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{{short description|English association football leagues}}
The '''football pyramid''' (formally but rather infrequently known as the '''National League System''') groups virtually all of [[England]]'s Association [[football (soccer)|football]] teams that are under the jurisdiction of [[The Football Association]] into a layered hierarchy.
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
[[File:Division of Level 6 to Level 9 teams by English Counties.svg|thumb|350px| Division of Level 6 to Level 9 teams in the 2022/23 season]]
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 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 in English football|2004–05]]. At the start of the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07 season]], phase two was introduced, and a further phase three started from [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] with the starting of a second Step 4 league in the north of England. Phase four took effect in [[2018–19 in English football|2018–19]]. Ahead of the 2020-21 season, Step 7 was abolished, being replaced by feeder leagues overseen by local county FAs.
==How the System Works==


==Organisation==
The top five layers of the system are not "pyramidal", in that they consist of only one league or league division each. The [[FA Premier league]] is the highest, followed by the three remaining divisions of the [[English Football League|Football League]] and then the [[Nationwide Conference]].


At the top of the National League System pyramid is the [[National League (English football)|National League]]. Its top division, also called the [[National League (division)|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 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 the lower levels the existence of leagues becomes intermittent, although in some areas there are as many as twenty layers.
The sixth to tenth layers are pyramidal: the further down you go, the more leagues at that level you find, covering smaller and smaller geographic areas of England. Below the tenth layer, the existence of leagues at that level becomes intermittent, though in some areas there are as many as twenty layers to the bottom.


What binds the many leagues making up the Pyramid together (bearing in mind that all leagues below the fourth layer are called ''non-league'', as the Football League, from which the highest teams seceded as the Premier League in [[1992]], was the only league in the world when formed in [[1888]]) is the system by which the teams that do best in each league are generally eligible for promotion to the league above in the pyramid, while those that do worst in their league risk being relegated to a league below. Promotion and relegation have been a part of the league structure since the creation of the old Second Division, direct ancestor of today's [[First Division (English Football)|First Division]], in the [[1890s]]. The number of teams promoted between leagues or divisions varies, and promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league.
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 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 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 in English football|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 in English football|2006–07]], all 29 clubs had their promotions accepted.


The evolution of the system to take in virtually the entire organized sport has proceeded in stages, and today's pyramid can be said to be barely twenty years old. Leagues have formed and dissolved over the years and reorganization in some area of the pyramid takes place every few years as a result. From [[2004]] it is planned that two geographic lower divisions of the [[Nationwide Conference]] will become the new sixth layer, forcing the top divisions of the ''Dr Martens'' [[Dr Martens League|Southern League]], ''Ryman'' [[Isthmian League]], and ''Unibond'' [[Northern Premier League]] down one level.
Under 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 in English football|2004–05 season]], Phase One of the latest change was introduced with the formation of a [[National League North|Conference North]] and [[National League South|Conference South]] immediately below the Football Conference, renamed Conference Premier, dropping the top divisions of the [[Southern Football League|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.


==The system==
An underpinning of this structure is the idea that teams must earn high league status by play on the field, and not through a business decision to enter a market. Teams are never supposed to move from one community to another in search of business opportunities, but to rise or fall by the support they obtain where they are. The disregard for this principle by the owners of [[Wimbledon F.C.]] and the unpopular decision by the authorities to permit their relocation led to the formation of [[AFC Wimbledon]].
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 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 in English football|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 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.
The number of league competitions (i.e. counting each division separately) is well over 300. Given that most leagues have at least 15 teams, each with no less than 11 players, then the number of players is probably well over 50,000. Players range from world-famous full-time professionals to strictly local amateur groups who play in pubs' back yards.
The most amateur version of the game is often called ''[[Sunday League Football]]''. As the name suggests, these leagues play on a Sunday, rather than traditional Saturday. These leagues do not operate promtion/relegation - i.e they are all independent, one-off leagues, not part of the Pyramid system.


