63-707: The National League South , formerly Conference South , is one of the two second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League . Along with National League North , it is in the second level of the National League System , and is the sixth tier overall of the English football league system , and includes teams from the South East, London, and
126-608: A second promotion place. Through 2017, this was decided by a play-off system similar to that of the EFL. The four teams below the National League champions played against each other in semi-finals over two legs, with second playing fifth and third playing fourth. The winners of these ties then played a single final game known as the Promotion Final, with the winners gaining the second promotion place. Doncaster Rovers were
189-514: A vote. No teams were relegated. Expansion was therefore delayed and it was implemented before the 2022–23 season with eight-team relegations from tier six at the end of that season. To expand, two clubs in Step 2 were relegated and eight promoted from all four Step 3 divisions: the division champions and play-off winners. Four teams in both North and South are relegated starting in 2023. Phoenix or reformed clubs are not included unless they competed in
252-594: Is a list of sponsors and what they chose to call the league. The National League's first major TV coverage began in 2006 when Setanta SportsThe channel showed 79 matches each season. It also showed the Conference League Cup . Prior to this, games from the league had occasionally be shown since 2001 on Sky Sports . Setanta's coverage continued until its British operations went under in June 2009. On 19 August 2010, Premier Sports announced that it had bought
315-552: Is a professional Association football league in England that consists of 72 teams, divided equally between the National League (division) , National League North and National League South . The National League is one of the major professional sports leagues in England. It was called the "Alliance Premier League" from 1979 until 1986. Between 1986 and 2015, the league was known as the "Football Conference". Most National League clubs are fully professional (only three are not in
378-537: Is the top level of the non-league pyramid, it is not the highest level of English football (it is actually the fifth overall division). The Premier League and the three divisions of the English Football League (EFL) comprise the top 92 clubs in the English game; each season, two teams from the National League achieve promotion to the English Football League. Some leagues have more than one division. At
441-559: The COVID-19 pandemic in England , the 2020–21 National League South season was curtailed and voided after written resolutions were put to a vote. No teams were relegated. Expansion would be implemented before the 2022–23 season, when the bottom club was relegated and four were promoted from Step 3. There are four relegations from the South since 2023. The current member clubs for the 2024–25 season are as follows: The stadiums of all teams in
504-634: The FA Vase , as well as their respective regional league cups and county cups. For the 2012–13 season , the FA announced a re-structuring of the National League System's lowest level, Step 7. It was split into three sub-categories, which were full Step 7 divisions, Step 7A and Step 7B. The categorisation depended on the ground facilities of the particular league's clubs. The required percentage of clubs to meet ground grade requirements for each of
567-539: The Football League Fourth Division and the National League was agreed. The first clubs affected by the new system were Lincoln City, who were relegated and replaced by Scarborough . However, although the champions of the National League are entitled to a place in the EFL, this was dependent on their stadium meeting the set criteria for membership. This meant that Northampton Town , Exeter City , and Torquay United all avoided relegation from
630-788: The Vanarama Conference South (2014–2015), the Vanarama National League South (2015–2019) and the Motorama National League South following a three-year sponsorship deal announced in January 2019. Since the start of the 2015–16 season , the league is known as the National League South. The National League South was reduced to 21 clubs for 2020–21 and was expected to expand to 24 teams in 2021–22. Due to
693-463: The Welsh football league system , while AP Leamington, Maidstone, Nuneaton, Scarborough, and Telford later collapsed and were reconstituted in lower English leagues. Gravesend & Northfleet changed its name to Ebbsfleet United in 2007. The National League had a single division for the first 25 years of its existence, but since the 2004–05 season has consisted of three divisions. The original division
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#1732775954102756-538: The 2020-21 season, Step 7 was abolished, being replaced by feeder leagues overseen by local county FAs. At the top of the National League System pyramid is the National League . Its top division, also called the National League (currently called the Vanarama National League), is the only division in the System which is organised on a national rather than regional basis. Although the National League
819-558: The 2023–24 lineup), while a growing number of National League North and National League South clubs are also professional . Some professional clubs were previously in the English Football League (EFL), as opposed to clubs that have always been non-League . The National League is the lowest of the five nationwide professional football divisions in England, below the Premier League and the three divisions of
