RESTRUCTURING of the national football pyramid during the close season means that the UniBond League First Division will present a very different challenge for Kendal Town.

The creation of a second tier to the Conference League meant wholesale promotion throughout the UniBond Premier and First Divisions.

Now Town face a campaign that mixes old rivals who ended up in the bottom half of the division last year with 14 ambitious newcomers from the feeder leagues.

Those 14 contain some familiar faces, however as Eastwood Town, relegated 12 months ago, bounce straight back from the North East Counties League along with Ossett Albion, who managed one season in the UniBond in 2001/2 and Brigg Town, who are making their first foray into the UniBond.

Four clubs move up from the North West Counties League, with champions Clitheroe and fourth-placed Woodley Sports making their debuts at the higher level.

Runners-up Mossley and fifth-place Warrington Town, who Town visit for their first away match on Tuesday night, return to UniBond action after several years absence.

From the Southern League come Gressley Rovers, Ilkeston Town and Shepshed Dynamo, who were UniBond members from 1988 to 1993.

Other newcomers are United Counties League champions Spalding United, Rocester and Willenhall Town, from the Midland Football Alliance and AFC Telford United who arose from the ashes of Telford United who went out of business in the summer.