Hemsworth MW and Kinsley Boys confirmed as NCE League new boys for 2026-27 season
Hemsworth MW are back in the NCE League alongside neighbours Kinsley Boys who have also had their promotion confirmed by the FA.
The make-up of next season’s NCE League has been confirmed after promotions and relegations have been ratified by the FA.
And Hemsworth are back at this level three years on from being thrown out of the league for “ground grading issues”.
They were in the Premier at the time and demoted two divisions, but have regrouped, made the necessary changes to their ground and have got their act together on the pitch, winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League in the season just finished.
This has earned them promotion and they will now take their place in Division One of the NCE League for the 2026-27 season.
In a statement put out on social media headed “We told you we’d be back’ the club showed their delight at regained their status.
They said: “After three long seasons away, we can officially announce that the Wells are returning to the NCEL!
"This moment is for everyone connected to the club. For the lads who gave blood, sweat and tears for 90 minutes and beyond every match day. For the committee members working tirelessly behind the scenes, dealing with set back after set back.
"And for the supporters who stood by us through every high and low, following us home and away no matter what.
"The hard work, dedication and belief has finally paid off! Now it’s our turn to celebrate together.”
Alongside Hemsworth will be new boys Kinsley who will be playing at this level for the first time after successive promotions and finishing on top of the Central Midlands Alliance League.
They will make up a 22-team first division that will also include Wakefield AFC, who now play their home games at Pontefract Collieries’ Hunters Stadium and narrowly missed out on promotion again in the 2025-26 campaign when losing out in the play-offs for the fouth successive year.
But outward bound are Glasshoughton Welfare after their stay in the league was confirmed to have ended after they finished bottom in Division One in the season just finished.
They now await confirmation of which feeder league they will join as they aim to regroup.
Frickley Athletic will once again be competing in the Premier Divsion, alongside Horbury Town who survived after flirting with relegation in their first year at this level.
The league has bid farewell to seven teams, but welcome three new sides while there is a return for a further four.
As expected, Premier Division champions Liversedge and play-off winners Beverley Town are promoted to the Northern Premier League while, at the other end of the NCEL, it is goodbye to Nostell MW as well as Glasshoughton.
Inter-divisional changes see Dearne & District and Worsbrough Bridge Athletic move up from Division One after their fantastic seasons and Wombwell Town are relegated from the Premier Division.
Retford and Retford United are promoted to the NCE Premier, moving across from the United Counties League, while in Division One, Hemsworth MW and Immingham Town are back after their move up from the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League and Lincolnshire Football League respectively.
The three new teams are Field Olympic, from the West Yorkshire Association League, Kinsley Boys from the Central Midlands Alliance League, and LIV, from the Humber Premier League.
Three of the NCE’s sides from last season – Louth Town, Sheffield and Maltby Main – have moved across the pyramid into the United Counties League.
And there is a name change with Eccleshill United becoming known as Keighley Town from the start of the new season.
Despite all the changes the number of teams in each division will remain at 20 in the Premier Division and 22 in Division One.
The line-ups will be ratified at next month's NCEL and will be:
Premier: Albion Sports, Barton Town, Bottesford Town, Campion, Dearne & District, Frickley Athletic, Golcar United, Handsworth, Horbury Town, Keighley Town, Knaresborough Town, Parkgate, Penistone Church, Pickering Town, Retford, Retford United, Rossington Main, Tadcaster Albion, Thackley, Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.
Division One: Appleby Frodingham, Armthorpe Welfare, Athersley Recreation, Brigg Town, Club Thorne Colliery, Crowle Colts, Doncaster City, Field Olympic, Goole AFC, Harrogate Railway Athletic, Hemsworth MW, Ilkley Town, Immingham Town, Kinsley Boys, Leeds UFCA, LIV, Route One Rovers, Selby Town, South Leeds, Wakefield AFC, Winterton Rangers, Wombwell Town.