2026-27 league allocations announced

The Football Association have announced the league allocations for the 2026-27 non-league season.

As expected, Walthamstow will remain in the Isthmian Division 1 North for a fourth season.

Joining the league are Hashtag United, Canvey Island and AFC Sudbury, who were relegated from step 3 at the end of the season. Coming up are Little Oakley and Buckhurst Hill from the Essex Senior, and Mulbarton Wanderers and Fakenham Town from the Eastern Counties League.

Leaving the 1 North will be Maldon & Tiptree and Stanway Rovers, who are both promoted, and four relegated teams: Mildenhall Town, Downham Town, Brantham Athletic and Heybridge Swifts. For Swifts, it will be a return to the Essex Senior for the first time in over 40 years.

We will also be losing Waltham Abbey, who will join the Southern League Central Division, where they spent six seasons before the last two in the Isthmian North. That Division runs from Cambridgeshire to Oxfordshire, with Abbey being the most easterly club.

These allocations will be ratified at the Isthmian League AGM, which takes place on Saturday 13 June.