Rules-6-1

6.1. Promotion & Relegation in GMCL Divisions

6.1.1. The Number of Promotion & Relegation Places in each division

6.1.1.1. The proposed number of Promotion & Relegation places for the end of the 2025 season are:-

6.1.1.1.1. Premier League - 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.2. Premier 2 - 3 promoted and 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.3. Championship - 3 promoted and 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.4. Division 1 - 3 promoted and 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.5. Division 2 - 3 promoted and 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.6. Division 3 - 3 promoted and 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.7. Division 4 - 3 promoted and 4 relegated

6.1.1.1.8. Divisions 5 - 2 promoted and 3 relegated in each division

6.1.1.6.1. Divisions 6 - 2 promoted in each division

6.1.1.1.10. Sunday Premier - 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.11. Sunday Division 1 - 3 promoted and 3 relegated

6.1.1.1.12. Sunday Divisions 2 - 3 promoted, 1 in each division

6.1.1.1.13.Sunday Regional Divisions, Sunday Open Division, Sunday Development Division there is no promotion or relegation.

6.1.1.2. Possible changes to those numbers

6.1.1.2.1. During the season teams may choose to leave GMCL competition at the end of the season in which case one less team will be relegated from that division but the number of teams promoted up into that division is unchanged

6.1.1.2.1.1. For example if a team leaves the Championship at the end of the season only 2 teams will be relegated to Division 1 but 3 teams will still be promoted from Division 1 to the Championship (assuming there are no other changes covered in these rules) 

6.1.1.2.2. If the Board accepts a new club into the league and a team is placed into a division for the following season, (teams are always placed on ability) then one less team will be promoted into that division at the end of the season.

6.1.1.2.2.1. For example if a new team is placed into Division 1, then only 2 teams will be promoted from Division 2 

6.1.1.3. Standards restrictions requiring Promotion & Relegation (updated for 2025 season)

6.1.1.3.1. Under ECB regulations, clubs not meeting Clubmark or equivalent standard or not meeting other requirements such as junior teams cannot compete at Premier League or Premier League 2 level and can be demoted at the season if there is no guarantee of achieving accreditation before the following season.

6.1.1.3.2. Under ECB regulations, clubs not meeting Clubmark or equivalent standard or not meeting other requirements such as junior teams cannot be promoted from the Championship to Premier League 2 level unless there is a guarantee of achieving accreditation and all requirements before the following season.

6.1.1.3.2.1. In view of the above, clubs who cannot achieve Clubmark or equivalent, because they do not have their own ground or facilities that would enable them to meet the requirements cannot be promoted into the GMCL Championship.

6.1.2. Relegation & Promotion Pots

6.1.2.1. As the league pushes to raise standards across all our divisions, and across all our levels, 

6.1.2.1.1. We create relegation and promotion pots at the end of the season for each pair of divisions where there is movement between those divisions in order to determine the teams that will be promoted and relegated.

6.1.2.1.2. The pots will be made up of the teams finishing the season in the promotion and relegation places plus the teams described in the following rules… 

6.1.2.2. The standards referred to in these rules are ECB requirements for the Premier League and Premier League 2 and GMCL Grounds and facilities requirements for all Saturday Divisions.

6.1.3. Clubs Impacted by this rule

6.1.3.1. If your club is not at the required standard for their current division AND is not making improvements towards the required standard, then the team will be placed in the relegation pot.

6.1.3.2. If your team finishes in the promotion places for the division but the club is only at the standard one level below that of the league above AND has not made improvements towards meeting the standard required above, then they cannot be promoted.

6.1.3.3. To make it clear - any club that is working with the GMCL Grounds & facilities team and is progressing towards the next standard will not be impacted by this rule.

6.1.3.4. Each relegation pot will contain 

6.1.3.4.1. All the teams finishing in the relegation places in the table and

6.1.3.4.2. All other teams in the division not meeting ECB requirements for the division, not meeting GMCL Grounds & Facilities requirements for the division or not making improvements required towards the requirements, irrespective of finishing place.

