Pickering Town is moving to the lateral league for the new season

The Pikes were sideways moved from the Ebac Northern League back to the Toolstation Northern Counties East League as part of the Football Association’s annual reorganization.

It will be the Ryedale side’s first season back in the NCEL since 2017/2018, during which they secured promotion to the Pitching In Northern Premier League under former Tadcaster Albion manager Paul Marshall after finishing second to Cleethorpes Town were.

The move is likely to be an expected move for Rudy Funk’s charges who, as one of the southernmost clubs in the division, struggled to find their footing in the Northern League last season.

With weekly trips to the Northeast, the club struggled to recruit local players who could handle the travel commitments, strength and intensity of what is widely regarded as one of the toughest Step Five leagues in the country.

Such was the task that the Pikes spent much of 2023 in the relegation zone, only confirming their great success on the final day of the season with a 2-1 win over West Auckland Town after taking a remarkable 10 points from their last four brought devices.

Pickering fans can now also look forward to two North Yorkshire derbies against Knaresborough Town and newly relegated Tadcaster Albion and have reacted positively to the news.

One wrote: “Great news. With an experienced manager like Rudy at the helm, who is a proven winner at this level, the club is in a much better position,” while another said: “It’s a relief.” We were dangerously overwhelmed in the north and needed quality there learn the hard way upstairs.”

l NCEL Premier Division 2023/24: Albion Sports, Barton Town, Bottesford Town, Campion, Eccleshill United, Emley AFC, Frickley Athletic, Garforth Town, Golcar United, Handsworth, Hallam, Hemsworth Miners Welfare, Knaresborough Town, Maltby Main, Penistone Church , Pickering Town, Rossington Main, Silsden, Tadcaster Albion, Thackley.