Bowdon, the only side unbeaten in the men’s National League, toasted promotion back to the Premier Division for the first time in 14 years at the weekend, and will be joined by top flight first-timers Richmond, one of the oldest clubs in the world.
Bowdon, relegated in 2011/12, secured the Division One North title with a 6-0 trouncing of Cambridge City and stalwart Simon Egerton opening the win with a double.
With two matchday weekends left in the season, Bowdon are nine points clear of Loughborough Students. Leeds and Cambridge City are languishing at the bottom.
Richmond, after losing the previous weekend which ended their 12-match winning run, went to Canterbury perhaps feeling a touch fragile before running out 3-2 winners after a late onslaught from the Polo Farm outfit in Division One South.
Victory confirmed a rapid rise to the Premier Division for Richmond — who returned to the National League in 2012 — after being a Conference East club only last year before promotion.
At the bottom, Brighton & Hove are relegated after falling 14 points adrift at the foot.
In Conference East, University of Bristol are promoted to Division One after carving out a 10-point gap at the top of Conference West. Plymouth Marjon are already relegated.
It’s incredibly tight at the top of Conference North, with Lindum leading the way, three points ahead of Timperley and Doncaster.
With two fixtures left in Conference South, Indian Gymkhana are two points ahead of London Wayfarers. The two sides meet this weekend in a crunch encounter.
University of Nottingham 2 are three points ahead of Stourport in Conference Midlands.
