The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding United chairman Andy Gay says he is optimistic the Tulips will be challenging at the top of the new Evo-Stik Northern League East next season.
Last week’s initial line-up included plenty of local derbies including Wisbech and Yaxley joining Stamford, Peterborough Sports and Lincoln United in Spalding’s division.
However further changes to league allocations announced on Tuesday has seen the FA looking to switch both Yaxley and Peterborough Sports to the Southern League Central Division.
The Tulips look set for a few long journeys in the next campaign with Marske United close to Middlesbrough and Morpeth Town north of Newcastle.
There’s also proposed new trips to the likes of Brighouse, Pickering and Pontefract as well as familiar opponents in Sheffield FC, Gresley, Belper, Loughborough Dynamo and Stocksbridge.
The make-up of the division is not finalised and Spalding United chairman Andy Gay says he understands both
Yaxley and Peterborough Sports will appeal being in the Southern League.
The biggest change to a league Spalding has been involved in for years has come about after the member clubs voted to split the step four league west to east rather than north to south.
Gay had voted to keep the league’s previous north/south split.
But he’s looking forward to the new challenges the Tulips will face in their new look division and believes they will be competitive and certainly looking to improve on this season’s 13th placed finish in the Evo-Stik Division One South.
He said: “It doesn’t look a bad league really and we’ve only got a couple of long away trips in the season.
“I do feel a bit sorry for the likes of Morpeth Town who have got to come down to Lincolnshire six or seven times in the season.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to get on with it.
“I’m very optimistic that with the budget we’ve given the manager next season we will be able to put a decent squad together and challenge at the top next year.
“Hopefully we get as many local derbies as possible.”
