THERE will be 18 teams in Division One of the newly-named Thurlow Nunn League next season, after both Saffron Walden Town and Braintree Town Reserves were elected to the competition at Saturday’s annual meeting of the league.

Godmanchester Rovers and Thetford Town will play in the Premier Division in the coming season, which kicks off on Saturday, August 4, while Wivenhoe Town’s place in the top flight was confirmed following Wroxham’s promotion to the Ryman League.

With 18 teams in the First Division this season, rather than the 16 teams last season, three teams will be promoted to the Premier Division, although reserve teams will not be eligible for promotion and no team finishing below third place will be considered for promotion.

Lowestoft Town, Maldon & Tiptree, Saffron Walden Town and Newmarket Town were all elected to the Reserve League, which will have a Premier Division and a First Division for 2012/13, with promotion/relegation of the top/bottom three teams at the end of the season.

Great Yarmouth Town were presented with a cheque for winning the 2011/12 Sportsmanship Award. Mildenhall Town also received a cheque for finishing runners-up.

League president Malcolm Nunn stepped down at the AGM, which was held at Diss Town FC, after 13 years in the role, and he was duly elected as a life member. John Day was elected as the new president, while Peter Hutchings was elected to the new role of chairman as the league is changing to a more traditional structure.

Danny Coyle (FC Clacton) and Geoff Saunders (Fakenham Town) were elected to the league management committee, with Mick Bailey becoming a life member.

2012/13 Cup draws

The draw for the early rounds of the League Challenge Cup, which will be known as the Red Insure Cup for 2012/13, are as follows:

Preliminary round: Brantham Athletic v Cornard Utd, Brightlingsea Regent v Braintree Town Res, Ely City v Downham Town, Sawffham Town v Fakenham Town, Whitton Utd v Woodbridge Town, Wisbech Town v March Town Utd.

First round: Brantham Athletic or Cornard v Wivenhoe Town, Debenham LC v Team Bury, Dereham Town v Great Yarmouth Town, FC Clacton v Stanway Rovers, Godmanchester Rovers v Cambridge University Press, Gorleston v Diss Town, Halstead Town v Haverhill Rovers, Ipswich Wanderwers v Felixstowe & Walton Utd, Long Melford v Brightlingsea Regent or Braintree Town Res, Mildenhall Town v Ely City or Downham Town, Saffron Walden Town v CRC, Stowmarket Town v Whitton Utd or Woodbridge Town, Swaffham Town or Fakenham Town v Kirkley & Pakefield, Thetford Town v Norwich Utd, Walsham-le-Willows v Hadleigh Utd, Wisbech Town or March Town Utd v Newmarket Town.

Preliminary round matches are scheduled for the week beginning September 24 and first round matches for the week beginning October 22.

The draws for the early rounds of the First Division KO Cup are as follows:

Preliminary round: Cornard Utd v Stowmarket Town, Saffron Walden Town v Braintree Town Res.

First round: Brightlingsea Regent v Whitton Utd, Cornard Utd or Stowmarket Town v Saffron Walden Town or Braintree Town Res, Debenham LC v Ipswich Wanderers, Downham Town v Newmarket Town, Fakenham Town v Great Yarmouth Town, Long Melford v Halstead Town, March Town Utd v Cambridge University Press, Swaffham Town v Team Bury.

Preliminary round matches are scheduled for Saturday, September 8 and first round matches for Saturday, November 3.