With regional leagues being allocated, the Rowley Lane club have accepted promotion to the SSM Division One, which will see a significant step up in standard for their first team as well as a tougher schedule with often two games in a week with fixtures stretching as far north as Milton Keynes.

Lions have previously competed – and been successful – at this level, which is the 10th tier of English football (Step 6 of non-league) and the club hopes it now has the sustainable base to do this indefinitely into the future.

The team will also return to FA Cup action as one of their first games of 2017/18 and they await our draw in the famous competition, which takes place on July 5. Lions will also play in the FA Vase once more, with a trip to Wembley on offer for the final.

Both league and cup progress is made easier by Rowley Lane now having the facilities to cater for home games under lights.

Provisional league for Spartan South Midlands Division 1:

Ampthill Town
Baldock Town
Bedford
Brimsdown
Broadfields United
Buckingham Athletic
Codicote
Enfield Borough
FC Broxbourne Borough
Harefield United
Hatfield Town
Hillingdon Borough
Langford
London Lions
New Bradwell St Peter
Rayners Lane
Risborough Rangers
Southall
Winslow United
Wodson Park
Woodford Town