National League (English football)
The National League (named Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons) is an association football league in England consisting of three divisions, the National League, National League North, and National League South. It was called the "Alliance Premier League" from 1979 until 1986. Between 1986 and 2015, the league was known as the "Football Conference".
| Founded | 1979 (as Alliance Premier League) 2004 (North & South) |
|---|---|
| Country | England (72 clubs) |
| Divisions | National League National League North and South |
| Number of teams | 24 National League 24 North & 24 South |
| Level on pyramid | 5–6 |
| Promotion to | EFL League Two |
| Relegation to | Northern Premier League Premier Division Isthmian League Premier Division Southern League Premier Divisions |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Trophy |
| League cup(s) | Conference League Cup (defunct) |
| Current champions | Wrexham (National League) AFC Fylde (North) Ebbsfleet United (South) (2022–23) |
| TV partners | BT Sport NLTV (2015–present) |
| Website | thenationalleague.org.uk |
| Current: 2023–24 National League | |
Most National League clubs are fully professional (only three are not in 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 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.