National League (division)

National League (England)

The National League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Vanarama National League, is the fifth tier of the English football league system and the highest division of non-League football in England. It sits directly below EFL League Two in the English football pyramid and is the top division of the National League System.

Founded in 1979 as the Alliance Premier League, the National League brought together the strongest semi-professional clubs from the Northern Premier League and Southern League to create a single national competition below the Football League. It was renamed the Conference National in 1986, before adopting its current name in 2015.

History

  • Formation (1979): Prior to the league’s creation, clubs outside the Football League played in regional competitions, with promotion only possible through election by Football League members. To streamline competition and create a clearer pathway to professional football, the Alliance Premier League was established with 20 founding clubs drawn from the Northern and Southern Leagues.
  • Expansion and Growth: By 1986, the league became known as the Football Conference and continued to expand its profile. In 1987, automatic promotion and relegation with the Football League were introduced, marking the end of the old election system.
  • Introduction of Play-offs (2003): A play-off system was introduced to determine the second promotion place, increasing excitement and giving more clubs a chance to reach the Football League.
  • Rebranding (2015): The league was renamed the National League in a major rebrand that also saw the Conference North and Conference South renamed as National League North and National League South respectively.

Structure

The National League is currently composed of 24 clubs, most of which are fully professional or transitioning towards professionalism.

  • Season Format: Each club plays 46 matches per season (home and away against every other club). Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat.
  • Promotion:
    • The champions of the National League are automatically promoted to EFL League Two.
    • A further promotion place is awarded via the play-offs, contested by clubs finishing 2nd to 7th.
  • Relegation: The bottom four clubs are relegated to either the National League North or National League South, depending on geographical location.

Promotion and Relegation System

  • To the Football League: Since 1987, promotion has been automatic for the champions. In 2003, play-offs were added, creating a second promotion spot.
  • To and from Step 2 (National League North & South): The bottom four National League clubs are relegated to the regional sixth-tier divisions. In turn, each regional league promotes two clubs (champions and play-off winners) to the National League.

Professionalism

While originally semi-professional, the National League today features many fully professional clubs, especially those with a history in the Football League. Clubs often operate with large fanbases and stadiums comparable to lower-league Football League teams.

Notable Moments

  • Yeovil Town (2003) became the first Conference side to establish themselves in the Football League and later reach the Championship.
  • Wrexham A.F.C., one of the oldest football clubs in the world, won the 2022–23 National League title, returning to the Football League after 15 years.
  • Lincoln City (2016–17) famously won the league and became the first non-League club in over 100 years to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals in the same season.

Sponsorship

The league has been sponsored by various companies, most notably Blue Square (2007–2013) and Vanarama (2014–present). Sponsorship deals have often included naming rights.

Current Status

As of the 2024–25 season, the National League remains the gateway division between non-League and professional football, widely regarded as one of the most competitive leagues in English football due to the mixture of full-time and part-time clubs.

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