The name of the game

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For some fans, the Football League Championship will always be "Division 1", teams still compete for the "Milk Cup" and the "Premiership" is what the Prime Minister serves. The spate of name-changing to make the leagues sound more "exciting" a few years ago have now been accepted and have fallen into common use, but when you think about them, they're still a bit ridiculous.

It's bad enough having a Ryman Premiership and Division 1, but from next season the Conference will become the Blue Square Premiership, and the North and South leagues will become the Blue Square North and South respectively. This now means that there are three "Premierships" between tier 1 and tier 7.

Leagues and sponsorship deals may change, but at least the clubs stay the same, right? Wrong. As of May 1, Gravesend & Northfleet are no more: to cash-in on the redevelopment of the area, and the forthcoming cross-Channel rail link terminal, the club is now called Ebbsfleet United. They're hoping for a new stadium in Ebbsfleet itself -- meaning that there can finally be an all-Dartford derby if they ever draw the mighty Darts.

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