National League North
 | |
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Number of teams | 22 (24 in 2022) |
| Level on pyramid | 6 Step 2 (National League System) |
| Promotion to | National League |
| Relegation to | Northern Premier League Premier Division Southern Football League Premier Division Central |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Trophy |
| International cup(s) | Europa League (via FA Cup) |
| Current champions | King's Lynn Town (2019–20 season) |
| Website | National League |
| Current: 2021–22 season | |
The National League North, formerly Conference North (named the Vanarama National League North for sponsorship reasons), is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League South, it is at the second level of the National League System, and at the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.
The longest tenured team currently competing in the National League North is Gloucester City A.F.C., having been in the National League North since the 2009-10 season.
History[]
The Conference North was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football.[1] The champions are automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place (expanded from four to six teams in the 2017–18 season).[2] The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues. Teams from this division, as well as from the National League South, enter the FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round.
For sponsorship reasons, the division was known as the Nationwide North from its formation in 2004 until 2007, when it was renamed the Blue Square North. In 2010 it was renamed the Blue Square Bet North. When the Blue Square sponsorship ended in 2013, it was renamed the Skrill North until the 2014–15 season, when it was renamed the Vanarama North. A further name change followed in 2015, when the division was renamed the Vanarama National League North.
The National League North was scheduled to expand to 24 teams in 2021.[3][4] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, the 2020–21 National League North season was curtailed and voided after written resolutions were put to a vote. No teams were relegated.[5] Expansion will be at last implemented before the 2022–23 season when the bottom club is relegated and four promoted from Step 3.[6]
Member clubs for 2021–22[]
The member clubs for the 2021–22 season are as follows:
| Club | Finishing position 2019–20 |
|---|---|
| AFC Fylde | 23rd (National League) |
| AFC Telford United | 14th |
| Alfreton Town | 13th |
| Blyth Spartans | 21st |
| Boston United | 3rd |
| Brackley Town | 4th |
| Bradford (Park Avenue) | 22nd |
| Chester | 6th |
| Chorley | 24th (National League) |
| Curzon Ashton | 20th |
| Darlington | 10th |
| Farsley Celtic | 11th |
| Gateshead | 7th |
| Gloucester City | 17th |
| Guiseley | 9th |
| Hereford | 16th |
| Kettering Town | 19th |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 15th |
| Leamington | 18th |
| Southport | 12th |
| Spennymoor Town | 8th |
| York City | 2nd |
League champions[]
The winners of the league title and the winners of the play-off final since the league's formation in 2004 are as follows:
| Season | Winner | Play-off winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Southport | Altrincham |
| 2005–06 | Northwich Victoria | Stafford Rangers |
| 2006–07 | Droylsden | Farsley Celtic |
| 2007–08 | Kettering Town | Barrow |
| 2008–09 | Tamworth | Gateshead |
| 2009–10 | Southport | Fleetwood Town |
| 2010–11 | Alfreton Town | AFC Telford United |
| 2011–12 | Hyde | Nuneaton Town |
| 2012–13 | Chester | FC Halifax Town |
| 2013–14 | AFC Telford United | Altrincham |
| 2014–15 | Barrow | Guiseley |
| 2015–16 | Solihull Moors | North Ferriby United |
| 2016–17 | AFC Fylde | FC Halifax Town |
| 2017–18 | Salford City | Harrogate Town |
| 2018–19 | Stockport County | Chorley |
| 2019–20 | King's Lynn Town | Altrincham |
| 2020–21 | None, season curtailed and voided | |
League stadiums for 2021–22[]
The stadiums of all the teams in the league for the 2021–22 season are listed below:
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Fylde | Wesham | Mill Farm | 6,000 |
| AFC Telford United | Telford | New Bucks Head | 6,300 |
| Alfreton Town | Alfreton | North Street | 3,600 |
| Blyth Spartans | Blyth | Croft Park | 4,435 |
| Boston United | Boston | Boston Community Stadium | 5,000 |
| Brackley Town | Brackley | St. James Park | 3,500 |
| Bradford (Park Avenue) | Bradford | Horsfall Stadium | 3,500 |
| Chester | Chester | Deva Stadium | 6,500 |
| Chorley | Chorley | Victory Park | 4,100 |
| Curzon Ashton | Ashton-under-Lyne | Tameside Stadium | 4,000 |
| Darlington | Darlington | Blackwell Meadows | 3,300 |
| Farsley Celtic | Farsley | The Citadel | 3,900 |
| Gateshead | Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 11,800 |
| Gloucester City | Gloucester | Meadow Park | 4,000 |
| Guiseley | Guiseley | Nethermoor Park | 4,200 |
| Hereford | Hereford | Edgar Street | 5,213 |
| Kettering Town | Kettering | Latimer Park (groundshare with Burton Park Wanderers) | 3,269 |
| Kidderminster Harriers | Kidderminster | Aggborough | 6,238 |
| Leamington | Leamington | New Windmill Ground | 2,300 |
| Southport | Southport | Haig Avenue | 6,008 |
| Spennymoor Town | Spennymoor | The Brewery Field | 6,000 |
| York City | York | York Community Stadium | 8,005 |
League records[]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
| Record home win | , 4th September 2021 | Record away win | Redditch United 0–9 Boston United, 21 August 2010[7] |
| Highest-scoring game | AFC Fylde 9–2 Boston United, 19 November 2016[8] | ||
| Most points in a season | 107 points – Chester (2012–13) | ||
| Most wins in a season | 34 – Chester (2012–13) | ||
| Fewest defeats in a season | 3 – Chester (2012–13) | ||
| Most goals scored in a season | 109 – AFC Fylde (2016–17) | ||
| Largest positive goal difference | 71 – Chester (2012–13) | ||
| Most league titles | 2 – Southport (2004–05, 2009–10) | ||
| Most consecutive wins | 15 games (21 Feb 2006 to 22 April 2006) – Northwich Victoria | ||
| Most consecutive clean sheets | 10 games (30 Aug 2010 to 9 November 2010) – Boston United | ||
| Longest unbeaten run | 30 games (15 Sep 2012 to 6 April 2013) – Chester | ||
| Largest Attendance | 6311 (3 Mar 2019) – Stockport County |
References[]
- ^ "Football Conference – History". Football Conference. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "National League North 2017-18 Season Preview". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ Edkins, Matt (17 April 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". The Non-League Football Paper (Interview).
- ^ "Update on non-League, women's & grassroots football seasons". The Football Association. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ Osborn, Oliver (18 February 2021). "National League Statement | Outcome Of Written Resolutions". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "National League: Football Association confirms promotion and relegation for 2021-22". BBC Sport. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Redditch United 0-9 Boston United". BBC Sport. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "AFC Fylde: 10 Things". FC Halifax Town. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
External links[]
- Football leagues in England
- National League (English football)
- 2004 establishments in England
- Sports leagues established in 2004
- Northern England
- Sixth level football leagues in Europe