BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent have been elected to the First Division of the Ridgeons League.

The Essex club had pulled out of the Eastern Counties League in 2002 and then amalgamated with Regent Park Rangers at the start of the 2005/06 season.

They won the Essex and Suffolk Border League at a canter last season with victories in 31 of their 34 matches.

Brightlingsea will be one of 17 teams in the First Division next season with Whitton United withdrawing their application for promotion after failing to meet the necessary ground standards.

With Debenham LC accepting relegation and Histon Reserves withdrawing altogether there will be 21 teams in the Premier Division next season and 17 in the First Division.

It is intended that Cambridge University Press will play their home matches at The Glassworld Stadium, Histon.

For the 2011-12 season, which the FA have said should finish by April 30, there will be three relegation positions in the Premier Division and two promotion positions in the First Division. The intention is to move towards 20 teams in each division until the league can be brought back to its full constitution of 44 clubs.

The Anglian Combination and the Suffolk & Ipswich League have agreed to release Sheringham and Framlingham Town to the Ridgeons League at the end of the season, even if they do not finish in a promotion position.

The League will therefore be writing to the FA for permission to promote these two clubs if they finish in the top eight of their respective feeder leagues.

The Ridgeons League will be reintroducing Sportsmanship Awards for season 2011-12 based on the number of yellow and red cards issued. Bi-monthly prizes of �250 will be awarded during the course of the season.

The Reserve League will be two teams stronger in 2011-12 with the inclusion of Cornard United, Thetford Town, FC Clacton and Brightlingsea Regent. Braintree Town and Lowestoft Town have withdrawn from membership.

The Youth League is three teams stronger with North Walsham Town, Langford and Histon joining.

The AGM was also informed of the recent sad death of Youth League Patron George Roseberry.

Details of the full constitution plus League Cup and Youth Cup draws can be found on the league website: www.ridgeonsleague.co.uk.