The Premier Division features 20 teams, the same as the previous season, after St Blazey were relegated to Division One East, and Tiverton Town Reserves left the league. Three new clubs joined the league:
Sticker, promoted from Division One West.
Stoke Gabriel, promoted from Division One East.
Reserve sides are not eligible for promotion to Step 5. Any Step 6 club without ground grading Grade G were to be relegated to Step 7. Godolphin Atlantic and Stoke Gabriel passed the ground grading requirements with a dispensation that certain works had to be completed by 30 September 2018, or those clubs will face a financial penalty. Potential demotion at the end of next season would result if they were not compliant by 31 March 2019. Stoke Gabriel subsequently sought voluntary demotion because they announced that their groundworks would not be ready by the deadline. All step 6 leagues were to be fixed at a maximum of 20 clubs for 2018–19.
Division One East features 18 clubs, the same as the previous season, after Stoke Gabriel were promoted to the Premier Division and Exwick Villa were relegated:
Galmpton United changed their name to Galmpton & Roselands.
Totnes & Dartington resigned from the league before the season started, but were not replaced.
Crediton United, Ilfracombe Town and Newton Abbot Spurs applied for promotion to the Premier Division. All three passed the ground grading, but Newton Abbot later withdrew their application.
Division One West
Division One West features 18 clubs, the same as the previous season, after Sticker were promoted to the Premier Division, Vospers Oak Villa were relegated, and two new clubs joined:
Penryn Athletic resigned from the league before the season started, but were not replaced.
Elburton Villa, Liskeard Athletic, Millbrook, Mousehole, Porthleven, St Blazey, St Dennis, Wadebridge Town and Wendron United have applied for promotion to the Premier Division. St Blazey failed the ground grading; Millbrook, Mousehole, St Dennis and Wendron passed with dispensation, and the others passed.
Promotion from feeder leagues for 2018–19
Several clubs have applied for promotion to the SWPL for the 2018–19 season. Their success will depend on finishing in the top three in their respective leagues and other factors including ground facilities. Clubs finishing in the top two in their leagues have the automatic right to promotion if they pass the ground grading. Clubs finishing third in their leagues, and any clubs applying from outside the football pyramid, do not have an automatic right to promotion. Only one club per league can be accepted. If two or more clubs satisfy all requirements and are considered of equal merit, the league board will decide on which club to accept. If all five feeder leagues provide a club eligible for promotion, then the two clubs finishing in 17th positions in Division One East / West will be relegated. The following clubs have applied for promotion to Division One East and West for next season. Their ground grading results are also included below:
Cornwall Combination – Carharrack
Devon & Exeter Football League – Cronies, Elmore, Exwick Villa, Newtown