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 the [[FA Vase]], as well as their respective regional league cups and county cups.
==Current System==


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|align=cleft border=1
|colspan=5 align=center|[[FA Premier league]]
|-
|-
! Step
|colspan=5 align=center|[[The Football League|Nationwide League]]: [[First Division (English Football)|Division One]]
! colspan=10 | League/Division
|-
|-
|colspan=5 align=center|[[The Football League|Nationwide League]]: [[Second Division (English Football)|Division Two]]
| rowspan=2 | 1
|-
| colspan=10 | [[National League (division)|National League]]<br>(Vanarama National League)
|colspan=5 align=center|[[The Football League|Nationwide League]]: [[Third Division (English Football)|Division Three]]
|-
|-
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%; border-top:0" | Promoted to League Two of the English Football League: ''Champion and winner of 2nd–7th play-off''.<br>Relegated to either National League North or National League South: ''4 clubs''.
|colspan=5 align=center|[[Nationwide Conference]]
|- style="background:#efefef"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2
|align=center|[[Northern Premier League|Unibond League]]: Premier Division
|colspan=2 align=center|[[Dr Martens League]]: Premier Division
| colspan=4 style="width:48%" | [[National League North]]<br>(Vanarama ''North'')
|colspan=2 align=center|[[Isthmian League|Ryman League]]: Premier Division
| colspan=4 style="width:48%; border-left:0" | [[National League South]]<br>(Vanarama ''South'')
|- style="background:#efefef"
|-
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%; border-top:0" | Promoted to National League: ''Champions of each division;<br>the winners of a 2nd–7th play-off in each division will also be promoted''.<br>Relegated to Step 3 leagues: ''4 clubs from each division''.
|align=center|[[Northern Premier League|Unibond League]]: Division One
|-
|align=center|[[Dr Martens League]]: Southern and East
| rowspan=2 | 3
|align=center|[[Dr Martens League]]: Midland and West
| colspan=2 style="width:24%" | [[Northern Premier League]]<br>(''Pitching In Northern Premier League'')<br>Premier Division
|align=center|[[Isthmian League|Ryman League]]: Division One (North)
| colspan=2 style="width:24%; border-left:0" | [[Southern Football League|Southern League]]<br>(''Pitching In Southern League'')<br>Central Division
|align=center|[[Isthmian League|Ryman League]]: Division One (South)
| colspan=2 style="width:24%; border-left:0" | [[Southern Football League|Southern League]]<br>(''Pitching In Southern League'')<br>South Division
| colspan=2 style="width:24%; border-left:0" | [[Isthmian League]]<br>(''Pitching In Isthmian League'')<br>Premier Division
|-
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%; border-top:0" | Promoted to National League North or South: ''Champion of each league and 4 winners of divisional play-offs''.<br>Relegated to Step 4 leagues: ''4 clubs from each division''.
|- style="background:#efefef"
| rowspan=2 | 4
| style="width:12%" | [[Northern Premier League]]<br>(''Pitching In Northern Premier League'')<br>Division One East
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Northern Premier League]]<br>(''Pitching In Northern Premier League'')<br>Division One West
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Northern Premier League]]<br>(''Pitching In Northern Premier League'')<br>Division One Midlands
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Southern Football League]]<br>(''Pitching In Southern League'')<br>Division One Central
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Southern Football League]]<br>(''Pitching In Southern League'')<br>Division One South
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Isthmian League]]<br>(''Pitching In Isthmian League'')<br>Division One South Central
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Isthmian League]]<br>(''Pitching In Isthmian League'')<br>Division One North
| style="width:12%; border-left:0" | [[Isthmian League]]<br>(''Pitching In Isthmian League'')<br>Division One South East
|- style="background:#efefef"
| colspan=10 style="border-top:0; font-size:90%" | Promoted to Step 3 leagues: ''Champion of each league and winner of divisional play-offs''.<br>Relegated to Step 5 leagues determined by NLS Committee: ''4 clubs from each division''.
|-
| rowspan=2 | 5
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%" | {{hlist|list_style=text-align: center
|[[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]] Premier Division North
|[[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]] Premier Division South
|[[Eastern Counties Football League|Eastern Counties League]] Premier Division
|[[Essex Senior Football League|Essex Senior League]]
|[[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] Premier Division
|[[Midland Football League|Midland League]] Premier Division
|[[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]] Premier Division
|[[Northern Counties East Football League|Northern Counties East League]] Premier Division
|[[Northern Football League|Northern League]] Division One
|[[Southern Counties East Football League|Southern Counties East League]] Premier Division
|[[Spartan South Midlands Football League|Spartan South Midlands League]] Premier Division
|[[Southern Combination Football League|Southern Combination]] Premier Division
|[[United Counties League]] Premier Division North
|[[United Counties League]] Premier Division South
|[[Wessex Football League|Wessex League]] Premier Division
|[[Western Football League|Western League]] Premier Division
}}
|-
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%; border-top:0" | Promoted to Step 4 leagues determined by NLS Committee: ''Total of 16 league champions and 16 winners of divisional play-offs''.<br>Relegated: ''2 clubs from each division''. ''Arranged according to separate agreements with Step 6 leagues''.
|- style="background:#efefef"
| rowspan=2 | 6
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%" | {{hlist|list_style=text-align: center
|[[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]] Division One
|[[Eastern Counties Football League|Eastern Counties League]] Division One North
|[[Eastern Counties Football League|Eastern Counties League]] Division One South
|[[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] Division One
|[[Midland Football League|Midland League]] Division One
|[[Northern Counties East Football League|Northern Counties East]] Division One
|[[Northern Football League|Northern League]] Division Two
|[[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]] Division One North
|[[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]] Division One South
|[[Southern Counties East Football League|Southern Counties East League]] Division One
|[[South West Peninsula League]] Premier Division East
|[[South West Peninsula League]] Premier Division West
|[[Spartan South Midlands Football League|Spartan South Midlands League]] Division One
|[[Southern Combination Football League|Southern Combination]] Division One
|[[United Counties League]] Division One
|[[Wessex Football League|Wessex League]] Division One
|[[Western Football League|Western League]] Division One
}}
|- style="background:#efefef"
| colspan=10 style="font-size:90%; border-top:0" | Promotion and relegation: ''Arranged according to separate agreements with appropriate county feeder leagues''.
|}
|}


