Leominster will be without a football team competing on a Saturday after the town’s last remaining side withdrew from the Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division.

After finishing last season’s campaign firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, Leominster Town’s decision means there will be one less team in the 11-a-side division this year.

Their departure forms part of a 35% drop in clubs competing across the HFA’s divisions since 1990.

Meanwhile, Division One champions Kingstone Rovers will make the step up to the Premier and Kington Town will replace their reserve team in the top flight after plying their trade in West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1 last season. Clee Hill United also join the line-up from the Shropshire County League.

County League representative Jim Lambert says it’s disappointing that there won’t be a team from Leominster Town but it’s not down to a lack of footballers.

“It’s a great disappointment, but a lot of the time clubs are folding because there’s no one to run it as opposed to a lack of players,” Lambert said.

“We can’t make anyone organise it, but we’re told Leominster are doing everything in their power to make sure there’s a team next season.

“I’ve heard rumours that a lot of their players have gone to Shobdon, but then what happens to all of Shobdon’s players?”

Meanwhile the Sunday League has suffered another blow despite the HFA making efforts to increase the number of teams taking part by helping with the cost. HFA bosses claim it’s a key barrier to people participating and more support had been offered to new and existing sides.

However, only five sides will be playing in the Sunday Division next season with just Hereford City and The Lion from Leominster remaining from last season when eight teams battled it out. Credenhill, Dorstone and Whitecross are the new teams joining.

“Two teams took up the offer, Dorstone and Credenhill who are new teams, but the lack of teams is very disappointing. We’ve agreed with the teams that they’ll play each other four times,” added Lambert.

“We will probably welcome new teams, they’re technically meant to join before the AGM but we’ll find a way like we did with Newent last season who joined halfway through the season.

“As a county league we’re here for people to play football.”

The County League representative also made a plea for new referees to come forward and asked players to show officials more respect.

For more information on entering a side in the Herefordshire Football Association’s Sunday League, call 01432 342179.

The full list for the respective divisions are as follows: PREMIER Clee Hill Ewyas Harold Fownhope Hinton Holme Lacy Kingstone Rovers Kington Town Ledbury Town Malvern Reserves Tenbury Town Tenbury Uniuted Wellington Rangers Westfields Reserves DIVISION ONE Bartestree Reserves Belmont Wanderers Ewyas Harold Reserves Hereford City Hinton Reserves Holme Lacy Reserves Lads Club Reserves Ledbury Town Reserves Ludlow Town Colts Orleton Shobdon Ross Juniors Wellington Reserves DIVISION TWO Belmont Rangers Bromyard Downs Burghill Rangers Civil Service Dore Valley Kington Town Reserves Lads Club Colts Malvern Vale Marden Orleton Reserves Ross Juniors Reserves Pegasus Reserves Weobley Withington SUNDAY LEAGUE Credenhill Dorstone Hereford City Lion Whitecross