The make-up of the South West Peninsula League has been confirmed and it means that Sidmouth Town will now make four visits to the Exeter area in their Eastern Division campaign next season with the news that Fresha League champions St Martins have been accepted into the East Division.

Following the relegation of Tavistock from the Premier Division the Vikings will also be making a visit to the South West Devon town next term and they will also lock horns with Brixham who have also been promoted into the division.

A statement was released by the South West Peninsula League last week that said: “With the bottom two clubs in the Premier having been relegated, the expected five vacancies in the East and West Divisions has been reduced to four and so one highest placed applicant club from a feeder league has also had to be declined entry. Both champions of SWP East and SWP West, Stoke Gabriel AFC and Callington Town AFC, have been promoted to the Premier Division. Liskeard Athletic have been relegated from the Premier Division to SWP West. Tavistock have been relegated from the Premier Division and we can now confirm they will be placed into SWP East. Four sides from the feeder leagues have been promoted, and these are: Illogan RBL: champions of the Cornwall Combination League, promoted to SWP West; St Martins: champions of the Devon and Exeter League, promoted to SWP East; Brixham: runners-up of the South Devon League, promoted to SWP East; Millbrook: third place behind two reserve teams in East Cornwall Premier, promoted to SWP West.”

The press release continued: “The delay in issuing this statement was mainly due to awaiting final league positions in the South Devon, North Devon and East Cornwall leagues. We had two spaces for three clubs (after champion clubs Illogan and St Martins were accepted). Braunton and Brixham were offered these as they both secured runners-up in their leagues, but Braunton then withdrew their application. This in turn meant we had one space to offer to a club who had finished in third, this has been given to Millbrook as they finished as the highest placed ‘first team’ below reserve teams of SWP clubs in the East Cornwall league whilst Torrington finished third in the North Devon League, but behind two ‘first teams’. Had Exmouth Town been granted promotion we would have taken Torrington as well. but are unable to do so as we are now full.”

The Eastern Division next season will comprise. Sidmouth Town, Budleigh Salterton, Axminster Town, Alphington, Exwick Villa, University of Exeter, St Martins, Crediton United, Galmpton United, Teignmouth Town, Totnes and Dartington, Appledore, Newton Abbot Spurs, Plymstock United, Liverton United and Okehampton Argyle, Tavistock Town and Brixham.

To see who successfully applied for places in the South West Peninsula League and also those clubs who failed with their application see more now at www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

Below are the results of the ground grading applications conducted by the leagues ‘Ground Grading Sub Committee’ who visited all promotion applicants over three days on April 4, 11 and 15.

(Passed means they passed the inspection mentioned above).

From Cornwall Combination League to SWP West. Illogan RBL: Passed (minor works), finished first and granted promotion.

Ludgvan: Passed subject to dispensation, finished fourth place. Not top three finish.

Wendron United: Passed, second place. Declined *

From Devon and Exeter League to SWP East: Feniton United: Passed (minor works) finished fourth – not a top three finish and so turned down.

Newtown: Passed (minor works), finished third pace and bid declined*

St Martins: Passed (completion of work), finished first and granted promotion.

Tiverton Town: Passed, but finished second and were declined* promotion.

From East Cornwall Premier League to SWP West: Millbrook: Passed (minor works), finished third and were granted promotion.

From North Devon League to SWP East / West

Braunton: Passed (minor works), finished second, but withdrew their application.

Torrington: Passed, finished third and declined.

From South Devon League to SWP East.

Brixham : Passed (minor works), finished second and granted promotion.

* Some clubs were declined as although they passed the ground inspection AND finished in the Top Three, they were playing in leagues where a higher placed club had also applied and passed the grounds visit. Only ONE club per feeder league is eligible for promotion each season.

The final constitution sees 56 clubs, 20 in Premier and 18 in each of SWP East and SWP West. All three divisions are therefore considered to be full for next season.

Clubs finishing in the bottom two of Premier and the bottom side of both SWP East and SWP West, can be expected to be relegated at the end of next season to make room for promoted sides. Clubs relegated from SWP East and SWP West would be allocated back to the most appropriate feeder league for their location.