882-477: The 2024-25 season, the competition was revived as the 32-team National League Cup, with 16 National League clubs and 16 under-21 teams from Premier League 2. Since 1984, the National League has been publicly known by the names of a succession of official title sponsors. The name was officially changed from Alliance Premier to the Football Conference in 1986, and to the National League in 2015. Below
945-634: The Conference Premier. The third place was decided in a Promotion Final at Stoke City 's Britannia Stadium , which Eastbourne Borough lost 2–1 to the Conference North Playoff winners, Altrincham . The Alliance Premier/Conference organised a cup competition from 1979 until 2009, with occasional breaks when sponsors were not available. Known initially as the Bob Lord Challenge Trophy until 2000–01,
1008-410: The EFL from 1994 to 1996, although Exeter and Torquay were both relegated to the National League at a later date. For three successive years in the 1990s, the National League champions were denied promotion to the EFL on these grounds. Since 1997, when Macclesfield Town won the title for the second time in three years, every champion has been promoted. Since 2003, the National League has been awarded
1071-639: The EFL, Luton and Orient by winning the title, and the other four by winning the playoff finals. Bradford (Park Avenue) also played in the First Division in its previous incarnation, however their current incarnation has only reached as high as the National League North division. The highest league tier a club promoted from the National League has reached is the top flight Premier League , which (as of May 2023) has been reached by one club, Luton Town. Conversely, Oldham Athletic became
1134-407: The EFL, and is the top tier of the National League System of non-League football. The National League North and National League South form the sixth tier of professional English football. The National League consisted of only one division until 2004, but expanded as part of an extensive restructuring of the National League System beginning with the 2004–05 season. The National League stands at
1197-632: The EFL; below the National League are the Step 3 and lower leagues of the NLS. The National League has 24 clubs and the North and South divisions have 24 clubs each. Each club plays the others in its division twice during a season, once at home and once away. Clubs earn three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. At the end of each season two clubs are promoted from the National League to EFL League Two and two teams from League Two are relegated to
1260-488: The Football Conference, renamed Conference Premier, dropping the top divisions of the Southern League , Isthmian League , and Northern Premier League down one level. The Conference North and South have since been renamed the National League North and South. This table includes the six steps of the National League System (NLS). Above the NLS are the Premier League and the English Football League . Two teams from
1323-638: The League in their own right, and are counted separately from the original club. Highest English Football League tier is the tier's standing within the EFL and may not correspond to its overall standing on today's system . Several clubs, formed as phoenix clubs after the dissolution of former EFL clubs, have competed in the National League. These include: * Promoted to the EFL ( Fourth Division until 1992, Third Division from 1992 until 2004 and League Two from 2004) ** Not promoted ** Not promoted. In 2004–05 only three promotion places were available to
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#17327759541021386-432: The National League System, see the English football league system . The system underwent a rearrangement from 2004 to 2008 and was rearranged again in 2018. Phase one went into operation in 2004–05 . At the start of the 2006–07 season , phase two was introduced, and a further phase three started from 2007–08 with the starting of a second Step 4 league in the north of England. Phase four took effect in 2018–19 . Ahead of
1449-509: The National League can be promoted to EFL League Two at the end of each season. This structure was the result of changes made after the 2005–06 season . The official name is given for all the leagues listed, and the sponsorship name is also provided for the leagues in the top four steps. All divisions in the top four steps have 20 to 24 clubs each. The FA's National League System Committee determine promotion and relegation between leagues shown, mainly based on location. The NLS Committee also has
1512-428: The National League proposed a revamp in the play-offs for all three divisions. Under the new system, the number of teams playing for promotion was increased to six. The clubs finishing second and third automatically proceed to a semi-final at their home grounds, while the clubs in fourth and fifth stage compete in qualifying round ties against the teams finishing seventh and sixth. The winners of those matches then complete
1575-410: The National League system confirmed that a pure pyramid in a 1-2-4-8-16 was the goal. This meant the introduction of an eighth division at Step 4 and two further divisions at Step 5. The comments were made just prior to the introduction of the fourth division at Step 3 and the seventh at Step 4. On 17 April 2019, it was clarified that there would be 17 divisions at Step 6, down from 19 in 2018–19 and that
1638-446: The National League three times: Barnet (1991, 2005, 2015) and Macclesfield Town (1995, 1997, 2018). Prior to Barnet's and Macclesfield's third title wins, five other clubs had also become champions twice: Altrincham (1980, 1981), Enfield (1983, 1986), Kidderminster Harriers (1994, 2000), Maidstone United , (1984, 1989), and Stevenage Borough (1996, 2010). Kidderminster also finished second in 1997 and 2013. Lincoln City became
