NON-LEAGUE clubs across the country have learned where they will sit in the pyramid after the FA’s shake-up.

While there is plenty of change elsewhere, for Atherton Colls, Radcliffe, Daisy Hill, Atherton LR and Bury AFC, it is more of the same.

Both Colls and Radcliffe remain in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, while Daisy, LR and AFC will once again face each other in the North West Counties League First Division North.

The trio will not however face Prestwich Heys as they have been promoted to the Premier Division along with Lower Breck and AFC Liverpool.

There Heys will face perhaps the most high-profile name on the new-look list, Macclesfield FC, the reformed Macclesfield Town.

New opposition for Daisy, LR and AFC in the First Division North comes perhaps most notably in the form of FC Isle of Man, who have moved from the South Division.

Other new additions are Bradford’s Campion AFC from the Northern Counties East League Division One, Ilkley Town AFC from the West Yorkshire League and South Liverpool from the West Cheshire League.

The NPL Premier Division has remained unchanged but the league as a whole is incorporating a new division at Step 4 which means the addition of 20 new clubs.

There will therefore be three divisions at Division One level, West, East and Midlands.

NPL Chairman Mark Harris said: “League boundaries change almost every year depending on the location of member clubs.

“We were unable to review our boundaries after the 2019/20 season was null and void, but the FA’s decision to implement the NLS restructure for the coming season demanded that we do so now.

“The board of the LMC endorsed proposals for the composition of each Step 4 division that spread the travel costs and time equally as possible whilst trying to maximise the number of local derby fixtures.

“It creates three Step 4 divisions which we will designate NPL West, East and Midlands. Travel in the West and East divisions will be centred on the M6 and Al corridors respectively, although lateral travel in the Midlands area is much easier than it is further north.

“It is also impossible to please everyone. None of the vacancies in the NLS have been filled this time around.

“The NPL will comprise 81 clubs, the 82nd slot relating to the vacancy created by the resignation of Droylsden. This means we will again run one club short, this season in the East division. However, it is intended that all vacancies will be filled in 12 months’ time ahead of the 2022/23 season.”

The restructure has been in the planning for the last two seasons but had been delayed by the Covid pandemic.

Nationally, 107 clubs moved up a step. For clubs to get promoted the FA invited applications from the top three sides in each division over the last two years based on a points-per-game ratio.

The new NWCFL season kicks off on July 31 with NPL clubs having to wait another two weeks until August 14.