Eight new sides will compete in the Cheltenham Football League next season, taking the total number to 53 who will be spread across four divisions.

And one of the ‘new’ teams has a very familiar ring to it because Whaddon United have dropped out of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League and will compete in Division One of the Cheltenham League.

The league also welcome Worcester City Royals, who are backed by Worcester City Football Club. They will play in Division Three in 2019/20.

Also new to the league are Gloucester-based side Squadron 303. They are named after No. 303 Squadron RAF who were one of 16 Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and were the highest scoring of the Hurricane squadrons during the Battle of Britain.

The group of players have had two sides playing in a local 5-a-side league in Gloucester and they want to now move to 11-a-side. They will also play in Division Three and are hoping to play their home games at Plock Court.

Apperley are one of five new sides to join Division Four. They were part of the league a few years ago and have now re-grouped to form a side to play their home games in Apperley.

AFC Cheltenham are another new side who will play their home games on the old St Mark’s pitch at KGV playing fields and will be managed by ex-St Paul’s assistant manager Jim Hughes.

The league also welcome AFC Renegades Reserves, Cheltenham Saracens 3rds and Fintan Reserves.

The league have lost last season’s Division One champions Andoversford, who were promoted into the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, while Upton Town have decided to join the Midlands League.

League secretary Ian Hamilton said: “It is great to get clubs bringing more sides into the league and we look forward to the start of the season in the latter half of August.“

The Cheltenham League is sponsored by Bristol Street Motors Ford Cheltenham.

How the teams will line up in 2019/20
Division 1
1 Hanley Swan
2 Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves
3 Southside Star FC
4 Bishops Cleeve FC A
5 Tewkesbury Town
6 Kings
7 Shurdington Rovers
8 Dowty Dynamos
9 AFC Renegades
10 Bredon Reserves
11 Newton
12 Prestbury Rovers
13 Malvern Vale FC (65)
14 Whaddon United

Division 2
1 Fintan
2 St Pauls United
3 Brockworth Albion Reserves
4 Smiths Barometrics Res
5 Shurdington Rovers Reserves
6 Gala Wilton Reserves
7 Pittville United
8 Leckhampton Rovers
9 Welland Reserves
10 Prestbury Rovers Reserves
11 Andoversford Reserves
12 Windyridge Rovers

Division 3
1 Charlton Rovers Reserves
2 Kings Reserves
3 Falcons Reserves
4 Smiths Barometrics Thirds
5 Cheltenham Civil Service Thirds
6 Tewkesbury Town Reserves
7 Southside Star FC Reserves
8 FC Lakeside Reserves
9 Cheltenham United
10 Cheltenham Saracens Reserves
11 Malvern Vale FC Reserves
12 Worcester City Royals
13 Squadron 303

Division 4
1 Gala Wilton Thirds
2 Woodmancote United
3 Pittville United Reserves
4 Kempsey Corinthians FC
5 Winchcombe Town Reserves
6 Bishops Cleeve FC Development
7 Andoversford Thirds
8 Tewkesbury Athletic
9 Charlton Rovers Thirds
10 AFC Cheltenham
11 Cheltenhan Saracens 3rds
12 AFC Rengades Res
13 Apperley