1701-600: The National League to take their place. The two promotion places are awarded to the National League champions and to the winners of the National League Promotion Final, which is played between the two teams who were successful in playoff games, contested by those clubs finishing second to seventh in the final divisional standings. At the other end of the table, the bottom four clubs in National League are relegated to either National League North or National League South. The decision as to which division
1764-506: The National League. The closure of Chester City during the later stages of the 2009–10 season was the first mid-season closure of a club in the division since Newport County in the second half of the 1988–89 season; on both occasions, the records of both clubs were expunged. In 2004, a restructuring of the National League System saw the creation of a new level immediately below the National League; two regional divisions now named National League North and National League South were created, with
1827-793: The Northern Premier League and Southern League and was known originally as the Alliance Premier Football League and from 1986–87 as the Football Conference . Support for such a league came from Alan Hardaker , the long serving Secretary of the Football League . He suggested that an amalgamation of the two strongest lower leagues in England, the Northern Premier League and the Southern League , would reduce
1890-681: The South West, as well as teams from Essex. The National League South was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of the National League System. Each year the champion of the league is automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winner of a play-off involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place (expanded from four to six teams in the 2017–18 season). The three bottom clubs were relegated to Step 3 leagues. For sponsorship reasons, it has been known as Blue Square South (2007–2010), Blue Square Bet South (2010–2013), Skrill South (2013–2014),
1953-487: The bottom of National League North and National League South, four clubs from each division are relegated and these eight clubs are divided among the Step 3 leagues of the NLS, the Northern Premier League , the Southern League , and the Isthmian League . Each of these Step 3 leagues promotes their respective champions and second- to fifth-place playoff winners. The NLS Committee determines which Step 3 leagues
National League South - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-439: The categorisations were as follows: Step 7 – was awarded to leagues where 100% of their clubs met the Step 7 minimum ground grading requirements on 31 March and the league complies with all other requirements for Step 7 status. Step 7A – was awarded to leagues where 75% or more of their clubs met the Step 7 minimum ground grading requirements after 31 March and the league complied with all other requirements for Step 7 status. (It
2079-445: The clubs beyond the £5,000 broadcast fee paid to home clubs and £1,000 to away clubs. BT Sport commenced a contract in 2013–14 to cover again up to 30 National league matches including the end of season semi finals and the Promotion Final. The deal worth £300,000, sees the fee to each home clubs as £7,000 and the away club £1,000. The National League also launched its own channel called NLTV, which focuses on all 68 member clubs across
2142-467: The criteria required for the new league. Southport , who had been voted out of the Football League in 1978, were accepted as members of the new league, but eventually chose not to join it due to concerns over travelling costs. Barrow and Northwich had previously been members of the EFL. Barrow failed re-election in 1972 , while Northwich resigned from the league in 1894 . Barnet, Boston, Maidstone, Scarborough and Yeovil have also tasted EFL football since
2205-686: The cup competition was reinstated in 2004–05 as the Conference League Cup for one season, before returning again in 2007-08 as the Setanta Shield, sponsored by Setanta Sports . Very much like the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy at the higher levels, it has not always proved popular with fans and was generally viewed as of secondary importance to the FA Trophy . The cup was put in abeyance when Setanta Sports' British service ceased. In
2268-435: The direction of The Football Association, the National League System evolved over many years. Today's pyramid can be said to be barely twenty years old. Leagues have formed and dissolved over the years and reorganisations have taken place every few years as a result. Beginning with the 2004–05 season , Phase One of the latest change was introduced with the formation of a Conference North and Conference South immediately below
2331-445: The end of the 2030/2031 season National League System The National League System comprises the six levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the English Football League . It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association . The National League System has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels. For details of leagues above and below
2394-471: The feeder leagues dropping below them. There are two promotion places to the National League's top division from each regional division – the champions are promoted automatically, while the remaining place is again decided by semi-final play-offs and a promotion final. The four teams relegated from the National League (i.e. the highest division) are then allocated to one or other of the regional divisions dependent on their geographical location. In May 2017,
