive seasons in the Southern League. They were league rivals with Bassett from the 1988-89 through to the 1990-91 seasons in Hellenic League Division One, with the six meetings resulting in one Bassett win, two victories for the Centurions and three draws. Bassett have played Centurions teams in the years since, facing their Academy side in both the Hellenic League Premier Division (2000-01 and 2001-02) and Division One (1997-98) for three seasons, while coming up against Cirencester's Development side in Division One West in 2011-12. Departing the Hellenic Premier are champions Worcester City and Bassett's playoff conquerors Cinderford Town, who are promoted to step four. Worcester join the Northern Premier League Midlands Division with Cinderford promoted to the Southern League Division One South. Wantage Town, meanwhile, are relegated to Hellenic League Division One after finishing bottom. The full provisional constitution for the 2024-25 Hellenic League Premier Division, featuring 20 sides, is as follows:

Brimscombe and Thrupp
Cirencester Town


Corsham Town


Fairford Town
Hartpury University

Hereford Lads Club


Hereford Pegasus

Highworth Town


Longlevens


Lydney Town
Malmesbury Victoria
Mangotsfield United

Pershore Town


Roman Glass St. George


Royal Wootton Bassett Town

Slimbridge


Thornbury Town


Tuffley Rovers


Westfields
Worcester Raiders The constitution is, at present, provisional and subject to change.