Play Off Guidelines – 2024/25
Southern Counties East League Play Off Matches – Steps 5 and 6 – 2024-25
Participation
The following procedures will apply to promotion / relegation subject to the application of the Rules:
NLS regulation 5.2 contains:
Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 6, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed and the other two Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per game ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs then the highest placed shall receive a bye to the second match where it will play the winner of the other Play Off Match and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches.
NLS regulation 9 contains:
In order to qualify for Play Off Matches a Club must comply with:
- Security of Tenure
- Solvency
- Ground Share requirements (i.e. not ground share in order to gain promotion)
- Ground Grading
Sequence of Matches – Venues
The two Play-Off Semi-Finals will comprise:
(1) the highest placed of the qualifying Clubs playing at home to the 4th highest placed of the qualifying Clubs
(2) the 2nd highest placed of the qualifying Clubs playing at home to the 3rd highest placed of the qualifying Clubs
The winning Semi-Finalists will meet in the final with the highest placed of the two Clubs playing at home.
The Semi-Finals and Final will be played to a conclusion as one-off games. If scores are level at the end of normal time, the winner will be decided by penalties.
Dates of Games
Premier Division semi-final matches: midweek matchday of host club w/c April 28
Premier Division final: Monday May 5, kick-off 3pm
Division 1 semi-final matches: midweek matchday of host club w/c April 28
Division 1 final: Saturday May 3, kick-off 3pm
The league fixture secretary will confirm all matches and dates in writing as soon as possible on the evening of Saturday April 26.
If a Club cannot host the game at their normal home ground, the game will be played at the ground of their opponents. If neither Club can host the fixture, a venue will be chosen by the League.
Financial Arrangements
All Play-Off games will be played with net gate revenue distributed as follows: 37.5% to each of the two Clubs, 25% to the League.
All matches are arranged as home matches of the Club on whose ground the match is played. Complimentary tickets must be approved by the league secretary in advance.
The host Club must pay the Match Officials in line with League Rules.
Trophies
As per League Rule 18
Other Matters
Any matters not covered should be referred to the relevant League Secretary who may consult the FA’s Leagues Committee.