# 2026–27 Combined Counties Football League

The 2026–27 [Combined Counties Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/combined-counties-football-league) season is the 2026/27 campaign of the Combined Counties Football League, an English senior non-league competition covering parts of southern England that operates at Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System, the structure below the [National League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-league) and the regional Step 4 divisions such as the [Isthmian League](https://www.edgepedia.org/isthmian-league).<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> The season sees a number of structural changes, with the Premier Division continuing as two sections of 20 clubs each and Division One expanded to 22 clubs.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pyramid level | Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System; a feeder to the Isthmian League at Step 4<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> |
| 2026/27 divisions | Premier Division North (20 clubs), Premier Division South (20 clubs), Division One (22 clubs)<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> |
| Geographic coverage | Middlesex, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxon, Sussex, Hampshire and Hertfordshire; all clubs of senior status<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> |
| Clubs promoted out to Step 4 | Ashford Town (Middx), Cobham, Windsor & Eton, and Horley Town<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> |
| 2025/26 champions | Ashford Town (Middx) (Premier North), Cobham (Premier South), Penn & Tylers Green (Division 1)<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> |
| Official data platform | The FA Full Time, which carries the league tables<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> |
| Fixtures released | 12 July 2026, with the registration season for 2026/27 opened beforehand<sup>[3](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)</sup> |

## Structure for 2026/27

The league runs three senior Saturday divisions in 2026/27: Premier Division North, Premier Division South, and Division One, alongside a Development Division (Saturday) and two Tony Ford U18 divisions, East and West.<sup>[3](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)</sup> The Premier Division sections each contain 20 clubs, while Division One has grown to 22 clubs for the season.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> League tables are published through the FA's Full Time system rather than hosted directly on the league site.<sup>[3](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)</sup>

**Promotion and relegation changes.** Four clubs left the league by promotion to Step 4 after the 2025/26 season: Ashford Town (Middx), Cobham, Windsor & Eton, and Horley Town.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> A further seven clubs departed: [British Airways](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-airways), Chalfont St Peter, Guildford City, Hillingdon Borough, Rising Ballers Kensington, Sandhurst Town, and Milton United.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup>

**Incoming clubs.** Six clubs joined Premier Division North: Bedfont, Easington Sports, Northwood, Penn & Tylers Green, Rayners Lane, and Thatcham Town. Four joined Premier Division South: Godalming Town, Metropolitan Police, Yateley United, and Virginia Water. Five joined Division One: Belsone, Bovingdon, Edgware & Kingsbury, Maidenhead United, and Shepherds Bush.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> Penn & Tylers Green therefore moved up as Division 1 champions of the previous season.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup>

## The league in the English pyramid

The Combined Counties League sits at Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System, below the National League and the regional Step 4 divisions, and its Premier Division champions are eligible for promotion to the Isthmian League at Step 4.<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> Step 5 of the system consists of 16 separate regional leagues, each housing 20 teams; in each, the champions and the winners of a four-team play-off can be promoted to Step 4, subject to confirmation by the NLS committee.<sup>[4](https://www.nonleagueinsider.com/what-is-non-league-football/step-5/)</sup> Clubs at Division One level compete for promotion within Step 6.<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup>

What distinguishes the league from other Step 5–6 competitions is its geographic breadth: it covers multiple counties rather than a single county or tight region, which gives it a more diverse club base but adds complexity to fixture scheduling.<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> Adjacent leagues at similar levels include the Spartan South Midlands League and the Southern Combination League, which share promotion and relegation pathways with it.<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> The league accepts clubs from several sources, including the Ryman (Isthmian), Spartan, Surrey Premier, and Middlesex County leagues.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup>

## Season administration and news

The league's official website was actively maintained into the season: the registration season for 2026/27 opened before the campaign, the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) and [FA Vase](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-vase) draws were released on 3 July 2026, all league fixtures were made available from the FA on 12 July 2026, and the league published a statement on 31 July 2026 intended to provide further clarity following a social media release.<sup>[3](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)</sup> The league held its 2026 annual general meeting at Sheerwater FC on Saturday 20 June.<sup>[3](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)</sup>

One club change drew an official statement: a club was renamed Eagles Land Benfica, with the name sanctioned by the Middlesex County FA, and for 2026/27 it has a ground-share agreement to play at Harefield United.<sup>[5](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/official-league-statement/)</sup> From 1 October 2026 the league announced NonLeagueHQ as its official statistical partners, publishing weekly reports for the Premier Division North, Premier Division South, and Division One.<sup>[3](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)</sup>

## History and identity

Serving clubs in the south of England, the competition has operated under a series of sponsor-backed titles, beginning with DAN AIR, then PARASOL, Courage, and Seagrave Haulage, before adopting the Cherry Red Records name that continues to front it today.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup> A guide to the competition dates the English league's founding to 1978 and counts its club membership at over 120 across senior and youth divisions.<sup>[1](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)</sup> The previous season's honors, as recorded on the league's unofficial companion site, also list Windsor & Eton as Premier Challenge Cup winners and Holmer Green as Division 1 [Challenge Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/challenge-cup) winners for 2025/26.<sup>[2](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)</sup>

## References

1. [Combined Counties League: Tables, Results & Divisions Guide, FootyPedia](https://footypedia.org/combined-counties-league-guide/)
2. [Combined Counties 2026/2027 Home Page](https://www.ccleague.co.uk/)
3. [Combined Counties Football League official website](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/)
4. [Step 5 of the National League System, Non League Insider](https://www.nonleagueinsider.com/what-is-non-league-football/step-5/)
5. [Official League statement, Combined Counties Football League](https://www.combinedcountiesleague.co.uk/official-league-statement/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Seasons and editions › Regional and lower-league seasons*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license
