Oxford City can look forward to Oxfordshire derbies against Didcot Town and Abingdon United after they were promoted to the Southern League, writes NICK FARRANT.

The decision was rubber-stamped at a meeting of the FA's League Sanctions Committee in London on Wednesday.

The trio will compete in next season's Division 1 South & West Division where they will also face the likes of Thatcham, Marlow and Newport IOW.

City, who were relegated from the old Division 1 West on the last day of the 2004-5 season, return after winning the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division championship.

Didcot took their place after winning the GLS Football Hellenic League Premier Division at a canter, while Abingdon United go up after finishing third.

The restructuring could mean a reprieve for Chipping Norton Town, who finished third from bottom, though that has yet to be confirmed.

Thame United, who were relegated from Southern League Division 1 West will play in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

Oxford City secretary, John Shepperd said: "We are very pleased with the outcome it's where we wanted to be. We could have been put in the Midland Division with Brackley Town, which would have meant more travelling.

"We're fairly central now. The furthest we'll have to travel is Taunton and Paulton Rovers."

Shepperd added: "We're looking forward to getting back in the Southern League, for one thing, the standards of the grounds are much higher."

The Southern League season is due to start on August 19.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE Division 1 South & West: Abingdon Utd, Andover, Bashley, Bracknell Tn, Beaconsfield SYCOB, Brook Hse, Burnham, Chesham Utd, Didcot Tn, Hanwell Tn, Hillingdon B, Lymington, Marlow, Newport IOW, Oxford C, Paulton Rov, Swindon Sup, Taunton Tn, Thatcham Tn, Uxbridge, Winchester C, Windsor & Eton.