TWO Slough-based football clubs have taken the decision to leave the East Berkshire League and join the Hellenic League for the new season.

Lynchpin and Chalvey Sports, first and second in the East Berkshire Premier last season, will compete in Hellenic Division Two East this term. Their competition will include teams such as Holyport Reserves, Milton Keynes Academy, Oxford City Development as well as Stokenchurch.

Scott Young believes that the regeneration of Chalvey has been vital to their move and insists it is a big stride forward for local football.

The ex-Chalvey first team manager told the Observer: “It was something we discussed at the very beginning of last season and it’s a really good move for the club.

“Our reserves have won back-to-back titles in the East Berkshire League and you can’t have two teams playing at the same level. It’s actually worked out quite well because the reserves will be in the East Berkshire Premier now.

“There is a lot more work to do off the pitch but the whole club is massively on board. Sometimes it’s good to make a little bit of a change and move up a level as a club.”

Young explained that the club will retain its amateur status though he expects Chalvey to be competitive having under-performed last season.

He said: “We can’t afford to subsidise football unless a company wants to invest in us. Without the sponsors we have we wouldn’t be here right now but there is still signing on fees and subs to pay.

“The regeneration of Chalvey has been massively important to us, the set-up is first class and well kept, but we can’t go up again without floodlights. I’m confident that we will have a good season but the next step up would require investment.”

Young added: “Lynchpin and ourselves have competed for the East Berkshire title for the last three years so the rivalry will still be there, which is good.

“The Hellenic league looks likely to be very competitive with 15 teams, and we will play against clubs and at venues that we’ve never been to before

“It’s a chance for people that want to play at the next level to give it a go, and I will be very disappointed if we don’t compete. We will need an in-depth squad rather than relying on the same players. We have retained a lot of the first team and there has been some new players as well.

“It’s a new league, a new direction and we’re looking forward to a hard slog of a season. We are going to play games under floodlights and that will be an experience that a lot of local players have never had before, or not for a long time.

"For there to be be two clubs from Slough in the Hellenic League is a big stride forward for local football. I think's a really good sign and will give local players the chance to play at a higher level."

Young continued: "There were only nine teams in the East Berkshire Premier at the end of the last season and that takes some of the competitive edge away. It's always a shame when clubs have to fold but it has a knock-on effect for everyone else. I'm not slagging off the league but it's a shame.

"The constitution for next season shows 12 teams in the Premier so hopefully it will be competitive again.

"I think we under-achieved last year but give Lynchpin credit, you don't lose a single league game all season without earning it.

"This year the players will be striving to do better, they want to perform, and that's the challenge for them."