The face of Sunday league football in Watford changed last night when the final part of the link-up between the Watford Sunday League and the Olympian League was unanimously approved.

As a result of the declining numbers of teams across both leagues over several years, the two organisations agreed in March to join forces and the last piece of the jigsaw was given the green light when the new Watford Sunday League (WSL) constitution for next season was approved at its annual meeting at Oxhey Jets FC.

WSL chairman John Rowbotham described the meeting as “somewhat unique” and said he hoped the two leagues agreeing to come together would be of “great benefit to preserving football in this area”.

As a result of the decision, the new-look WSL will currently have 58 teams across six divisions when the new season gets under way on Sunday, September 3.

The new divisional structure is:

Premier Division: Bushey Sports Club; Chorleywood Club; Gadeside Rangers; Green Dragon; Oakview; Old Fullerians; Reed Rangers; Rickmansworth Town; Rifle Volunteer; St Josephs.

Division One: AFC Oddfellows; Colne Valley; Croxley Community Centre; Croxley; North Watford; Old Danes Athletic; Oxhey Lions; RD FC; West Herts; West Watford.

Division Two: Bedmond; Cassiobury Rangers; Compasses North; Evergreen; Fox & Hounds; Langleybury Cricket Club; Oxhey Rangers; Prince George; Rickmansworth Athletic; Rifle Volunteer Reserves.

Division Three: Amici; Bell Rangers; Green Dragon Reserves; Hertsmere; Meriden; Revolution; Ripstone; Sun Postal Sports; Tudor Vets; Woodlands United.

Division Four: AFC Green Machine; Ardent; Bushey Rangers; Hertfordshire Lions; Inter; Railway Arms; Roundbush; The Compasses; Woodlands Laurels; Woodside.

Division Five: AC Little Silhouette of Milan; AFC Batchworth; Batchworth; Chess United; Garston Rangers; P&P Social; The Tree; William Morris.

Warm applause and thanks were also offered at the meeting to David Barker, who has stood down after 14 years as the WSL’s fixtures secretary.

Writing in his chairman’s report, Rowbotham said he would be “sorely missed” and added: “It was not until we were looking for a replacement that we realised just how much Dave has been responsible for over the years, a remit that he has performed quietly and efficiently whilst combining this with his refereeing duties.”

Barker’s role as competitions secretary will be taken over by David Moxon, who performed the role for the Olympian League among other responsibilities.