==History==
==System from the 2004-2005 Season Onwards==
{{Further|History of the English non-League football system}}


For the [[2012–13 in English football|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 the categorisations were as follows:
From next season, there will be a number of changes from the sixth level of the pyramid downwards. Below shows how the new system will work. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which often differs radically from its official name) and number of clubs is given.
* Step 7: 100%;
* Step 7A: 75%; and
* Step 7B: 60%.
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 was noted that in the 2011–12 season these leagues were referred to as provisional.)
<table align=center border="1">


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.
<tr style="background:#efefef;">
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
'''Level'''
</td>
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
'''League/Division'''
</td>
</tr>


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.
<tr>
[[File:Division of Level 9 teams by English Counties (2022–23).svg|thumb|right|220px|Division of Level 9 teams by English Counties (2022–23)]]
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
1
</td>
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
'''[[FA Premier League]]'''<br>
(FA Barclays Premiership)<br>
''20 clubs''
</td>
</tr>


In March 2018, representatives of 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.<ref>{{cite interview|url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/22062/football-matters-step-3-and-4-restructure-qa-with-the-fa/|title=Football Matters: Step 3 and 4 restructure Q&A with The FA|first=Laurence|last=Jones|date=7 March 2018|work=The Non-League Paper|access-date=13 May 2018|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920133002/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/22062/football-matters-step-3-and-4-restructure-qa-with-the-fa/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 April 2019, it was clarified that there would be 17 divisions at Step 6, down from 19 in 2018–19 and that the two new divisions at Step 5 would be in the Midlands and the west London/Thames Valley areas.<ref name=interview>{{cite interview|url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/26633/fa-second-phase-non-league-restructuring/|title=EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring|first=Laurence|last=Jones|date=17 April 2019|work=The Non-League Paper|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921060148/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/26633/fa-second-phase-non-league-restructuring/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 April, it was announced that the Northern Premier League had been awarded the operation of the eighth division at Step 4.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/npl-to-expand-with-additional-league-at-step-4-56567 |first1=James |last1=Gordon |title=NPL to expand with additional division at Step 4|website=The Evo-Stik League|date=24 April 2019|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426194441/http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/npl-to-expand-with-additional-league-at-step-4-56567|url-status=usurped }}</ref> Initially scheduled for implementation in 2020–21,<ref name=interview/> but due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England|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, the FA postponed it to the 2021–22 season<ref>{{cite news |title=Update on non-league, women's & grassroots football seasons amid COVID-19 outbreak |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/mar/26/national-league-system-womens-football-pyramid-grassroots-covid-19-update-260320 |access-date=30 March 2020 |work=TheFA |date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604200310/https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/mar/26/national-league-system-womens-football-pyramid-grassroots-covid-19-update-260320 |url-status=live }}</ref> when football leagues from Step 2 below had their seasons curtailed again by restrictions from [[COVID-19 lockdowns]] on 24 February 2021. The two Step 5 divisions are administered by the Combined Counties and United Counties leagues.<ref>{{cite web |title=FA Update On Steps 3-6 |url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fa-update-on-steps-3-6-65182 |first1=James |last1=Gordon |website=The Pitching In Northern Premier League |access-date=16 April 2021 |date=24 February 2021 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224221823/https://www.thenpl.co.uk/fa-update-on-steps-3-6-65182 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/390045/explained-the-2021-22-non-league-restructure/ |access-date=16 April 2021 |work=The Non-League Paper |date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109103308/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/390045/explained-the-2021-22-non-league-restructure/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
