GRASSROOTS footballs clubs in Dorset have discovered their league placings for the 2024/25 season.

The total number of clubs entered has risen from 70 to 78 ahead of the new campaign, creating a brand-new Division Six.

Sturminster Marshall and Shaftesbury Reserves have dropped from the Dorset Premier League into Dorset League Division One and Division Three respectively.

Milborne & Parton have merged and will run teams in Division Three and Five, while Ridgeway Development are a new side entered into Division Four.

READ MORE: How the 2023/24 Dorset League looked

In Division Six, four teams join for their first season in Allendale Reserves, Merley FC, Bournemouth Electric Development and Bridport Development.

Elsewhere, 2022/23 Dorset Senior League champions Bisterne have agreed to merge with promoted side Bournemouth Poppies Development.

The Senior League is now comprised of only 11 teams, down from 12, after Bournemouth Electric gained promotion to the Dorset Premier League and Stalbridge took a three-tier drop to Division Three.

However, there is still no place for Chickerell United after their withdrawal from the Senior League last season, although the Chickens will continue to run a reserve side in Division Five.

In Division One, champions Mere, Maiden Newton & Cattistock and Bournemouth Sports Reserves all joined Poppies Development in gaining promotion to the Senior League.

Dorchester Sports Reserves drop down from the Senior League.

South Cheriton have not returned to Division One but Westover Bournemouth and Ridgeway gained promotion from Division Two.

Sturminster Newton Reserves were relegated to Division Two.

Division Three champions Mudeford and Wilton go up to Division Two, but Piddlehinton move the opposite way and Bournemouth Electric Reserves fall two tiers to Division Three.

In Division Four, champions Donhead have dropped two levels to Division Six, with Corfe Mullen and Woodville Wanderers not returning after withdrawing midway through 2023/24.

Division Five winners Wyke Regis, plus Broadstone and Symene, come up to Division Four, joining relegated Division Three sides Shillingstone and Puddletown Reserves.

Sturminster Newton Thirds have withdrawn from the now nine-team Division Five, to which Maiden Newton & Cattistock Reserves have been relegated.

Joining the four new teams in Division Six are Donhead, plus relegated sides Longfleet, Wessex Phoenix Reserves and AFC Damerham. Stalbridge Reserves take a double drop from Division Four.

PROVISIONAL LIST OF TEAMS FOR THE 2024/25 SEASON

Dorset Senior League (11 teams): Allendale, Bournemouth Poppies Development, Bournemouth Sports Reserves, Cranborne, Maiden Newton & Cattistock, Mere Town, Merley Cobham Reserves, Puddletown, Tisbury United, Westland Sports Reserves, Wincanton Town Reserves.

Dorset League Division One (10): Beaminster, Blandford Reserves, Dorchester Sports Reserves, Milborne Port, Parley, Portland Panthers, Ridgeway, Sturminster Marshall, Wareham, Westover Bournemouth.

Division Two (11): Bere Regis, Bournemouth Manor, Canford United, Handley Sports, Holt Development, Mudeford, Portesham United, Poundbury, Sturminster Newton Reserves, Swanage Town & Herston Reserves, Wilton.

Division Three (12): Bournemouth Electric Reserves, Corfe Castle, Crossways Spitfires, DI United, Okeford United, Milborne & Parton, Piddlehinton United, Poole Borough Reserves, Stalbridge, Shaftesbury Reserves, Witchampton, Wool United.

Division Four (12): Broadstone, Hotspire, Portland Panthers Reserves, Puddletown Reserves, Ridgeway Development, Shillingstone, Sturminster Marshall Reserves, Symene, Wareham Reserves, Wessex Phoenix, Weymouth Sports, Wyke Regis.

Division Five (9): Beaminster Reserves, Chickerell Reserves, Durrington, Maiden Newton & Cattistock Reserves, Milborne & Parton Reserves, Tisbury United Reserves, Verwood Athletic, Witchampton Reserves, Wool United Reserves.

Division Six (9): AFC Damerham, Allendale Reserves, Bournemouth Electric Development, Bridport Development, Donhead, Longfleet, Merley FC, Stalbridge Reserves, Wessex Phoenix Reserves.