6.1.3.5. Each promotion pot will include 

6.1.3.6.1. All teams finishing in the promotion places meeting or moving to the required standard of the division above AND

6.1.3.5.2. All other teams in the top 6 of the division that are already at the standard of the division above.

6.1.3.6. The teams from those pots who will take the promotion and relegation places will then be determined by the criteria detailed below.

6.1.4. Promotion Pot - Determining Promotion place order

6.1.4.1. Teams will be guaranteed promotion where the team finishes in the pre-agreed promotion places AND

6.1.4.1.1. EITHER their club is already at the G&F standard of the division above OR

6.1.4.1.2. Their club is currently at the standard below the division above, but they have made progress, agreed by the grounds team, during the past season towards the higher standard AND they will achieve that higher standard before next season or during the next season.

6.1.4.2. Teams might also be promoted where the team finishes in the 3 places immediately below the agreed promotion places AND they are already at the G&F standard of the division above but,

6.1.4.2.1. These teams can only be promoted where they are replacing teams from the division above that have not met the improvements required.

6.1.4.3. The ranking of the promotion pot will be any teams meeting either 6.1.4.1.1. or 6.1.4.1.2. in their finishing order (so for example, a team finishing first and meeting 6.1.4.1.2.will be ranked higher than a team meeting 6.1.4.1.1.and finishing third and any team qualifying in 6.1.4.2. will be ranked below all the teams ranked in 6.1.4.1.1. and 6.1.4.1.2.

6.1.5. Relegation Pot - Determining Relegation place order

6.1.6.1. At the end of the season any team,

6.1.6.1.1. finishing in the pre-agreed relegation places OR

6.1.6.1.2. finishing the season in any position and their club does not have the required ground standard for the division  AND

6.1.6.1.2.1. has not engaged with the league G&F team AND

6.1.6.1.2.2. does not make improvements towards the required standard in line with the G&F document

6.1.6.1.3. will be placed in the relegation pot.

6.1.5.2. The ranking of the relegation pot will be the teams in 6.1.6.1.2 (lowest first) followed by the teams in 6.1.6.1.1. not already listed in 6.1.6.1.2 (so for example if the lowest placed team who has not made required improvements finishes 8th they will be ranked higher for relegation than teams in 12th, 11th and 10th)

6.1.6. Determining who is promoted and who is relegated

6.1.6.1. At the end of the season up to 6 clubs could be promoted / relegated between divisions or there may be none, but if every club meets the requirements of the G&F document it will be the allocated number for the respective divisions as detailed in Rule 6.1.1 above.

6.1.6.2. To determine who is promoted and who is relegated we will use the following template

6.1.6.2.1.1. The lowest ranked team in the relegation pot from the higher division will be replaced by the highest ranked team in the promotion pot from lower division.

6.1.6.2.2.2. The second lowest ranked team in the relegation pot will be replaced by the second highest ranked team in the promotion pot.

6.1.6.2.3.3. The third lowest ranked team in the relegation pot will be replaced by the third highest ranked team in the promotion pot.

6.1.6.2.4.4. The fourth lowest ranked team in the relegation pot will be replaced by the fourth highest ranked team in the promotion pot.

6.1.6.2.5.5. The fifth lowest ranked team in the relegation pot will be replaced by the fifth highest ranked team in the promotion pot.

6.1.6.2.6.6. The sixth lowest ranked team in the relegation pot will be replaced by the sixth highest ranked team in the promotion pot.

6.1.7. Exemptions to the normal flow of promotion & relegation

6.1.7.1. Teams from the same club cannot play in the same division or same tier, except the lowest tier and then only in separate divisions.

6.1.7.1.1. If a team is relegated and a team from the same club is in the recipient tier then BOTH teams must be relegated, unless the team is being relegated into the lowest tier, in which case clubs will play the following season in separate divisions of the lowest tier.

6.1.7.1.2. A team cannot be promoted if there is a team from the same club in the division above.

6.1.7.1.3. No Second XI can be promoted to play in the same or higher level than the same club’s First XI,

6.1.7.1.4. Should teams from the same club be playing one tier below the other and the lower one promoted and the higher one relegated then neither team will move and so the teams will retain their places for the following season.

6.1.7.1.5. No Third XI playing Saturday league may play in the same or higher level than the same club’s Second XI.