2457-503: The first former Premier League side to compete in the National League and by extension, any non-League competition, following a home defeat by Salford City, in 2022. Prior to 1987, for National League clubs to enter the EFL, they had to be elected by League members. As a consequence, there was no guarantee that winning the National League would result in promotion, and none of the league's first eight champions were promoted. This changed in 1987, when automatic promotion and relegation between
2520-432: The first team to win the Promotion Final. Prior to 2004, relegation from the National League meant dropping to one of the three feeder leagues below. After Chester City failed to avoid expulsion in 2010, three teams were relegated instead of four, to either the Northern Premier League , Southern League or Isthmian League , based on geographical criteria. In turn, the champions of these three leagues would be promoted to
2583-431: The formation of the National League, but are now back in the National League or its feeder leagues (Scarborough and Maidstone now in new incarnations). Of the 20 founder members, the last to leave the fifth level were Northwich. They were relegated in 2005, a year after the demise of Telford. Barnet are the only founder member who have remained in the top five levels continuously since 1979. Bangor City have since moved to
National League South - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-443: The grading requirements. The teams must then also finish in the top 3 in their league to be considered for promotion, which is not automatic. For instance, in the 2005–06 season 100 clubs applied to be considered for promotion, of which 51 met the grading requirements, and 29 of those finished in the top 3 in their leagues. With an additional division commencing at Step 4 in 2006–07 , all 29 clubs had their promotions accepted. Under
2709-557: The league for the 2024–25 season are listed below in capacity order: ** Not promoted. In 2004–05 only three promotion places were available to the Conference National. The third place was decided in a Playoff at Stoke City 's Britannia Stadium , which Eastbourne lost 2–1 to the Conference North playoff winners, Altrincham . Since the 2015–16 season, the highest average National League South attendance
2772-482: The leagues, so to speak) so as to maintain numerical balance between North and South. Due to financial constraints at this level of football, some clubs have escaped relegation despite finishing in a relegation position, due to the misfortune of others. For promotion to proceed, whether from the National League to the EFL, within the National League, or between the various leagues of the NLS, certain conditions concerning finances and facilities must be met. Failure to meet
2835-407: The live and exclusive UK television rights to thirty matches per season from the Conference Premier for a total of three seasons. The thirty matches selected for broadcast included all five Conference Premier matches culminating in the Promotion Final itself. The deal with the then-Football Conference was a revenue sharing arrangement whereby clubs received 50% of revenue from subscriptions, on top of
2898-427: The lower levels the existence of leagues becomes intermittent, although in some areas there are as many as twenty layers. All the leagues are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. Clubs that are successful in their league can rise higher in the pyramid, whilst those that finish at the bottom can find themselves sinking further down. In theory it is possible for a lowly local amateur club to rise to
2961-402: The normal rights fee paid by the broadcaster, once the costs of production were met. The Conference also earned 50% from all internet revenue associated with the deal and allowed them to retain advertising rights allied to those adverts shown with their matches. During the 2010–11 season, Premier Sports failed to attract enough viewers to its Conference football broadcasts to share any revenue with
3024-495: The number of candidates applying to join the Football League under the re-election system then in use. It was also thought it would enable the strongest non-league candidate to emerge. In 1977 the Northern Premier and Southern Leagues agreed to only put forward one candidate each for election to the League and this proved successful with Wimbledon and Wigan Athletic gaining election to the League in 1977 and 1978. It
3087-593: The only team in history to retain the title, as at the time there was no automatic promotion to the EFL. One former National League club has reached the Premier League , although six such clubs did compete in the top tier of football prior to the Premier League, in the Football League First Division : Carlisle United , Leyton Orient , Oxford United , Luton Town , Grimsby Town , and Notts County . All of them have since returned to
3150-518: The pinnacle of the English game and become champions of the Premier League. While this may be unlikely in practice, there certainly is significant movement within the pyramid. The number of teams promoted between leagues or divisions varies, and promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances. In particular, clubs that hope to be promoted from Step 5 leagues to Step 4 must apply in advance to be assessed for whether they meet
