Basingstoke & North Hants will be joining the Southern Electric Premier League next season.

Clubs voted overwhelmingly at this week’s EGM to allow the long-established May’s Bounty Club to switch their two senior sides from the Thames Valley League into the SPL next summer, writes Mike Vimpany.

Basingstoke’s first and second teams will take up berths in the SPL’s reshaped third and fourth divisions.

The Premier League will operate with four divisions, each of ten teams, in 2013 with the existing Division 3 being split.

It means the numerical strength of the SPL being increased by two to 40 teams – and Basingstoke will take up the two new slots.

Basingstoke & North Hants captain Dan Coombs was delighted with the news of his club’s election.

“It’s a massive move for the club,” he said.

Full story in today's Daily Echo