FANS of Worcester Raiders and Worcester City will be eagerly awaiting next season's fixture lists after it was confirmed that both will play in the Hellenic League Premier next season. 

It is the first time that the two Worcester sides are in the same league due to City being moved across from the Midland Football League and into the Hellenic League by the FA. 

It means there will be two league derbies in the 23/24 campaign and that is something that both should be relishing

Reality check for City?

Those who wear blue and white will most likely be wondering how it has come to this.

Raiders were a Sunday league side when Worcester City dropped down from the Conference North and now the pair will be playing against each other in competitive fixtures for the very first time. 

"Playing in the same league as Raiders? How the mighty have fallen!" some in red and black might say, but City have to embrace it.

They are where they are but a move to the Hellenic League is a positive one for the club. The division is a much easier one to get out of compared to the MFL, which is notoriously tough.

With the addition of play-offs again, and potentially some much-needed investment, City should really be targeting at least a top-five place but with Malvern Town and Cribbs now promoted, Chris Cornes will be aiming for the title. 

City have been a 'sleeping giant' for too long and last season's near relegation will have been a wake-up call for all involved but the FA's decision to move the club over to the Hellenic should be just the boost they need to climb out of Step 5. 

Raiders' chance to claim Worcester crown

If you had said six or seven years ago that Raiders would be in the same league as City, many would have asked you what planet you were on.

But their rise through the levels has been swift and now, alongside City's inability to escape Step 5, they are level with their rivals and now have the chance to topple them.

Raiders know this league and, for large parts of the 2022/23 campaign, looked like they could finish in the top two and gain promotion, but they faded away in the end to finish fourth.

But that was their first year at the level and now focus will be to go one better this coming season and gain promotion, if not compete the title itself.

They will relish the games with City. The chance for them to topple their 'big brothers' will be one that players, supporters and coaching staff will be licking their lips over.

Story lines everywhere

Chris Cornes vs Raiders, Cornes vs Gormley... they are just two of the tasty narratives that swirl around this fixture. Cornes was dismissed as co-manager two seasons ago and he will be eager to go and do the double over the side now managed by his former partner Karl Gormley. 

Whilst they are good friends, beating each other will give both immense amounts of satisfaction. Then you can add the prospect of a Worcester Derby at Sixways; maybe thousands in attendance for that? How supporters of both sides will enjoy that one!

It is great for football in this city to have both in the same league, playing against each other. It SHOULD bring out the best in both, but which one will claim the 'Kings of the City' crown?