2
</td>
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
'''[[Football League First Division]]'''<br>
(Coca-Cola Football League First Division)<br>
''24 clubs''
</td>
</tr>


==See also==
<tr>
*[[List of association football competitions]]
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
*[[Hierarchical organisation]]
3
*[[History of the English non-League football system]]
</td>
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
'''[[Football League Second Division]]'''<br>
(Coca-Cola Football League Second Division)<br>
''24 clubs''
</td>
</tr>


==References==
<tr>
{{Reflist}}
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
4
</td>
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
'''[[Football League Third Division]]'''<br>
(Coca-Cola Football League Third Division)<br>
''24 clubs''
</td>
</tr>


==External links==
<tr>
*[http://www.thefa.com/get-involved/player/the-national-league-system National League System homepage at TheFA.com]
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
*[http://www.thepyramid.info/ thePyramid.info: Tom Willis's football Pyramid site]
5
*[http://www.doingthe92.com/football_pyramid.asp Doing the 92: Explanation of the English Football Pyramid Structure]
</td>
*[https://archive.today/20080704204032/http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/League/Postings/2004/05/NLS_200607Structure.htm FA announcement of 2006–07 structure]
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
*[http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/pdf/leagues/club-allocations-201415-final-approved-by-lc-15514.ashx?la=en Club allocations for steps 1–4 for the 2014/2015 season]
'''[[Football Conference]]'''<br>
(Nationwide Conference)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
</tr>


{{Men's football in England}}
<tr>
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
6
</td>
<td colspan="3" width="48%" align="center">
'''[[Football Conference North]]'''<br>
(Nationwide Conference North)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
<td colspan="3" width="48%" align="center">
'''[[Football Conference South]]'''<br>
(Nationwide Conference South)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
</tr>


[[Category:National League (English football)|+system]]
<tr>
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United Kingdom]]
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
[[Category:Football league systems in England]]
7
</td>
<td colspan="2" width="32%" align="center">
'''[[Northern Premier League Premier Division]]'''<br>
(Unibond League Premier Division)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
<td colspan="2" width="32%" align="center">
'''[[Isthmian League Premier Division]]'''<br>
(Ryman League Premier Division)<br>
''24 clubs''
</td>
<td colspan="2" width="32%" align="center">
'''[[Southern League Premier Division]]'''<br>
(Dr Martens League Premier Division)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
8
</td>
<td colspan="2" width="32%" align="center">
'''[[Northern Premier League First Division]]'''<br>
(Unibond League First Division)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
<td colspan="2" width="32%" align="center">
'''[[Isthmian League Division One]]'''<br>
(Ryman League Premier Division)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
<td colspan="1" width="16%" align="center">
'''[[Southern League Midland and West Division]]'''<br>
(Dr Martens League Western Division)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
<td colspan="1" width="16%" align="center">
'''[[Southern League Southern and East Division]]'''<br>
(Dr Martens League Eastern Division)<br>
''22 clubs''
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td colspan="1" width="4%" align="center">
9+
</td>
<td colspan="6" width="96%" align="center">
Many more regional leagues
</td>
</tr>

</table>

==See Also==

*[[League system]]
*[[Professional Footballers Association]]

== External Link ==
*[http://www.thepyramid.info/ thePyramid.info: Tom Willis's football Pyramid site]

Latest revision as of 19:02, 22 December 2024

Division of Level 6 to Level 9 teams in the 2022/23 season

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 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 the 2020-21 season, Step 7 was abolished, being replaced by feeder leagues overseen by local county FAs.

