A total of 50 teams are set to play across five divisions when the new Watford Sunday League season kicks off on September 2.

The constitution for the 2018/19 campaign was agreed at last week’s annual meeting and saw 10 new clubs accepted into the league, including AFC Doves United, who will join Division Two after leaving the Berkhamsted Sunday League.

Reflecting on a successful season which saw Everett Rovers and Evergreen win the Herts Junior and Intermediate cups respectively while champions Oakview claimed a league and cup treble, chairman John Rowbotham described the number of new clubs as encouraging in that it bucks the national trend, but expressed continued concern that several again folded in the 2017/18 campaign.

The meeting also saw Brian Stedman and Ernie Springham stand down from the league’s committee after 19 and 15 years service respectively. After the chairman had thanked the pair for their efforts, both were presented with a salver.

In addition to the presentation of trophies to the divisional and cup winners, Panos Fellas won the referee’s award, West Herts’ Linda Geddes was named secretary of the year and Rickmansworth Athletic won the accolade for the most sporting club.

A merit award was also handed out for the first time to recognise the submission of match reports for publication in the Watford Observer. This was won by Everett Rovers for supplying them on a consistent basis, even though it is not compulsory for teams outside the top two divisions.

The Watford Sunday League constitution for 2018/19 is:

Premier Division: Chorleywood Club; Evergreen; Fox & Hounds; Oakview; Old Danes Athletic; Old Fullerians; Reed Rangers; Rickmansworth Town; Rifle Volunteer; St Josephs; West Herts.

Division One: Bushey Sports Club; Cassiobury Rangers; Colne Valley; Compasses North; Croxley; FC Woodside; FC Unicorn; Langleybury Cricket Club; North Watford; Tudor Athletic.

Division Two: AFC Doves United *; AFC Green Machine; Ardent; Bushey Rangers; Everett Rovers; FC Northwood (formerly AFC Batchworth); Ricky AFC (formerly Rickmansworth Athletic); Ripstone; Sun Regent Sports; The Tree.

Division Three: ACS Milan (formerly AC Little Silhouette of Milan); AFC Leavesden (NC); Batchworth; Chess United; Inter; NWFC; Oxhey Athletic; Oxhey Rangers; Railway Arms; Woodlands United.

Division Four: Hews (NC); Oxhey United (NC); RBL Croxley (NC); Skyline (NC); Sun Postal Sports; The Victoria (NC); Watford Athletic (NC); White Horse (NC); Hertfordshire Harriers.

* = formerly Berkhamsted Sunday League

NC = new club