ROUTE One Rovers will no longer be playing amateur football, after the Bradford side’s rise to the semi-professional ranks was confirmed yesterday lunchtime.

Having applied to play in the non-league pyramid, they went on to win the Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division in 2022/23.

And with the allocations from Step 1 to 6 of the National League System announced at midday yesterday, Route One received the news they were hoping for.

They have been confirmed as a new team in the North West Counties Football League First Division North for the 2023/24 campaign, where they will play alongside Steeton.

The Chevrons will be ground-sharing at Marley with Route One, with that also being the case last season.

Rovers traditionally play at the Zara Sports Centre in BD9, but with work being done on the facility currently, Steeton gave them a new temporary home.

But friends will become rivals next term, as both look to gain promotion to Step 5, and the NWCFL Premier Division.

None of our sides were moved laterally to a different league organisation yesterday, though Bradford (Park Avenue) and Liversedge’s relegations, to the Northern Premier League Premier Division and the NPL East Division respectively, were officially confirmed.