My trip to Highworth v Slimbridge: How long will they stay in the Hellenic League?

I love midweek games under the lights almost as much as my phone’s camera hates them. In the knowledge that I’d return with a handful of photos ruined by glare, I set out to the SaveOnTyres Stadium as Slimbridge AFC visited Highworth Town in the Hellenic Premier Division, with 5th hosting 4th.

Both sides were new to the league for the 2023/24 campaign with Highworth and Slimbridge relegated from the Southern League Division One Central and Division One South respectively. The two were looking to bounce back to the eighth tier in a league not at all friendly to the prospect.

Slimbridge looked to be the better side early on, creating a plethora of chances but scuppering as many as they made, it set the tone for what would be a frustrating night for the Swans. After Tom Griffiths was bundled over ten yards from goal, Sol Pryce was given the chance to open the scoring and put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot, a chance he just about took after Slimbridge ‘keeper Ellis Parker managed to get two hands to the spot kick.

Six minutes later it was two, Reigan Cooke adding his name to the score sheet as the ball fell to his feet after Matty Grabe saw his effort cleared off the line. Highworth went in at the break two goals to the good in a game in which they could easily have trailed early on.

They say a swan can break a man’s arm, but there was little threat from Adam Coyle and Tom Deakin’s side as Highworth held off a late flurry of attacks to leapfrog the visitors and climb to third in the table. Both clubs still sit towards the top of the table with enough time in the season to mount a title charge and a swift return to the Southern League, but just how often does that happen?

Last season’s Premier Division Champions, Cribbs, were promoted at the second time of asking having finished fourth the season before, transferring in from the Western League where they had spent six seasons previous. The play-off winners, the club that relegated Tuesday night’s hosts, were Malvern Town who were promoted to the Hellenic Prem in 2021 based on their performances in the abandoned 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. They were also promoted at the second time of asking having finished one place above Cribbs the previous season.

One of the stands at Highworth

In 2021/22, Bishops Cleeve were champions, returning to the Southern League after four seasons. Paul Collicutt’s Mitres were joined by runners-up Westbury United, the only side to win promotion at the first time of asking in the last ten years. A superior points-per-game compared to other second-placed teams at the level saw Westbury promoted to the Southern League, but they were moved over from Western League rather than being relegated into the Hellenic set-up.

The COVID-19 pandemic meant both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons were brought to an early end with no promotions to be won on the pitch. Binfield were the only team promoted, moving to the Isthmian League South Central Division due to their performances over the two curtailed campaigns. Binfield had competed in the Premier Division since promotion from Hellenic Division One East in 2009.

Wantage Town were the lone promoted side from 2018/19, the league champions had resided in the division just one season previously after being relegated from the Southern League, with theirs being the fastest recent promotion back to the Southern League.

Three teams were promoted in 2017/18, with only goal difference separating Thatcham Town in first and Bracknell Town in second. It would have been criminal to deny either a place in the league above with a points tally of 98 and goal differences of +104 and +102. Highworth Town were promoted in third, with 88 points to their name. Bracknell were another former Southern League side returning to the eighth tier but did so via the Hellenic Division One South following relegation from the Premier Division in 2011/12, spending just one season at the level. The champions, Thatcham, won promotion from the Premier Division at the fourth attempt having finished fourth, second, and twelfth previously.

Thame United won passage to the Southern League in 2016/17. Financial difficulties saw the roaming Red Kites relegated from the Southern League Division One West in 2006/07, playing Hellenic football for the first time in 18 years. They were relegated once again in 2007/08 but were able to return to Thame and the Premier Division before climbing back to the Southern League a decade after their exit.

Kidlington were promoted to the Premier Division after a third-placed finish in 2004/05, playing 11 seasons in the top flight of the Hellenic system. The past decade is completed by Wantage Town who won promotion as champions in the 2013/14 season. This was the second of three Hellenic Premier titles for the Freds, the first coming in 2010/11. The jubilation of the first title win turned quickly into heartbreak as they were denied promotion due to not having a boundary fence at their ground, with the club achieving the necessary ground requirements in 2012/13 and winning promotion to the Southern League in 2013/14.

Thornhill park, home of Slimbridge AFC

The average number of seasons spent in the Premier Division between joining and winning promotion in first or second place is 5.5, with Westbury the quickest to win promotion and Kidlington taking the longest. This is dramatically changed with the addition of Highworth Town whose mammoth spell in the Premier Division saw the Worthians retain their league position for 24 seasons, adding this takes the average to 7 seasons.

So in the past ten years, the clubs who have been promoted from the Hellenic League Premier Division have spent an average of seven seasons in the league, with Westbury the only team to win promotion at the first attempt after transferring from the Western League, and Wantage proving to be the hare for those chasing a return promotion to step four having done so in just two seasons.

It was never going to be easy, winning promotion from a league with just one automatic spot would always be a challenge but to do so against the likes of Worcester City, Worcester Raiders, Corsham Town and the rest of the division just adds to it. The only certainty - we're in for an exciting season.