3213-509: The power to transfer clubs between divisions and even leagues at the same level of the pyramid should this be deemed necessary to maintain geographically practical and numerically balanced divisions and leagues at every level. All clubs in the NLS are eligible to compete in the FA Cup , but are seeded into it according to Step standing. Step 1 to 4 clubs are eligible for the FA Trophy and Step 5 to 6 clubs (and some at NLS Feeder League level) for
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#17327759541023276-404: The relegated club joins is made by the FA's NLS Committee, but is largely determined by geography. The four relegated teams are replaced by four promoted teams, two from National League North and two from National League South. For each of these two leagues, this is the champions and the winners of their respective Promotion Finals between their second to seventh place clubs in those divisions. At
3339-490: The relegated clubs join, and whether the promoted clubs join National League North or National League South. Clubs relegated from the national division are not always geographically balanced. Thus, should it be deemed necessary, the NLS Committee may order one or more clubs from northern counties bordering the south and vice versa or from South Wales in the sixth tier to switch divisions (to move "horizontally" between
3402-413: The requirements of the league concerned prevents the eligible club from being promoted. The National League North and South expanded to 24 teams each in the 2022–23 season. Expansion was scheduled at first for 2020–21 until its implementation was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in England . It was fulfilled at the end of 2021–22. The National League was formed in 1979 from leading teams in
3465-433: The semi-finals. These proposals were approved at the National League's annual general meeting on 10 June. In 2019, plans were discussed for the gradual restructuring of the NLS so that the North and South divisions were expected to expand to 24 teams each in 2021–22. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England , the 2020–21 National League North and South seasons were curtailed and voided after written resolutions were put to
3528-498: The seventh club to win the National League twice (1988, 2017), but subsequent to Barnet's third title. Only Barnet were promoted to the EFL on all three occasions; Maidstone's first title came before the era of automatic promotion, while Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and Stevenage Borough were denied promotion because their grounds were not up to the required standard at the time of their first win. However, all three were promoted when they took their second title. Altrincham are
3591-450: The three divisions. On 30 July 2024, it was announced that DAZN would become the global home of the National League. This deal would involve all 557 National League matches, as well as a significant selection of National League North and National League South matches being streamed to over 200 countries, including the UK, on an exclusive basis. The deal is a seven-year deal that will run until
3654-419: The top of the National League System (NLS), a comprehensive structure linking together over 50 different leagues under the auspices of The Football Association (FA). The National League is at Step 1 of the NLS, and National League North and National League South make up Step 2 . Above the National League are the 92 clubs that together make up the highest levels of English football, the Premier League and
3717-498: The two new divisions at Step 5 would be in the Midlands and the west London/Thames Valley areas. On 24 April, it was announced that the Northern Premier League had been awarded the operation of the eighth division at Step 4. Initially scheduled for implementation in 2020–21, but due to the coronavirus disease pandemic in England which prematurely ended the remainder of the 2019–20 season for leagues at Steps 3 to 6 on 26 March 2020,
3780-408: Was in the 2021–22 season with 1,002 per game, this was also the season for the highest average for a club with 2,712 for Dulwich Hamlet . The lowest average league attendance was in the 2017–18 season with an average of 551 per game. As of January 2024, the league average is at 1,154, with the highest average for Yeovil Town at 3,660. National League (English football) The National League
3843-515: Was noted that in the 2011–12 season these leagues were referred to as provisional.) Step 7B – was awarded to leagues where 60% or more of their clubs met the ground grading requirements after 31 March and the league complied with all other requirements for Step 7 status. The sub-categories were removed in the 2016–17 season. In 2020–21, Step 7 was abolished altogether, with former leagues at this step instead being designated NLS Feeder Leagues, organised by county FAs. In March 2018, representatives of
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#17327759541023906-418: Was renamed Conference National (currently National League ) and two new regional divisions one level down were introduced, Conference North and Conference South (currently National League North and South). The new clubs to form this larger competition were drawn from the Northern Premier League, Southern League, and Isthmian League according to guidelines developed by the NLS Committee. Two teams have won
3969-470: Was then agreed that a new league would be set up comprising 13 Southern League teams and 7 sides from the Northern Premier. The founder members were: Several Northern Premier sides who might have taken part in the new competition did not do so. Goole Town , Lancaster City , and Mossley all did not apply to enter the Alliance. Matlock Town and Runcorn were not admitted as their grounds did not meet
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