The offseason is always an interesting time to be a football supporter. The dust has barely settled on a gruelling 42-game campaign that ended only three weeks ago – a season that tested Taunton Town to the limit, but ultimately proved hugely rewarding as the Peacocks climbed away from danger to secure their place in next season’s Southern League Premier Division South. Yet even after such a demanding season, the loss of that weekly routine quickly reminds us how much we miss spending our weekends supporting our club.

Nine heroes from last season’s dramatic campaign have already committed to the 2026–27 season, a campaign that will no doubt bring its share of highs and lows. What is certain, though, is that six new challenges await the Peacocks next term. From familiar faces to completely uncharted territory, we’ve taken a look at the new and returning sides joining the Southern League Premier Division South: who they are, how far they are from Wordsworth Drive, and what Taunton Town supporters can expect from these fresh opponents.

With pre-season just around the corner for Gary Johnson’s men, and new additions still to come to an already strong core squad, excitement is already beginning to build for the season ahead. We can’t wait.

Bath City

Relegated from: National League South (21st)
Round trip distance from Wordsworth Drive: 115.4 miles
Nickname: The Romans

Founded in 1889, Bath City are one of the West Country’s most historic non-league clubs, with Twerton Park having been their home since 1932. Nicknamed “The Romans”, City enjoyed some of their finest years in the Southern League, winning the title three times before establishing themselves higher up the pyramid. More recently, they spent 14 consecutive seasons in the National League South after relegation from the Conference Premier in 2012, becoming a familiar and respected name at Step 2.

The 2025/26 campaign, however, proved a difficult one. A poor run of form left Bath fighting against relegation for much of the season, with manager Darren Way departing in March before Scott Bartlett was brought in for the run-in. Despite an improvement in results under Bartlett, the damage had already been done and a 2-1 defeat away to AFC Totton in April confirmed relegation back to the Southern League Premier South. The drop ends a long stay at Step 2 and marks Bath’s return to the Southern League for the first time in 19 years.

Bath will still arrive in the division as one of its bigger clubs, boasting strong support and plenty of experience at higher levels. For Taunton Town supporters, the renewed meetings with the Romans should add another well-supported West Country fixture to the calendar, with local interest and travelling support likely to make the clashes between the two sides among the standout games of the 2026/27 Southern League Premier South season.

Chichester City

Moved across from: Isthmian League Premier Division (12th)
Round trip distance from Wordsworth Drive: 250 miles
Nickname: Lillywhites

Founded in 2000 following the merger of Chichester City and Portfield, Chichester City have steadily built themselves up through the non-league pyramid over the past two decades. After progressing from county football, Chi earned promotion to Step 3 for the first time in the 2023/24 season, going on an impressive late run of 13 games unbeaten to secure the final play-off spot.

They beat runners-up Ramsgate away in the semi-final 1–0, thanks to a Mo Jammeh 87th-minute winner, before thrashing Three Bridges 5–0 at Jubilee Field in the final to secure promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division, marking the club’s first-ever season at Step 3.

The 2025/26 season saw Chichester finish 12th in the Isthmian League Premier Division, a solid mid-table campaign. Despite that respectable finish, they have been moved laterally into the Southern League Premier South for the 2026/27 season as part of the FA’s non-league restructuring at Step 3. The switch brings new opponents and fresh travel for the club, but also a familiar standard of opposition, with Chichester expected to be competitive as they settle into a division that will be new territory for them at this level.

Chippenham Town

Relegated from: National League South (22nd)
Round trip distance from Wordsworth Drive: 148.2 miles
Nickname: The Bluebirds

Founded in 1873, Chippenham Town are one of the oldest clubs in the South West and have become a well-established name in non-league football over the past decade. Nicknamed “The Bluebirds”, they earned promotion to the National League South in 2017 after winning the Southern League Premier Division and went on to spend nine seasons at Step 2. During that period, Chippenham developed a reputation for consistency, regularly competing in the top half and reaching the National League South play-offs in 2022/23, while also enjoying memorable FA Cup runs against higher-level opposition.

The 2025/26 season, however, saw the club struggle to maintain that level. Injuries and inconsistency left the Bluebirds battling near the foot of the table for much of the campaign, and despite a spirited fight in the closing weeks, relegation back to the Southern League Premier South was confirmed before the end of the season. Their return to Step 3 marks the end of a long and successful spell in the National League South, but Chippenham will still be viewed as one of the division’s strongest and most experienced sides heading into 2026/27.

For the Peacocks, Chippenham’s arrival adds another competitive regional fixture to the calendar. Meetings between the two clubs have often been closely fought in recent years, and with both sides aiming to challenge towards the top end of the division, the renewed encounters should carry plenty of interest across the season.

Frome Town

Promoted from: Southern League Division South (1st)
Round trip distance from Wordsworth Drive: 113.8 miles
Nickname: The Robins

After a superb campaign in the Southern League Division One South, Frome Town return to Step 3 as champions and will compete in the Southern League Premier South for the 2026/27 season. Founded in 1904 and nicknamed “The Robins”, Frome have long been a well-established name in Somerset non-league football, with Badgers Hill providing a familiar and often difficult away day for visiting sides.

The club have experienced previous spells at Step 3 and Step 2 level, but this latest promotion under new ownership and the management of Danny Greaves marks a strong resurgence after just one season away at Step 4.

For the Peacocks, this also represents another local derby, with the clubs located just over an hour apart in Somerset. The fixture is added to by several former Peacocks in Greaves’ squad, including the prolific duo Archie Ferris and Dave Duru, along with the highly regarded Harris Feltham, adding extra spice to this West Country clash.

Hanworth Villa

Promoted from: Isthmian League South Central (3rd)
Round trip distance from Wordsworth Drive: 270 miles
Nickname: The Villains

After several seasons of coming agonisingly close, Hanworth Villa finally secured promotion via the play-offs in the 2025/26 campaign. Founded in 1976, the club have steadily climbed through the non-league pyramid in recent years, establishing themselves as one of the most competitive Step 4 sides in the region, with a strong identity and a growing reputation within the London football scene.

Their consistency at the top end of the table has been clear for some time, but until now they had repeatedly fallen victim to play-off heartbreak. Hanworth Villa were beaten finalists in both 2022/23 and 2024/25, losing 3–1 to Walton & Hersham before suffering a narrow 2–1 defeat against Uxbridge two years later, with Guy Ansah-Palmer scoring their only goal in the latter.

This season, however, they finally earned their reward. Winning 23 league matches and losing just seven times across the campaign, Villa secured another shot at promotion – and this time they made it count.

Malvern Town

Promoted from: Southern League Division One South (3rd)
Round trip distance from Wordsworth Drive: 206 miles
Nickname: The Hillsiders

Founded in 1946, Malvern Town have spent much of their recent history steadily progressing through the non-league pyramid, building a competitive side and a strong community presence around their Langland Stadium home. Nicknamed “The Hillsiders”, the Worcestershire-based club are managed by Lee Hooper, who took sole charge ahead of the 2025/26 season after previously serving as co-manager. They certainly enjoyed an impressive 2025/26 campaign and capped it off in dramatic fashion. Town finished third in the table in 2025/26 before going on to win promotion through the play-offs, beating Bishop’s Cleeve in the semi-final and Shaftesbury 3–2 in the final.

As far as records show, next season will mark the first-ever league meetings between Taunton Town and Malvern Town – so be sure to add this to your calendars, Peacocks. Certainly not one to be missed.