DANNY Forrest says Silsden can look forward to a clutch of derbies after a positive league move for the club.

Silsden have been moved into the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division as part of the Football Association's adjustments to the National League System for next season.

The Cobbydalers will end their 15-year association with the North West Counties League, also known as the Hallmark Security League, whose website dubbed the decision at step five level a 'surprise move'.

Silsden can now look forward to Bradford district derbies against Thackley, Eccleshill, Albion Sports and Liversedge, who all reside in the NCEL top flight.

Forrest said: "I think it's positive for the club.

"We have been in the North West Counties for the last 15 years. I have been at the club for the last three years. There are no issues with the league whatsoever. The standard of football has been outstanding.

"For me, it is a good move for the development of the club moving forward. It is great for us geographically, there are seven clubs within 30 miles of us. In the North West Counties League there was only Barnoldswick Town and Padiham near us.

"It now puts us in that network. There are now quite a few derbies for us, which will hopefully put a few more through the gate.

"In terms of my career and my assistant Craig Bentham's, we have spent a lot of time over the NE Counties way. We have a good knowledge of the players that we will be networking in.

"A lot of people at the club see it as a fresh start. It will energise us and we are confident in what we are doing in terms of where we are going.

"It is good for the club. Sometimes we felt we were out on our own before with teams from Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke. We had to scrap to just be able to get players through the door.

"I'm happy that it's all been made official. We know where we stand now."

Steeton will remain in Hallmark Security League Division One North following their first season on the non-league ladder.

They will be joined by Huddersfield side Golcar United, who are making the same move as the Chevrons from the West Riding County Amateur League, which is due to disband.

Silsden wrapped up their season in style with a 3-1 win over rivals Steeton in the Keighley FA Charity Cup in aid of the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.

Forrest added: "It was a really good day.

"There looked to be quite a few people down, which is the main thing, to get people interested in it. It was a really good occasion."

Meanwhile, Campion will remain in Division One of the NCEL, having finished runners-up this season. Their points per game ratio was not enough to earn them promotion.

AFC Mansfield return to the Premier Division following their relegation from the Northern Premier League, and they are joined by Grimsby Borough who won the NCEL Division One title.

Champions Worksop Town make the move up into the Northern Premier League whilst the bottom two sides, Harrogate Railway Athletic and Hall Road Rangers, drop down into Division One.

Brigg Town (Lincolnshire League) and Retford (Central Midlands League) are promoted from step seven into Division One that will also include new club North Ferriby.

Brigg, like AFC Mansfield, are back in the NCEL after one season away while Retford are in the competition for the first time.

AFC Emley (now Emley AFC) and Shirebrook Town leave the NCEL having been moved laterally to the North West Counties League and the East Midlands Counties League respectively.

FC Bolsover finished in the bottom two of Division One but have been reprieved from relegation and given a place in the East Midlands Counties League whilst basement side Harworth Colliery will drop down to step seven.

There is also a name change for one of our clubs with East Yorkshire Carnegie becoming East Hull.

The NCEL constitution will be officially rubber-stamped at their annual AGM that takes place at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate on Saturday, June 15.

Likewise the North West Counties League allocations, subject to FA appeal, will be finalised at their AGM on the same date in Blackpool.

NCEL Premier: AFC Mansfield, Albion Sports, Athersley Recreation, Barton Town, Bottesford Town, Bridlington Town, Eccleshill United, Garforth Town, Goole AFC, Grimsby Borough, Handsworth Parramore, Hemsworth Miners Welfare, Knaresborough Town, Liversedge, Maltby Main, Penistone Church, Silsden, Staveley Miners Welfare, Thackley, Yorkshire Amateur.

NCEL Division One: Armthorpe Welfare, Brigg Town, Campion, Dronfield Town, East Hull (formerly East Yorkshire Carnegie), Glasshoughton Welfare, Hall Road Rangers, Hallam, Harrogate Railway Athletic, North Ferriby (new club), Nostell Miners Welfare, Ollerton Town, Parkgate, Retford, Rossington Main, Selby Town, Skegness Town, Swallownest, Winterton Rangers, Worsbrough Bridge Athletic