Organisation

[edit]

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

The system

[edit]

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 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 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 the FA Vase, as well as their respective regional league cups and county cups.

Step League/Division
1 National League
(Vanarama National League)
Promoted to League Two of the English Football League: Champion and winner of 2nd–7th play-off.
Relegated to either National League North or National League South: 4 clubs.
2 National League North
(Vanarama North) 		National League South
(Vanarama South)
Promoted to National League: Champions of each division;
the winners of a 2nd–7th play-off in each division will also be promoted.
Relegated to Step 3 leagues: 4 clubs from each division.
3 Northern Premier League
(Pitching In Northern Premier League)
Premier Division 		Southern League
(Pitching In Southern League)
Central Division 		Southern League
(Pitching In Southern League)
South Division 		Isthmian League
(Pitching In Isthmian League)
Premier Division
Promoted to National League North or South: Champion of each league and 4 winners of divisional play-offs.
Relegated to Step 4 leagues: 4 clubs from each division.
4 Northern Premier League
(Pitching In Northern Premier League)
Division One East 		Northern Premier League
(Pitching In Northern Premier League)
Division One West 		Northern Premier League
(Pitching In Northern Premier League)
Division One Midlands 		Southern Football League
(Pitching In Southern League)
Division One Central 		Southern Football League
(Pitching In Southern League)
Division One South 		Isthmian League
(Pitching In Isthmian League)
Division One South Central 		Isthmian League
(Pitching In Isthmian League)
Division One North 		Isthmian League
(Pitching In Isthmian League)
Division One South East
Promoted to Step 3 leagues: Champion of each league and winner of divisional play-offs.
Relegated to Step 5 leagues determined by NLS Committee: 4 clubs from each division.
5
Promoted to Step 4 leagues determined by NLS Committee: Total of 16 league champions and 16 winners of divisional play-offs.
Relegated: 2 clubs from each division. Arranged according to separate agreements with Step 6 leagues.
6
Promotion and relegation: Arranged according to separate agreements with appropriate county feeder leagues.

History

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Further information: History of the English non-League football system

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 the categorisations were as follows:

  • Step 7: 100%;
  • Step 7A: 75%; and
  • Step 7B: 60%.

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 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.

Division of Level 9 teams by English Counties (2022–23)

In March 2018, representatives of 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.[1] On 17 April 2019, it was clarified that there would be 17 divisions at Step 6, down from 19 in 2018–19 and that the two new divisions at Step 5 would be in the Midlands and the west London/Thames Valley areas.[2] On 24 April, it was announced that the Northern Premier League had been awarded the operation of the eighth division at Step 4.[3] Initially scheduled for implementation in 2020–21,[2] 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, the FA postponed it to the 2021–22 season[4] when football leagues from Step 2 below had their seasons curtailed again by restrictions from COVID-19 lockdowns on 24 February 2021. The two Step 5 divisions are administered by the Combined Counties and United Counties leagues.[5][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jones, Laurence (7 March 2018). "Football Matters: Step 3 and 4 restructure Q&A with The FA". The Non-League Paper (Interview). Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Laurence (17 April 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". The Non-League Paper (Interview). Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  3. ^ Gordon, James (24 April 2019). "NPL to expand with additional division at Step 4". The Evo-Stik League. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Update on non-league, women's & grassroots football seasons amid COVID-19 outbreak". TheFA. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  5. ^ Gordon, James (24 February 2021). "FA Update On Steps 3-6". The Pitching In Northern Premier League. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  6. ^ "EXPLAINED: The 2021-22 Non-League restructure". The Non-League Paper. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
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