Harwich and Parkeston have been allocated a place in the Essex Senior League following their promotion to Step 5.
Victory over Stanway Pegasus in their play-off final earlier this month meant the club was eagerly awaiting news of which league they would be competing in at the higher level.
And on Thursday, the FA announced that the Shrimpers had been placed in the Essex Senior League, rather than the Premier Division of the Thurlow Nunn League.
It will be the first time the club has been members of the Essex Senior League, which was formed in 1971.
The decision means the return of the local derby with Little Oakley, a match last played at competitive level in 2020.
There will also be a reunion with Halstead Town, who were the best-supported side in the league last season.
At the other end of the travel scale, no fewer than 10 of the 20 member clubs are based inside the M25 so fans will need to get used to travelling down the A12.
Club chairman Tony Armstrong said: “We are pleased to announce our promotion into the Essex Senior League.
“It is an exciting new challenge for Harwich and Parkeston Football Club in our historic 150th year of existence. It is a proud day for the Club to return to the footballing levels we once enjoyed and creates new memories with fresh opponents and also gives us the chance to renew old acquaintances we have enjoyed competing against in the past.
“This is the reward for all those people that kept this Club in existence through those ‘dark years’ at the turn of this century and those that have worked tirelessly to create our future. Harwich and Parkeston are back!”
It should be noted that all FA allocations are subject to appeal.

Essex Senior League 2025/26
Athletic Newham (g/s with May & Baker – Parsloes Park)
Barking
Basildon United
Benfleet
Buckhurst Hill
Frenford
Great Wakering Rovers
Hackney Wick (g/s @ Witham Town)
Halstead Town
Harwich & Parkeston
Hullbridge Sports
Ilford
Little Oakley
Romford (g/s @ Barking)
Saffron Walden Town
Sporting Bengal United
Tower Hamlets (g/s with Sporting Bengal – Mile End Stadium)
West Essex (g/s @ Walthamstow)
White Ensign (g/s @ Great Wakering)
Woodford Town