League Structure Statement

 

 

Yorkshire Premier League North can confirm the revised league structure that will operate for the 2027 season. 

The changes are designed to provide a clearer and more competitive pathway through the League while creating a structure that is sustainable, geographically sensible and capable of supporting the future development of YPLN and its member clubs. 

The 2027 Structure 

• The upper section of the YPLN league pyramid from 2027 will be: 

ECB Premier Division 

↓ 

ECB Premier II 

↓ 

Championship Division 

↓ 

Three Conference Divisions 

• Below the three Conference divisions will be the League's regional divisions [Ebor, Galtres, Holderness, and Beckett] 

 

A New Championship Division 

• A significant change for 2027 will be the introduction of a single Championship Division immediately below ECB Premier II. 

• The Championship will provide a clear competitive level between ECB Premier II and the regional Conference divisions and will become an important part of the pathway for clubs seeking to progress through the YPLN pyramid. 

Three Conference Divisions 

• The three divisions immediately below the new Championship will be known as the Conference divisions. 

• These are the divisions currently known as the Championships. It is not a relegation for those currently in the Championship. 

• For clarity, the existing divisional names will remain in place throughout the 2026 season. 

• The change to the new Championship and Conference names will take place once the 2026 season has concluded and promotion and relegation has been determined. The new names and structure will then apply for the 2027 season. 

Promotion and Relegation 

• Promotion and relegation at the conclusion of the 2026 season will determine the teams that occupy the various levels of the new structure in 2027. 

• As with the existing YPLN structure, all promotion and relegation is subject to clubs meeting the minimum standard requirements applicable to the relevant level of the League. 

• Finishing in a promotion position does not, therefore, automatically guarantee promotion where the club concerned does not meet the required minimum standards for the level to which it would otherwise be promoted. 

• The same principle will apply when determining the final composition of divisions following promotion and relegation. 

Why the Structure Is Changing 

• The creation of a single Championship Division immediately below ECB Premier II is intended to strengthen the pathway into the higher levels of YPLN. 

• Bringing teams together at this level should provide a stronger and more consistent standard of competition while creating a straightforward route through the League: 

Regional Divisions → Conferences → Championship → ECB Premier II → ECB Premier Division 

• The structure also allows YPLN to retain greater regionalisation below the Championship. 

• This is particularly important given the geographical size of the League. While it will never be possible to eliminate longer journeys entirely, the League will continue to take geography into account when determining the composition of regional divisions. 

A Structure for the Future 

• The 2027 changes are intended to provide YPLN with a clear and sustainable league pyramid. 

The structure will provide: 

• a clearly defined pathway from regional cricket through to the ECB Premier Division; 

• a single competitive Championship immediately below ECB Premier II; 

• three Conference divisions providing the link between Championship and regional cricket; 

• continued opportunities for promotion through the pyramid; 

• appropriate regionalisation at the lower levels; 

• recognition of the minimum standards required at different levels of the League; and 

• sufficient flexibility to respond to future changes in club and team numbers. 

 

The League Management Board will continue to keep clubs informed throughout the remainder of the 2026 season. 

Once the season has concluded, promotion and relegation has been determined and the relevant minimum standard requirements have been applied, the League will confirm the final composition of the divisions operating under the new structure for 2027. 

 

Yorkshire Premier League North 

League Management Board